Illustration2007 FORD FIVE HUNDREDS FREQUENTLY SURGE FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHEN FIRST PUT INTO GEAR. THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OWNERS OF THESE CARS WITH THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE - POTENTIAL RUNNING OVER/INTO PEOPLE/OTHER CARS & STRUCTURES. *TR
2007 Ford Five Hundred
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Five Hundred years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
220–25K
3125–50K
5550–75K
4175–100K
25100–150K
5150K+
179 reports with mileage · 20 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
199 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE STOPPED WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SURGE BACKWARDS WHILE REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED WITHIN THE THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE STOPPED WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SURGE BACKWARDS WHILE REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED WITHIN THE THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
CAR WAS JERKING ON ACCELERATION, WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO CODES EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING IT IS STILL DOING IT ONLY WORSE THE LIGHT IS ON SOLID NOW AND THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. IT WOULD ALSO JERK WHEN TAKEN OUT OF PARK OR WHEN IN TRAFFIC SITTING IDLE, ONCE I THOUGHT I WAS REAR ENDED. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANICS AND …
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CAR WAS JERKING ON ACCELERATION, WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO CODES EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING IT IS STILL DOING IT ONLY WORSE THE LIGHT IS ON SOLID NOW AND THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. IT WOULD ALSO JERK WHEN TAKEN OUT OF PARK OR WHEN IN TRAFFIC SITTING IDLE, ONCE I THOUGHT I WAS REAR ENDED. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANICS AND THEY TOLD ME THIS IS 'NORMAL' BEHAVIOR AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT WILL NOT EVEN STAY RUNNING NOW WHEN WARM AND IT DIES. *TR
THE AIR CONDITION IN THIS CAR STOPPED WORKING; ONLY HOT AIR WAS BLOWING OUT. AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO A LEAKING AIR COMPRESSOR. I WAS TOLD MULTIPLE FORD FIVE HUNDRED'S HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND ALSO DRIVES A 2007 FORD FUSION AND IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH HIS VEHI…
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THE AIR CONDITION IN THIS CAR STOPPED WORKING; ONLY HOT AIR WAS BLOWING OUT. AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO A LEAKING AIR COMPRESSOR. I WAS TOLD MULTIPLE FORD FIVE HUNDRED'S HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND ALSO DRIVES A 2007 FORD FUSION AND IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH HIS VEHICLE. I CALLED SEVERAL MECHANIC'S AND DEALERSHIPS TO TRY AND GET A PRICE COMPARISON FOR THIS ISSUE AND ALL OF THEM TOLD ME THE SAME THING - THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH SO MANY 2007 FORD VEHICLES...I THINK THIS DESERVES SOME RESEARCH. THE COMPRESSOR SHOULD NOT GO OUT IN A CAR AT 72,000 MILES.
2007 FORD 500 TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO BUCK OUT OF THE BLUE. CANNOT PASS PEOPLE ON NORMAL ROADS OR BARELY MAKE IT UP HILLS, ACCELERATION IS VERY SLOW. FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN, GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY. IT USED TO OCCUR AT HIGHER SPEEDS, NOW IT IS HAPPENI…
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2007 FORD 500 TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO BUCK OUT OF THE BLUE. CANNOT PASS PEOPLE ON NORMAL ROADS OR BARELY MAKE IT UP HILLS, ACCELERATION IS VERY SLOW. FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN, GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY. IT USED TO OCCUR AT HIGHER SPEEDS, NOW IT IS HAPPENING ANYWHERE ABOVE 30MPH. HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT PROBLEM, BEEN READING UP ON IT; AND EVERYONE HAS THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO "CHEAP" FIX YET. *TR
2007 FORD 500 CAR SURGES IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING PLACES CAR MOTOR RACES AND CAR SURGES 3 TO 4 FEET. SO FAR WE HAVE NOT HIT ANYONE. *TR
I WORK FOR A CHEVY DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED MY 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED WITH A BAD RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH TIRES, ALIGNMENT AND CHECKING ONLINE I SEE OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT BAD BALL JOINTS ON THEIR 500'S. *TR
POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN MOST OF THE TIME, AND SOMETIMES IT'S EASY. IT KEEPS GOING IN AND OUT. IT'S A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. *TR
I JUST BOUGHT MY 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED 3 WEEKS AGO AND I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RPM STARTING GOING UP REALLY HIGH THE THROTTLE LIGHT(WRENCH) CAME ON AND MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN. I PULLED OVER, JUST AVOIDED GETTING SMASHED IN THE REAR FROM A TRUCK AND MY CAR STOPPED MOVING. I CUT THE CAR OFF THEN TRIED TO CRANK …
