Total Complaints
523 filings
FORD FIVE HUNDRED · model year
523 NHTSA complaints, 31 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2006FORDFIVE HUNDRED carries 523 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 31 crashes, 9 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2006 FIVE HUNDRED is vehicle speed control with 118 filings, followed by power train (71) and electrical system (44). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2006 FIVE HUNDRED, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
523 filings
Crashes Reported
31 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 118 |
| POWER TRAIN | 71 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 44 |
| ENGINE | 36 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 31 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 21 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 18 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 17 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 15 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 14 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 11 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 9 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 8 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 8 |
| STEERING | 7 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE
I would be driving on highway my wrench light would come on and my car would come to a crawl I always have kids in my car I could easily be rear ended and maybe hurt or killed I have to find a place to pull off where people behind me is cussing me out they think I did on purpose I then shut car off and tirn back on. Then ok till happens again there should be a recall I am on a fixed income and can't afford another car please help
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the instrument cluster lights turned became inoperable. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that the instrument cluster lights illuminated after 5 minutes. The contact was able to continue driving. However, the failure reoccurred on four different occasions. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys who was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Mileage: 60,000
Door latch freezes i cold weather causing the door not to latch closed.
when Iâm 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 Iâm a afraid that if or when Iâm 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. Iâm afraid for the safety of my fellow drivers on the at night . And I donât know what to do about this problem.
when Iâm 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 Iâm a afraid that if or when Iâm 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. Iâm afraid for the safety of my fellow drivers on the at night . And I donât know what to do about this problem.
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping. The contact restarted the vehicle and the transmission worked as designed for a while. While traveling up a hill or at a stop light, the vehicle would drift backwards. The contact had to let the vehicle drift to shift into gear. At times the vehicle failed to shift. The engine and wrench warning lights were illuminated. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Mileage: 104,000
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping. The contact restarted the vehicle and the transmission worked as designed for a while. While traveling up a hill or at a stop light, the vehicle would drift backwards. The contact had to let the vehicle drift to shift into gear. At times the vehicle failed to shift. The engine and wrench warning lights were illuminated. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Mileage: 104,000
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME COMING DOWN FARROW RD. AND MY CAR STALLED OUT, SO I SLOWLY PULLED IN THE MEDIAN TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON. WHEN I GOT READY TO PULL OUT OF THE MEDIAN THE CAR WOULDN'T GO NO FASTER THAN 5 MILES AND HOUR. SO I HAD MY FRIEND HELP ME PULL IT OUT OF THE ROAD AND TAKE ME HOME AND TOW MY CAR TO THE HOUSE. WHEN I GOT IT HOME THERE WASN'T ANY ACCELERATION, RPMS WONT MOVE AT ALL, CAR HAS POWER AND CRANKS BUT WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WON'T GO ANYWHERE. IT STALLS AND CUTS OFF, EVEN IN NEUTRAL NO ACCELERATION. EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP AND CUTS ON BUT NO ACCELERATION. FROM MY PHOTOS BELOW YOU WILL SEE I HAVE REPLACED ALTERNATOR, THROTTLEBODY, THE RED AND BLACK WIRING ON THE BACK OF THE INTAKE I'VE CHECKED ALL MY HOSES THERE WAS NO SPLITS NO CUTS NO VACUUM LEAK AND EVERY TIME I GET A READING ON IT IT GIVES ME A DIFFERENT CODE PLEASE READ AND REPLY IF THIS IS A RECALL I NEED MY CAR FIXED IMMEDIATELY
Mileage: 201,000
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME COMING DOWN FARROW RD. AND MY CAR STALLED OUT, SO I SLOWLY PULLED IN THE MEDIAN TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON. WHEN I GOT READY TO PULL OUT OF THE MEDIAN THE CAR WOULDN'T GO NO FASTER THAN 5 MILES AND HOUR. SO I HAD MY FRIEND HELP ME PULL IT OUT OF THE ROAD AND TAKE ME HOME AND TOW MY CAR TO THE HOUSE. WHEN I GOT IT HOME THERE WASN'T ANY ACCELERATION, RPMS WONT MOVE AT ALL, CAR HAS POWER AND CRANKS BUT WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WON'T GO ANYWHERE. IT STALLS AND CUTS OFF, EVEN IN NEUTRAL NO ACCELERATION. EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP AND CUTS ON BUT NO ACCELERATION. FROM MY PHOTOS BELOW YOU WILL SEE I HAVE REPLACED ALTERNATOR, THROTTLEBODY, THE RED AND BLACK WIRING ON THE BACK OF THE INTAKE I'VE CHECKED ALL MY HOSES THERE WAS NO SPLITS NO CUTS NO VACUUM LEAK AND EVERY TIME I GET A READING ON IT IT GIVES ME A DIFFERENT CODE PLEASE READ AND REPLY IF THIS IS A RECALL I NEED MY CAR FIXED IMMEDIATELY
