RoadVitals

2005 Ford Five Hundred Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Aug 22, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 510 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Ford Five Hundred submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineSuspension
Filed Aug 22, 2023
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I have 2 very serious and dangerous issues. The 1st issue, the car will shut off while driving and without warning. I'll be cruzing down the highway and out of no where it shuts off. I then do not have breaks or power stearing. This last Winter my daughter was driving it and it shut off while she was on black ice. The car flew into the ditch and the snow was so deep it was compacted in the entire engine so it was impossible to restart the car. It was akso -37 below temperature. It took me almost a half hour to get to her and she almost froze to death. She sustained frost bite on her hands, toes, ears, and cheeks. She almost died. Issue 2, my daughter was driving and all of the sudden a loud noise and she couldn't steer. The rear control arm bracket that is part of the subframe busted causing the control arm to no longer be attached to the frame. She almost flipped the car when that happened. I looked into it and many cars this year make and model had the exact same thing happen in the exact same spot. So that tells me that it is a manufacturer defect. I had this looked at and inspected by Trusted Tires & Auto. Neither of these issues had any warning at all. So now the car sits unable to be driven. Even if it was fixed I won't drive it or let my daughter drive it and I can't sell it because I don't want anyone else to drive it period. It is a death trap literally and puts everyone's life in dangernear that come near the car. It needs to be recalled immediately. This is absolutely unacceptable and Ford needs to stand behind their product. If this car continues to stay on the roads Many people will die because of all the defects on the car.

NHTSA ID
11540215
Incident
Nov 10, 2022
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 8, 2023

While driving the front end suspension slips, bounces up and down very harshly, tires slip, squeak, and slide in an hard to control way, sometimes into oncoming traffic when in slightly damp conditions an on roads with any amount of bumps, to the point that I need to drive extremely slow to avoid danger which in turn puts my and my passengers and my kids in danger by goin to slow in regards to the traffic around us. When hitting relatively small bumps the suspension bounces the car severely up and down and across the road into harms way.

NHTSA ID
11531095
Incident
Jul 8, 2023
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Feb 18, 2020

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IT STARTED TO SHAKE VERY HARD WELL I HEARD A SNAP SOUND AND MY CAR STARTED TO DRAG I GOT OUT MY FRAME ABOVE MY RIGHT LOWER CONTROL HAD SNAPPED IVE READ THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I CONTACTES FORD ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO WELL I'M OUT OF A VEHICLE BUT VEFORE ALL OF THIS I KEPT GOING THROUGH FUEL RELAY ISSUES AND EVENTUALLY STARTED LOSING MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SO NOW I'M FIGHTING WITH THEM TO DO THE REPAIRS

NHTSA ID
11309959
Incident
Feb 7, 2020
EngineFuel systemSuspension
Filed May 16, 2019

SUSPENSION: CONTINUOUS RATTLE ISSUES IN THE REAR SUSPENSION. BUSHINGS? SWAY BARS?? WHO KNOWS. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. HAPPENS ONLY DURING DRIVING. CONSISTENT NOISE FROM THE REAR. FUEL: PROBLEMS WITH FUEL SENSOR. FAILED READING. ALL GAUGES LIGHT UP. RUN OBD AND ALL FLUID LEVELS / PRESSURE FINE. NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE THROTTLE BODY WAS AN ISSUE AND THE SENSOR INSIDE SAME. HOWEVER, AFTER NUMEROUS WEB BASED SEARCHES I FOUND THAT THROTTLE BODY ISSUES ARE DEFINITELY AN ISSUE. FOUND THAT REMOVING THE AIR CLEANER BOX FOR FILTER REPLACEMENT CAN CAUSE SENSOR ISSUES. WHY? SINCE MY LAST OIL CHANGE I HAVE HAD AT LEAST THREE FAILURES HERE. THIS IS DANGEROUS, EXPENSIVE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF.

