99 of the
1,527 complaints filed about the Ford Five Hundred
are about the braking system —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
THE BRAKES ARE SPONGY. VERY SELDOM THEY WILL BE NORMAL. MOST OF THE TIME THEY WILL BE SOFT AND HAVE TO BE PUMPED. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WILL BE FIRM FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND THEN THE PEDAL WILL SINK TO THE FLOORBOARDS. THIS OCCURS DURING DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND STOPPING AND ALSO OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARKED. BRAKES HAVE BEEN PROFESSIONALLY SERVICED INCLUDING HOOKED TO A COMPUTER FOR PROPER BLEEDING. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #11307809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE STOPING AT RED LIGHT CAR STALLS BUCKLES DOSE NOT GO OVER 50 MPH AS IT HITS 50 MPH RPMS GO TO6000 SPEED STAYS ON 50 MPH AND I CAN'T GO ON A HIGH WAY CAUSE I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC NOISE COMING FROM MOTER CAR GOT HOT GOING UP HILLS IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER AND IT JUST ALL AROUND RUNS LIKE [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11244657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN CAR IS ON, WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF OF BRAKE OR REVERSING, CAR SURGES OR JUMPS FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11244415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRIED TO PULL OUT ON TO HWY. THE FAIL SAFE LIGHT CAME ON AND SHUT DOWN ENGINE. COULD NOT STEER OR CONTROL CAR AT ALL, WAS VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A BAD ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10622073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED IN 2007 FOR THE SAME FAILURE WHERE THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AN IMPROPER WELDING HOWEVER, THE ISSUE RECENTLY RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES, AIR CONDITIONER AND MOTOR MOUNTS HAD ALSO FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,200.
NHTSA complaint #10574385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FROM STOP WHEN BRAKE RELEASED. FROM SEPT 2006 UNTIL PRESENT. APPROX $3000 EACH TIME. HIT GARAGE WALL. (APPROX 5 COLLISIONS WITH WALL) STILL DOES IT. FINALLY FOUND OUT WHEN & WHY.
NHTSA complaint #10534284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I STARTED MY CAR TO LEAVE, THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT RELEASE RIGHT (WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR), THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH, AND I COULD TELL THE PARKING BRAKES WERE STILL ENGAGED. SINCE THE PARKING BRAKES WERE STILL ENGAGED, MY REAR WHEELS WERE LOCKED UP. MY CAR THEREFORE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF THIS PROBLEM FOR MY FORD 2006 FIVE HUNDRED. I HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10525318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND HAVING TO BRAKE ABRUPTLY, THERE WAS A HESITATION IN BRAKING RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THREE SETS OF REAR BRAKE PADS WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO DIM. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF AND NOTICED THAT THE PIG TAIL SOCKET HAD SHORTENED. THE PIG TAIL SOCKET WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10487573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1ST ISSUE: WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO JUMP FORWARD EVEN WHILE THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. I WORRY ABOUT REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THEN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK, THE CAR BEGINS TO REV OR IDLE HIGH AS IF THE ACCELERATOR HAS BEEN PRESSED. 2ND ISSUE: WHILE IN PARK OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OF 30-35MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL QUITS WORKING AND THE A/C STOPS AS IF THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. IT'LL THEN COME BACK ON AND WILL CONTINUE TO COME ON AND OFF. THE BAD THING IS THAT THE HAZARD LIGHTS WON'T EVEN WORK. THERE'S NO WARNING. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPAIRED LAST YEAR IN 2011 WHEN WE FOUND OUT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY NOR A RECALL ISSUED.
