2005 Ford Five Hundred Transmission Problems

2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HARD SHIFTING AND TWO INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE RPM'S WOULD RACE AT TIMES. THE CONSUMER WENT TO HER LOCAL DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC'S TEST REVEALED A PROBLEM WITH THE PCV VALVE. THE PCV WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 112.95. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO GIVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER AS TOW HAT THE PROBLEM WAS. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS THEN CONTACTED AND THEY INFORMED THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $5000. THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD REV WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, OR RED LIGHT ETC. AFTER GETTING OTHER OPINIONS, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED IT WAS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH HER PARTICULAR MAKE, WHICH SEEMED TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10477686

Incident

Jan 8, 2012

I HAVE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION DE-ENGAGING WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OF THE TRANSMISSION WARMS UP. WHEN I ACCELERATE WHEN PASSING OR USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE TRANSMISSION WILL DIS-ENGAGE LEAVING ME WITH NO FORWARD POWER, I MUST PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND HOPE IT ENGAGES ALL THE WHILE ALMOST BEING RUN OVER BY TWO SEMI-TRUCKS. THIS HAPPENED ALMOST A DOZEN TIMES DOWN AND BACK ON MY TRIP FROM BUFFALO TO PEAPACK NJ ON MONDAY 4/16/2012. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM THAT FORD IS AWARE ON THE FIVE HUNDRED MODEL, MONTEGO AND SOME FUSION MODELS. MANY START TO FAIL AT LESS THAN 30,000 MILES AND HAPPENED AT 65,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. I CONSIDER THIS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND AMAZED NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED DUE TO THESE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. THE FORD FORUM HAS OVER 10 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. FORD TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNLESS THERE WAS A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10456240

Incident

Apr 16, 2012

Mileage

65,000 mi

I HAD THE NEED TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT BY SUDDENLY CHANGING LANES BUT WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL MY TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT TO HIGHER SPEED. INSTEAD TWO CLUNKING SOUNDS TOOK PLACE BEFORE FINALLY SWITCHING INTO HIGHER GEAR .I WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME , BUT NOW THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR ENDED US. THIS WOULD HAVE CREATED A FATAL CHAIN REACTION WE COULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED IN. I FOUND OUT THIS CARS HAVE A GREAT AMOUNT OF FAILURES ON RECORD FORD 500 2005 PLEASE HELP *JS

NHTSA ID

10455642

Incident

Apr 17, 2012

Mileage

128,000 mi

THE CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF AND TRANSMISSION IS NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY AS IT DOES NOT ACCELERATE AFTER BRAKING AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WARMS UP , THEY SAID IT WAS THROTTLEBODY BUT REPLACED THAT AND TRANS FLUID BUT STILL HAVE SAME TROUBLE AFTER ABOUT 30 MILES OF DRIVING . THIS COULD GET PEOPLE KILLED AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED NO IFS ANDS OR BUTS ABOUT IT !!!!!! FORD TAKE CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10419561

Incident

Dec 12, 2010

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE HEAT INDEX WAS ABOVE 80 DEGREES, THE CHECK TRANSMISSION AND WRENCH SYMBOLS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD LOSE SOME OF ITS POWER WHENEVER THE CONTACT DECELERATED. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND UPON RESTART IT WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL, BUT THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE VALVE BODY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ID

10418541

Incident

Jul 1, 2007

Mileage

101,000 mi

THE VEHICLE HAS RPM SURGES AT LOW SPEEDS EITHER IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. I NEARLY HAD 3-4 ACCIDENTS IN 2 DAYS BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WILL ACTUALLY INCREASE UP TO 1000 RPMS BY ITSELF WHILE I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. AS SOON AS I BEGIN TO RELEASE PRESSURE OFF THE BRAKE WHILE TRYING TO PARK OR NEGOTIATE THE VEHICLE AT VERY LOW SPEEDS THE ENGINE WILL JUST TAKE OFF. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF BACKWARD CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO SLAM THE BRAKES ON. I ALMOST HIT A WOMAN WHO WAS PASSING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LANE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10416483

Incident

Jul 27, 2011

Mileage

73,000 mi

THROTTLE BODY BAD ALL MOST HAD WRECK CAR WOULD NOT GO JUST IDLED. *KB

NHTSA ID

10414024

Incident

Jul 12, 2011

Mileage

160,500 mi

BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IN A 2005 FORD 500 AWD, CAR STUMBLES THEN LAUNCHED BACKWARD VIOLENTLY. LUCKILY I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR THE CAR WOULD HAVE KEPT GOING. "FAILSAFE ENGINE MODE" APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS CAR. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413823

