There are 22 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2005 Ford Five Hundredin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE FUEL SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE FUEL TANK HAS A CRACK CAUSED BY A WELDING POINT ON THE FUEL TANK WAS BROKEN LOOSE. OVER TIME I SAW MY FUEL GAUGE DROP DRAMATICALLY. THIS CAUSES ME TO GET GAS MORE OFTEN.
THE CAR JERKS WHEN ACCELERATED.
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY A MAJOR COMPLAINT AND CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. ELDERLY MOTHER GOT STUCK ON A HILL AND COULD NOT GET CAR REST OF THE WAY UP THE HILL TO SAFETY. PAGE AFTER PAGE OF THIS COMPLAINT ON INTERNET. FORD AWARE OF THESE ISSUES AND STILL REFUSES TO LAUNCH A RECALL. PART COST $500+ FOR THE PART AND DEALER WANTS ANOTHER $300+ FOR INSTALL. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING TO HAVE ELDERLY OR WOMEN WITH INFANT CHILDREN STUCK ON ROADWAYS WITH THIS ISSUE. WILL NEVER BUT FORD AGAIN BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEM TURNING THEIR BACK ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM.
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR HAD ENGINE LIGHT ON SO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS AND PUT NEW BATTERY PROBLEM STILL THERE. HAD A MECHANIC CHECK OUT AND HE SAID CODES READING FUEL PROBLEM SO CHANGE OUT THE FUEL PUMP AND PUT INJECTOR CLEANER. PROBLEM STILL THERE HE SAID MAYBE THE COMPUTER SO NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE PROBLEM IS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND WHEN YOU STEP ON THE THROTTLE DOES NOT GO PASS 3000 RPM.
THIS CAR HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINT OF THE LURCHING DUE TO A SUDDEN MALFUNCTIONING THROTTLE BODY WHICH CAUSE IRREGULARITY IN THE SPEED AND MAY CAUSE CRASHES AND MIGHT END TO BODY INJURIES OR FATALITY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED GAS WAS LEAKING. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS REPAIRED IT HAPPENED AGAIN. UPDATED 11/20/18*JB
I PURCHASED NEW IN 2005 A FORD FIVE HUNDRED LIMITED FROM A DEALERSHIP. I HAVE DRIVEN IT AND HAVE BEEN MORE THAN SATISFIED WITH IT. I HAVE HAD TO DO SOME WORK TO IT THAT ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIPS ARE COMMON PROBLEMS SUCH AS SWAY BAR ENDS AND A CV JOINT.ESPECIALLY LIVING IN THE NORTHEAST. THE REASON I'M FILING THIS SAFETY COMPLAINT IS DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE. APPROX A MONTH OR TWO AGO AS WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR ENGINE WOULD REV UP SLIGHTLY AND MOMENTARILY. SHORTLY AFTER THAT STARTED THE VEHICLE (6 SPEED AUTOMATIC) WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. I WOULD ONLY SHIFT UP IF I WOULD LET OFF THE GAS PEDDLE, SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED IT WOULD GO INTO "FAIL SAFE" CHECK ENGINE MODE. I BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY FOUND CODES THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM RUNNING "RICH" BUT COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT IT WAS EXACTLY. I THEN STARTED READING ABOUT MY VEHICLE AND SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT IT WAS A THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM THAT FORD NEW ABOUT ON SEVERAL MODELS (INCLUDING MERCURY) FORD DID NOT DO A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM BUT RATHER SENT A LETTER TO OWNERS ( I NEVER RECEIVED) SAYING THAT THEY WOULD CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY AND RESET THE CONTROL COMPUTER. THE LETTER CAME OUT IN 2012. THE LETTER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE COVERED FREE ON VEHICLES THAT HAD LESS THAN 150,000 AND UNDER TEN YEARS. I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE MILEAGE. I HAVE HAD THE DEALERSHIP CLEAN THE PLATES OF THE THROTTLE BODY AS THE LETTER SAID AND PAID FOR IT BUT THE PROBLEM PERSIST AND IN FACT IS WORSE. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY DO OTHER THAN GO TO ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP. A CAR STALLING WHILE IN IN TRAFFIC IS VERY DANGEROUS AND FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
THROTTLE/ACCELERATOR THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES WITHOUT PUSHING THE PEDAL. I HAVE ALMOST HIT VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS. IT APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND MORE DANGEROUS. *TR
