INSTRUMENT PANEL NOT WORKING NO LIGHTS ON DASH SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE NOT WORKING ALSO REVERSE LIGHTS STAY ON THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH STAYS ON. *TR
2006 Ford 500 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2006 record →
WHEN YOU SLOW THE CAR WILL QUIT AND WHEN YOU DRIVE IT ON THE OPEN ROAD YOU LOSE POWER NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. NO TOOL LIGHT COMES ON TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM. TWO YEARS AGO IT STARTED QUITTING ON ME AND WHEN YOU RESTART IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP. ON ONE OCCASION I TRIED TO START IT AND IT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND WOULDN'T START. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED A MODULAR IN THE TRANSMISSION AND IT STILL WOULDN'T START CHARGED $1500.00 HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE CLIMATE CONTROL BECAUSE THE WIRING HAD BURNED STILL CONTINUED TO QUIT NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS COMPLAINTS TO FORD ARE THE SAME FROM MANY OWNERS FORD REFUSED TO DO RECALL. SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED WHEN THE CAR QUITS IN TRAFFIC . FORD HAS DISCONTINUED THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT IS FAULTY HOW CAN THEY BUILD A LEMON AND NOT STAND BEHIND IT. *TR
ENGINE MOTOR MOUNT CRACKED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING, NO WRECKS. MECHANIC DOING ROUTINE INSPECTION DISCOVERED, EXPLAINED HE HAD ALREADY REPLACED SEVERAL OF THIS MODEL TYPE. APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN MISTAKE. *TR NEED AN IMPROVED VERSION. A LOOSE ENGINE WILL START BREAKING VITAL PARTS.
2006 FORD FIVE HUNDRED LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT CAUGHT ON FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE HAVING BEEN PARKED FOR 30 MINUTES IN OUR GARAGE WITH THE ENGINE OFF. FIRE DESTROYED LEFT FRONT ENGINE AREA. WIFE WAS FORTUNATELY IN THE GARAGE WHEN THE HEADLIGHT STARTED TO IGNITE AND TRIED TO PUT IT OUT WHILE CALLING 911. FLAMES REACHED TOP OF THE GARAGE WITH LOTS OF SMOKE. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES AND PULL THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. CAR WAS TOTALED BY USAA INSURANCE AND INSURANCE IS HELPING WITH CLEANING UP THE GARAGE. HOW IN THE HECK DOES A CAR HEADLIGHT SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITE WHILE OFF? IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT NIGHT OR IF MY WIFE HAD NOT BEEN IN THE GARAGE WHEN THE HEADLIGHT IGNITED THE WHOLE HOUSE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN FLAMES. I HAVE PICTURES, LEAVENWORTH CITY FIRE REPORT AND INSURANCE WRITE OFF. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENTS GO OFF AND BACK ON.YOU CAN HIT THE DASH AND THEY COME BACK ON BUT WILL CONTINUE TO GO OFF AND ON AT TIMES. *TR
THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED ONCE DUE TO RANDOM CAR SURGING. PROBLEM RESURFACED A YEAR LATER. THIS TIME FORD SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR ($570). I DON'T THINK FORD KNOWS WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS CAR, BUT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR SURGES RANDOMLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN. I WAS STOPPING FOR A LIGHT AND THE CAR SURGED. LATER, AS I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CAR, JERKED AND SURGED. I HAD A RECALL NOTICE OF AN RPM SURGE, SO WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM WITH A COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65-70 MPH MY HUSBAND STARTED TO PASS AN 18-WHEELER AND WHEN HE ACCELERATED, THERE WAS A HESITANCY AND THEN, THE TRANSMISSION "CAUGHT" AND WE WERE ABLE TO PASS. PERIODICALLY, SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE NOTICED WHAT FEELS LIKE A SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY AFTER BEING COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING WHEN IN GEAR, BUT STOPPED AS IN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. IT APPEARS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONER. IT IS VERY SCARY AND I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS IN HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME OR EVEN A PEDESTRIAN WALKING BEHIND MY VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY MOTHER'S 2006 FORD 500, HAS FAILED. THIS CAR HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT, WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW, AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE MILEAGE THE CAR IS/WAS IN PRISTINE CONDITION UNTIL HER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ON 4/17/13 SHE LEFT HOME, TURNED THE CORNER AND THE CAR SPUTTERED, THEN STALLED AND WOULD NOT START, FORTUNATELY MY SISTER AND A FRIEND WERE ABLE TO COME AND GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. NEXT DAY 4/18/13 SHE HAD THE CAR TOWED ($45) TO THE LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO WANTED ($5000) TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, SO SHE HAD IT TOWED ($45) BACK TO HER HOUSE. ON FRIDAY 4/19/13 SHE HAD IT TOWED ($100) TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP 33 MILES AWAY. TODAY 4/24/13 SHE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE FORD SERVICE ADVISER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AS IT SHOWS LOTS OF FAULTY STUFF IN THE CIRCUITS. I SPOKE WITH FORD RELATIONSHIP CENTER INITIALLY ON 4/16/13 AND NUMEROUS OTHER TIMES, AND WHILE THEY ACTED AS IF THEY WOULD TRY TO POSSIBLY ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR, I CALLED THEM TODAY WITH THE ($6,955) TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSIS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, NOW CAME THEIR SO CALLED SYMPATHIZING THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO HELP TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED. THEIR REASON IS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION, AS WELL AS THE ARE NOT WILLING TO ASSIST WITH REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION, AS THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION EXPIRED 8/29/11. SHE WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT SHE WAS TURNING ONTO A FARM ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED, INSTEAD OF BEING ON A MAJOR HIG
