Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Ford Five Hundred submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 43 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.
The 25 most recent of 43, in the owner's own words
It's starting not going into highway gears (5&6) just revs real high and when it does finally, it kicks really hard. Sounds and feels like it's going to drop out from under the car.
WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN REVERSE OR DRIVES IT REVS. IN ORDER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT I HAVE TO ENSURE THAT MY FEET ARE ON THE BRAKES AT ALL TIMES! THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE I'VE ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT ME!
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
CAR IN THE MORNINGS IS ACCELERATED AND WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE IT MOVES BY ITSELF VERY ACCELERATED AND ITS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE WITH NO SLOPES. TRANSMISSION FEELS AS IF RUNNING FORCEFULLY BUT CHANGES GEARS I GUESS FINE JUST GOT THE CAR AND HAS LOW MILES AT 27000 MILES. AND DOES IT EVERYDAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THERE WAS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY VEHICLE WILL GO INTO LIMP MODE AND HAVE NO POWER, WHEN I PULL OVER AFTER ALMOST SMASHING UP THE CAR JERKED AND I SHUT IT OFF AND TURN IT ON ITS FINE BUT THIS SAME PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING EVERY DAY AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I HAVE A TRICK I PUT IT IN NUTRAL AND SHUT IT OFF WHILE IM DRIVING AND THAT WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM, IT WILL DO IT TEN TIMES IM A ROW AND ITS VERY DANGERIOUS, I WENT TO THE DEALER AND PO 701 CODE CAME UP AND THEY SAID OT A INTERNAL FAILURE AND FOUND NO METAL SCRAPS UNDER THE PAN FILTER, SO FAR THEY SAOD THE TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD AND CANT BE REPAIR BUT AFTER 15,000 MILES LATER THE CAR STILL DRIVES BUT DOES THAT EVERYDAY, IS THERE AMYTHIMG I CAN DO TO REPAIR THIS TRANSMISSION I CANT AFFORD THE $7,500 PRICE QUOTE THEY SAID. I. NEED HELP WITH CAR AND STILL DRIVING IT TILL THIS DAY 5 12 15
MY THROTTLE BODY WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 99481 MILES. I PAID APPROX. $800 FOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REIMBURSED FOR THE SERVICE ON 12/11/2012 AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN MADE ABOUT THE THROTTLE BODY IN THIS MODEL THAT THEY WERE PAYING FOR PREVIOUS SERVICES FOR ANY REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS MADE FOR THIS PART. I BELIEVE THE REPLACEMENT PART USED WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE, AND MADE MENTION OF MY CONCERN TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME. THEY AGREED THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT I DID NOT RECEIVE A DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT PART AS THE NEW PART THEY WERE USING A YEAR LATER WAS DIFFERENT. I HAVE HAD MY REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AND RE-PROGRAMMED SEVERAL TIMES (AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR SINCE THE REPLACEMENT). FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL DO NOTHING NOW THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED A NEW THROTTLE BODY WHICH IS ABOUT AN $800 REPAIR. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THOSE OF US, WHO RECEIVED A FAULTY OR DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT PART, US WHOLE. I HOPE THAT OTHERS WILL MAKE IT KNOWN IF THEY HAVE HAD A DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY. *TR
THE CAR WILL SURGE WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEAR. DOES IT IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. I HAVE TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL I AM AWAY FROM A CAR OR BUILDING AS IT WILL JUMP INTO THEM. I NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO DO IT. I ESTIMATED WHEN IT STARTED AND IS STILL DOING IT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT MIDNIGHT THE CAR WARNING LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON (ABS, BATTERY, TRACTION CONTROL, AND FINALLY THE FACTORY STEREO/GPS UNIT) ONE BY ONE. THEN FOLLOWED BY THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATION GOING OUT WHICH MEANS I NOW HAD NO TAILLIGHTS. THEN FINALLY LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO ILLEGALLY PARK THE CAR BLOCKING A DRIVEWAY AND FIRE HYDRANT. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY I MAY HAVE HAD A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ENDING. A WEEK AFTER THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AGAIN ONLY I GOT NO LIGHTS ON, IT JUST DIED. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR A WEEK MY MECHANIC REPLACED A FAULTY GROUND AND THE BATTERY. THE CAR STILL DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. HE HAS NO IDEA WHY. *TR
CAR STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR INCIDENT, OR WARNING. AS SOON PUT MY CAR INTO DRIVE, IT LURCHED AND WOULD NOT MOVE. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENED. AFTER A FEW MORE ATTEMPTS, IT MOVED AT 10-20 MPH. I STALLED COMPLETELY CLOSE TO HOME. *TR
CHECK SYSTEM LIGHT ON. TURN OFF MOTOR AND LIGHT GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD "MECHATRONICS UNIT" WITHIN TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ONLY 45,000 MILES ON CAR AND WITHIN 60,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT OVER THE 5 YR WARRANTY TIME LIMIT. NHTSA SITE SHOWS SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS WITH POWERTRAIN ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR
WRENCH INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR BEGAN TO SPOTTER AND SURGE. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE WRENCH LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE CAME ON. CAR STALLED OUT 2 TIMES ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER. DEALER WANTS $950 TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED THEN THE VEHICLE PRODUCED A LOUD NOISE AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE EXACT DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,489.