THROTTLE ASSEMBLY PROBLEM. VERY SIMILAR CONCERNS AS EARLIER RECALL WHICH SUPPOSEDLY APPLIED FIX TO THE CAR A COUPLE YEARS AGO. EXCEPT .ALONG WITH UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHILE STOPPED A NEW PROBLEM ARISES. MOTOR ACTS AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL AND SLOWS TO A CRAWL SPUTTERING TO A STOP.. WRENCH MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER CARS SITS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WRENCH DISPLAY GOES OFF AND CAR OPERATES NORMALLY. OWNERS MANUAL INDICATES THAT THIS MAY BE A THROTTLE ASSEMBLY PROBLEM. PRIOR RECALL NOTICE THAT HAS EXPIRED. ON MULTIPLE WEB BOARDS PROBLEM IS MENTION WITH GREAT FREQUENCY FOR THE FORD 500. THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE ON A SIDE STREET AT 15-20 MPH. IF IT OCCURRED ON NEXT BUST STREET IT COULD HAVE PRESENTED A DANGEROUS SCENARIO. FORD DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT FORD MFG ONLY PROVIDED 1 TIME FIX IN RECALL & SINCE THE THROTTLE CLEANING FIXED THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF RECALL NO FURTHER ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. I MENTIONED THEY DID EXTEND FOR RECURRING PROBLEM BUT THAT EXTENSION 2013. I DON'T FEEL A MFG SHOULD BE ABLE TO TIME LIMIT A PROBLEM RESOLUTION THAT THEY NEVER PERMANENTLY FIX. BY WHAT I READ ON THE WEB THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS AREAL RESOLUTION.....COST ME 900+ DOLLARS TO FIX AND FORD NOTHING! *TR
PART OF AN ONGOING SERIES OF ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE (SEE EARLIER REPORTS), INITIAL SYMPTOM WAS THE DASH LIGHTS & NEEDLES SHUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY (BUT NOW FOR EXTENDED PERIODS). VEHICLE THEN BEGAN SHOWING RANDOM WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING "CHECK ENGINE", WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED FIRST TIME AS LOW FUEL LEVEL SENSORS A & B. SINCE THAT TIME I'D DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY ON A SUGGESTION OF A MECHANIC FRIEND AND ALL THE ISSUES DISAPPEARED FOR A FEW WEEKS. YESTERDAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK, AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING POORLY (CREEPING WHEN FIRST OFF BRAKES, NOT UP SHIFTING), WHEN THE DASH WAS OPERABLE IT SHOWED ALTERNATING CHECK ENGINE/CHECK TRANSMISSION WARNINGS, AND VEHICLE WAS SURGING/LAGGING NOTICEABLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I AGAIN DID THE BATTERY DISCONNECT LAST NIGHT, AND THE CAR IS OPERATING NORMAL TODAY, BUT I'M SURE IT WILL RECUR SHORTLY. I AM HESITANT TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AS THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT ELECTRONICS ISSUE, AND I HAVE ALREADY READ UP ON THE FORD TSB 06-17-9 THAT IS DOCUMENTED ONLINE, NOT ALL OF WHICH ALIGNS WITH MY ISSUES. HAD THE BATTERY RESET HAD NO IMPACT ON THE PROBLEMS I WOULD SAY IT'S A MECHANICAL MATTER, BUT IT SEEMS CLEAR ITS A COMPUTER OR ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR
I JUST PURCHASED A 05 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND WAS ON MY WAY FROM CALIFORNIA TO GEORGIA. AS I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED THAT WHEN IT WOULD SHIFT IT WOULD REV UP EVEN WHILE SLOWING DOWN. I ALSO NOTICED THAT IF THE AC WAS ON IT GOT WORSE. I STARTED DOING RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE 4 CHILDREN, I'M DISABLED AND ON A VERY FIXED INCOME AND BUYING A VEHICLE THAT IS SAFE IS A MUST. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, IT IS NOT SAFE I ASKED THEM WHAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE FOR THEM TO ISSUE A RECALL, INJURY OR EVEN A DEATH, AND HIS RESPONSE WAS THAT IT WAS NOT UP TO THEM BUT UP TO THE NHTS. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE WITH THESE VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK THE CONSUMERS SHOULD BE LIABLE TO FIX A DEFECTIVE PART. EVEN A MECHANIC AT A FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY THEY JUST DON'T REPLACE IT INSTEAD. PLEASE HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE HAS TO PAY NOT WITH MONEY BUT WITH THERE LIFE! IF I HAD THE MONEY I WOULD REPLACE IT AND HAVE THE ECM UPDATED BUT THAT IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME DUE TO MY FINANCES. PLEASE PUT OUT A RECALL ON THE THROTTLE BODY AND MAKE THE UPDATES ON THE SYSTEM FREE. HAVEN'T WE PAID ENOUGH FOR OUR VEHICLES? THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT DUE TO NEGLIGENCE BUT DEFECTIVENESS OF A PART. THE COMPANY THAT MADE THE THROTTLE BODY IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS SO THAT SHOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING. AND THE UPDATES SHOULDN'T COST IF IT MAKES THE VEHICLE RUN LIKE IT SHOULD. I BELIEVE IF ALL OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES COME TOGETHER WE CAN ACTUALLY FIX THIS DEADLY PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD SOMEONE HAVE TO PAY WITH THEIR LIFE JUST FOR SOMEBODY TO BECOME AWARE OF THIS DEADLY, DEFECTIVE PART. SO PLEASE HELP! THEY SAY THE RECALLS COME FROM YOU, SO ISSUE A RECALL AND INCLUDE THE ECM UPDATE THAT GOES WITH IT. THANK YOU, CONCERNED OWNER WITH CHILDREN *TR
DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON SECONDARY STREET WHEN VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD TRIED TO PUSH ACCELERATOR TO RAISE RPM. RPM REMAINED AT 1000 AND NOT ENOUGH POWER TO PULL BACK ON THE ROAD. I TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND STARTED THE ENGINE BACK UP WHEN POWER WAS RESTORED AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. *TR
WHEN BACK UP THE CAR ACCELERATES LIKE YOU ARE ON THE GAS BUT THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT TOUCH. WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A STOP AND THE FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE, ONCE YOU TAKE THE FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPEN IF STOP AT A LIGHT, BACKING OUT OR EVEN WHILE IN PARK THE CAR WILL JUST ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING! MY DAUGHTER ALMOST HIT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WALKING IN THE CROSS WALK AND ALL SHE DID WAS RELEASE THE BRAKE TO MOVE UP AFTER A CAR TURN AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR ACCELERATE AFTER JUST BEING STOP AT A LIGHT OR MOVING AT SLOW SPEED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS, BUT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. LAST OIL CHANGE AT FORD DEALERSHIP THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THERE WERE NO LEAKS...... *TR
VEHICLE GOES INTO FAIL SAFE MODE AND LURCHES VIOLENTLY IN FORWARD AND REVERSE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. STARTED AT 45,000 MILES INFREQUENTLY AND NOW OCCURS ABOUT 3 TIME A MONTH. I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY TO SEE IF IT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. *TR
MY 2005 FORD 500 BEGAN TO SURGE WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND ALSO WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO DRIVE . AT TIME IT WOULD CHANGE FROM 800 RPM TO 1500 TO 2500 RPM . VERY SCARY IN TIGHT QUARTERS AND IN A PARKING LOT . OTHER TIMES IT THOUGHT IT WAS A TOYOTA AND JUST TAKE OFF.FAULT CODES DID APPEAR AND THE DEALERS FIRST TRY DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM . THE LAST TIME WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. IT TERRIFIED MY WIFE. WE DROPPED IT OFF AGAIN AT THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR PART WOULD TAKE 14 DAYS . DOES FORD HAVE THAT MANY PROBLEMS ? I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND MANY FORD PRODUCTS ARE HAVING THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS . THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL. *TR
WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AND THERE IS A LOAD ON THE ENGINE (A/C ON HIGH) AND YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE ENGINE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I GO TO TURN AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE GARAGE SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY THAT NEEDED REPLACED. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. *TR
FORD 500 SE 2005 . PUT THE CAR DRIVE OR REVERSE AND THE CAR LUNGES. PUSH DOWN ON ACCELERATOR AND CAR LAGS . THROTTLE BODY DEFECTIVE. HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BACK ORDERED UNTIL DECEMBER. *TR
FORD FIVE HUNDRED '05 BRAKES APPLIED IN HEAVY BRAKING SITUATION ON HIGHWAY AND THE FUEL CUT-OFF MECHANISM ACTIVATED. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, HAD TO BE TOWED INTO DEALERSHIP. DEALER REPORTED THAT THE WIRING FOR THE CUT-OFF SWITCH, BY THE FRONT PASSENGER FOOT AREA HAD COME LOSE. RE-SET OF MECHANISM NOT POSSIBLE, HAD TO HAVE THE WIRING RE-DONE AND RE-CONFIGURED BY THE DEALER SERVICE AREA. THIS IS A DEFINITE DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS IT COULD OCCUR WHEN CAR IS OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IF IT IS EXPOSED TO PASSENGER FOOT BUMP. *TR
WENT THROUGH 3 PUDDLES OF WATER ,CAR STALLED HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER , DEALER FOUND FUEL LINE DETACHED. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING; WOULD SPUTTER ON TAKE OFF FROM A STOP; WOULD HESITATE WHILE PRESSING ACCELERATOR; STALLED; TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER -- THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. *JB
Showing 1–20 of 22 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026