RoadVitals

2007 Ford Five Hundred Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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 1, 2012
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.
9%
of 199 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 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 transmission

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

Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Aug 1, 2012

THE TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE THE ENGINE AND LEAP FORWARD WITHOUT GIVING IT ANY GAS. NO CREEP, JUST LEAPS FORWARD SEVERAL YARDS. .. UPDATED 08-27-12 *BF

NHTSA ID
10472182
Incident
Jun 20, 2007
Mileage
42,561 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Feb 27, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE AND ALSO WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 03/16/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN HE SHIFTED THE GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR FROM PARK TO REVERSE. IT CAUSED A LOUD BANGING NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED 05/10/12

NHTSA ID
10449403
Incident
Jan 10, 2012
Mileage
58,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineTransmission
Filed Sep 14, 2011

IN NOVEMBER OF 2010 MY 2007 FORD 500 BEGAN TO "LEAP" FOWARD OR BACKWARD AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. THIS ACTION HAS CONTINUED FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTHS. IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN. IN MAY OF 2011 IT "LUNGED" WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH MY VEHICLE AND MY HUSBANDS WHO WAS PARKED NEAR ME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AFTER IT "LUNGED" IN A PARKING LOT LAST WEEK ALMOST HITTING A CHILD WALKING BY. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, I AM TOLD IT'S A BAD ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I AM TOLD IT WILL GO OUT SOMETIME, THERE ISN'T ANY WAY OF KNOWING WHEN BUT IT WILL GO INTO "FAIL SAFE MODE". AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I SEE FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS PART THAT INCLUDED MODELS OLDER THEN MINE. THE PROBLEM ISN'T FIXED AS MANY FORD OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *KB

NHTSA ID
10425447
Incident
Nov 16, 2010
Mileage
56,000 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Aug 16, 2011

I HAVE A 2007 FORD 500 THAT STARTED SURGING FORWARD AND BACKWARD. I TOOK THE CAR AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO A FORD DEALERSHIP ONLY TO LEARN THAT THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HAD BACK-DATED MY WARRANTY TO THE TIME THE CAR WAS PUT IN SERVICE. (I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR AS A "PROGRAM" CAR.) MY WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT ACCORDING TO THEM 6 DAYS BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD AND THEY REFUSED TO HONOR IT EVEN THOUGH I THOUGHT I HAD PURCHASED A 5 YEAR, 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE CAR IS STILL SURGING FORWARD AND BACKWARD AND FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. I HAVE OWNED LINCOLNS AND FORDS ALL OF MY LIFE AND I WILL NEVER GET ANOTHER ONE. I CANNOT BELIEVE FORD REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY HAZARD THAT FORD NEEDS TO REPAIR. SEEING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SENT IN, FORD KNOWS THAT THEY ARE IN THE WRONG AND STILL THEY DO NOTHING. *KB

NHTSA ID
10419614
Incident
Jun 6, 2011
Mileage
58,000 mi
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Aug 4, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECEIVED REPAIRS FOR AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TRANS CONTROL AND THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. AFTER REPAIRS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE EXACT CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE DEALER THEN UPDATED THE PCM AND MADE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,226, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,623.

NHTSA ID
10417031
Incident
Jun 10, 2010
Mileage
49,226 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 21, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10413898
Incident
Jul 21, 2011
Mileage
70,000 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Jul 20, 2011

THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD ON ITS OWN POWER. THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT PRESSED AND IT IS NOT OBSTRUCTED BY ANY FOREIGN OR MANUFACTURED OBJECT. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MANY NEAR CRASHES. *KB

NHTSA ID
10413714
Incident
Jul 19, 2011
Mileage
115,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Jun 14, 2011

2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEL ACCELERATING AND LUNGING WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, GARAGE, OR DRIVE-THRU LANE. OCCURS IN DRIVE AND IN REVERSE. SUDDEN ACCELERATION LUNGES THE CAR SEVERAL FEET AND HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR-MISS INCIDENTS. CAN'T PARK TOO CLOSE TO ANOTHER CAR IN PARKING LOT OR GARAGE OR PULL UP BEHIND ANOTHER CAR VERY CLOSE AT A RED LIGHT FOR FEAR OF CAR LUNGING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT. VERY SCARY NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THIS. AFRAID TO COAST INTO PARKING SPOT WITHOUT FOOT ON BRAKE FOR FEAR OF HITTING SOMEONE OR SOME THING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10406805
Incident
Jun 14, 2011
Mileage
53,400 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 14, 2011

