CarModelProblems.com

2005 Ford Five Hundred Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026

High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Vehicle Speed Control — runs 3.9× the fleet median for that category across the 1732 model-years tracked on this site.
510Complaints
3Recalls
20Crashes
6Fires
14Injured
0Deaths

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Is this problem acknowledged?

The most-reported problem — Vehicle Speed Control (19.8% of complaints) — was examined in a now-closed NHTSA investigation that did not result in a recall.

Vehicle Speed Control complaints here are 3.9× the median for that category across the 1732 model-years tracked on this site.

None of the 6 most-reported categories on this page have a recall or open investigation on file — they rest on unverified owner reports alone.

Complaint categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Vehicle Speed Control101 · 19.8%Investigation closedPE11018
Electrical System74 · 14.5%Investigation closedPE07058
Power Train73 · 14.3%No official action
Power Train:automatic Transmission59 · 11.6%No official action
Engine58 · 11.4%No official action
Engine And Engine Cooling29 · 5.7%No official action

Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN73 · 14.3%
ENGINE58 · 11.4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING29 · 5.7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM24 · 4.7%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC20 · 3.9%
Unspecified / other20 · 3.9%
STRUCTURE:BODY17 · 3.3%

Percentages are the share of the 510 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.

Recalls — 3 campaigns

Fuel System, Gasoline

NHTSA campaign 06E056000 · 2006 · reported 06/13/2006

FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

NHTSA campaign 05V515000 · 2005 · reported 11/09/2005

IF THIS HAPPENS, DRIVERS MAY NOTICE A NOISE OR A FUEL LEAK. A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

NHTSA campaign 06V383000 · 2006 · reported 10/05/2006

AS A RESULT, THE DOOR LATCH PAWL MAY NOT RETURN TO THE LATCH POSITION WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, AND THE DOOR COULD OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

“DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE THE ENGINE REVVED AT AN ELEVATED LEVEL. HE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND…”NHTSA complaint 10145731 — filed 12/20/2005 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“UPON PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK IT WILL PUT ITSELF INTO REVERSE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. GOING DOWN HILL THE AT 50 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER WILL…”NHTSA complaint 10111539 — filed 02/15/2005 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Complaint trend by year filed

10920111024020135021201531222017101520191242021282023212025

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Five Hundred?

Vehicle speed control issues are the most-reported category, cited in 101 of 510 NHTSA complaints (19.8%), followed by electrical system (74), power train (73), power train:automatic transmission (59). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 2005 Ford Five Hundred have?

510 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 20 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, and 14 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.

Does the 2005 Ford Five Hundred have any recalls?

Yes — 3 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 06E056000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Has NHTSA acted on the 2005 Ford Five Hundred's reported problems?

0 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.

Is a complaint proof of a defect?

No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.