Ford Five Hundred 2005–2007

Summary

3 model years in 1 generation, 1,277 owner complaints in total.
No model year stands out as the most complained-about of its generation.
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Half of the complaints that give a mileage were filed by 76,000 miles (1,132 of them give one).
Owners reported 67 crashes, 20 fires, 34 injuries and 0 deaths across these model years.
4 recalls and 2 federal investigations cover these model years.

Why there is no page per model year

A model year earns its own page when four sources cover it, it holds at least 50 complaints, and it can either be compared with the other years of its generation or shows one system in 40% or more of the complaints that name a component. No Five Hundred year clears that bar: the highest count is 609 complaints, in 2005. Rather than publish a thin page for each year, everything known about this model is on this page.

2005–2007

Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Fewer than three years of this generation are comparable, so no year is named.

Model year	All complaints	First three years	Most reported system	Note
2005	609	95	Powertrain
2006	432	44	Accelerator & Cruise Control	not compared
2007	236	25	Accelerator & Cruise Control	not compared

Every model year

A model year gets its own page when four sources cover it, it holds at least 50 complaints, and it either compares with the other years of its generation or shows one system in 40% or more of the complaints that name a component. The rest are listed here with their figures.

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Investigations	Bulletins	Combined MPG	Page
2005	609	3	2	51	19–21	listed here
2006	432	1	1	26	19–21	listed here
2007	236	2	1	10	19–21	listed here

What owners report across all years

System	Complaints	Share	Median mileage
Powertrain	358	29%	78,445 mi
Accelerator & Cruise Control	342	28%	80,000 mi
Engine	263	21%	85,000 mi
Electrical System	209	17%	84,000 mi
Fuel & Propulsion	137	11%	79,843 mi

Shares are over complaints that name a component; a complaint naming several systems is counted under each.

Powertrain

Owner report The contact owns a 2005 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal knocking sound. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics, where the flywheel was replaced twice with used parts because the part had been discontinued. The contact stated that while…

Owner report It's starting not going into highway gears (5&6) just revs real high and when it does finally, it kicks really hard. Sounds and feels like it's going to drop out from under the car.

Accelerator & Cruise Control

Owner report while we are in idel for a period of time the car wants to surge forward without pushing on the gas. it wants to rev withough the has pedal being pushed. It does it at red lights, stop signs, and if Im in a drive through.

Owner report I WAS AT RED LIGHT PERSON CROSSING ROAD I WAS I. DRIVE FOOT ON BRAKE, RPMS SHOT UP ENGINE REEVES CAT LUNGED FORWARD I PRESSED HARDER IN BRAKE ALMOST HIT PERSON. AT THE TIME NO WARNING LIGHTS. THEN AT PHARMACY DRIVE THRU W CAR I. FROM AND I. BACK OF ME CAR DID SAME THING. I HAD TO PRESS BRAKE HARD TO PREVENT MOVING HITT…

Engine

Owner report I am having problem with the reset button in my 2005 five hundred ford, the oil light stays on after oil changes, no one does not know how to reset, the reset button does not work, several mechanic told me not to worry about it , but the car can't pass the smog, it reads not ready, they told my to take a ride for ab…

Owner report I have 2 very serious and dangerous issues. The 1st issue, the car will shut off while driving and without warning. I'll be cruzing down the highway and out of no where it shuts off. I then do not have breaks or power stearing. This last Winter my daughter was driving it and it shut off while she was on black ice. The …

Largest recalls

Campaign	Component	Filed	Vehicles
06V383000	LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH	2006-10-05	139,537
05V515000	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING	2005-11-09	123,206
06E056000	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE	2006-06-13	58,640
11V355000	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP	2011-07-13	2,945

Whether a recall has been done on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Open investigations

None open.

Service bulletins

Ford issued 87 service bulletins covering these model years, most often about power train.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so a bulletin listed here may not be specific to one year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2024-05-24	POWER TRAIN	Motorcraft® Continuously Variable Chain-Type Transmission Fluid (XT-7-QCFT in non-Canadian markets, CXT-7-LCF12 in Canada) is no longer manufactured and will only be available until inventory depletes. The recommended replacement fluids are…
2024-02-08	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	When performing any transmission fluid change or topoff involving MotorcraftÂ® Premium ATF, MERCONÂ® V has replaced all versions of MotorcraftÂ® Premium ATF and can be used going forward. Mixing MotorcraftÂ® Premium ATF and MERCONÂ® V in th…
2016-09-21	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER	The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate …
2012-11-29	ENGINE	FORD: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. MOMENTARY ENGINE IDLE RPM SURGE MAY BE INTERMITTENT AND MAY OCCUR, DUE TO DEPOSITS BUILDUP IN THROTTLE BODY, AT LOW SPEEDS, WHILE PARKING OR ENTERING DRIVEWAY AND CHECK ENGINE LAMP MAY …
2008-03-01	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE	TRACTION CONTROL LAMP ON--NO DTC'S PRESENT, OR DTC P1889 IN DIFFERENTIAL ELECTRONIC MODULE (DEM). *NJ
2007-11-28	SERVICE BRAKES, AIR	FORD MERCURY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. CERTAIN 2005 THROUGH 2007 FWD AND AWD FORD FIVE HUNDRED, FREESTYLE AND MERCURY MONTEGO VEHICLES - REAR BRAKE WEAR. ALSO HAVE AN OWNER'S LETTER. *NJ UPDATED …
2007-04-01	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	MIL WITH DTC P0106 AND/OR P0109. *KB
2006-08-01	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY	BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *KB
2006-01-01	SUSPENSION:REAR	NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION - COLD ONLY. *TT
2006-01-01	SUSPENSION:FRONT	GRUNT OR SQUEAK FROM FRONT SUSPENSION DURING FULL LOCK TURNS - SERVICE TIP. *TT

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more after news coverage or a recall. That is why years are compared only with other years of the same generation, over the same span, and never with other models.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications (data as of 2026-10-28).
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines and fuel economy.

This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection.