This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The car sudden surges forward or back when moving out of park. If your foot is not firmly on the brake it will go move significantly. Upon research online and talking to Ford directly this is known problem that is not under re-call yet but should be. Our local Ford dealer carries the throttle bottle in stock because they sell so many of them. They average 10 a year. A simple research of the problem shows up. It is extremely dangerous. Also if there is quick stop it will go to a fail safe mode and basically shut off the car completely. The car has to be shut off and restarted in order to move the vehicle again. The throttle bottle must be replaced in order for it to be safe as a parts cost of almost $600.
We were driving down a highway and went to get back to speed after passing through a speed zone. I noticed a decrease in power and looked at the information screen. The fail safe mode and the "wrench" icon was on. I pulled the car over and turned it off. I then turned it on and the car acted normal. It has happened twice since the first incident. My wife took it to the dealership and Ford cannot duplicate the problem and the issue does not throw a check engine code or leaves any type of electronic history of the issue. I cannot allow my wife to drive this car because she is seven month pregnant and cannot have her drive it if the car breaks down due to this issue.
On hot summer days and only on hot summer days when stopped at light or stopped period car begins to surge forward while holding brake. Went asked Ford why is this happening they said they don't know. That I should get the throttle body and mass air flow sensor serviced if not done already. I guess it had to be done at 90K but I did not know. Well I did what they said, went home and car is now idling rough went back and they want to charge me another $90 dollars ontop of the $105 they have already charged me for the throttle and mafs. I have almost gotten in numerous accidents because of this but Ford doesn't want to acknowledge that this is a problem with this car.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Five hundred. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 155,000 and the current mileage was 160,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Five hundred. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle began to jerk violently and responded as though it would stall. The failure occurred sporadically when driving at low and high speeds. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a diagnosis. The technician stated that the motor mount would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.
- Clifton, NJ, USA
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So here I am another victim of a faulty throttle body. Thanks Ford I love when my car takes off on me without notice, especially when you have kids in the car. How many of these do I have to read before action is taken. Does it take a death or serious accident. Cost me 718 dollars I expect a recall soon and my money back I will not quit until this is taken care of. It's sad when you go to a mechanic and they say "wow there is still not a recall on this". oh by the way it is such a common problem I diagnosed my own car issue in 5 minutes by using google and typing failsafe engine mode.
This happens frequently almost daily in the summer. But on a hot day (90+) when moving from a stopped position out of a parking spot or around a corner, when you lightly have the brake pedal depressed if you turn the wheel slightly (ie backing out of a tight parking space) the car will lunge violently and aggressively in what ever direction you are traveling, sometimes so aggressively it will stall the vehicle out and then go into a failsafe mode. This is very dangerous as you could unexpectedly hit someone walking around the car at a stop sign or crosswalk. I have also found numerous other complaints on various blogs, forums, and other sites. Everyone basically stating the dealer gives them the run around. And as long as it is a hot day I can duplicate the results continuously, and would be more than willing to show this to someone else if possible. I am typically not one to complain, but I feel very strongly about the safety of this vehicle, especially since I have a 3yr old daughter.
During hot ( 95 degrees) afternoon, with A/C on high, vehicle revs and lurches while vehicle is in gear. Hard pressure on the break will stop the vehicle, but engine revs still continue. Engine then dies and ' engine fail safe mode ' appears. Turning the vehicle off and waiting to restart resets the fail safe mode. Allowing vehicle to cool down clears the short term problem. Reported to local Ford dealer who claims to have not heard of the problem.
While parking, with foot on brake the car surged forward. The A/C was on as well. It has now happened 7 more times all while the A/C is on either parking or reversing from a parking spot.
During warm weather with the A/C operating, the rpms surge and the vehicle lunges in the direction of the transmission lever selection (forward or reverse) when moving the shift lever from park to drive or from park to reverse with driver's foot on the brake. Engine rpms surge up to approx. 1,500 from idle at a dead stop without input from accelerator pedal. Different indicator lights come on and often the engine dies after the surge. If driver does not keep appropriate pressure on break pedal while shifting from park, the vehicle will accelerate without input from gas pedal. This surge also happens when decelerating to a stop. Vehicle slows down and rpms decrease to approx 600 (idle), and with pressure applied to brake pedal, engine rpms will increase, without input from accelerator pedal, forcing the driver to increase pressure on brake pedal or risk uncontrolled forward movement. Initial reports indicate a faulty throttle body as referenced in NHTSA investigation # PE110818.
