Ford FIVE HUNDRED problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,074 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 to 2007 model years. Data snapshot: . 950 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 289 of 1,074 complaints (26.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 278 | 25.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 209 | 19.5% |
| Engine operation | 116 | 10.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 54 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 23 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 289 |
| Power Train | 187 |
| Electrical System | 138 |
| Engine | 115 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 107 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 58 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 51 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 50 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 289; Power Train: 187; Electrical System: 138; Engine: 115; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 107; Engine And Engine Cooling: 58; Fuel/Propulsion System: 51; Fuel System, Gasoline: 50
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 130 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 159 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 221 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 196 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 166 |
| 150,000 and above | 78 |
Under 25,000: 130; 25,000 to 49,999: 159; 50,000 to 74,999: 221; 75,000 to 99,999: 196; 100,000 to 149,999: 166; 150,000 and above: 78
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (221). 124 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2006 | 57 |
| 2007 | 60 |
| 2008 | 40 |
| 2009 | 68 |
| 2010 | 137 |
| 2011 | 229 |
| 2012 | 171 |
| 2013 | 66 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 33 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 21; 2006: 57; 2007: 60; 2008: 40; 2009: 68; 2010: 137; 2011: 229; 2012: 171; 2013: 66; 2014: 65; 2015: 28; 2016: 33; 2017: 19; 2018: 19; 2019: 26; 2020: 17; 2021: 7; 2022: 5; 2023: 4; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 278 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 209 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 116 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10344302 · 2010-07-20 (July 20, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN PERTAINING TO THE BRAKES. THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE RECALL ADVISED CONSUMERS WITH 15,000 MILES OR MORE ON THEIR VEHICLE TO HAVE THE REMEDY PERFORMED AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT DRIVE OFTEN AND ONLY ACCRUED 2,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE PER YEAR; THEREFORE, HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL AS THOUGH THE IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN WAS ADEQUATE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OFFER AN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10344302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123895 · 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)
PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION ON 2005 FORD 500'S. NUMEROUS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ADDRESS REAR BRAKE AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. LEMON LAW CRITERIA MEET IN COLORADO, SUBMITTED CERTIFIED MAIL AND IT TOOK FORD OVER A WEEK TO ACCEPT LETTER, ONLY AFTER I VISITED ATTORNEY GENERAL. CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AT SPEED LIMIT ON I-80 CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. AS OF TODAY THE CAR IS AT THE FORD DEALER AGAIN. FORD REGIONAL REP SAYS THEY WON'T TAKE IT BACK. TUESDAY 4/19/2005 MILES IN TO DEALER 2091 MILES PROBLEMS GOING TO LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, COULD NOT HO…
Owner-reported narrative. 714 miles reported. Look up ODI 10123895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114184 · 2005-03-16 (March 16, 2005)
VEHICHLE CONSTANTLY SHIFTING. "SEARCHES" FOR FOR CORRECT GEAR. HAD COMPUTER REPLACED AND A WEEK LATER REOCCURRED. REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER AGAIN AND REOCCURRED. FORD UNABLE TO REPAIR. LOSING 6-8 MPG.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134980 · 2005-09-23 (September 23, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD 500 SEL. THE VEHICLE WAS MADE WITH A SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN GOING DOWN HILL IT HAS A OVERDRIVE IN THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPEED UP GOING DOWN HILL AND IF PRESSING THE BRAKES FOR A LONG DISTANCE, THE BRAKES WILL GET HOT. MANUFACTURER TOLD HIM THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY TO TURN THE OVERDRIVE OFF. HE OWNED OTHER FORD VEHICLES THAT HAD THE OPTION TO TURN TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10134980 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114186 · 2005-03-16 (March 16, 2005)
VEHICHLE CONSISTENTLY FAILS TO START ON THE FIRST TRY. HARD STARTS, DIESELING, AND STALLING ARE CONSTANT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155048 · 2006-04-11 (April 11, 2006)
STARTING IN DECEMBER WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS STARTING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. WE HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THREE OTHER TIMES FOR OTHER WARRANTY PROBLEMS. WHEN YOU GO TO START THE CAR IS TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START OR IT WILL START THEN DIE. WHEN IT ACTED UP WE ALSO HAD A LOSS OF POWER ONCE IT WOULD START THE SECOND TIME IT WENT TO DEALER FOR THE PROBLEM WE COULD NOT GET IT STATED AT ALL AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. AFTER THE LAST REPAIR IT NOW IS GETTING ONLY ABOUT 19 MILES TO THE GALLON IN COMBINED DRIVING.…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158052 · 2006-05-22 (May 22, 2006)
BATTERY ACID EATS AWAY PLASTIC TRANSMISSION CABLE LINKAGE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10158052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169368 · 2006-09-27 (September 27, 2006)
BRAND NEW 2005 FORD 500 PURCHASED ON SEPTEMBER 24 2005 BEGAN AT 15000 MILES WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 30,000 MILES. MY JOB IS 100% SALES AND MY CAR IS MY ONLY REVENUE PROVIDER. AT 35,000 CAR SHOWING PROBLEMS WHEN HITTING THE GAS, IT WOULD NOT RUN. AT 39,000 MILES AN ELECTRIC SHORT CIRCUIT. AT 39,000 I ASKED THE DEALER TO RECHECK THE WHOLE CAR THAT IT WAS SHOWING TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. AT 43,000 MILES NOW IS SITTING IN THE FORD DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED AT SINCE LAST FRIDAY SEPT 22,2006. THE FORD DEALER MECHANICAL …
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149187 · 2006-02-01 (February 1, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS PULLED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID A CURB AND THE STEERING FAILED. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE CONTACT WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE KNUCKLE, PISTON, AND SPRING WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/28/06
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10212228 · 2007-12-18 (December 18, 2007)
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MILES PER HOUR A LOUD NOISE EMANATED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, ENGINE RPMS RACED FROM 1500 TO 4500, A CLATTERING NOISE FOLLOWED SOUNDING LIKE A METAL SPOON DROPPED INTO A RUNNING GARBAGE DISPOSAL, CAR DRAMATICALLY SLOWED COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION CONTROL, STEERING CONTROL UNCERTAIN AS CAR WANDERED. NO UNUSUAL EVENTS OCCURRED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, ITS OCCURRENCE CAME WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. EVENT OCCURRED ON TWO LANE RURAL ROAD,VEHICLES FOLLOWING AND ONCOMING HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,016 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158786 · 2006-06-01 (June 1, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS STICKING INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD NOT INDICATE THE PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. EVENTUALLY THE GAUGE WOULD NOT OPERATE AT ALL. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FUEL QUALITY AND ADDED FUEL ENHANCERS TO THE FUEL TANK. CURRENTLY THE FUEL GAUGE HAS BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT MAINTAINED IF THERE WAS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM WITH FUEL QUALITY THE PROPER AUTHORITIES SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. UPDATED *AK UPDATED 6/20/2006 - *NM UPDATED 06/19/06- THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THA…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186512 · 2007-03-29 (March 29, 2007)
LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING; WOULD SPUTTER ON TAKE OFF FROM A STOP; WOULD HESITATE WHILE PRESSING ACCELERATOR; STALLED; TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER -- THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 61,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186512 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 |
2004: 0; 2005: 2; 2006: 0; 2007: 1