Ford Five Hundred Complaints (2005)

510 consumer complaints on file.

#10378181January 21, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASH GAUGES, LIGHTS, INOPERABLE. STUCK IN VARIOUS POSITIONS. TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERABLE AND REVERSE LIGHTS ARE ON IN THE DRIVE POSITION. REVERSE WARNING INDICATORS BEEP WHEN IN TRAFFIC AT STOP LIGHTS OR WHEN OTHER VEHICLES GET CLOSE TO REAR OF VEHICLE. AIR BAG INOPERABLE WARNING LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME. EXISTING RESEARCH BY NHTSA INDICATES EXTERIOR LIGHTING WORKING ON PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES TURN SIGNALS AND REVERSE LIGHTS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN CLUSTER FAILS. POSSIBLE AIR BAG FAILURE COUPLED WITH INOPERABLE TURN SIGNALS AND INCREASED RISK OF ACCIDENT AS WELL AS REVERSE LIGHTS ON IN DRIVE ARE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378074January 20, 2011
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374372January 2, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
APPARENTLY, I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO BRING THIS ISSUE TO THE NHTSA'S ATTENTION. I LIKE SO MANY OTHER, HAVE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY INSTRUMENT PANEL ON MY FORD FIVE HUNDRED. I WOULD LIKE FOR A RECALL TO BE ISSUED AS IT HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME AN ACCIDENT TODAY, AND CAN LEAD TO OTHER HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR OTHERS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON MY CAR HAS FAILED COMPLETELY, AND MY SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND ALL OTHER GAUGES SHUT OFF. WHENEVER I DRIVE MY CAR, THE REVERSE (OR WHITE) LIGHT TURNS ON DESPITE THE FACT THAT I MIGHT BE DRIVING FORWARD AT 55MPH ON A HIGHWAY. I THINK CORRECTIVE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TOWARDS A RESOLUTION. THERE ARE COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS REGARDING THIS VERY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374418January 1, 2011
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BLACKED OUT AND WHEN IT CAME BACK ON THE INSTRUMENTS ALL REGISTERED 0. AFTER THE INITIAL INCIDENT IT HAS CONTINUED TO ESCALATE. ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 26, 2010 THE PANEL BLACKED OUT AND THE CAR BOGGED DOWN AND I HAD TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD, TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART TO GET IT TO RUN NORMALLY. THERE IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372546December 27, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO HAD THE PANEL RESTORED. THE DEALER COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN AS THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373011December 26, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372385December 25, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368432November 30, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE REVERSING MY CAR IT WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN ACCELERATE QUICKLY ON ITS OWN, I IMMEDIATELY STEP ON THE BRAKES AND MY CAR STALLS. ON THE DASH BOARD "FAIL SAFE ENGINE MODE" APPEARS ON MY CONSOLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 7 TIMES NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367962November 27, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363844November 3, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363803November 2, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361868October 23, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD 500 4-DOOR SEDAN 2-1/2 YEARS AGO FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP. IT WAS DESCRIBED AS A "PROGRAM" CAR. I SOON NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY LIGHTS WOULD NOT LIGHT UP DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, EVEN THOUGH THE RHEOSTAT WAS SET ON MAXIMUM BRILLIANCE. I PROVED THIS BY DRIVING INTO A DARK PARKING GARAGE AND SAW THAT THE SAID LIGHTS TURNED ON AT MAXIMUM. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID FORD HAD WIRED THE LIGHTS THROUGH THE SOLAR SWITCH VIA THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND COULD NOT BE CHANGED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION WHEN DRIVING IN DAYLIGHT HOURS AND TO SEE THE INFORMATION O THE DASHBOARD THE RUNNING LIGHTS MUST BE TURNED OFF. IN MY OPINION THIS DEFECT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED WITH A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360363October 13, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS; AND THE BRAKE LINING KIT WAS REPLACED UNDER A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED THREE YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ROTORS AND BRAKE LINING KIT WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,400. UPDATED 02/17/11*LJ UPDATED 05/02/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360193October 12, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359167October 4, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357709September 26, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356581September 20, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354670September 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2005 FORD 500 AWD MALFUNCTION, FORDS REFUSAL TO OFFER ANY COMPENSATION FOR A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353891September 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353901September 4, 2010
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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