THIS FORD 500, LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS I SEE AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, HAS A LUNGING PROBLEM.... I MUST DEPRESS THE BREAK PEDAL FULLY IN ORDER TO KEEP THIS CAR FROM JUMPING OUT OF THE GARAGE. WE HAD A NEAR MISS WITH A PEDESTRIAN WALKING THEIR DOG. WE NOW BACK INTO THE GARAGE AS TO HAVE FULL VIEW OF OUR SIDEWALK. THIS IS A HORRIBLE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE PROOF IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. WHAT IS FORD WAITING FOR? I HAVE SEVERAL PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT HAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT ASK ANY OTHER FORD FIVE HUNDRED OWNER. WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM? IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!! *TR
MY 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED IS ACTING UP. WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE IT REVS UP AND JUMPS. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I HAVE MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE SO IT DOESN'T CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. NOW IT IS STARTING TO REV UP AND JUMP WHEN IM SITTING AT A STOP SIGN. THIS PAST FRIDAY I WAS SITTING AT A STOP SIGN AND IT REVVED UP AND JUMPED AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO REAREND A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I REALLY NEED THIS FIXED BEFORE IT GETS WORSE AND IT KILLS ME OR I KILL SOMEONE ELSE. WHEN YOU ARE SITTING WITH THE CAR IN GEAR WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER OFF THE RPM NEEDLE WILL MOVE WITHOUT GIVING IT ANY GAS. IT SHOULD NOT DO THIS. PLEASE HELP ME AND LET ME KNOW IF THEIR IS A RECALL ON SOMETHING THAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO OPERATE WITH A SUDDEN INCREASE OF ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED DOWN AN INCLINE AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE THE WHOLE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFULLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY IS WRONG. BUT THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE LOOKED INTO BY FORD BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR
AT VERY LOW SPEEDS (EXAMPLE IN A PARKING LOT) TRYING TO PARK THE CAR IT WILL SURGE REALLY HARD EVEN WHEN FOOT IS ON BRAKE.. MAKES PARKING VERY DANGEROUS.. I ALMOST HIT A PERSON AND ALMOST WRECKED INTO ANOTHER CAR ANOTHER TIME.. WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE THE RPMS GO AWAY UP AND IT IS AS IF SOMEONE IS FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL. *TR
THE VEHICLE SURGES/LUNGES FORWARD/BACKWARD WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO REVERSE/DRIVE WITHOUT ANY GAS BEING APPLIED. WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED THE VEHICLE STILL DOESN'T STOP AND I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENS. THE CAR MAINLY DOES IT WHEN THE AIR CONDITION IS ON, BUT WILL DO IT OTHER TIMES AS WELL. THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WRENCH LIGHT APPEARING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. WHEN I TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONING OFF THE CAR STOPPED SHUTTING OFF. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY FORD, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. I'M HAVING TO PAY OUT $800 FOR A PART THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY THOUSANDS OF OTHER FORD OWNERS. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART. *TR
CAR ACCELERATES WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS ON (MORE SO WHEN TURNING WHEEL) WHETHER IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. ALREADY HAD ACCIDENT IN REVERSE. NOTED SEVERAL COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS FROM OWNERS ON GOOGLE. ALMOST HAD ANOTHER ACCIDENT IN JACK IN THE BOX DRIVE THRU WHERE CAR ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. MISSED CAR IN FRONT OF ME BY INCHES. HAD FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR WAS IN DRIVE BUT NOT MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPEN. ACCELERATION OVER POWERED BRAKE PRESSURE. VERY, VERY SCARY. PLEASE HELP. OTHERWISE LOVE CAR. PLEASE CONTACT MY COUSIN. SEE BELOW. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK ABNORMALLY WHEN IN DRIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 150,000. UPDATED 10/16/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND EVENTUALLY HIT A METAL WHERE A SIGN ONCE WAS. THE VEHICLE WAS JERKING BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. UPDATED 10/24/2012 *JS
WHEN CAR WAS PLACED IN GEAR THROTTLE SURGED CAUSING CAR TO JUMP WHILE FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE., ALSO SURGES WHEN PULLING SLOWLY INTO PARKING PLACE. *TR
WHEN AFTER STARTING CAR AND GEAR SHIFT PUT INTO EITHER DRIVE OR REVERSE THE ENGINE WILL SURGE CAUSING CAR TO LUNGE. IF NOT AWARE OF ISSUE AND HAVE FOOT ON BRAKE WOULD HIT WHAT EVER IN THE WAY OF CAR. THE SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN PULLING INTO OR OUT OF PARKING SPACE. I HAD MY CAR FIXED AT A FORD DEALER AND THEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO TAKE THE ISSUE SERIOUSLY. ACCORDING TO MY FORD DEALER THE PROBLEM IS IN THE THROTTLE BODY. I WENT OUT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER FORD 500 OWNERS REPORTING THE SAME THING. THE BIG PROBLEM IS THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME. THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS COMPLIANT IS THAT FORD DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE STOPPED WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE JERKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION KIT BUT AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
THE CAR SURGES WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN ALSO WHILE GOING SLOW BACKING OUT OF GARAGE OR DRIVING SLOW IN A PARKING LOT. I AM AFRAID I WILL HIT SOME OR SOMEONE WHEN CAR IS SURGING THE TACH WILL JUMP TO 2000 OR MORE RPMS WHILE SITTING OR GOING SLOW..SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE !!! *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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