2005 Ford Five Hundred problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (101) · Power Train (55) · Power Train:automatic Transmission (48)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Five Hundred model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
441 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (50)
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.
Power Train 2024-05-24 · SSM 52567 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 phillips 66 versatrans® cvt plus fluid or kendall versatran
Engine And Engine Cooling 2024-02-08 · SSM 52243 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 the same transmission is acceptable. after 31-jan-2024, motorc
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2016-09-21 · SSM 46085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 when reading these pids and cannot display quickly enough to
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:differential Proportional Valve 2008-03-01 · 08-4-11 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
traction control lamp on--no dtc's present, or dtc p1889 in differential electronic module (dem). *nj
Service Brakes, Air 2007-11-28 · 0710 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 1/25/08. *nj
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2007-07-25 · 06245 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
transmission harsh shifting - no dtc's - mileage over 20,000 miles. *kb
Showing the 6 most recent of 50 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-08-19 · Power Train · 80,000 mi“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 her son was driving approxima…”
2024-03-09 · Engine“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 about 50 miles and drive up to s…”
2023-08-22 · Suspension · 💥 crash“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 car flew into the ditch and th…”
2023-07-08 · Wheels“while driving the front end suspension slips, bounces up and down very harshly, tires slip, squeak, and slide in an hard to control way, sometimes into oncoming traffic when in slightly damp conditions an on roads with any amount of bumps, to the point that i need to drive extremely slow to avoid danger which in turn puts my and my passengers and m…”
2023-07-08 · Fuel/Propulsion System“the engine keep going into limp mode. the car stalls out while at lights an stop signs, power steering goes out on highway an other roads making it impossible to steer or steer out of others ways, limp mode causes car to not be able to keep up with traffic on highway and other roads. engine jerks forward an shifts irractically an shifts an downsh…”
2022-07-12 · Power Train“while waiting at the light in traffic, my car all of a sudden accelerated, and decelerates, i have to push hard on the breaks in order for it to not slam into the cars infront of me.. this is really dangerous, from what i have been reading this is a wide spread issue that ford has ignored for years.. …”
2022-06-20 · Vehicle Speed Control“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.…”
2021-08-20 · Engine · 122,832 mi“the contact owns a 2005 ford five hundred. the contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the "fail safe engine mode" and check engine warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle stalled with the rpm revved up. the vehicle jerked while driving at an undisclosed speed. the dealer nor the independent mechanic was not made aware of the failure. …”
2021-02-16 · Vehicle Speed Control · 170,000 mi“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 hitting car in from of me. i was i…”
2020-10-26 · Power Train · 237,232 mi“i purchased the car used with the understanding that it had some issues with a misfire. upon initial inspection i fount the car was throwing the code p0351 i cleared all faults and problem went away weks went by and problem started again but more sever during normal operation the car started shaking and shifting erratic i then came upon some k form…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.