NHTSA complaint #10464304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS NEW I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND ONLINE, THAT THE OPTIONAL BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT ROCKER SWITCH IS WIRED IMPROPERLY. THAT IS, WIRED IN REVERSE. THE MOUNTED SWITCH CLEARLY DEPICTS A FOOT OVER A PEDAL IN THE CENTER WITH AN ARROW POINTING 'UP' AT THE TOP OF THE SWITCH AND AN ARROW POINTING 'DOWN' AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SWITCH. THIS CONTROLS THE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF BOTH PEDALS FROM THE FLOOR AND IS DESIGNED TO PLACE THE PEDALS WITHIN REACH OF THE OPERATOR. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY HAVE DEPRESSED THIS SWITCH WHILE IN MOTION PUSHING THE TOP PORTION OF THE ROCKER SWITCH ASSUMING THE PEDALS WOULD RISE 'UP' AS INDICATED BY THE ARROWS ON THE SWITCH. WRONG!! PRESSING THE SWITCH IN THE UPWARD POSITION 'LOWERS' THE PEDALS TO THE FLOOR, WHILE PRESSING THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SWITCH, WITH THE ARROW POINTING 'DOWN', ACTUALLY RAISES THE PEDALS UP, CLOSER TO THE OPERATOR. AFTER PRESSING THE SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES IN THE UP POSITION AND BELIEVING THE PEDALS WERE AT THEIR MAXIMUM HEIGHT, SEVERAL OF THE DRIVERS IN THE HOUSE WHOM HAVE SHORT LEGS, WERE IMMEDIATELY PANICKED AND DESPERATELY BEGAN TRYING TO COMPENSATE BY READJUSTING THE SEAT TO BE WITHIN REACH OF THE BRAKE! A SCARY AND DANGEROUS CONDITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION! IF FORD REFUSES TO SIMPLY REVERSE THE OPERATION OF THE SWITCH, MAYBE A SAFETY INTERLOCK COULD BE DEVISED TO PREVENT OPERATION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10463867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE STUCK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN TRYING TO LET OFF THE GAS, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD ALMOST PLOWING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS OCCURRED ON 06/20/2012. DURING SUMMER 2011, THIS SAME TYPE OF BEHAVIOR OCCURRED 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. THE ENTIRE PROCESS BEGINS WITH THE CAR BEING AT A COMPLETE STOP, THEN WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS, THE CAR'S ENGINE REV'S AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD REQUIRING THE DRIVER TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS FROM HITTING OTHER DRIVERS/PEDESTRIANS. WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES THIS LURCHING FORWARD MOTION, SEVERAL RED LIGHTS COME ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ALSO THE COMPUTER READS AN ERROR OF "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE". POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES HAVE BEEN LOST WHILE THIS EVENT OCCURS AS WELL. SEEMS AS IF IT COULD BE AFFECTED BY WARMER WEATHER BECAUSE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE TWO YEARS AND HAVE ONLY HAD THIS HAPPEN DURING WARMER (90 DEGREE OR MORE) WEATHER. DURING SUMMER 2011, TWO OCCURRENCES HAPPENED THAT ALSO ALMOST CAUSED COLLISIONS. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON A SUMMER NIGHT IN A PARKING GARAGE. AS I WAS COMING INTO A STOP IN A PARKING SPACE, THE ENGINE LURCHED FORWARD AND CAME APPROXIMATELY 4-5 INCHES FROM HITTING A CONCRETE WALL. DURING THE OTHER OCCURRENCE, I WAS STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT AND CAME CLOSE TO RUNNING OVER A PEDESTRIAN DUE TO LURCHING FROM CAR. WHEN CAR ENTERS "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE' AND LURCHES FORWARD, CAR MUST BE PARKED AND RESTARTED FOR THE VEHICLE TO RUN NORMALLY AGAIN. ALSO, IT ONLY HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS (I.E. WHEN SLOWING THE CAR BELOW 5 MPH OR FIRST BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR WHILE STILL BELOW 5 MPH). OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.FORDTAURUS.NET/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=5&T=9366 AND ALSO: HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2007/FORD/FIVE+HUNDRED/10439966
NHTSA complaint #10462801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE BOUGHT MY CAR IN JULY 2011, ITS WAS GARAGED BY THE 1ST OWNER SO IT WAS LIKE BRAND NEW!! LOW MILES JUST 12,850 , START WHAT NOW SEEMS TO BE THE ENDLESS DRIVES IN A RENTAL CAR AND WITH EMPTY WALLETS TOTALING NOW APPROX; CLOSE TO AN ADDITIONAL $3,500 NOW IN REPAIRS FROM THE BATTERY IN AUG 2011 TO NOW TO HAVING THE THROTTLE BEING REPLACE ALONG WITH A SET IF TIRES AND THE 2ND SET OF BOTH REAR AND FRONT BRAKES IN LESS THEN A YEAR , ALL DUE TO THE CONSENT STOPPING AND GOING OF THE CAR BY HITTING THE BRAKES TOO MUCH AND HAVING TO ACCELERATE, BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD WHILE TEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF MY GARAGE AT WHAT SHOULD OF BEEN A MERE 3MILES PER HOUR; RESULTED IN FLYING BACKWARDS SUDDENLY WHILE FOOT WAS APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES TO KEEP FROM MOWING DOWN MY TEENAGE SON AT 15 MILES A HOUR ON ITS OWN WITH THE MP RISING RAPIDLY , WAS THE SCARE OF MY LIFE!!!! PLEASE SOMEONE RECALL THIS CAR , BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY DOES GET KILLED OR HURT!!! AS OF TODAY THE TOTAL THIS TIME TO REPAIR MY CAR IS AT A TOTAL IF$ 1,585.00; TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE AND TIRES & BRAKES AGAIN, AND FORD WOULDN'T EVEN COMP, US A RENTAL CAR THIS TIME ON OUR 5 TRIP DOWN TO THE SERVICE DEPT OF FORD!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10446102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CHECKS NORMAL ON MOST START-UPS, BUT UNPREDICTABLY ALL SYSTEMS LIGHT UP SHOWING FAILURE OF ABS, AIR BAGS, TRACTION CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, SEE A MECHANIC, CRUISE CONTROL AND SPEEDOMETER QUITS WORKING. THE WARNING LIGHTS MAY STAY LIT FOR 2 TO 200 MILES. AND NO SPEEDOMETER. AUTO ZONE AND MY MECHANIC ARE BAFFLED AND FRUSTRATED AFTER CHECKING BATTERY CHARGING CIRCUIT CONNECTIONS AND GROUNDS. ITS OBVIOUSLY NOT SAFE DRIVING WITHOUT KNOWING YOUR SPEED OR IF THERE IS A MAJOR HAZARD LOOMING-----LIKE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10430388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ATTEMPTED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE TWENTY TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,600 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 06/06/11 *BF UPDATED 09/19/11
NHTSA complaint #10399570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. AS THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND HIT A SHOPPING CART, WHICH IN TURN THE CART HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THE PADS AND ROTORS HAD WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000. UPDATED 05/24/11*LJ UPDATED 08/10/11
NHTSA complaint #10397989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2005 FORD 500. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE RIGHT PASSENGER FRONT BALL JOINT TIGHTENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER DOES NOT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE. THE BALL JOINT BECOMES LOOSE CAUSE THE FRONT END TO COME OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND WILL JERK THE CAR ACROSS THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10392980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1, PURCHASED MAY 2006 2, JULY 2007 LETTER FROM FORD EXTENDING WARRANTY ON REAR BRAKES. 3,MAY 2008 FORD REPLACED REAR BRAKES UNDER RECALL # 07N10N. 23,927 MILES ON CAR. 4, REAR BRAKES REPLACED 50,085 MILES 5, THE BRAKES REPLACED UNDER RECALL WERE THE SAME POOR QUALITY AS THEY REPLACED. 6, DEALER OFFERED NO HELP. 7, FORD SAID THAT ALL THEY WILL DO. 8,I FEEL THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE BRAKES WITH BETTER BRAKES THAT THE POOR QUALITY THEY USED ON THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10392516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS; AND THE BRAKE LINING KIT WAS REPLACED UNDER A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED THREE YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ROTORS AND BRAKE LINING KIT WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,400. UPDATED 02/17/11*LJ UPDATED 05/02/11
NHTSA complaint #10360363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING PREMATURE PAD AND ROTOR WEAR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND/OR DRAGGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS. THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEELS NEEDED NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS. THE CONSUMER STATED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE BRAKES IN 2007, BECAUSE FORD KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM. ALSO, THE BLOWER MOTOR BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE GASKET BETWEEN THE CRANK SHAFT SUPPORT HOUSING WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10358693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.