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).
The local Ford dealership, interstate Ford, states our car's entire rear differential assembly is bad, is non serviceable, and is obsolete. We purchased the car new, it is accident free, and the dealership verifies the situation is not due to excessive wear and tear (only 101,000 miles on odometer and well maintained). We cannot fix the car, trade in the car, or sell the car. I've contacted Ford twice to no avail. Our car is paid off, has low mileage for a 2006, and we planned on driving it many more years. Now it is defunct. Another car like ours is for sale in the area with over 244,000 miles on it; yet Ford is telling me that the 101,000 miles on our car is all we are going to get. We filed a lemon law claim in 2008 on this car but subsequently worked with Ford to fix some very serious problems. We have asked them to work with us and we have been refused. …
First off I couldn't get the date to populate the correct date this problem has been happening for years but the year on the date section wouldn't change for me. So whenever iam pulling into a parking space like at the grocery store its like the car gives gas and lunges forward while as iam only doing maybe 3 MPH I have to hit the brake harder because my foot is already on the brake from pulling into a parking space with a car on left and right of me in order to not hit the car that is parked in front. When putting the car into gear from park its like it lunges once I get into gear. When in park and I turn the steering wheel from left to right the car like lunges as if im giving it gas with it in gear with foot on gas. Im not sure what is wrong I've looked up my VIN for recalls and nothing is recalled. …
A service bulletin 12n03 was issued. My mother-in-law's car shuttered and then stopped. The car was taken to the dealership where all maintenance and service had been previously performed. A throttle control and gasket was installed for a cost of $1177.00. If either the dealership or fmc and been proactive and told my widowed senior citizen MIL to have this part cleaned, it is likely it would not have later failed and had to be replaced. Fmc refuses to take any action to make this right. The dealership is no responsive to two letters sent to them regarding this issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford 500. While attempting to start the vehicle and shift the vehicle into gear, it would not shift and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the mesh belt within the transmission deteriorated and the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.
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.
Transmission is broken and need replacement. Said to be non-repairable as Ford discontinued making the transmission 3 years after introduction car has only 70,000 miles on it. Now I have large flower planter as I can't drive it! Ford, but for this issue I had a perfectly usable/reliable car! Now it is a safety hazard! What are you going to do about it! Happens in motion
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 128,000. Updated 01/05/17
First noticed when I was in line at a drive through car would jump forward. It is getting worse as I was backing out of parking lot at the grocery store car jumped felt like the acclerator was stuck, I hit my brake and it felt as if it went to the floor. I almost hit another car thank god there was no one walking behind my car. It was frightning.
I work 30 minutes away from where I live and while I was on the road pressing the brake it was still accelerating... I even parked for fear of getting in a wreck and the RPM kept increasing as if 8 was pressing on the gas. I took it into Ford apparently the recall expired: over 150K miles or 10 years whichever comes first.
The transmission in my mother's 2006 Ford 500, has failed. This car has 28,000 miles on it, was bought brand new, and has been very well maintained. As you can tell by the mileage the car is/was in pristine condition until her transmission problem. On 4/17/13 she left home, turned the corner and the car sputtered, then stalled and would not start, fortunately my sister and a friend were able to come and get the car off the road. Next day 4/18/13 she had the car towed ($45) to the local transmission shop who wanted ($5000) to repair the transmission, so she had it towed ($45) back to her house. On Friday 4/19/13 she had it towed ($100) to the Ford dealership 33 miles away. Today 4/24/13 she received a call from the Ford service adviser that the transmission needs to be replaced, as it shows lots of faulty stuff in the circuits. …
Transmission complaints in other 500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2006 Ford 500?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2006 Ford 500, 29% of the model year's 68 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 Ford 500 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain 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 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 99,000 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.