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Vehicle safety record

2005 Ford 500 Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 99 complaints about the 2005 Ford 500 with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (32) and the transmission & drivetrain (28). Those complaints describe 4 crashes, 1 fire and 5 injuries. There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 2006 has 68.

NHTSA data checked

DMore problems than a typical 500 year, for its age

#107 most complained-about 2005 vehicle

Complaints
99
Recalls
0
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
5
Deaths
0

Most common 2005 Ford 500 problems

Share of all 99 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

No recalls for the 2005 Ford 500

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Ford 500. Recalls can be announced at any time - this page updates daily.

What owners say

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99 complaints about the 2005 Ford 500

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 4.

Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford 500. While driving 70 mph, an unknown warning indicator illuminated while driving and the engine stopped running. The vehicle stopped accelerating and the contact had to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle did not restart and was left on the side of the road. Mike castrucci ford (1020 oh-28, milford, oh 45150, (513) 275-1048) stated that the vehicle had a shutdown feature and it would have to be towed in for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified. The vin was unknown. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11288716
AirbagsCrash1 injury

My 16 year old was involved in a single vehicle crash on may 2, 2019. Her airbags did not deploy and she has suffered a severe, traumatic brain injury and is unlikely to make any meaningful recovery

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11206581
Equipment & accessories1 injury

2005 Ford five hundred. Consumer writes in regard to malfunctions with the vehicles tire jack. *As the consumer stated when the jack raised the vehicle it twisted. A screw was bent on the jack causing the vehicle to drop and bump the consumer on the head. The consumer requested a new jack. *Js

Filed Incident EquipmentNHTSA 11206673
Other & unknown

The car shakes and makes lots of noise. Going up hill is the worst feels like the car is putting along.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11176618
Engine & cooling

While the car is started but at a stop, the car is fine. When the car has the gas petal pushed down, it will not move. The car stalls out while driving.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11163035
Acceleration & cruise control

This has been an issue in other ford models. Is there a recall? There needs to be a recall before I get run over by other vehicles when my engine stalls while trying to accelerate! It is extremely dangerous to enter or exit highways and beltways when one cannot be sure the car engine will remain operational, power steering guidance will remain available and another vehicle will not be able to avoid running into me. Very dangerous to everyone on the highway. I personally clean the throttle and this is still happening.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 11155136
Acceleration & cruise control

The car wants to accelerate on its own whenever I go from park to drive. This also happens while putting car in reverse. This is very dangerous and makes me very nervous.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 11152771
SuspensionBody, doors & structure

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford 500. The contact was unaware that the front and rear suspension were unstable. The police ticketed the contact for driving the vehicle after the rear of it swayed back and forth, which made it look unsafe. The vehicle was cautiously driven to an independent mechanic who placed the vehicle on a lift and diagnosed that the front driver and rear passenger wheel wells failed to function properly, causing the suspension to fail. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vin was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 230,000.

Filed Incident Suspension · StructureNHTSA 11128123
Engine & cooling

Vehicle sputtering during acceleration and fail safe engine light on

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11120611
Body, doors & structure

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford 500. When the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for routine maintenance, it was discovered that the entire subframe was severely rusted. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 11105146
Electrical systemAcceleration & cruise controlDriver assistance

Ford told me in 2012-2013 there was a recall on the instrument cluster, the previous car owner had brought to dealership and fix. Well the same issue is occurring now ( 138kmiles) I started the car 4/1 and the reverse lights stay on, dash board gauges are off ( no speed, rpm, fuel gauge working) the vents wont work. I continued to drive car for about 1-2 miles ( at felt like 35-45mph) and as I am driving the computer reset ( car did not turn off, this is still when the car is in motion) and all the gauges started...

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to work. Ford said that the recall is closed and there is nothing they can do except have me spend money for them to diagnose. The same problem is occurring on this car the ford recall suppose fixed in 2013. Ford needs to research this same issue as it is dangerous when this does occur. I would like a resolution to this issue. I do have a case # with ford case # 14495583.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Vehicle speed control · Electronic stability control (ESC)NHTSA 11082480
Other & unknown

My car wouldn't pick up speed then I receive a sudden thrust causing it to have a small jerk then takes off. Recently its been showing a ranch light know for throttle body issues code p2111 and p2104. This causes my car to stall in the middle of traffic especially on the highway which is a huge concern.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11066848
Transmission & drivetrain

Vehicle downshifts very hard when braking or when trying to pass someone and you give it gas and it downshifts to accelerate it's like the vehicle goes into neutral. I was doing 70mph with someone on my rear end on i-77n and when I tried to speed up to get out of his way car shifted really hard to where I thought something broke and started to slow down quickly. Since I had the cruise control on the car shot up to 7000 rpm. So I hit the break to shut off cruise control all the while this driver behind me was about...

