32 of the
1,527 complaints filed about the Ford Five Hundred
are about the lighting —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
when I’m The vehicle and the temperature reaches middle temp ,the car starts to beep and all the dashboard lights go completely out and the head lights and tail lights be blinking as if they are about to go off . Even when I have the heater or a/c on they turns off and I’m a afraid that if or when I’m on the highway all my lights will just stop working on the middle of the highway at night and no one will be able to see me. And that will cause a big wreck and maybe kill myself or worst someone else. I have looked my car up to see if it has a recall but none are given. I’m afraid for the safety of my fellow drivers on the at night . And I don’t know what to do about this problem.
NHTSA complaint #11444954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAUSE UNKNOWN- BATTERY LIGHT IS COMING ON MORE WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING IN ALL MODES, LOCAL AUTO STORE DETERMINED IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THEY TESTED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR & STARTER. ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE IS A MUSTY SMELL & MANY ( IF NOT ALL) OF MY METAL PARTS ARE RUSTED.
NHTSA complaint #11297823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT SOCKET BURNS OUT THE BULB. THE BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS. THE ENTIRE LIGHT SOCKET UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE TECH INFORMED ME THAT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11268024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DOOR FROZE SHUT AND EVER SINCE MANUALLY OPENING THE MESSAGE CENTER STATES DRIVER DOOR AJAR AND PASSENGER DOOR AJAR AND THEY ARE NOT. BUT I CAN'T RESET DRIVER CONTROLS UNTIL DOORS SHOW CLOSED. HAVE RUN CODE IN MY CAR AND ONLY CODE IS P0193 FUEL RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR. NO CODES FOR DOORS.
NHTSA complaint #11234304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PULLED IN DROP OFF A DONATION AT A SECOND HAND STORE. I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE; OPENED THE TRUNK; AND LOOKED UP STARTLED WHEN A GUY SITTING NEARBY SAID THAT MY CAR WAS SMOKING AND ON FIRE (ABOUT 10 SECONDS SINCE I SWITCHED THE CAR OFF AND GOT OUT). HE WAS ON THE RIGHT, SO I MOVED AROUND THE CAR TO THE RIGHT LOOKING TOWARDS THE ENGINE. AN EMPLOYEE OF THE STORE THAT WAS ON THE BACK, LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR POINTED TOWARDS AND SAID, 'LOOK! YOUR SIDE MIRROR IS ON FIRE!' I THEN SAW THE SMOKE BILLOWING TO THE LEFT (A STRONG AFTERNOON BREEZE WAS BLOWING NORTH). I CAME AROUND AND PEERED IN BEHIND THE ACTUAL 'MIRROR' PART; THE FIRE HAD JUST GONE OUT. LOOKING AT IT, I COULD SEE IT WAS THE SECURITY LIGHT ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE MIRROR; IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND FUSED TO THE MIRROR HOUSING- A BUBBLY MESS OF PLASTIC. IT SMELLED OF ACRID, MELTED PLASTIC AND BURNED ELECTRONICS. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE MIRROR HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND STARTED BURNING FOR A BIT BEFORE THE FUSE FINALLY BLEW. I AM SO GLAD MY BABY AND KINDERGARTENER WEREN'T IN THE CAR AT THIS TIME! THEY USUALLY ARE. THE LENGTH OF TIME OF TIME IT TOOK FOR THE FUSE TO FINALLY BLOW IS QUITE ALARMING! IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE RAPID SPREAD OF A FIRE THAT WOULD QUICKLY OVERTAKE THE VEHICLE. WHAT IF I WAS AT A GAS STATION WHEN THIS HAPPENED WHEN THEIR HAPPENED TO BE SOME PETROL-VAPOR PRESENT. MY NEXT STOP WAS TO GET TWO PROPANE TANKS FILLED. THEY HAVE TO BLEED OFF A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PROPANE EACH TIME WHEN FINISHED FILLING A TANK. IT ISN'T FAR FETCHED THAT THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH FAILED SAFEGUARDS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FAR MORE INJURY THAN MY SLIGHTLY BURNED FINGERS. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS TO SOMEONE. THIS IS A FANTASTIC CAR! WE LOVE IT. THIS IS PROBABLY AN EASY FIX, BUT IF IT ISN'T FIXED, MUCH WORSE COULD HAPPEN!
NHTSA complaint #11140496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, THE REVERSE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTROL PANEL AND DRIVER SIDE BLINKERS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10915641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
CPSC: I1390188A. 2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT FRONT HEAD LIGHT CAUGHT ON FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE HAVING BEEN PARKED FOR 30 MINUTES IN THE GARAGE AND ENGINE WAS OFF. *LN THE FIRE DESTROYED THE LEFT FRONT ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10549160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT TIMES WHEN PLACING CAR INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE IT WILL LURCH FORWARD. WHEN GOING UP ANY HILL AND THE 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO DOWN SHIFT, IT SEEMS THAT IT POPS INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN POPS INTO LOWER GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK VERY HARD.. THE JERKING CAN BE SO HARD THAT I AM SCARED THAT ITS GOING TO BREAK THE MOTOR MOUNTS OR THE DRIVE AXLES. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I AM GOING UP A HILL OR TRYING TO PASS SOMEONE ON THE INTERSTATE ON FLAT LAND. HAD TO REPLACE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT SOCKETS DUE TO THEM OVERHEATING AND MELTING THE SOCKET AND CAUSING THE BULBS TO STOP WORKING. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, WHEN TRYING TO BRING IT UP IT WILL STOP AND GO BACK DOWN. SOMETIMES IT WILL DO IT A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE I CAN GET THE WINDOW ALL THE WAY UP. THIS IS MY FIRST FORD I HAVE EVER OWNED AND I AM LOVE WITH THE CAR BUT NOT WITH THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING WITH THE CAR. ALSO, WHEN THE CAR HIT 100,000 MILES IT STARTED TO BURN 1 QUART OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I CANNOT FIND ANY LEAKS. I HAVE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH THE LURCHING AND JERKING OF THE TRANSMISSION. WISH FORD WOULD DO A REAL CALL FOR THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE I JUST LOVE THIS CAR!
NHTSA complaint #10542164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
DASH CLUSTER MALFUNCTION FOR ALL GAUGES. AT THE TIME OF MALFUNCTION, REVERSE LAMPS TURN ON. IF MALFUNCTION OCCURS AT NIGHT, DASH ILLUMINATION ALSO SHUTS DOWN. GAUGES ZERO OUT, TOP OUT THEN FLUTTER AT ZERO. *JS HAVE NOTICED AIRBAG LAMP ON OCCASIONALLY.
NHTSA complaint #10458503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
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.