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I JUST BOUGHT MY 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED 3 WEEKS AGO AND I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RPM STARTING GOING UP REALLY HIGH THE THROTTLE LIGHT(WRENCH) CAME ON AND MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN. I PULLED OVER, JUST AVOIDED GETTING SMASHED IN THE REAR FROM A TRUCK AND MY CAR STOPPED MOVING. I CUT THE CAR OFF THEN TRIED TO CRANK IT BACK UP AT FIRST IT DIDN'T START THEN IT CRANKED 2ND TIME BUT THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A THROTTLE CODE HE SAID HE WANTED TO GIVE IT A SECOND CHANCE. HE RESET THE CODES AND ALL LIGHTS WERE OFF. WELL, ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHICH HE SAID SHOULDN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE. I CALLED HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT FORD HAVING TO ORDER THE PART AND FIX THE CAR. I WENT ON SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER FORD 500 HUNDRED CUSTOMERS WERE/ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO GET IT FIXED IT ONLY RE-APPEARED AGAIN LATER. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THIS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.. SINCERELY, VERY VERY UNSATISFIED FIRST TIME FORD CUSTOMER....... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60 MPH WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE ENGINE REMAINED IDLE. THE CONTACT CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER RESET THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL COMPUTER AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60 MPH WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE ENGINE REMAINED IDLE. THE CONTACT CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER RESET THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL COMPUTER AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, THE COMPUTER MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Official recalls
111V355000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Jul 13, 2011
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND MERCURY MONTEGO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 11, 2006. THE FUEL TANKS MAY NOT HAVE CONSISTENT WELDS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL FILLER NECK SPUD WHICH CAN AFFECT THE STRENGTH OF THE JOINT. SOME FUEL TANK SPUD WELDS MAY NOT PROVIDE THE EXPECTED STRENGTH IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE REAR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. AN IMPROPER WELD CAN RESULT IN A CRACK IN THE JOINT WHICH COULD ILLUMINATE THE EMISSIONS MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT, CAUSE A FUEL ODOR, OR ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK OUT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 16, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE11018 · Idle Instability
Opened May 11, 2011 · Closed Feb 7, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
On November 29, 2012, Ford Motor Company (Ford) initiated Customer Satisfaction Program 12N03 to extend warranty coverage terms for repair of engine idle RPM surge caused by throttle body deposits in all model year (MY) 2005 through 2007 Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred and Mercury Montego vehicles.The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle (all vehicles are eligible for the program through May 31, 2013, regardless of mileage).Dealers will repair vehicles exhibiting the condition by removing and cleaning the throttle body and reprogramming the PCM with software containing an updated idle speed control strategy.According to Ford, some of the affected vehicles may experience momentary, intermittent engine idle RPM surge (idle flare) when stopped or during low speed driving maneuvers such as in a parking lot or driveway.Unstable idle speed control (dips and flares) around the target engine speed (700 rpm) can occur in vehicles with deposit build-up in the throttle body when the system adjusts engine speed in response to changes in engine load, typically from power steering application or air-conditioner compressor cycling.Idle speed control logic is only active at vehicle speeds below 3.5 mph and when the accelerator pedal is not applied.Ford testing of a vehicle with a worst case throttle body measured a maximum idle flare of 1360 RPM lasting approximately 1 second, which Ford indicated was consistent with system design to limit vehicle speed and acceleration in idle control mode.Ford indicated that the test vehicle was held in place with normal brake effort and that vehicle speed remained under 4 mph without the brake pedal applied.In addition to throttle body deposit accumulation, symptoms associated with the condition may include Check Engine lamp illumination and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0505, P0506 or P061B.Ford attributed the surge condition to changes in idle air flow resulting from the progressive buildup of deposits in the throttle body from normal Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system operation.This condition was not adequately compensated for in the original Powertrain Control Module (PCM) calibration.Ford issued a technical service bulletin on August 15, 2011 (TSB 11-8-5), releasing an updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with CVT transmissions.On October 19, 2011, Ford issued a second bulletin (TSB 11-10-21) superseding TSB 11-8-5 and including updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with 6-speed transmissions.Prior to Ford issuing the TSB?s, owner?s experiencing the alleged defect either received no repairs, if dealers could not duplicate the condition, or had the throttle body cleaned or replaced, which only provided temporary correction until the throttle deposit build-up returned.Ford?s revised powertrain calibrations appear to be effective remedies for the idle instability caused by build-up of throttle body deposits.However, even after the TSB?s were released, many owners experiencing the condition continued to have difficulty with proper diagnosis and repair as dealers were often either unable to duplicate the condition or were unfamiliar with the new repair procedures.Ford's new program addresses those concerns.NHTSA's testing and complaint analysis indicate that the idle speed control issue in the subject vehicles can only occur at very low speeds, are very brief events, are easily controlled by moderate brake pedal forces and result in minor increases in vehicle speed even with no braking.This investigation is closed.The closing of this in