Problems · by component

2005 Ford Five Hundred power train problems

136 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Five Hundred cite power train, 27% of all 510 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
136
27% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2005 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal knocking sound. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics, where the flywheel was replaced twice with used parts because the part had been discontinued. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check transmission warning light, the check engine warning light, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart but was undrivable. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2025Power trainODI 11681667
“While waiting at the light in traffic, my car all of a sudden Accelerated, and decelerates, I have to push hard on the breaks in order for it to not slam into the cars infront of me.. this is really dangerous, from what I have been reading this is a wide spread issue that ford has ignored for years..”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2022Power trainODI 11473538
“I PURCHASED THE CAR USED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT HAD SOME ISSUES WITH A MISFIRE. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION I FOUNT THE CAR WAS THROWING THE CODE P0351 I CLEARED ALL FAULTS AND PROBLEM WENT AWAY WEKS WENT BY AND PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN BUT MORE SEVER DURING NORMAL OPERATION THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND SHIFTING ERRATIC I THEN CAME UPON SOME K FORMATION AS TO A RECALL FORD PUT IN PLACE STATING IMPROPER CALIBRATION OF PCM AND TCM CAUSE UNNECESSARY INTERACTION I THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND MALFUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2020Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11366459
“TRANSMISSION HAS VERY HARD AND DELAYED UPSHIFT AND DOWNSHIFT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL SPEED WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. RPM GETS STUCK AROUND 3000 AT LOWER SPEEDS AND UPON ENGAGING INTO GEAR HAS MADE MY TIRES SQUAWK WITH A SUDDEN LUNGE IN SPEED AND SAME PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO STOP, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. IT ACTS AS THOUGH IT IS IN NEUTRAL BUT THEN WHEN IT ENGAGES INTO GEAR SUDDEN CHANGES IN SPEED OCCUR CAUSING RAPID ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION. THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE AFTER THE CAR IS UP TO NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. IT DOESN'T OCCUR AS OFTEN AT COLDER OPERATING TEMPERATURE. THIS PROBLEM MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO GET BACK UP TO SAFE HIGHWAY SPEEDS AFTER HAVING TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC OR RED LIGHTS AS WELL AS HARD TO GET UP TO SPEED TO SAFELY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC FROM AN ON RAMP. AS FAR AS "WHEN" THIS HAPPENED IT IS EVERY DAY AS I DRIVE DAILY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2020Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11365936
“(ETB) ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY ON MY CAR CAUSES AN ACCELERATION THAT MAKES THE CAR JERK FORWARD. I'VE ALMOST HIT A WALL, AND GOD FORBID THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ITS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. POOR DESIGN I GUESS BUT IT'S NOT WORTH MY LIFE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE IDLING IN DRIVE THRU WHEN I TRIED TO GO FORWARD IT IDLED REALLY HIGH THEN DROPPED DOWN. WOULD BOT ACCELERATE AFTERWARDS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 18, 2019Power train, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11244759
“I STOPPED ON A CITY STREET AT STOP SIGN. AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE. THE THROTTLE CONTROL/TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 2 TO 3 MINUTES. I STARTED THE CAR UP AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. I AM THANKFUL THAT THIS HAPPEN ON CITY STREET AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. I PLAN ON CONTACTING MY FORD DEALER TOMORROW.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2019Power trainODI 11185706

Showing 6 of 136 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.