WIRE ASSEMBLY THAT HOLDS HEADLIGHT BURNS. I HAVE REPLACED THIS THREE TIMES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL ONE DAY START A FIRE. EVIDENTLY THE HEAT FROM THE BULB IS DESTROYING THE PLASTIC. THREE LETTERS TO FORD HAVE GONE UNANSWERED. I AM TIRED OF SPENDING $45.00 EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE CAR HAS BEEN ACCELERATING AND SHUTTING DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED. TO THIS DATE IT HAS NOT. WE RECEIVED A RECALL TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE DEALERSHIP DID AND THAT IS IT. LESS THAN 50 MILES LATER THE CAR SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THERE. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGEDY. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER SAID TO DRIVE IT AND BRING IT BACK TO CLEAR THE CODES OUT. THE CODES OF P2112, P2114 & P2104 ALL SHOWED. WHEN I CONTACT FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY TOLD ME IF THE CODES SHOWED THEN IT WOULD BE COVERED FOR REPLACEMENT AND IT IS NOT. *TR
YOU CAN BE DRIVING 15 MPH TO 70MPH AND THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IT'S STILL RUNNING BUT WON'T GO YOU CAN TURN THE KEY OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT GOES. BUT IT MAY GO 2 FEET OR 20 MILES I'M A AUTO TECH I CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY LIKE FORD SAID AND FORD REPROGRAMMED THE PCM AND THAT DID NOT HELP. THE VEHICLE STILL STALLS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER AND KILL IT AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. FORD JUST PUT A LOT OF BAD PARTS ON THESE FIVE HUNDREDS MAINLY THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR
IN SEPT 2012 THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY QUIT ON ME. WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL DEALER THAT I NEEDED A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION ($6,000). OK'D THE REPAIR ONLY TO FIND OUT NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. AFTER WAITING 12 WEEKS FOR REPAIR TO BE COMPLETED STILL NO PARTS, NO REPAIR. CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT. WHICH OFFERED NO HELP, NO SATISFACTION. THIS CVT TRANSMISSION IS A TOTAL FAILURE AND FORD ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY. HAD TO TAKE THE TOTAL FALLOUT (BROUGHT A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE) ON A BAD PRODUCT WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM FORD WHATSOEVER. AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY HAD TO PAY $291 IN ORDER GET THE CAR RELEASED. SEEMS UNFAIR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPROGRAMMED THE PCM HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANING WOULD BE AT THEIR EXPENSE ONE TIME ONLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OR EXTREMELY LATE RESPONSE THEN LUNGE FORWARD WHEN COMMANDED BY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. OFTEN TIMES WHEN YOU ARE TURNING IN FRONT OF OTHER TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WITH BEING STUCK IN AN INTERSECTION OR A VERY DELAYED THROTTLE RESPONSE LUNGING ME INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE OR THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO ACT UP AFTER THIS HAPPENS. I GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A WRENCH LIGHT ON THE DASH. ALSO THE CAR HAS HAD UNCOMMANDED ENGINE SPEEDS AT A STOP SIGN OR REDLIGHT. SEEMED TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL OR THE A/C IS ON. ALSO VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE THREE KIDS I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND AND I FEEL UNSAFE IN IT. I HAVE SEEN THESE EXACT SAME ISSUES WITH THIS CAR ALL OVER THE INTERNET ADDRESSING FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODIES AND THE CVT TRANSMISSION. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE SOME THING HAPPENS. *TR
MY CAR JUST STOPS RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK IN RUSH HOUR ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AND THE WRENCH ON THE DASHBOARD COMES ON MY CAR JUST STOPS ACCELERATING AND I AM ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT BEING HIT. THE CAR STARTS BACK UP AND DOES IT AGAIN DOWN THE STREET. HAPPENED THREE TIMES ON MY WAY TO WORK. TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP, OF COURSE IT DOESN'T DO IT FOR THE MECHANICS AND NOTHING SHOWS UP ON THE DIAGNOSTICS BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THEY SEE THAT IT COULD BE THE THROTTLE BODY (I DID THE SAME RESEARCH SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH FORD 500'S AMONG OTHER CARS DOING THE SAME EXACT THING). THEY DECIDE TO JUST CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY THINKING IT WOULD STOP AND IS THE CHEAPER OPTION ($350 INSTEAD OF $1000) BUT IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN! THIS TIME TO MY HUSBAND (BECAUSE HE REFUSES TO ALLOW ME TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE IT'S UNPREDICTABLE), IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AND ALMOST GETS HIM KILLED. SO NOW I AM LOOKING AT $1350 TOTAL WHEN THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY FORD. I HAVE READY SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS, WHY HASN'T FORD RECALLED THE THROTTLE BODY YET????? *TR
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2006 Ford 500 → · Every 500 year → · How the figures are calculated →