Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Ford 500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
It has check engine light on, momentary engine idle, RPM surge when stopped or during low speed driving, such as turning into a parking or backing out of a parking spot. Pulling in or backing out of the garage. Stoping at a stop light, lunges forward: came close to causing property damage by running into another vehicle in parking lot or at stop light. Safety issue, what if the car lunges forward at a stop light into incoming traffic, causing bodily injury and property damage. Ford should have recalled this safety issue. I purchased this cause after the 10 year warranty extension was issued. The previous owner did not fix this, I just found out about it, now I will have to fight to get Ford to cover a known safety issue, that puts my children at risk. .
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford 500. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH during inclement weather, the vehicle lost power as the headlights dimmed. In addition, the vehicle jerked and the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact also stated that the vehicle then stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, who diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. However, the failure recurred and the vehicle was towed to another dealer, who diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000. Updated 04/07/16
The engine surges and the car lurches periodically - normally after the engine warms up. It surges when you take the car out of park and place the selector in drive or reverse. It also surges and lurches when sitting at a light and removing pressure on the brake pedal. The potential for property and personal damage are substantial. Ford should be compelled to issue a recall. There are many complaints regarding this defect on other websites and nothing seems to be moving in the direction of resolution. Please help.
All of a sudden the car started to run bit slow than usual before the incident and shortly after the check engine light came on. We took it to o'reilly auto parts and we were informed there is a malfunction in the throttle body and it needs to be replaced. The throttle body listed price is $562 and when we took the quote it was on sale for $331.99. We are yet to get this fixed and will keep the receipts for the records.
Throttle body malfunction, car put in safety mode, don't let you run more than 40 miles per hour, turning off engine to reset vehicle, I take it to the dealer for fsa title: engine idle RPM surge extended warranty field service action number: 12n03 (clean the throttle body and reprogram the powertrain control module), mechanic technician answer: transmission code, which is a lie, dealer don't want honor the warranty.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford 500. When the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle came to a complete stop, the vehicle jerked and moved forward without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
Throttle body has been replaced twice now. Vehicle currently has 106,982 miles. Third throttle body needs to be replaced. Very dangerous for my teenager to drive as there is no warning when the acceleration won't work and she can be on a highway in traffic. Also, the back doors are constantly filling with water after a rain storm and need to be drained.
The engine died, meaning no acceleration. I restarted the engine after a rest and it started and drove again. It happened again later that day and I noticed that the rpms surged just before the engine died. I took it to autozone to get the codes from the computer, and the codes are p2111 and p2104. The throttle body is the likely defective part.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford 500. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The technician diagnosed that the electrical throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 195,685.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford 500. When the vehicle was shifted into reverse, it experienced unintended acceleration and a complete loss of power. The maintenance warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
Acceleration complaints in other 500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2006 Ford 500?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2006 Ford 500, 35% of the model year's 68 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 Ford 500 acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2006 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 2006 Ford 500 acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 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.