17 of the 716 complaints about the 2005 Ford Five Hundred are about the lighting — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 74,500 miles.
17
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING DASH LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, GAS LEVEL, AND TEMPERATURE GO OUT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT A TIME. REVERSE LIGHTS COME ON AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. THIS IS DANGEROUS; UNABLE TO TELL SPEED! PER INTERNET RESEARCH THIS IS HAPPENING IN SEVERAL FORD MODELS AND STEMS FROM A BAD SOLDER JOINT.
NHTSA complaint #10749650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY WENT DARK AND/OR GAUGES WENT TO ZERO/OFF POSITIONS, WE PULLED OVER TO SEE IF EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED AND ALL DID, AS WELL AS BLINKERS AND FLASHERS, BUT WE NOTED THAT REVERSE LIGHTS WERE NOW ON. IT HAS RECURRED A FEW TIMES, ITS MOST NOTICEABLE AFTER DARK AS DASH LIGHTS GO BLACK. ONLY LIGHT ON DASH WAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT. I WENT ONLINE & FOUND INFO ON A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN "TSB 06-17-9 09/04/06 - INTERMITTENT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER", IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A RECALL ITEM SO ASSUMING ANY REPAIRS ARE ENTIRELY OWNER COST ?
NHTSA complaint #10576613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REPLACED LOW BEAM HEADLAMP ON DRIVER SIDE, NOTED ELECTRICAL BURN MARKS ON ONE TERMINAL. REPLACEMENT BULB DID NOT WORK, HAD TO WIGGLE TO GET IT TO WORK. QUIT WORKING DAILY WITHOUT WIGGLING WHOLE LIGHTING SOCKET , TOOK APART NOTICED THAT THE SOCKET HOUSING WAS BRITTLE AND CRACKED WITH BURN MARK ON METAL FEMALE LEAD. TWO TO THREE WEEKS LATER PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WOULD NOT WORK, WIGGLED PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT, CAME BACK ON. SOMETIMES BOTH LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AT SAME TIME. PROBLEM KEPT OCCURRING THROUGH AUGUST. FOUND THIS HAS OCCURRED ON OTHER FORD FIVE HUNDREDS DUE TO SOCKETS OVERHEATING. CHECKED PASSENGER SOCKET AND COMPARED TO DRIVER SIDE AND BOTH SOCKETS AND LIGHT BULBS LOOK IDENTICAL IN DAMAGE. BURNED/MELTED PLASTIC ON BULB BASE AND CRACKED BURNED SOCKETS. REPLACED BOTH SIDE BULBS AND SOCKETS LAST WEEKEND, BOTH LIGHTS WORKED FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE APPARENTLY FUSED THE SOCKET WITH THE BULB ON THE DRIVER SIDE. GUESSING THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL DO THE SAME WITHIN NEXT MONTH LIKE IT DID BEFORE.
NHTSA complaint #10538123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHT SOCKET ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE OVER HEATING AND MELTING CAUSING THE BULB NOT TO OPERATE. I'M JUST NERVOUS THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A FIRE AS ALL THE PARTS ARE PLASTIC. I ALSO NOTED ON LINE THAT IT IS A VERY REAL PROBLEM AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10484101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR REVERSE SENSOR WOULD ONLY OPERATE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS WOULD CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATE WHILE IN DRIVE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A HARD RESET ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10442648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HARNESS FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT MELTED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY EXCESS MOISTURE, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BECAME BRITTLE AND FRACTURED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE TOP MOTOR MOUNT HAD WORN. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THESE WERE MANUFACTURERS DEFECTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,700.
NHTSA complaint #10439179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SIMILAR ISSUE AS IN PE07058. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. IN THIS TIME I HAVE NO INSTRUMENTATION AVAILABLE, SPEED, RPM, FUEL, ETC. MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE, INCLUDING AIRBAG. ALL INTERIOR LIGHTING DIMS SIGNIFICANTLY. REVERSE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE EVEN WHILE IN PARK, OR DRIVING FORWARD.
NHTSA complaint #10436854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
05 FORD FIVE HUNDRED, AWD MALFUNCTION LIGHTS STAYED ON, SPEED FLUCTUATION UPWARD RAPIDLY WHEN TAKE OFF CAUSING VERY UNSAFE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10425272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD BECOME DARK INTERMITTENTLY WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD THE BACK UP LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NONE OF THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #10409238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD 500 4-DOOR SEDAN 2-1/2 YEARS AGO FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP. IT WAS DESCRIBED AS A "PROGRAM" CAR. I SOON NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY LIGHTS WOULD NOT LIGHT UP DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, EVEN THOUGH THE RHEOSTAT WAS SET ON MAXIMUM BRILLIANCE. I PROVED THIS BY DRIVING INTO A DARK PARKING GARAGE AND SAW THAT THE SAID LIGHTS TURNED ON AT MAXIMUM. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID FORD HAD WIRED THE LIGHTS THROUGH THE SOLAR SWITCH VIA THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND COULD NOT BE CHANGED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION WHEN DRIVING IN DAYLIGHT HOURS AND TO SEE THE INFORMATION O THE DASHBOARD THE RUNNING LIGHTS MUST BE TURNED OFF. IN MY OPINION THIS DEFECT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED WITH A RECALL. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10361868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AT FIRST OUR 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED HAD ISSUES WITH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURES (BLACKING OUT AND NEEDLES ZEROING ETC. BUT NOW REAR BACK UP LIGHTS COME ON GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS HAS TO BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL .THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10360193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2005 FORD 500 BOUGHT USED SEPTEMBER 2009 (AROUND 53,000 MILES CURRENT MILES 55,432) HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S LOW BEAM BURNING OUT. ON THE 3RD BULB REPLACEMENT IN LESS THAN A YEAR THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SOCKET CRUMBLED IN MY HANDS. I HAD TO REPLACE THE SOCKET AND REWIRE IT TO THE WIRING HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #10352968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM BULBS AND PLUGS ARE NOT SAFE. THEY HAVE MELTED AND MALFUNCTIONED ON BOTH SIDES. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DRIVER SIDE. I WORKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE PLUG/BULB CONNECTION SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. NOW THE PLUG ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS BURNED UP AS WELL. I HAVE SOMEWHAT DRAMATIC PHOTOS THAT I CAN SEND YOU. *TR STEVE
NHTSA complaint #10258716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE INVESTIGATION REOPENED FOR NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE07058 AND A RECALL BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AT THE SAME TIME THIS OCCURRED THE RADIO VOLUME WOULD DECREASE AS IF I WAS COMING TO A STOP, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD FAIL (JUST THE INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER), AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE REVERSE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. THIS WOULD LAST FROM A FEW SECONDS TO SEVERAL MINUTES AT A TIME. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AND GIVEN A VERBAL WARNING IN REGARDS TO MY REVERSE LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE POLICE ASSUMED MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE(BLOWN BULB/BROKE LENSES) AS MY REVERSE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE FORD DEALER NOW, THE DEALER DID SUPPLY ME WITH ANOTHER CAR UNTIL MINE WAS REPAIRED AS THEY DEEMED THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER HAS ORDERED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT I WILL BE LOOKING AT A $100-200 DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE AS THIS IS NOT DIRECTLY COVERED ON THE WARRANTY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT/DEATH OCCURS AS A RESULT OF THIS KNOWN EXISTING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10244077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
STARTED DRIVING MY 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEL FRONT WHEEL DRIVE AS I NORMALLY DO, EXCEPT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING, MY A/C TURNED OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER STOPPING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. ABOUT 40 MINUTES LATER A SIMILAR SITUATION OCCURRED, ONLY THIS TIME JUST THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. MY CRUISE CONTROL STILL WORKED BUT MY TACH, SPEED, BATTERY AND POWER GAUGE ALL DROPPED TO ZERO, HOWEVER THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON. I AM WRITING TODAY BECAUSE I SAW ONLINE THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL ARE HAVING IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF THE LIGHTS CUT OFF AT RANDOM. I'M SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ISSUED OR AN ACCIDENT YET AS A RESULT OF THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10242029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
STARTED DRIVING MY 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEL FRONT WHEEL DRIVE AS I NORMALLY DO, EXCEPT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING, MY A/C TURNED OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER STOPPING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. ABOUT 40 MINUTES LATER A SIMILAR SITUATION OCCURRED, ONLY THIS TIME JUST THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. MY CRUISE CONTROL STILL WORKED BUT MY TACH, SPEED, BATTERY AND POWER GAUGE ALL DROPPED TO ZERO, HOWEVER THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON. I AM WRITING TODAY BECAUSE I SAW ONLINE THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL ARE HAVING IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF THE LIGHTS CUT OFF AT RANDOM. I'M SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ISSUED OR AN ACCIDENT YET AS A RESULT OF THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10242029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
THE CONSUMER'S 2005 FORD 500 PROVIDED INSUFFICIENT LIGHTING IN THE DASH. *NM THIS PROBLEM AFFECTED THE CONSUMERS VIEW OF THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL GAUGE AND THE OIL UNIT(S).
NHTSA complaint #10114921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.