Ford Five Hundred Complaints

1,073 consumer complaints on file.

#10247460November 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLAMP SOCKET ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILED. ONE OF THE SOCKET CONTACTS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF A CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL FAILURE - LOOKS LIKE SEVERE ARCING, BURNED PLASTIC, BROKEN SOCKET SHELL AND BADLY BURNED PIN IN THE LAMP. THE LAMP ITSELF IS STILL O.K., EXCEPT FOR THE BADLY BURNED PIN. ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE LOW BEAM LAMP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SAME DAMAGE TO THE SAME PIN IN THE SOCKET. THAT LAMP IS ALSO O.K. EXCEPT FOR THE BURNED PIN. THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE SOCKETS/VEHICLE WIRING, NOT THE LAMPS. THESE LAMPS ARE MOUNTED QUITE HIGH AND ARE REASONABLY WELL PROTECTED SO IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THIS IS A MOISTURE PROBLEM. THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT SOCKET FROM FORD IS SIMPLY OUTRAGEOUS! DEALER SAYS THIS IS THE FIRST CASE THEY'VE SEEN OF THIS HAPPENING - BUT I HEARD THE SAME THING WHEN I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR BRAKES AND I NOW KNOW THAT CERTAINLY WASN'T TRUE! HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245527October 15, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AT 37,000 MILES (MOSTLY FREEWAY MILES) I WAS GETTING A LOUD GRINDING SOUND FROM MY REAR BRAKES. DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PADS WERE TOTALLY WORN AWAY AND THE ROTORS WERE RUINED. THE MECHANIC SAID IT LOOKED AS IF THE CALIPERS WERE NOT OPENING PROPERLY, CAUSING A CONTINUAL DRAG OF THE PADS AGAINST THE ROTORS. THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS ALSO NEEDED REPLACING AS THEY WERE WORN BEYOND THE POINT OF BEING RESURFACED. TOTAL BILL = $1,200! I LATER FOUND OUT FORD HAD KNOWN ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE PADS, BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTICE FROM THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244077October 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE INVESTIGATION REOPENED FOR NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE07058 AND A RECALL BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AT THE SAME TIME THIS OCCURRED THE RADIO VOLUME WOULD DECREASE AS IF I WAS COMING TO A STOP, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD FAIL (JUST THE INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER), AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE REVERSE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. THIS WOULD LAST FROM A FEW SECONDS TO SEVERAL MINUTES AT A TIME. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AND GIVEN A VERBAL WARNING IN REGARDS TO MY REVERSE LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE POLICE ASSUMED MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE(BLOWN BULB/BROKE LENSES) AS MY REVERSE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE FORD DEALER NOW, THE DEALER DID SUPPLY ME WITH ANOTHER CAR UNTIL MINE WAS REPAIRED AS THEY DEEMED THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER HAS ORDERED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT I WILL BE LOOKING AT A $100-200 DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE AS THIS IS NOT DIRECTLY COVERED ON THE WARRANTY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT/DEATH OCCURS AS A RESULT OF THIS KNOWN EXISTING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243956September 29, 2008
STRUCTURE
WHEN IT RAINS OR WHEN I GO TO THE CARWASH RIGHT REAR DOOR FILLS WITH WATER THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME IT RAINS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242716September 17, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED WITH 35750 MILES DEALER STATES THE CAR NEEDS REAR BRAKES AND REAR ROTORS. THE REAR BRAKES PADS ARE SHOT AND THE ROTORS ARE GROOVED. DEALER STATES THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY UNDER THE FORD CAMPAIGN OF 07N10. DEALER STATES THIS CAMPAIGN ISSUE EXISTED ONLY WITH FORD FIVE HUNDRED MANUFACTURED ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 28, 2006. OURS SUPPOSEDLY WAS BUILT FEBRUARY 2007. FORD STATES THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT EXIST ON ANY FORD FIVE HUNDRED'S MANUFACTURED AFTER THE DATE OF NOVEMBER 28,2006. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242029September 12, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY
STARTED DRIVING MY 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEL FRONT WHEEL DRIVE AS I NORMALLY DO, EXCEPT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING, MY A/C TURNED OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER STOPPING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. ABOUT 40 MINUTES LATER A SIMILAR SITUATION OCCURRED, ONLY THIS TIME JUST THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. MY CRUISE CONTROL STILL WORKED BUT MY TACH, SPEED, BATTERY AND POWER GAUGE ALL DROPPED TO ZERO, HOWEVER THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON. I AM WRITING TODAY BECAUSE I SAW ONLINE THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL ARE HAVING IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF THE LIGHTS CUT OFF AT RANDOM. I'M SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ISSUED OR AN ACCIDENT YET AS A RESULT OF THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241763September 10, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND EXPERIENCES DIFFICULTY SWITCHING GEARS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THERE WAS SOME INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED 10/20/08.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237097August 5, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FOR THE PAST MONTH OR SO MY FORD FIVE HUNDRED (2005 @ 64,000 TEXAS HWY MILES) HAS BEEN SHIFTING HARD AND CHANGING GEARS ERRATICALLY, WHILE MAKING CLUNKING NOISES. WE TOOK IT TO OUR REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE MYSTIFIED SO THEY SENT IT TO THEIR TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY SHOP. IT TURNS OUT THAT THEY HAVE ANOTHER FIVE HUNDRED IN THE SHOP GETTING ITS TRANSMISSION REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. WE JUST HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND OIL CHANGED BUT THAT DID NOT HELP. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND THEY GAVE THEM THE CODES TO 'FLASH' THE NEWEST CODES INTO THE TRANSMISSION & THROTTLE COMPUTERS. NO CHANGE. THEY TESTED NEW TRANSMISSION MODULES WITH NO CHANGE. SO NOW THEY SAY THEY HAVE TO CHANGE OUT THE TRANSMISSION @ $4,300. THIS IS NOT GOOD! THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST SAYS THIS IS THE 4TH FIVE HUNDRED HE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH AND THAT THEY CANNOT GET PARTS TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION SO THEY HAVE NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO REPLACE IT. I CONTACTED MY FORD DEALER AND THEY ALSO SAY THEY CANNOT GET PARTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION. TOMORROW I AM GOING TO THE BIG GUYS AT FORD AND GET AN ANSWER FROM THEM ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236052July 24, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE
