2005 Ford 500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (23) · Vehicle Speed Control (18) · Engine (15)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford 500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
84 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (1)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2012-11-29 · CSP-12N03 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 illuminate. models 2005-07 freestyle, 500, montego.
What owners report
2019-12-12 · Engine · 130,000 mi“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 4…”
2019-05-09 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“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…”
2019-05-08 · Equipment:mechanical:accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift“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…”
2019-02-12 · Unknown Or Other · 80,000 mi“the car shakes and makes lots of noise. going up hill is the worst feels like the car is putting along.…”
2018-12-21 · Engine“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.…”
2018-11-30 · Vehicle Speed Control · 168,000 mi“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 avai…”
2018-11-20 · Vehicle Speed Control · 150,000 mi“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.…”
2018-09-07 · Suspension · 230,000 mi“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 tha…”
2018-08-17 · Engine“vehicle sputtering during acceleration and fail safe engine light on…”
2018-07-02 · Structure:frame And Members · 150,000 mi“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. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.