Mileage: 201,000
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME COMING DOWN FARROW RD. AND MY CAR STALLED OUT, SO I SLOWLY PULLED IN THE MEDIAN TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON. WHEN I GOT READY TO PULL OUT OF THE MEDIAN THE CAR WOULDN'T GO NO FASTER THAN 5 MILES AND HOUR. SO I HAD MY FRIEND HELP ME PULL IT OUT OF THE ROAD AND TAKE ME HOME AND TOW MY CAR TO THE HOUSE. WHEN I GOT IT HOME THERE WASN'T ANY ACCELERATION, RPMS WONT MOVE AT ALL, CAR HAS POWER AND CRANKS BUT WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WON'T GO ANYWHERE. IT STALLS AND CUTS OFF, EVEN IN NEUTRAL NO ACCELERATION. EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP AND CUTS ON BUT NO ACCELERATION. FROM MY PHOTOS BELOW YOU WILL SEE I HAVE REPLACED ALTERNATOR, THROTTLEBODY, THE RED AND BLACK WIRING ON THE BACK OF THE INTAKE I'VE CHECKED ALL MY HOSES THERE WAS NO SPLITS NO CUTS NO VACUUM LEAK AND EVERY TIME I GET A READING ON IT IT GIVES ME A DIFFERENT CODE PLEASE READ AND REPLY IF THIS IS A RECALL I NEED MY CAR FIXED IMMEDIATELY
Mileage: 201,000
VEHICLE STOPS AND STARTS WITH A JERK. JUMPING CAUSING SLOW DOWN EVEN WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE TO FIX IT. SEEMS LIKE EVERY FORD HAS THIS PROBLEM AT SOME POINT
Mileage: 134,167
BATTERY JUST GOES DEAD OVER NIGHT. SIGNAL LIGHTS MELTED AND QUIT WORKING. CLUSTER PANEL JUST SHUTS OFF WHILE RUNNING AND CAN'T USE AIR, RADIO, WINDOWS, LOCKS, SEATS, ETC. CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVE REPLACED ALL PARTS SUGGESTED BY CODES. STILL NO FIX. WONT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR AFTER CLUSTER PANEL SHUTS OFF. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OTHER COMPLAINTS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE AN ELECTRICAL RECALL. HAPPENS RUNNING DRIVING AND SITTING STILL.
Mileage: 230,000
BATTERY JUST GOES DEAD OVER NIGHT. SIGNAL LIGHTS MELTED AND QUIT WORKING. CLUSTER PANEL JUST SHUTS OFF WHILE RUNNING AND CAN'T USE AIR, RADIO, WINDOWS, LOCKS, SEATS, ETC. CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVE REPLACED ALL PARTS SUGGESTED BY CODES. STILL NO FIX. WONT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR AFTER CLUSTER PANEL SHUTS OFF. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OTHER COMPLAINTS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE AN ELECTRICAL RECALL. HAPPENS RUNNING DRIVING AND SITTING STILL.
Mileage: 230,000
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MELTING ON THE INSIDE CAUSING MELTING PLASTIC TO DRIP INTO THE THROTTLE BODY,CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN VERY POORLY ARE NOT AT ALL!!!
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MELTING ON THE INSIDE CAUSING MELTING PLASTIC TO DRIP INTO THE THROTTLE BODY,CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN VERY POORLY ARE NOT AT ALL!!!
GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND RIGHT MIRROR WAS FULLY BROKEN. RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY WAS ALSO SMASHED IN. LEFT BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND ENGINE MAKES WEIRD SOUNDS.
Mileage: 80
GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND RIGHT MIRROR WAS FULLY BROKEN. RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY WAS ALSO SMASHED IN. LEFT BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND ENGINE MAKES WEIRD SOUNDS.
Mileage: 80
GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND RIGHT MIRROR WAS FULLY BROKEN. RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY WAS ALSO SMASHED IN. LEFT BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND ENGINE MAKES WEIRD SOUNDS.
Mileage: 80
THE CAR IS SURGING AND FEELS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO FALL APART THE CAR HAS LOW MILES AND THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BUT WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD 500 I SEE THERE IS A EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR AND SEEMS LIKE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND I SEE FORD IS AWARE OF THIS AND REFUSES TO FIX THIS ISSUE WHICH IS A HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND I FEEL LIKE THAT IM GOING TO HAVE TO GET A LAWYER TO GET ANYTHING DONE BECAUSE FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX THIS ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND ITS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING THE CAR MAKES A LOUD KNOCK AND THE ENGINE DROPS BACK IN AND ITS BREAKING THE MOTOR MOUNTS
THE CAR IS SURGING AND FEELS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO FALL APART THE CAR HAS LOW MILES AND THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BUT WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD 500 I SEE THERE IS A EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR AND SEEMS LIKE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND I SEE FORD IS AWARE OF THIS AND REFUSES TO FIX THIS ISSUE WHICH IS A HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND I FEEL LIKE THAT IM GOING TO HAVE TO GET A LAWYER TO GET ANYTHING DONE BECAUSE FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX THIS ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND ITS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING THE CAR MAKES A LOUD KNOCK AND THE ENGINE DROPS BACK IN AND ITS BREAKING THE MOTOR MOUNTS
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Timing Belt Failure
Underbody shields detachment
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.