2005 Ford Five Hundred Complaint Log

AROUND 102, 000 MILES, DURING A SNOW STORM, I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AWD LIMITED ON A MAIN ROAD. AS I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR SEEMED TO "LURCH". I REACTED BY REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE GAS, IN FEAR THE CAR WAS SLIDING ON ICE, AND THE WRENCH ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH, AS IT DISPLAYED "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE". THE CAR CONTINUED TO DRIVE, AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT HANDLING VERY SMOOTHLY. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. I WAITED TEN SECONDS AND STARTED THE CAR. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I BEGAN TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD AGAIN, AND THE SITUATION REPEATED. THE CAR SEEMED TO SHIFT VERY HARD, AND THE WRENCH ILLUMINATED AND "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE" WAS DISPLAYED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN. ONCE I TURNED IT BACK ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. TWO DAYS LATER, I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND WHEN THE CAR WAS RECONNECTED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD TURNED OFF. ATLEAST ONE MONTH PASSED WITH NO PROBLEMS OR RE-OCCURRENCES. HOWEVER, THIS MORNING, THERE WAS ANOTHER SNOW STORM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR LURCHED AGAIN, THE "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE" DISPLAYED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. BOTH OCCURRENCES HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED BY THE INABILITY OF MY CAR TO DRIVE WELL IN THE SNOW. BOTH TIMES MY CAR HAS FISHTAILED HORRIBLY, AND BEEN DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL THIS WINTER, AND I HAVE HAD IT SINCE AUGUST OF 2008. *TR

AS I WAS SLOWING TO TURN OFF OF A STATE HIGHWAY, MY CAR SHUT OFF AND DISPLAYED A MESSAGE THAT SAID "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE." I WAS SOMEWHAT ABLE TO STEER, SO I COMPLETED MY TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET, WHERE THE CAR DRIFTED TO A STOP. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND DRIVE HOME. THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR WOULD START BUT IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF, DISPLAYING THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE. I HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED A FAILED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. THEY ORDERED A REPLACEMENT PART, WHICH WAS THEN INSTALLED. INCIDENTALLY, THE PART HAD SINCE BEEN REDESIGNED BY FORD. ONCE THAT PART WAS REINSTALLED, THE COMPUTER WAS REFLASHED TO "LEARN" THAT A NEW THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED. THE COMPUTER WOULD NOT LEARN THE NEW PART, THOUGH, SO A NEW COMPUTER HAD TO BE ORDERED AND INSTALLED. OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THIS SAME PROBLEM (SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING) HAD OCCURRED, BUT IN EACH CASE I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBLEM. THIS WAS DANGEROUS IN THAT MY CAR SIMPLY SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING,MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS COMING THE OTHER DIRECTION, SO I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIFT THROUGH THE ONCOMING LANE TO ANOTHER SIDE STREET. ALSO, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHILE MY CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVING THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY FIVE OTHER FORD FIVE HUNDRED VEHICLES IN THE SHOP AT THE SAME TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR ELECTRONIC THROTTLES AS WELL.

I TOOK MY 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEL IN FOR A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE TORQUE STRUT MOUNT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE TOP MOTOR MOUNT WAS BROKEN. PRICE TO REPAIR IS $619. AFTER DOING MORE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS APPARENTLY A DEALER KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTICULAR CARS! SO, WHY DOESN'T FORD MOTOR COMPANY ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THESE FAULTY PARTS INSTEAD OF MAKING CONSUMERS PAY THESE RIDICULOUS REPAIR BILLS??! *TR

TRAVELING ON MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO PASS TRACTOR TRAILER DEPRESSED THROTTLE AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO NEXT LOWER GEAR THAN SLAMMED INTO THE NEXT LOWER GEAR. LOSS OF ALL ACCELERATION TRANSMISSION ILLUMINATED. THAN TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO HAVE ELECTRONICALLY DISENGAGED FROM ENGINE (NO FORWARD MOVEMENT AT ALL, MIND YOU I WAS TRYING TO PASS) ENGINE REVOLUTIONS INCREASED TO OVER 7,000 RPM. BOTH TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER A BRIEF REST AT SIDE OF RODE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND COULD BE MOVED BOTH LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. AFTER 5 OR 10 RESTARTS BOTH ERROR LIGHTS EXTINGUISHED. *TR