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to get into my rear end I quickly moved into the right lane then over to the birm. At about 35mph the transmission engaged again and I immediately drove the car home. I took it to the ford dealership and they recommended a valve body replacement @$3000. I have read hundreds of blogs on this topic and hundreds of ford 500 owners says the rebuild repair does not fix the problem and they're just out $3k or even more and ford refuses to recall them and fix the cars

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11043409
Transmission & drivetrain

2005 Ford five hundred. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle experiences transmission shifting issues listed in technical service bulletin (08-24-1). *Smd the consumer stated the vehicle experienced a harsh shift in the transmission. The consumer was not notified of 2012 recall notice. The valve body needed to be replaced in addition to being reprogrammed. The consumer requested to have the failed parts recalled. Updated 09/11/2017*js

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10913413
Engine & cooling

I receives a ford advisement that a field service advisory #12n03 has been issued, I called ford they said the car is out of warranty. My car is dangerous to be on the road nhtsa should really look at my car it is barely drivable [[redacted]] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10992120
Transmission & drivetrainAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 ford 500. While driving various speeds, the transmission warning indicator illuminated without warning. In addition, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was diagnosed as needing either a valve body or transmission replacement. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 206,865

Filed Incident Power train · Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 10981442
Engine & cooling

My 2005 ford 500 goes into fail safe mode and stalls. What could be causing this problem? When traveling car just shuts down and fail safe mode comes up. This has been happening for the past two weeks. Very scary when traveling and car doesn't accelerate while in traffic.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10981253
Transmission & drivetrain

Car lurches/jerks while in drive and reverse forward also when switching gears even with your foot on the brake. While driving car drops gears with foot on the gas. Drastic decrease in acceleration. Car has dropped gears and acceleration while turning at intersections on city streets also on highway. This problem has also caused me to almost have accidents or cause property damage. Car does this at speeds from 0-55 miles per hour.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10978955
Body, doors & structure

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford 500. During the winter months, the driver side door latch froze and the driver side door did not open frequently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was determined not to be included in nhtsa campaign number: 06v383000 (latches/locks/linkages). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Incident Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 10947042
Body, doors & structure

I've had this vehicle since february 2016 every time it gets to cold both driver and passenger latches get frozen doors won't close. Witch can cause serious danger if door decides to open while driving . *Tr

Filed Incident Structure · Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 10939807
Electrical system

Throttle - engine shut off when pushing gas pedal. This has happened 3 times... When entering and exiting the beltway or hwy. Extremely dangerous. I've so far been able to drift onto shoulder of the road twice but the third time there was no shoulder. I was stuck in the traffic lane with no power. I had heart spasms due to fear of being run-over. This problem needs a recall issued. Similar problems have been identified in other ford models. I do not want to be killed or have this problem result in a serious...

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accident. I do not want to have a heart attack due to engine failure! Help! This has happened three times in november 2016. I'm fearful of going out to important appointments like my cancer treatments at mercy medical center that requires me to be on highways with speeds up to 60 mph. (Dates 11/19, 23 and 28/2016,)

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10929770
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford 500. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally failed to start. When the vehicle finally started, the check engine and maintenance warning indicators illuminated and the vehicle lost power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed, but no failures could be found. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 129,000. The vin was not available.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10917642
Fuel system

The vehicle was stopped and after letting off the brake it lunged forward.

Filed Incident Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10909840
Driver assistance

When car is at a stop car accelerates forward has no power when driving.

Filed Incident Electronic stability control (ESC)NHTSA 10892415
SuspensionWheels & tiresEngine & cooling

"Takata recall" when the vehicle is in motion while slowing down between 20-30mph it shifts hard. This happens when trying to pass other vehicles between 50-70 mph. The vehicle will make a bunch of thudding. When this occurs it makes the vehicles handling go out of control making it to where you swerve very hard.

Filed Incident Suspension · Wheels · EngineNHTSA 10885679

Ford 500: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
200737021Transmission & drivetrainB
200668043Acceleration & cruise controlC
200599041Engine & coolingD
All 500 years

2005 Ford 500 vs rivals

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 2005 Ford 500

Does the 2005 Ford 500 have any recalls?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Ford 500 right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford 500?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (32), transmission & drivetrain (28), electrical system (20).

How many complaints has the 2005 Ford 500 had?

99 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 3, 2012 and the latest on December 12, 2019. Of these, 4 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 5 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 2005 Ford 500 a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 29 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Ford 500 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Ford 500 years have the most complaints?
What should I do if my 2005 Ford 500 has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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