Incident

Jul 20, 2011

Mileage

77,778 mi

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS IDLING IN PARK. VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. ONCE FOOT WAS RELEASED FROM THE BRAKE THE CAR LUNGED BACKWARD, THE TACHOMETER READ ABOUT 3000 RPM, WITH NO PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL. JUST AS QUICKLY PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE AND THE CAR ENTERED "ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE" AND SHUT DOWN. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING WOULD CLEAR THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES SINCE THE REPORTED INCIDENT DATE, ALL WITH THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. THE VEHICLE HAD THE A/C ON AND WAS IDLING IN APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT TEMPERATURES WITH +50% RELATIVE HUMIDITY. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413626

Incident

Jul 11, 2011

Mileage

70,258 mi

I HAD MY VEHICLE AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THREE TIMED FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CAR WOULD JUMP AND SPUTTER BUT EVERY TIME THE DEALERSHIP CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION, NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WENT TO GET A THIRD OPINION AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD I NEED NEW VALVE BODY. EVERYTIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE COST WILL RISE ABOVE $2100.00 THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ISSUE. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SHOULD BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10410787

Incident

Oct 1, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE CAR ENTERED ENGINE "FAILSAFE MODE" AND SHUT DOWN WHILE TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC ON A BUSY RUSH-HOUR HIGHWAY. AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, OPERATION WAS NORMAL. THIS WAS THE 3RD TIME IN A 2.5 WEEK PERIOD THIS OCCURRED. THE CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES IN JULY 2010 FREQUENTLY (IT HAD EXISTED FOR 2-3 YEAR ON AND OFF BEFORE THEN). FORD APPLIED THE SERVICE ALERT FIX BY REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY AND REFRESHING THE PCM. THIS FIX HAS NOT WORKED. THE CAR WILL SPORADICALLY ENTER FAILSAFE MODE ON WARM DAYS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE/SHIFT GEARS. THE ORIGINAL FIX IN JULY 2010 WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IN OCTOBER 2010 THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION CONTROL FAILURE AND THE COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THE FIX COST $2000. OPERATION WAS NORMAL DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, HOWEVER, WHEN THE WARM WEATHER RETURNED SO DID THE PROBLEM. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BELIEVES THE FAILSAFE MODE ISSUE WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND FORD SHOULD NOT HAVE CHARGED $2000 FOR A NEW COMPUTER. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR. THE DEALERSHIP'S SUGGESTION IS TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR TO CLEAR THE COMPUTER. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY ON MULTIPLE LANE HIGHWAYS. ONCE THE FAILSAFE MODE ENGAGES, THERE IS LITTLE POWER TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. IF YOU ARE ON AN INCLINE IT WILL STOP ALTOGETHER. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A REAR END COLLISION IS GREAT. FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, ONLY A SERVICE ALERT FOR A FIX THAT DOES NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10408650

Incident

Jun 15, 2011

Mileage

80,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY INTERNAL BORE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ID

10407086

Incident

Mar 7, 2011

Mileage

47,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BOTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102, 000.

NHTSA ID

10395625

Incident

Apr 7, 2011

Mileage

102,000 mi

TRAVELING ON MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO PASS TRACTOR TRAILER DEPRESSED THROTTLE AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO NEXT LOWER GEAR THAN SLAMMED INTO THE NEXT LOWER GEAR. LOSS OF ALL ACCELERATION TRANSMISSION ILLUMINATED. THAN TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO HAVE ELECTRONICALLY DISENGAGED FROM ENGINE (NO FORWARD MOVEMENT AT ALL, MIND YOU I WAS TRYING TO PASS) ENGINE REVOLUTIONS INCREASED TO OVER 7,000 RPM. BOTH TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER A BRIEF REST AT SIDE OF RODE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND COULD BE MOVED BOTH LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. AFTER 5 OR 10 RESTARTS BOTH ERROR LIGHTS EXTINGUISHED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10367962

Incident

Nov 12, 2010

Mileage

58,000 mi

2005 FORD 500 AWD MALFUNCTION, FORDS REFUSAL TO OFFER ANY COMPENSATION FOR A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10354670

Incident

Aug 1, 2010

Mileage

77,000 mi

SHIFTING CONCERNS ARE GENERALLY NOTICED DURING PASSING MANEUVERS WITH TRANSMISSION AT TEMPERATURES GREATER THAN 212 F (100 C) OPERATING TEMPERATURES. SYMPTOMS MAY BE PRESENT DURING DOWNSHIFT 5-3 AT 35 MPH (56 KM/H) AND/OR 4-3 AT 20 MPH (32 KM/H) WITH THROTTLE OPENING AT APPROXIMATELY 50% OR GREATER AND INCLUDE: HARSH SHIFT AND/OR CLUNK NOISE DELAYED SHIFT AND/OR PERCEIVED SLIP/ENGINE FLARE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10353378

Incident

Jun 6, 2010

Mileage

74,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY FORD 500 ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN I LOST POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION. I COULD REV THE ENGINE, BUT NO POWER WOULD GO TO THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS LUCKY ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR NOW HAS A LITTLE LURCH WHEN FIRST STARTING OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10351336

Incident

Aug 20, 2010

Mileage

82,300 mi

2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED WITH 51000 MILES HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. CAR ACCELERATES UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THEN LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD LIKE IT WILL TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN. THE ENGINE SURGE CAN BE FELT EVEN STANDING STILL AT TIMES. TOLD IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY AND HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR PART AS IT IS ON BACKORDER. THIS IS AN 800.00 REPAIR AND I HAVE BEEN WAITING ALMOST A MONTH. SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED WHEN THESE VEHICLES LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. I SEE MANY MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THIS MODEL CAR AND THIS PARTICULAR PART. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10344920

Incident

Jul 7, 2007

Mileage

51,000 mi

I AM BUYING A 2005 FORD 500 LIMITED WITH AN 6 SPD TRANSMISSION IT NOW HAS 136K MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM CROSSROADS FORD IN MEMPHIS. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED AT 54K MILES. NOW THE TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE IS STARTING TO SLIP AND STALL IN TRAFFIC. YOU START TO MOVE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND IT WILL GO SLOWLY THEN JUMP TO ABOUT 4K TO 6K ON THE TACHOMETER AND AT THAT POINT THE CAR STALLS AND YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE REAR ENDED BY OTHER DRIVERS DUE TO THE CAR STALLING. ACCORDING TO FORD THEY HAVE KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY OFFER SELLING YOU A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SINCE THEY BUILT THE PRODUCT EVEN IF THE FACTORY WARRANTY IS GONE. CANT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR OR TRADE THIS ONE IN OR GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED ACCORDING TO FORD THE REPLACEMENT IS AROUND $4600. DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY LYING AROUND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341792

Incident

Jun 18, 2010

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON APRIL 15, 2009, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS BROKEN AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000.

NHTSA ID

10334339

Incident

Apr 15, 2009

Mileage

30,000 mi

2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED ERRATIC TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR. UNSAFE SHIFTING CAUSES CAR TO LUNGE SIDEWAYS AND VIBRATE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE DOWNSHIFT DELAY LUNGES THE CAR FORWARD MAKING QUICK STOPS UNSAFE AND NEARLY CREATES A WRECK EVERYDAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332260

Incident

May 18, 2010

Mileage

51,000 mi

TRANSMISSION BUCKED WHEN TRYING TO PASS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE HAS 73,000 MILES AND NOW TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED DUE TO SEAL FAILURE INSIDE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10327815

Incident

Apr 24, 2010

Mileage

73,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED GEARS AND THE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT INCREASE IN SPEED AND IT STAYED IN ONE GEAR. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 31,000.

NHTSA ID

10326823

Incident

Aug 5, 2008

Mileage

31,000 mi

CAR FAILS TO DOWN SHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING HARD. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND BECOMES DISENGAGED. THIS PREVENTS ME FROM SAFELY ACCELERATING TO PASS OR AVOID OTHER VEHICLES. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ARE CHRONIC ON THIS 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319417

Incident

Mar 13, 2010

Mileage

64,555 mi

JUST PURCHASED A 2005 FIVE HUNDRED WITH 32000 MILES AND HAD TO BRING BACK TO DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION UP-DOWN HARD SHIFTING. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO FLASH W/NEW SOFTWARE. PICKED UP AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE, STILL HARD SHIFTING. HAVE 10 DAYS LEFT ON MY 60 DAY WARRANTY. WILL BRING BACK TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. SOUNDS TO ME THAT A HUGE AMOUNT OF LOYAL FORD CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE THIS TRANSMISSION. I SUPPOSE I WILL HAVE AN TRANSMISSION FAILURE SOON TO COME. WHY IN GODS NAME IS NOBODY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE MY DRIVER HEATED SEAT PADS REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314842

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

31,589 mi