OUR CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. IT OFTEN HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT ALSO ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND AT ALL SPEEDS. THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WILL ALL LIGHT UP, AND THEN THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN CAUSING US TO HAVE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TRY TO PULL OVER TO SAFETY. WHEN WE TRY TO RESTART THE CAR IT WILL SPUTTER AND DIE AGAIN. OCCASIONALLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET IT TO A PARKING LOT, WE HAVE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. WE HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND SPARK PLUGS. THE FORD DEALERSHIP DROVE IT AND RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON IT FOR WEEKS AT A TIME AND FOUND NOTHING TO TELL THEM ANYTHING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY WEEK OR SO FOR NEARLY A YEAR, AND NO ONE CAN TELL US WHAT'S WRONG. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY, AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT DOESN'T HAPPEN FOR A MONTH. MANY PEOPLE'S DESCRIPTION OF A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION BODY MATCHES OUR DESCRIPTION, BUT THAT PART IS, APPARENTLY, ON BACKORDER. THE CAR IS ESSENTIALLY UN-DRIVABLE, BECAUSE WE CANNOT COUNT ON IT TO GET TO US WORK ON TIME OR SAFELY. *TR

FORD FIVE HUNDRED (500). FAIL SAFE ENGINE MODE COMES ON AND ENGINE " SHUTS DOWN" HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART CAR. IT SEEMS THAT IT DOESN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE WHEN YOU WANT, BUT DOES WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAD THROTTLE BODY "CLEANED" HOWEVER, CAR STILL IS NOT PERFORMING AS IT SHOULD. ON TOP OF THAT I HAD IT SERVICED, OIL CHANGE AND TUNE UP, AND I AM STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. PROBLEM STILL IS NOT CORRECTED. *TR

AT FIRST OUR 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED HAD ISSUES WITH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURES (BLACKING OUT AND NEEDLES ZEROING ETC. BUT NOW REAR BACK UP LIGHTS COME ON GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS HAS TO BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL .THANK YOU

2005 FORD 500 SUDDENLY SHOWS WRENCH AND CEL IN DASH AND CAR LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ALMOST RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. *TR

I HAD MY VEHICLE AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THREE TIMED FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CAR WOULD JUMP AND SPUTTER BUT EVERY TIME THE DEALERSHIP CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION, NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WENT TO GET A THIRD OPINION AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD I NEED NEW VALVE BODY. EVERYTIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE COST WILL RISE ABOVE $2100.00 THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ISSUE. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SHOULD BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY. *TR

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. ALL GAUGES DROP TO ZERO. MULTIPLE DASH WARNING LIGHTS COME ON THEM GO BACK OFF LEAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WILL NOT OPERATE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THE REVERSE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN REVERSE. PROBLEM STARTED THIS MORNING 9/20/2010 I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THE NHTSA HAS NOT MADE FORD ISSUE A RECALL! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE VACUUM OPERATIVE VALVE BEHIND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NOT SURE THE EXACT TIME BUT WITHIN THE PAST YEAR OR SO MY 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED ( PURCHASED NEW) IS GOING INTO FAILSAFE MODE LIMITED THROTTLE POWER, VERY SPORADIC AT FIRST BUT NOW HAPPENING QUITE OFTEN. IF YOU PULL OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT CLEARS AND DRIVES NORMAL. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT YESTERDAY AND IT HAPPENED 7 TIMES FROM MALL TO THE HOUSE (ABOUT 20 MILES). ONCE WHILE SHE WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH. CAR JERKED THEN STARTED SLOWING DOWN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. VERY DANGEROUS. MY MECHANIC IS TROUBLE SHOOTING PROBLEM, LOOKING LIKE THROTTLE BODY OR GAS PEDAL. I BELIEVE FORD CAME OUT WITH A NEW THROTTLE BODY IN 2010 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM (TSB 05-25-13)BUT WILL ONLY REPLACE IT AT THEIR COST IF STILL UNDER WARRANTY, OTHERWISE THE COST IS ON US THE CONSUMER. (ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS). *TR