IN SEPTEMBER 2010 (AT 42K MILES), MY 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED SEL STARTED TO SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK, ESPECIALLY IF THE FRONT END WAS SITTING HIGHER. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE WRENCH AND CHECK ENGINE ICONS WOULD LIGHT UP AND THE CAR LOST 95% OF ITS POWER. TURNING OFF THE ENGINE FOR 30 SECONDS OR SO WOULD CAUSE THE WRENCH ICON TO TURN OFF, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE ICON WOULD STAY LIT. THE CAR WOULD DRIVE NORMALLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF OVERNIGHT. AFTER THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, A FORD DEALER SAID THAT ITWAS THE TCM MODULE WHICH WASN'T COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. I PAID $1000 TO HAVE THE TCM REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED FORD MECHANIC. IN APRIL 2011 THE CAR BEGAN TO REPEAT THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I'VE HAD THE CAR TO 3 FORD DEALERS, BUT THEY ALL SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS THE CAR IS ACTUALLY MALFUNCTIONING AT THE TIME. I WAS PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY RECENTLY WHEN THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK INTO MY LANE BEFORE MEETING AN ONCOMING CAR. I SAY FORTUNATELY BECAUSE THE CAR LOSES ALL POWER UNTIL THE WRENCH ICON GOES OUT! THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD IS "STONEWALLING". DIDN'T THEY LEARN FROM TOYOTA'S BRAKE ISSUES? *TR

NHTSA ID
10406245
Incident
Jun 3, 2011
Mileage
42,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 29, 2011

2007 FORD 500 TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO BUCK OUT OF THE BLUE. CANNOT PASS PEOPLE ON NORMAL ROADS OR BARELY MAKE IT UP HILLS, ACCELERATION IS VERY SLOW. FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN, GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY. IT USED TO OCCUR AT HIGHER SPEEDS, NOW IT IS HAPPENING ANYWHERE ABOVE 30MPH. HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT PROBLEM, BEEN READING UP ON IT; AND EVERYONE HAS THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO "CHEAP" FIX YET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10403686
Incident
May 18, 2011
Mileage
91,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 24, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE GEAR SHIFT KNOB MOVED AND THE ENGINE REVVED BUT THE GEARS WOULD NOT CHANGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS ABLE TO GET THE GEARS TO CHANGE BUT COULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,200.

NHTSA ID
10384375
Incident
Aug 20, 2010
Mileage
35,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 23, 2011

CAR LURCHES AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE FROM PARK. *LN

NHTSA ID
10378354
Incident
Jan 3, 2011
Mileage
60,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 30, 2010

CAR: 2007 FORD 500 LIMITED. MOVING SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR TO DRIVE, AFTER ABOUT 1 SECOND THE CAR "LURCHES" FORWARD OR BACKWARD. I KEEP THE BRAKE LOCKED DOWN WHEN CHANGING GEARS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS UNTIL IM SURE IT WONT JUMP BUT I HAVE TO REMEMBER TO DO IT. THIS IS DANGEROUS. WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, I ALMOST RAN OVER SOMEONE. I HOPE YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND LET ME KNOW OR HAVE FORD PUT OUT A SAFETY RECALL AND A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID
10373506
Incident
Jan 15, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Sep 15, 2010

CAR: 2007 FORD 500 LIMITED. MOVING SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR TO DRIVE, AFTER ABOUT 1 SECOND THE CAR "LURCHES" FORWARD OR BACKWARD. I KEEP THE BRAKE LOCKED DOWN WHEN CHANGING GEARS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS UNTIL I'M SURE IT WON'T JUMP.THIS IS DANGEROUS. WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, I ALMOST RAN OVER SOMEONE IN A PARKING LOT AS I WANTED TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. I TOOK THIS IN FOR SERVICE AND MENTIONED IT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. AS HE DROVE THE CAR AROUND TO THE BACK, HE SAID HE NOTICED IT TOO AND ASKED THE TRANSMISSION MAN TO LOOK IT OVER. SINCE I WAS HAVING THE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGED, HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO OLD FLUID. (CAR HAD ABOUT 70K MILES AT THE TIME). ITS ABOUT 5K MILES SINCE THE SERVICE AND THE CARIS AS BAD OR WORSE THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE COMPUTER GETTING A WRONG SIGNAL FROM ONE OF THE THROTTLE SENSORS AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SURGE. DEALER SAID HE HAD NOT SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING BUT SINCE ONLY MY WIFE AND I DRIVE THE CAR, WE ARE COMPENSATING BY HOLDING THE BRAKE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER. I HOPE YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND LET ME KNOW OR HAVE FORD PUT OUT A SAFETY RECALL AND A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID
10355852
Incident
Mar 1, 2010
Mileage
65,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 30, 2010