NHTSA ID
11207982
Incident
May 16, 2019
Mileage
136,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 30, 2017

TRACK BAR BRACKET ON THE EXIT FROM MY DRIVEWAY TO THE ROAD THE CAR STARTED TO DRIVE ERRATICALLY. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR AND INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT REAR RIGHT TRACK BAR BRACKET IS COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE CAR BODY. IT LOOKS LIKE A COMPLETE STRUCTURE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY, THE FAILURE HAPPENED AT VERY LOW SPEED AND NO ONE WAS HARMED. PHOTOS OF THE CAR ARE ENCLOSED.

NHTSA ID
10981488
Incident
Apr 24, 2017
Mileage
173,000 mi
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 22, 2017

FRONT DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT SHEARED OFF AT 25 MPH WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THEN SNAPPED THE CV JOINT AXLE SHAFT CAUSING THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TO JAM INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL AND DAMAGE LOWER PART OF BODY AND FENDER. THE VEHICL WAS TOTALLY DISABLE AT THIS POINT SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT SHEARED AND SNAPPED THE CV JOINT AXLE SHAFT AT 45 MPH AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO TURN 180 DEGREES BLOCKING TWO LANES OF HWY. THAT TIME FRONT WHEEL DAMAGED WHEEL WELL AND SENSOR WIRES ON THAT SIDE FO THE ENGINE BAY

NHTSA ID
10956245
Incident
Feb 21, 2017
Mileage
295,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 15, 2013

REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM SHEARED OFF AT INSIDE BUSHINGS DURING NORMAL DRIVING. WHEEL ASSEMBLY FELL AGAINST FRAME AND SOME LOSS OF CONTROL WAS EXPERIENCED. BOTH SIDES OF CONTROL ARM (FORD PART# 5A804) BROKE OFF FROM FATIGUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10493069
Incident
Jan 13, 2013
Mileage
130,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 11, 2011

TSB 10-2-13. I HAVE INNER REAR TIRE WEAR, ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT (THIS LIKELY EXISTED WHEN PURCHASED NEW). THERE IS A TSB THAT TALKS ABOUT SOME CARS WITH RR NEGATIVE CAMBER, (WHICH MY CAR DOES HAVE), AND ALSO TALKS ABOUT HOW TO MODIFY THE REAR CONTROL ARM TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DANGER IN THIS DEFECT IS A BLOWOUT OF A TIRE OR TIRES WHILE DRIVING. CAR IS IMMACULATE. I BOUGHT IT NEW AND TAKE GREAT CARE OF IT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT GIVEN HOW MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE COMMENTING IT ON-LINE VIA FORUMS. ALSO, THERE IS A TSB ON IT, SO FORD IS AWARE OF IT. EVEN THOUGH THEY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT SINCE IT IS A DEFECT, THEY WON'T. FORD, EVEN WITH ALL THEIR HYPE ON QUALITY AND SAFETY AS JOB ONE, ARE JUST A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES. THEY ACT ONLY WHEN FORCED TO DO SO BY YOU FOLKS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I'M OLD SCHOOL. IT'S ALL ABOUT INTEGRITY FOR ME. WHY DO YOU THINK FORD STILL LIVES UP TO THEIR REPUTATION AS FIX OR REPAIR DAILY. HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THE REAR BRAKES SEVERAL YEARS AGO ON THIS VEHICLE. I TOOK IT FOR FORD AND THEY WOULD NOT OWN UP TO IT UNTIL I COMPLAINED TO YOU FOLKS LIKE MANY OTHER DID AND THEY FINALLY REIMBURSED US BECAUSE OF YOUR INTERVENTION. AGAIN, THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO BE FORCED TO DO THE RIGHT THING! JUST A BUNCH OF THUGS. WHERE IS ELLIOT NESS WHEN YOU NEED HIM! 02/15/10. SUSPENSION - REAR TIRE INNER EDGE WEAR FORD: 2005-2007 FIVE HUNDRED, FREESTYLE, 2008-2009 TAURUS X, TAURUS. *KB

NHTSA ID
10429455
Incident
Aug 5, 2005
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Sep 6, 2011

THE VEHICLE LUNGES WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE AND CONTINUES TO DO SO WHILE WAITING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS! IT ALSO DOES THIS WHILE TRYING TO PARK MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO PARK NEAR ANYTHING! I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM STATING IT IS A THROTTLE BODY DEFECT THAT COSTS AT LOWEST $700.00 TO REPAIR. FRONT SUSPENSION IS SHOT ALREADY WITH LOUD CLUNKING NOISES, VERY ROUGH RIDE! REAR DOORS FILL WITH WATER WHICH WILL RESULT IN RUST HOLES! ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME YEAR AND MAKE OF VEHICLE. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS NEEDED TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10423835
Incident
Jun 3, 2011
Suspension
Filed Apr 4, 2011

FORD FIVE HUNDRED 2005 MODEL: REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY IS FAILING - PRODUCES NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10394150
Incident
Apr 4, 2011
Mileage
87,000 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 26, 2011

I OWN A 2005 FORD 500. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE RIGHT PASSENGER FRONT BALL JOINT TIGHTENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER DOES NOT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE. THE BALL JOINT BECOMES LOOSE CAUSE THE FRONT END TO COME OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND WILL JERK THE CAR ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10392980
Incident
Mar 2, 2011
Mileage
47,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 24, 2007

DRIVING MY 2005 FORD 500 WITH 36, 216 MILES TO WORK IN A.M. ON 1/22/07, SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED CAR GOING FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. HARD TO CONTROL, HAD TO GREATLY REDUCE SPEED TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE. UPON ACCELERATING, FELT AS IF I WAS HAVING TO PULL THE VEHICLE DOWN THE ROAD. TOOK IMMEDIATELY TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SWAY BAR IN THE REAR WAS BAD. SERVICE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS VERY UNUSUAL AND ADVISED ME TO CONTACT FORD DIRECTLY. PHONED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH THE SWAY BAR PROBLEM MORE AND WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN 2-3 BUSINESS DAYS. CURRENTLY WAITING ON PARTS FOR REPAIR, AS DEALERSHIP DOES NOT KEEP THEM IN STOCK DUE TO THIS BEING A VERY RARE OCCURRENCE. SERVICE FEELS THAT FACTORY SWAY BAR MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10180593
Incident
Jan 22, 2007
Mileage
36,217 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 9, 2007

VIBRATION ON RIGHT FRONT OF CAR DURING SPEEDS OF 55 MPH TO 62 MP. REPLACED CONTINENTAL TIRES WITH MICHELIN AND VIBRATION STILL OCCURS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10178249
Incident
Jan 11, 2006
Mileage
1,500 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 24, 2006

REAR AND FRONT SUSPENSION HAVE FAILED WITHIN FIVE MONTHS OF POSSESSION. FIRST REPAIR ATTEMPT ON REAR SUSPENSION OCCURRED IN MAY 2006, JUST 4 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE 2005 MODEL. FORD CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS CLAIMED THERE WAS A LOOSE BRACKET AND THAT PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BUT PROBLEM WITH NOISE AND HARD BOUNCE STILL OCCURRED. SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT OCCURRED ONE MONTH LATER, FOUND BROKEN RIGHT, REAR SHOCK. REPAIR TOOK THREE DAYS. FOUR DAYS LATER HAD TO RETURN TO GET FRONT END ALIGNED. ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2006, TOOK BACK AGAIN FOR SAME NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT REAR SHOCK. CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT FIX FOR PROBLEM AND SIMPLY GREASED CABLES. TAKING BACK TO SHOP TO ADDRESS FRONT SUSPENSION NOISE AND HANDLING PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10169147
Incident
May 25, 2006
Mileage
195 mi
BrakesElectricalSuspension+1 more
Filed Oct 25, 2005

FORD FIVE HUNDRED 2005 WITH BRAKE FAILURE, DEFECTIVE RADIO, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACED TWICE. *** NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *TS THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE, THE LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER AT THE PISTON SEAL WAS LEAKING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10142090
Incident
Mar 25, 2005
BrakesSuspension
Filed Sep 4, 2005

CONTINUATION OF SUSPENSION AND BRAKE PROBLEMS AFTER LAST FILING WITH NHTSA. BRAKING IN WET WEATHER, DESCENDING STEEP GRADE, CAR PULLS AND FADES. 2 DAYS AFTER LONGMONT FORD HAD CAR FOR 6 DAYS AND RETURNED IT WITH CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. OMERA FORD DIAGNOSED BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION PROGRAMMING PROBLEMS AND ONCE AGAIN TURNED DOWN REAR ROTORS TO VERY CLOSE TO MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS. CONSUMER REPORT JAN 2005 REPORTS SIMILAR ISSUES WITH BRAKING, AUTO-WEEK MAY-16-2005 REPORTS BRAKE FADE AND STABILITY PROBLEMS IN THEIR TEST TRACK REPORT. THIS IS A FIRST MODEL YEAR CAR FOR FORD WHICH IS BASED OFF OF A MODIFIED VOLVO DESIGN OF UNDER-CARRIAGE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW PARKED WITH AN AFFIDAVIT OF NON USE ON IT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AND REPAIRS THAT HAVE OCCURRED ON REAR SUSPENSION AND BRAKES. FORD AT ARBITRATION MAINTAINED THAT IN LATE JULY THERE WERE MORE TSB'S ISSUED FOR THE 2005 FORD 500, BUT I AM UNABLE TO FIND SAME ON NHTSA WEBSITE. WITH THE NUMBER OF INDEPENDENT TRADE AND CONSUMER PUBLICATIONS THAT SITE THE SAME ISSUES THAT I AM HAVING WITH THIS CAR, I PETITION NHTSA TO PULL SOME OF THESE EARLY MODEL CARS AND SUBJECT THEM TO SUSPENSION AND BRAKING TEST AS STATED IN NHTSA 99.6583-1 CONSUMER BRAKING INFORMATION INITIATIVE, ABERDEEN TEST CENTER FALL 1998. *JB

NHTSA ID
10135289
Incident
Jun 15, 2005
Mileage
3,500 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 2, 2005

PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION ON 2005 FORD 500'S. NUMEROUS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ADDRESS REAR BRAKE AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. LEMON LAW CRITERIA MEET IN COLORADO, SUBMITTED CERTIFIED MAIL AND IT TOOK FORD OVER A WEEK TO ACCEPT LETTER, ONLY AFTER I VISITED ATTORNEY GENERAL. CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AT SPEED LIMIT ON I-80 CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. AS OF TODAY THE CAR IS AT THE FORD DEALER AGAIN. FORD REGIONAL REP SAYS THEY WON'T TAKE IT BACK. TUESDAY 4/19/2005 MILES IN TO DEALER 2091 MILES PROBLEMS GOING TO LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, COULD NOT HOLD SPEED LIMIT ON I-80 BECAUSE OF HANDLING PROBLEMS AND SUSPENSION REPORTING VIBRATIONS AND NOISES TO DRIVER. NO TROUBLE FOUND BALANCED 1 TIRE WITH OZ OF WEIGHT. FRIDAY 5/06/2005 MILES IN TO DEALER 2523 MILES SAME STORY AS ABOVE. REPLACED REAR BRAKE PADS, MACHINED ROTORS INSTALLED FORD PART # 5F9Z-2200-B KIT BRAKE SHO FORD PART # 5G1Z-18125FA REAR STRUTS TIMES 2 LUBRICATED E-BRAKE CABLE PER FORD TSB SERVICE MANAGER TOOK FOR TEST RIDE AND PROBLEMS PERSIST WITH SERVICE MANAGER DRIVING. MONDAY 5/16/2005 MILES IN TO DEALER 2556 SAME STORY AS ABOVE FAILED TEST RIDE BY SERVICE MANAGER ON 5/06/2005 SERVICE TICKET FORD PART # 5F9Z-5500-AR ARM ASSEMBLY RIGHT REAR FORD PART # 5G1Z-5A772-B BAR STABILIZER REAR (2 TIMES) THIS TIME I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT USE OF THE VEHICLE OR LOANER SINCE FRIDAY MAY 6 2005. 11 DAYS.

NHTSA ID
10123895
Incident
Apr 19, 2005
Mileage
714 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .