There are 5 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2006 Ford Five Hundredin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
REAR ENDED AN 18 WHEELER AND TOTALLED THE CAR BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND IT WAS A VERY BAD ACCIDENT.
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY WHEN PUSHING THE RELEASE BUTTON. ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE SEAT BELT BACK INTO THE BUCKLE TO SEE IF THE RELEASE BUTTON WOULD WORK TO RELEASE THE BUCKLE. THE RELEASE BUTTON WAS STUCK DOWN IN THE BUCKLE AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE BELT OUT. I HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE SEAT BELT AND NOW I AM UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT. THE FIRST THING THAT RAN THROUGH MY MIND WAS THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN ON A 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. (I BOUGHT THIS NEW) THEN OF COURSE MY MIND STARTS WORRYING ABOUT WHETHER THIS WILL HAPPEN TO THE OTHER SEAT BELTS AND WHETHER I WILL BE ABLE TO GET MY SON OUT IN AN EMERGENCY. I CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO USE THE BELT AND FEEL VERY UNSAFE. OF COURSE FORD OFFERS NO HELP. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DEALER ABOUT THE REPAIR DUE TO FAMILY DEMANDS, I AM A SINGLE PARENT WORKING FULL TIME AND MY MOTHER HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY AND NEEDS CARE AT HOME FOR AN INFECTION. I BARELY GET 5 HOURS OF SLEEP A NIGHT. I WILL BE CALLING A DEALER THIS WEEK HOWEVER, I THINK THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR A 6 YEAR OLD CAR. THERE ARE CARS 20-30 YEARS OLD THAT STILL HAVE THEIR ORIGINAL SEATBELTS THAT FUNCTION. THIS PROBLEM IN MY OPINION IS BECAUSE CAR MAKERS ARE TRYING TO PUT AN EXTRA DOLLAR IN THEIR POCKET BY BUYING CHEAPER, LOWER QUALITY PARTS. *TR
AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED , WAS TOLD BY DEALER NONE OF THE AIR BAG IN THE AUTO WILL WORK WITH THE PASSENGERS AIR BAG DEFECTIVE.. WE REPLACED THE SEAT BUT THAT ONE ALSO DIDN'T WORK SO THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO OUR AUTO. WE HAVE HIGH MILEAGE BECAUSE MY WIFE DRIVES 600 MILES A WEEK TO GO TO WORK {ALONE} NO ONE HAS EVER EVEN SAT IN THIS SEAT THIS IS THE PASSENGERS SEAT AIR BAG THAT IS DISABLING THE SYSTEM. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY DON'T CARE. *TR
CRASHED INTO TELEPHONE POLE TRYING TO MISS A CAT AND BROKE POLE IN HALF ON MOTHER'S DAY (5/11). NONE OF THE SIX AIR BAGS IN MY 2006 FORD 500 DEPLOYED. SPOKE TO MANUFACTURER THEY SAID SINCE I SPOKE TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY FIRST THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AIR BAGS IN MY VEHICLE NOT WORKING. I FEEL THIS IS A MALFUNCTION AND FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES DUE TO HAVING TWO SMALL CHILDREN. THE BODY MAN WHO LOOKED AT THE CAR SAID IT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE SENSORS THE BAGS SHOULD HAVE WORKED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY ADVISED ME TO TALK WITH THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND INTO AN EMBANKMENT OF A CREEK FLIPPING THE VEHICLE ONTO ITS ROOF. THE FRONT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ALTHOUGH THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN. A FENCE POST WAS DAMAGED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND TREATED FOR BUMPS AND BRUISES TO THE BODY AND HEAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026