MY 2005 FORD 500 HAS A FAIL SAFE MODE THAT COMES ON WITH A WRENCH SYMBOL ON THE DASH. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE CAR ACCELERATES QUICKLY AND JUMPS WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR STILL GOES WHILE HOLD THE BRAKES DOWN. THIS OCCURS TO MY VEHICLE EVERY YEAR. IT IS HAPPENING TO MY CAR AGAIN AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY ALARMING WHEN THIS OCCURS AND YOU FEEL AS IF YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER YOUR VEHICLE. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH MY VEHICLE EVERY YEAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW AND I AM VERY LUCKY THAT WHEN IT HAPPENED I DID NOT HAVE A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I LOVE THE FORD 500 BUT THIS IS A SCARY THING WHEN IT HAPPENS. *TR

70 DEGREE AIR BLOWING AT IDLE AND LOW SPEED. LOWERS TO 62 DEGREES AT HIGHWAY SPEED. NO CONDENSATION DRAINING THRU CONDENSATE TUBE. REFRIGERENT EVACUATED AND SYSTEM CHARGED WITH FRESH 134. *TR

2005 FORD 500 HAS ISSUE WITH LUNGING WHEN PUT INTO GEAR. CAR STARTED TO STALL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THROTTLE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IT IN NO ONE KNEW WHAT THE CODE WAS. FINALLY FOUND OUT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS ISSUE IS HAPPENING ALOT ON THE FIVE HUNDREDS. PART IS ON BACK ORDER AS OF TODAY OVER 700 ARE ON BACKORDER SOME FOR 5 MONTHS FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS AND PAY FOR RENTAL CARS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PUT OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HARNESS FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT MELTED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY EXCESS MOISTURE, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BECAME BRITTLE AND FRACTURED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE TOP MOTOR MOUNT HAD WORN. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THESE WERE MANUFACTURERS DEFECTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,700.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING 40 TO 45 MPH THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE, LUNGE FORWARD AND WOULD NOT MOVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND WOULD ALSO COST $400 TO REPAIR. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

MY 2005 FORD 500 BOUGHT USED SEPTEMBER 2009 (AROUND 53,000 MILES CURRENT MILES 55,432) HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S LOW BEAM BURNING OUT. ON THE 3RD BULB REPLACEMENT IN LESS THAN A YEAR THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SOCKET CRUMBLED IN MY HANDS. I HAD TO REPLACE THE SOCKET AND REWIRE IT TO THE WIRING HARNESS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY FORD 500 ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN I LOST POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION. I COULD REV THE ENGINE, BUT NO POWER WOULD GO TO THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS LUCKY ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR NOW HAS A LITTLE LURCH WHEN FIRST STARTING OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT UTILIZED OFTEN AND THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY HAD RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS IN REGARDS TO THE COMPRESSOR BUT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,245.

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL IS BAD. THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AND BACK. IT ALSO GOES INTO ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE. IT ALSO CAUSED ME A LITTLE ACCIDENT, I WENT IN REVERSE AND THE CAR LUNGED INTO THE GARAGE WALL, BROKE THE FRAME OF GARAGE AND CAR HAS SCRATCHES AND MARKS AT THE REAR. VERY SCARED TO DRIVE, WIFE WONT DRIVE. PART IS ON BACK-ORDER, AND ITS MY ONLY CAR. HAVE WIFE AND TWO KIDS AND I DO NOT WANT THEM TO DRIVE IN THE CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I CAN NOT BELIEVE HOW LIGHTLY IT IS GETTING TAKEN CARE OF. FORD NEEDS TO FORCE A RECALL FAST. *TR

WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD, THEN STALL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT , "FAIL SAFE ENGINE MODE", AND LIGHTED YELLOW WRENCH INDICATOR LIGHT APPEARS IN DASHBOARD. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING WILL HELP SOMETIMES. *TR

IN MY 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEDAN, THE COMPRESSOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE AIR COMPRESSOR WILL NOT COOL THE CAR UNLESS YOU ARE DRIVING AT OR ABOVE HIGHWAY SPEED. WHEN SITTING AT IDLE OR DRIVING AROUND TOWN, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WILL BLOW HOT AIR INSTEAD OF COLD. THE COMPRESSOR MUST BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM TO WORK PROPERLY. SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2005 AND 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEDANS. *TR

MY FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEL HAS REALLY BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE,HOWEVER,THE PROBLEM NOW IS GET EITHER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE FAIL SAFE MODE TOGETHER.THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SO MANY TIMES WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS UNTIL NOTHING SHOULD BE WRONG WITH IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE UNEXPECTNDLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE OR WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE WHEN THE AIR CONDITION WAS RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

THE ENGINE SURGES WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE. IT REV'S UP SOMETIMES IN FORWARD BUT HE ENGINE WILL QUICKLY DIE. IT GOES INTO FAIL SAFE MODE AND ONLY GOES AT A VERY LOW SPEED. *TR

TOP MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE ON 2005 FORD 500 CAR HAS LOW MILES ON IT AND WHEN I LOOKED UP ONLINE THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FAILURE. WAS TOLD BY FORD DEALER IT WAS REGULAR WEAR AND TARE BUT I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT SEEN MOTOR MOUNTS FAIL WITHIN 5 YEARS AND A LOW MILEAGE AS THIS VEHICLE AND EVIDENTLY MANY OTHERS! *TR

MY 2005 FORD 500 BEGAN TO SURGE WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND ALSO WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO DRIVE . AT TIME IT WOULD CHANGE FROM 800 RPM TO 1500 TO 2500 RPM . VERY SCARY IN TIGHT QUARTERS AND IN A PARKING LOT . OTHER TIMES IT THOUGHT IT WAS A TOYOTA AND JUST TAKE OFF.FAULT CODES DID APPEAR AND THE DEALERS FIRST TRY DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM . THE LAST TIME WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. IT TERRIFIED MY WIFE. WE DROPPED IT OFF AGAIN AT THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR PART WOULD TAKE 14 DAYS . DOES FORD HAVE THAT MANY PROBLEMS ? I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND MANY FORD PRODUCTS ARE HAVING THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS . THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL. *TR

2005 FORD 500 AWD MALFUNCTION, FORDS REFUSAL TO OFFER ANY COMPENSATION FOR A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING AT AN UNKNOWN LOW SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD UNTIL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE BECAME AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF WHEN THE ENGINE FAIL SAFE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE GEAR AND IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT HIM ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND HAD BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED SINCE THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $695.86 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,240.