MY WIFE HAS A 2007 FORD 500. SINCE 40K MILES, SHE'S HAD CONTINOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SURGING AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. I ALSO HAD A 2007 MODEL 500 AS A COMPANY CAR. I BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS IN/AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH OUR COMPANY WERE ALSO DRIVING 500'S AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. FORD SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO GREEN FORD IN GREENSBORO, NC AND DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLES WERE REPAIRED OUT OF WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. AS A RESULT AND AFTER THE VEHICLE ALMOST SURGED INTO OUR DAUGHTER, I TOOK MY WIFE'S CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TODAY. THE SERVICE REP ACKNOWLEDGED "SOME PROBLEMS" WITH THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT ADVISED IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM IN ALL VEHICLES. I TOLD HIM ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY 500 AND THE PROBLEMS WITH THE OTHER COMPANY CARS. I EVEN OFFERED TO PROVIDE HIM THE NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE OTHER DEALERSHIP, BUT WAS TOLD THEY WERE IN A "DIFFERENT DISTRICT" AND HAD A DIFFERENT REPRSENTATIVE. I ASKED IF THEY COMMUNICATED WITH EACH OTHER TO WHICH I RECEIVED AN INTELLIGEIBLE RESPONSE. I WORK AS AN INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR AND WILL ENSURE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT OVERLOOKED. I'VE ALMOST WRECKED THE CAR 3 TIMES IN OUR CARPORT AND PARKING LOTS AS A RESULT OF SUDDEN SURGE. IT APPEARS TOYOTA IS NOT THE ONLY CAR COMPANY WITH SUDDEN SURGES AND/OR PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE PROBLEMS. WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT NOBODY HAS BEEN INJURED, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE SOMEONE SHOULD BE HURT OR WORSE BEFORE A COMPANY DOES THE RIGHT THING AND TAKES A PROACTIVE RESPONSE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
10322921
Incident
Mar 20, 2010
Mileage
40,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 28, 2009

ENGINE IDLE SPEED IS EXCESSIVE AT INTERMITTENT INTERVALS WHILE TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE, CAUSES VEHICLE TO INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATE AT INAPPROPRIATE SPEEDS. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP SCANNED VEHICLES REPAIR CODES, DETERMINED IT TO BE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP, SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER THEY SCANNED IT. VEHICLE, WENT INTO A "CREEP MODE" IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING ONE OF THE INSTANCES, BUT THE COMPUTER RESET ITSELF AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES.*TR

NHTSA ID
10285562
Incident
Aug 3, 2009
Mileage
38,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 7, 2009

IT STARTED OUT AS A LOUD THUMP THAT ROCKED THE CAR WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR... THAT HAS CONTINUED BUT NOW IT ALSO WHEN ACCELERATING HESITATES THEN YOU HEAR THE THUMP AND THEN IT WILL ACCELERATE. I HAVE HAD THIS AT MY DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES NOW AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. THEY CONTINUALLY SAY THE CANNOT "RECREATE" THE PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE A AIRLEAK IN THE CAR THAT IS SO LOUD YOU CANNOT HEAR THE RADIO WHEN DRIVING ON A INTERSTATE. THEY ARE BLAMING THAT ON THE ANTENNA ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I HAVE LESS THEN 20,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND A EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO TO MAKE THEM FIX IT. I WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS, I HAVE A NEWBORN AND AM AFRAID IF IT IS THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH IT SOUNDS LIKE, THAT IT COULD SEIZE UP AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10254067
Incident
Oct 6, 2008
Mileage
150,000 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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .