Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Ford 500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Vehicle downshifts very hard when braking or when trying to pass someone and you give it gas and it downshifts to accelerate it's like the vehicle goes into neutral. I was doing 70mph with someone on my rear end on I-77n and when I tried to speed up to get out of his way car shifted really hard to where I thought something broke and started to slow down quickly. Since I had the cruise control on the car shot up to 7000 RPM. So I hit the break to shut off cruise control all the while this driver behind me was about to get into my rear end I quickly moved into the right lane then over to the birm. At about 35mph the transmission engaged again and I immediately drove the car home. I took it to the Ford dealership and they recommended a valve body replacement @$3000. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford 500. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle jerked without warning. The engine light and failed safe mode light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and shut off. The vehicle was able to be restarted, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven one mile and then stalled. The throttle control and transmission lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted and was taken to a local mechanic where it could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 178,300.
For the past several months my car has been going into "failsafe engine mode" (basically stalling) while excellerating on highway or in stop and go traffic. According to others online this is a problem that is common with a throttle body failure. I have already had the "fix" Ford provided in their customer satisfaction program, however like many others this has not fixed the problem. Ford needs to stand by there products. I can not express to you how dangerous this is to be going highway speed and to have your car stall!!
Car lurches/jerks while in drive and reverse forward also when switching gears even with your foot on the brake. While driving car drops gears with foot on the gas. Drastic decrease in acceleration. Car has dropped gears and acceleration while turning at intersections on city streets also on highway. This problem has also caused me to almost have accidents or cause property damage. Car does this at speeds from 0-55 miles per hour.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford 500. While traveling approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle was slow to accelerate. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer twice, but they could not replicate and diagnose the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer months later and they reprogrammed the TCM and PCM, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford 500. When the brake pedal was depressed and released, the vehicle jerked forward without warning. The contact stated that the brakes had to be depressed with extreme pressure in order for the vehicle to stop. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford 500. While driving 40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford 500. While driving various speeds, the transmission warning indicator illuminated without warning. In addition, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was diagnosed as needing either a valve body or transmission replacement. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 206,865
When the car is at cruising speeds, especaily on the highway the transmission will switch into nuetral suddenly and has to be restarted to re-engage drive, leaving the car behind you very likly to kill you.
I was driving at the approx. Speed of 58mph and my car starting skipping and chugging. I slowed down and as I begun to slow down my car gave me a diagnosis code of failsafe engine mode, then my car completely shut down with no power at all. It was hard to pull off the rode and steer the car off the road because the steering wheel tightened up. I pulled over and let the car sit for a few minutes and then tried re-cranking the car. I was able to re-crank the car and drove further up the rode. I continued to have these problems. I drove approx. 10 miles from the first indication that happened and the car continued to cut off and give me the same error message approx 4 more times before I was able to get home with the car. I let the car cool for an hour or so and immediately took the car to a local mechanic. …
Transmission complaints in other 500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2005 Ford 500?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2005 Ford 500, 28% of the model year's 99 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Ford 500 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2005 Ford 500. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford 500 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 126,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.