While stuck in rush hour traffic, car was at a complete stop at a red light. When trying to let off the gas, the car lurched forward almost plowing into the car in front of me. This occurred on 06/20/2012. During summer 2011, this same type of behavior occurred 4 different times. The entire process begins with the car being at a complete stop, then when letting off the gas, the car's engine rev's and the car lurches forward requiring the driver to slam on the breaks from hitting other drivers/pedestrians. When the vehicle does this lurching forward motion, several red lights come on the instrument panel and also the computer reads an error of "failsafe engine mode". power steering, power brakes have been lost while this event occurs as well. Seems as if it could be affected by warmer weather because I have owned the vehicle two years and have only had this happen during warmer (90 degree or more) weather. During summer 2011, two occurrences happened that also almost caused collisions. The first time was on a summer night in a parking garage. As I was coming into a stop in a parking space, the engine lurched forward and came approximately 4-5 inches from hitting a concrete wall. During the other occurrence, I was stopping at a red light and came close to running over a pedestrian due to lurching from car. When car enters "failsafe engine mode' and lurches forward, car must be parked and restarted for the vehicle to run normally again. Also, it only happens at low speeds (I.e. when slowing the car below 5 mph or first beginning to accelerate the car while still below 5 mph). Other owners that have experienced this same issue can be found here: www.fordtaurus.net/forums/viewtopic.php?F=5&T=9366 and also: www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/2007/Ford/five+hundred/10439966
Throttle body malfunction. Engine reves up while placing the car in drive or reverse without touching the gas pedal, up to 1.5 on the RPM's on the speedometer. This is very scary, a child crossed in front of me while I was waiting at a stop sign. Foot was on the brake but all of a sudden it just reved up. It lunged forward and I hd to really put that break on. Scared me and the child to. I bought the car new and had all service done from the Ford dealer in the service person there told my husband that this part "throttle body" was made by the same manufacturer that made the Toyota parts that went bad "sticking gas pedals" ? and that Toyota recalled this dangerous issue and fixed it. Unless my husband misunderstood this gentleman, which I don't think he did. I spoke to Ford and placed a complaint and they told me that there had been complaints, but there was no recall issued as yet, but hold onto my receipt in case there is a recall issued in the future. This will cost $850, "which I feel should be picked up by Ford". pressing normally on the breaks is not good enough, you have to almost put it to the floor so that you do not move and pray that it doesn't lunge forward in the transition from break to gas pedal. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Five hundred ltd. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the vehicle started to lunge forward and backward before stalling. The contact merged the vehicle to the shoulder, turned the engine on and off and the vehicle started immediately. The fail safe mode warning light started to illuminate. The dealer was notified of the issue but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000. The consumer stated before she started driving on the road, she backed out of a parking space. She had her foot on the brake slightly as she was backing up, when the vehicle tried to lunge forward then backward. She applied the brake all the way, stopped the vehicle, but did not turn it off and the fail safe mode warning light illuminated. She tried to back up again, but it still wasn't running correctly, but she managed to finish backing out and straightened out the vehicle. The fail safe mode light stayed on. She sat for a minute and began to exit the parking lot. She only drove 500 feet, when the incident happened again. Updated 10/01/12
Vehicle shifts hard when hitting passing gear on highway like transmission is slipping or going out. Lose all power and car will buck back and forth. Also does it when transmission down shifts and then tries to upshift when accelerating and engine warm.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Five hundred. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the fail safe mode activated, causing the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was merged to the shoulder, turned off and then restarted after several minutes, as it resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was awaiting a full diagnosis of the failure. The manufacturer was notified who advised that there were no recalls for the vehicle and offered no other assistance. The failure mileage was 126,000.
When you are driving the vehicle will stop accelerating and a fail safety mode light comes on, if you pull over and restart it, it will restart and happens a few minutes later.
Engine randomly accelerates during hot weather and cold starts. Took to Ford garage who reported defective spark plug wire. Did not fix problem which has recurred. GT error code from parts store. Ford dealer declined existence of such code. Online search revealed reports of throttle body malfunction which can be treated with fuel additive. Seemed to stop it for a while but has recurred on several occasions. Another non dealer repair shop could not find defect. Problem has again recurred with first hot(over 90) weather.
My wife, son and I were driving. The vehicle had random acceleration while at full stopped. About 10 minutes later after a full stop the vehicle had another acceleration while foot on brake and the vehicle stalled out. Once stalled out the computer displayed the following error "fail safe engine". after doing an online review I noticed that many other Ford Five hundred owners having the same issue and seems to be caused by "throttle body". please note that whenever the vehicle is on park and put into reverse, the higher acceleration takes place. I always have to be extra careful. I have to be extra careful while driving as I am afraid for acceleration and stalling out in the middle of the road.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Plainfield, IL, USA