2005 FORD 500. CAR BEGAN BUCKING/SURGING/ACCELERATING ON OWN WHEN STARTING TO PULL OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC FROM SHOPPING CENTER TO MAIN ROAD. STRONG BRAKING REQUIRED TO CONTROL CAR. CONTINUED TO HAPPEN, PULLED BACK INTO SHOPPING CENTER LOT. WOULD HAPPEN IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WITH CAR TAKING OFF ON OWN IF NO BRAKE APPLIED. CAR STALLED TIMES TWO. WAS ABLE TO GET CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP IN VERY NEAR VICINITY. CONTINUED TO HAPPEN FOR SERVICE REP WHILE AT DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP FOUND ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY TO BE AT FAULT. A KNOWN PROBLEM TO EXIST, SO STATED. TSB EXISTS FOR THIS. MUST REPLACE THROTTLE BODY WITH UPDATED MODEL. UNIT ON BACKORDER. CAR UNDRIVABLE TILL PART ARRIVES. GREATER THAN 1 MONTH BACKORDER ON PART! VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION OCCURRED. COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY (ETB) ON 2005 FORD 500, FREESTYLE, AND MERCURY MONTEGO. CAUSES CAR TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WITHOUT USING ANY PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL. MUST PLACE FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO AVOID RUNNING INTO SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY WHILE PARKING. FORD HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 05-25-13) ON THIS BUT HAS NOT NOTIFIED ANY OWNERS OF VEHICLES AFFECTED TO DATE. IT APPEARS THAT FORD HAS COME UP WITH A NEW REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE ETB UNLIKE THE ORIGINAL THAT WAS JUST MADE AVAILABLE IN JULY 2010. I PAID A LOCAL FORD DEALER $128.08 TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND ANOTHER $615.83 TO HAVE IT FIXED. I WAS TOLD THE ETB PART NUMBER WAS "5F9Z-9E926-AA". ANOTHER NUMBER FOR THE NEW ETB PART ON MY SALES SLIP DATED 07/30/10 WAS FMC 6F9Z 9E926 A. THEY CALLED IT A KIT FOR THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. THE PRICE FOR THE KIT WAS $495.86. SINCE I HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM COMING UP ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, I THOUGHT I WOULD TURN IT IN FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION. SINCE THE AFFECT OF THE DEFECTIVE ETB ACTUALLY CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO MOVE ON ITS OWN, FORWARD OR REVERSE, AND REQUIRES YOU TO USE YOUR BRAKES SIMULTANEOUSLY TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING ADJOINING OBJECTS, I THOUGHT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ON SEVERAL FORD AND MERCURY 2005 PRODUCTS, IT IS NOT THE MONEY, IT IS THE SAFETY ISSUE I AM MOST INTERESTED IN. TO PARALLEL PARK OR GET INTO A PARKING STALL WITH THIS PROBLEM WAS A REAL CHORE KEEPING YOU FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS YOU TRIED TO MANEUVER IN AND OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. IF YOU DID NOT HOLD YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR WOULD MOVE IN ITS OWN EITHER IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND A TRUE SAFETY HAZARD, BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN THE PROBLEM ON THE RECALL LISTS FOR MY CAR OR OTHERS AFFECTED IN THE FORD TSB. NOR HAVE AUTO OWNERS BEEN NOTIFIED BY FORD OR OFFERED COMPENSATION FOR THE EXPENSE TO HAVE THE KIT INSTALLED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH SHE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. SHE STATED THAT WHEN THE SPEED INCREASED TO 30 MPH THE VEHICLE NO LONGER ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION BODY THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER FOR A LEAST TWO TO THREE WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,200.

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AND THERE IS A LOAD ON THE ENGINE (A/C ON HIGH) AND YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE ENGINE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I GO TO TURN AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE GARAGE SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY THAT NEEDED REPLACED. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT WAS PLACED IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. UPDATED 01/13/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECEASE IN SPEED WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 04/19/11

FORD 500 2005 - 74K MILES....CAR STARTED JERKING FORWARD AS SOON AS I LIFT MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE,WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO THINGS IN A PARKING LOT FULL OF CARS. THE SENSORS WENT OUT,WHICH I WASN'T AWARE OF UNTIL I BACKED INTO A TREE WITHOUT WARNING. NOW THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS GONE OUT AND IT SEEMS MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

WHEN I TEST DROVE THIS VEHICLE THE RPM FLUCTUATED AND JERKING AS IF IT WAS A MANUAL OPPOSED TO AUTOMATIC AS INCREASING SPEEDS. THERE WAS A RECALL LETTER MAILED TO ME A FEW YEARS LATER AND FORD DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. WITHIN A FEW DAYS IT BEGAN AGAIN. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE 10 YEARS WITH THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE AND HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN THE RPMS DONT RESET WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. I AM NOW FILING A FORMAL COMPLAINT BECAUSE I WAS REAR ENDED DUE TO THIS ISSUE BY A PERSON WITH NO INSURANCE. HOW CAN I GET THIS TO GO AWAY BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT

ENGINE RANDOMLY ACCELERATES DURING HOT WEATHER AND COLD STARTS. TOOK TO FORD GARAGE WHO REPORTED DEFECTIVE SPARK PLUG WIRE. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM WHICH HAS RECURRED. GT ERROR CODE FROM PARTS STORE. FORD DEALER DECLINED EXISTENCE OF SUCH CODE. ONLINE SEARCH REVEALED REPORTS OF THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION WHICH CAN BE TREATED WITH FUEL ADDITIVE. SEEMED TO STOP IT FOR A WHILE BUT HAS RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ANOTHER NON DEALER REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT FIND DEFECT. PROBLEM HAS AGAIN RECURRED WITH FIRST HOT(OVER 90) WEATHER. *TR

2005 FORD 500 WITH APPROX. 85,000 MILES LURCHES FORWARD OR IN REVERSE WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AFTER PERIOD OF IDLE SUCH AS AT A RED LIGHT OR IN LINE AT A DRIVE THROUGH RESTAURANT. THE LURCH IS SIGNIFICANT, VIOLENT ENOUGH TO MAKE PASSENGER THINK THEY WERE HIT FROM BEHIND. I NARROWLY AVOIDED COLLISIONS WITH CARS IN FRONT OR BEHIND ME. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY. PARTS TO REPAIR ARE BACK ORDERED WITH A 2 MONTH WAIT AND A COST OF $500.00. THIS IS NO LONGER COVERED BY WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS DEFECT IS DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING HER VEHICLE AND PLACING HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE RPM'S INCREASED. SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE FORCEFULLY BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WITHIN A YEAR SHE EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OFFERED HER NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

MONDAY, JUNE 28TH MY VEHICLE SEEMED TO SLIGHTLY ACCELERATE WHEN I WAS BACKING IT INTO A PARKING SPOT. THEN ABOUT A WEEK LATER (JULY 06TH), I WAS STOPPED IN A LINE OF OTHER VEHICLES, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHERE IT WOULD ACCELERATE, ONLY THIS TIME, IT HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES CONSISTENTLY. MY VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED WITH A MESSAGE THAT READ, "FAIL SAFE ENGINE MODE". THE NEXT DAY, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THEY SAID THAT THIS IS FREQUENT ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE CONDITIONS. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A CASE WHERE A CUSTOMER'S THROTTLE WAS WIDE OPEN AND ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND IS SHOCKED THAT IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED YET. HE SUGGESTED IT NOT LEAVE THE LOT UNTIL THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. WE LEFT IT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO GET REPAIRED, BUT TOOK HIS ADVICE. WE BELIEVE THIS A DEFAULT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE THROTTLE BODY, AND CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. WE HOPE THIS WILL GET INVESTIGATED, SO NO ONE IS INJURED. *TR

FORD FIVE HUNDRED LUNGED DRAMATICALLY AS I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION. I IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE IN ORDER TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AND YIELD TO A PEDESTRIAN THAT HAD BEGUN TO CROSS THE STREET. IT TOOK AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO FIGHT ENGINE'S ACCELERATION AND STOP THE CAR. UPON REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO RE-ACCELERATE HARD AGAIN, SCARING THE PEDESTRIAN ENOUGH THAT THEY WAVED ME THROUGH AND REFUSED TO CROSS UNTIL I PASSED BY. THE NEXT DAY, WHILE PARKING THE CAR IN A PUBLIC GARAGE, THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD VERY HARD, AGAIN REQUIRING MAXIMUM EFFORT TO PREVENT ACCELERATING. THIS TIME I WAS HEADED INTO A CONCRETE WALL AND STOPPED 2 INCHES SHORT. FOR THE FIRST TIME, CAR ENTERED FAILSAFE MODE AND PRESENTED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (THIS LIGHT HAD NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED). DEALER INFORMS ME COMPUTER REPORTS CODES OF P610B AND P2106. THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AND REPROGRAM THE PCM. WHILE I HAD EXPERIENCED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUE INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE YEARS; I NEVER GOT RESOLUTION (UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM) AND HAD NEVER RECEIVED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH THIS CODE BEFORE. INVESTIGATING THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR HAS LED ME TO DISCOVER THAT MY EXPERIENCE IS NOT UNIQUE AND IS A RECURRING ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE. FURTHER, THE COSTLY REPAIR BEING RECOMMENDED APPEARS TO BE A STOP-GAP FIX AT BEST WITH NO CERTAINTY OF ACTUALLY FIXING THE PROBLEM. *TR

2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM REGARDING DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL FAILURE MODE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR. WHILE BACKING OUT SLOWLY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON FOUR OTHER OCCASIONS. A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED NO ANOMALIES EXCEPT FOR AN INLET AIRFLOW DISTURBANCE ATTRIBUTED TO A DISTORTED FILTER. THE FILTER WAS REPLACED AND NORMAL AIRFLOW WAS RESTORED. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED LTD AWD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND AGAIN WHEN HE MADE A LEFT TURN, WITH HIS FOOT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED; HOWEVER, A REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 131,000.

