Ford Five Hundred Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,074 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file for the Ford Five Hundred, across 4 model years (2004–2007). The 2005 model year has the most complaints (510). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Ford Five Hundred years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Five Hundred year: 2005. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2005 Five Hundred: 510 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2006 Five Hundred: 364 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2007 Five Hundred: 199 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford Five Hundred problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 299 | 3 | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 292 | 3 | 22 |
| Electrical System problems | 168 | 3 | 2 |
| Engine problems | 115 | 3 | 5 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 91 | 3 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 74 | 4 | 2 |
| Structure | 58 | 3 | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 57 | 3 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 51 | 3 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 29 | 3 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 28 | 3 | 17 |
| Equipment | 25 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 24 | 3 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 23 | 2 | 1 |
| Steering | 22 | 3 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 16 | 3 | 2 |
| Tires | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 14 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 12 | 3 | 1 |
| Wheels | 11 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 3 | 3 |
| Seats | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Ford Five Hundred problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2007: vehicle speed control (70) · power train (59)
- 2006: vehicle speed control (118) · power train (104) · electrical system (51)
- 2005: power train (136) · vehicle speed control (104) · electrical system (95) · engine (58)
All Ford Five Hundred model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Five Hundred | 199 | 1 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 Five Hundred | 364 | 0 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 Five Hundred | 510 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 Five Hundred | 1 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Five Hundred years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2005 (510) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Five Hundred year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford Five Hundred?
Power Train, with 299 complaints across 3 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford Five Hundred have?
3 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.