2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED WITH A PAINT DEFECT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PAINT BUT WAS STOPPED. HE ALSO DISCOVERED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR 2000 THRU 2005 MODELS DUE TO IRON CONTAMINATION. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE DISCOVERED A SMALL SECTION OF THE HOOD WITH CRACKED PAINT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234387July 15, 2008
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I HAVE A FORD FIVE HUNDRED LIMITED. THE CAR HAS STOP RUNNING WHILE THE CAR IS IN GEAR AND MOVING. IT ALSO STOPPED WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE FROM A STOP LIGHT. WHILE IT WAS BEING FIXED AT THE CAR DEALERSHIP IT STOP (DIED) ON THEM SEVERAL TIMES. THE FORD DEALER COMPANY THOUGHT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. THEY ALSO NOTICED THAT IF THEY WAS TO TURN THE WHEEL IT WOULD USUALLY DIE ON THEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY, POWERSTEERING PUMP, BELT AND THE THROTTLE AND THE CAR STILL DIES. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THEM IS THAT THEY HAVE NEVER COME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. WHAT MADE ME TAKE THE CAR IN TO BEGIN WITH WAS THAT I WENT TO START THE CAR AFTER PLAYING TENNIS FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES AND IT WOULDN'T START. THE BATTERY WAS SOMEWHAT DEAD AND THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS FLASHING RAPIDLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233551July 8, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A SCRAPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND REAR BRAKE FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED. THE PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. TSB NUMBER 10021463 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 12-15-08 *BF UPDATED 12/17/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233404July 7, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ACCELERATED TO SWITCH LANES; HOWEVER, THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT. HE HEARD A LOUD, BANGING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO JERK. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO REMAIN AT THE SPEED HE WAS TRAVELING BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE SAME FAILURE RECURRED THREE DAYS LATER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS DOWNSHIFTING FAILURE, AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231278June 17, 2008
STEERING, SUSPENSION:FRONT
CAR HAS DEVELOPED A NOISE IN FRONT END. A KNOCKING WHEN TURNING WHEEL AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE FORD DEALER HAS PUT NEW STRUTS, BEARING PLATES AND LINK PINS ON CAR. STILL HAS NOISE. I DROVE A NEW ONE SAT AND IT DID NOT DO THIS. THE DEALER TALKED TO FORD ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD " RELEASE THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL AND CHARACTERISTIC OF DESIGN IF NOISE IS THE SAME AND ALSO MINIMAL" IF A NEW ONE DOES NOT MAKE THIS NOISE, WHY DOES MINE? MY WIFE IS CONCERNED SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231200June 16, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I TOOK MY FORD 500 IN FOR THE REAR BRAKE RECALL,THEY REPLACED THE PADS ,BUT THE ROTORS WERE WITHIN LIMITS,SO THEY TURNED THEM DOWN. NOW WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR NORMAL BRAKE REPLACEMENT,I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ROTORS ON MY OWN. IN OTHER WORDS, FORD ONLY GAVE ME A SET OF PADS,WHICH SURE IS A CHEAP WAY OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230759June 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A WARNING LIGHT MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT READ, "OIL LIFE ZERO PERCENT CHANGE OIL." THE WARNING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT COULD NOT READ THE ODOMETER. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESET THE FAILURE, BUT THE MESSAGE REMAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE IT WAS CRITICAL TO READ THE ODOMETER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,750. UPDATED 07/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 07/15/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229345May 30, 2008
AIR BAGS
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228842May 24, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE NEW CAR REAR BRAKES HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE ROTORS AND WHEN WET THE BRAKE PADS EXPAND CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK EXCESSIVELY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY EXCESSIVE AT VERY VERY SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT HOURS AFTER A RAIN THE EXCESSIVE BRAKES CAN EVEN CAUSE NECK PAIN. MY CONCERN IS THAT EVEN THOUGH I KNOW FORD WILL REPLACE THESE BRAKE PADS AS PROMISED: I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE ROTORS THAT HAVE VERY EXCESSIVE WEAR WILL BE TUNED AND NOT REPLACED. IT APPEARS TO THE NAKED EYE THAT A QUARTER OF AN INCH HAS BEEN WORN OFF OF THE ROTORS, AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 12500 MILES ON IT. FORD IS AWARE OF THE BRAKE PROBLEM, BUT IS WAITING FOR THE EXCESSIVE WEAR TO REPLACE THE PADS. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226002April 29, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKES EXCESSIVE WEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225911April 28, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224884April 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER GO FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS CLOSE TO HER RESIDENCE AND DROVE THERE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHECKED THE FLUID LEVELS AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND THE PCM AND TCM WERE REPROGRAMMED. IN APRIL OF 2008, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE CENTER FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS CHARGED OVER $500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000. UPDATED 07/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 07/15/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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