MY 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED HAS BEEN A VERY DEPENDABLE VEHICLE, EXCEPT WHEN THE COMPRESSOR WENT OUT. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. FORD SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPAIR THE COMPRESSORS ON THE FORD FIVE HUNDREDS BECAUSE IT IS A VERY HIGH SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE AROUND WITH NO AIR BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR ON TOP OF THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR THE CAR. IF I HAD KNOWN THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPRESSOR GOING OUT, AND A $1200 BILL TO ENSUE, I WOULD HAVE RECONSIDERED BUYING THIS VEHICLE. ALL THE FORD FIVE HUNDRED DRIVERS, INCLUDING ME, NEED HELP ON THIS ACROSS THE BOARD REPAIR. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING ERROR AND SHOULD BE MADE RIGHT BY FORD. *TR

WE OWN A 2005 FORD 500 AND MY WIFE HAS TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS TO HAVE AN ISSUE LOOKED AT. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON HER OVER A DOZEN TIMES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT HAS GONE INTO FAIL SAFE MODE. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO LURCH WHEN IN GEAR EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE. I'VE LOOKED UP THE ISSUE ON LINE AND IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE. THROTTLE BODY AND REPROGRAMMING OF THE PCM. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SEVERELY HURT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE ALSO RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO USE THE TURN SIGNALS. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO SHUT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,200.

DRIVING OUR FORD FIVE HUNDRED 2005 SEL AT 30 MILES PER HOUR MY WIFE AND FELT A SUDDEN CRACK ON THE DRIVERS RIGHT REAR SIDE. I STOPPED THE CAR AND SAW THAT THE POSITION OF THE TIRE WAS NOT ADEQUATE AND SUSPECTED A DAMPER SITUATION, NOT SO. LUCKILY WE WERE 5 BLOCKS AWAY OF A FRIENDLY FORD DEALER, WE DROVE WITH PAINFULLY SQUEAKING TIRE THERE AND WHEN INSPECTED THE REAR CROSS MEMBER HAD A CRACK WHERE THE WELDING OF THE ADJUSTING CAMBER CASTER IS. WE THANKED THE LORD WE WERE NOT ON THE HIGHWAY AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CERTAIN DEATH. I KNOW THIS IS A STRUCTURAL FAILURE AS IS THE WHOLE REAR CROSS MEMBER PART AND BELIEVE IS SUFFICIENT FOR A RECALL OF ALL FORD FIVE HUNDRED FORD THE CAR HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES AN IS A 2005 SEL MODEL. *TR

I AM BUYING A 2005 FORD 500 LIMITED WITH AN 6 SPD TRANSMISSION IT NOW HAS 136K MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM CROSSROADS FORD IN MEMPHIS. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED AT 54K MILES. NOW THE TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE IS STARTING TO SLIP AND STALL IN TRAFFIC. YOU START TO MOVE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND IT WILL GO SLOWLY THEN JUMP TO ABOUT 4K TO 6K ON THE TACHOMETER AND AT THAT POINT THE CAR STALLS AND YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE REAR ENDED BY OTHER DRIVERS DUE TO THE CAR STALLING. ACCORDING TO FORD THEY HAVE KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY OFFER SELLING YOU A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SINCE THEY BUILT THE PRODUCT EVEN IF THE FACTORY WARRANTY IS GONE. CANT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR OR TRADE THIS ONE IN OR GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED ACCORDING TO FORD THE REPLACEMENT IS AROUND $4600. DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY LYING AROUND. *TR