2006 Ford Five Hundred Acceleration Problems

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1211%
• 25k–50k
  1514%
• 50k–75k
  3027%
• 75k–100k
  2926%
• 100k–150k
  1614%
• 150k+
  98%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Ford Five Hundred owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

I have a 06' Ford Five Hundred that I purchased certified used in 07'. Within a few months I started experiencing surging problems especially when the A/C was running. The dealer replaced the instrument cluster in 08' but did not fix the problem. On each return to the dealership they could not fix the problem. On my last visit to the dealer they cleaned the throttle body and said that would fix the problem. This did not fix the problem and they could not diagnose the problem. This problem has caused me to rearend a vehicle in 2009. Ford is not responding to the problem at all. After 3+ years of trying to figure out what the problem is I all but have given up. That is until today when the repair shop that I use on a regular basis hired a new mechanic who was able to diagnose the problem. The problem turns out to be the throttle position sensors in the throttle body. …

I'm not sure if this is a power train or other problem, car lurches dangerously at low speeds, and when changing gear into and out of reverse. I hit a post parking in August of 2010 due to this, and it's been getting gradually worse. Took it to the dealer who replaced a broken upper motor mount that was connected to the transmission. Didn't help, although it seemed like a good guess at the time. It helps to keep foot firmly on brake when changing gear or holding still, while the car tries to lurch forward (or back) with unplanned acceleration. Seems to be getting increasingly worse and now I don't feel it's safe to let anyone else drive it, like at valet parking. Taking it back to dealer tomorrow, but we let warranty expire recently darn it. We get so many fake spam warranty-expiring phone calls that I got confused and dropped the ball. …

I was on my way home coming down farrow rd. And my car stalled out, so I slowly pulled in the median turn car off and back on. When I got ready to pull out of the median the car wouldn't go no faster than 5 miles and hour. So I had my friend help me pull it out of the road and take me home and tow my car to the house. When I got it home there wasn't any acceleration, rpms wont move at all, car has power and cranks but when I put it in drive it won't go anywhere. It stalls and cuts off, even in neutral no acceleration. Everything lights up and cuts on but no acceleration. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate and the power train wrench icon illuminated. The contact was able to shut off and restart the vehicle in order to operate normally. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic throttle body sensor failed, sending the vehicle into "limp mode", and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted on several occasions. The contact mentioned that the electronic throttle body sensor was replaced twice. The vehicle recently went into "limp mode" again. The dealer performed a diagnostic test, but a failure code could not be found. The vehicle was also test driven, but the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. During brake application at 40 MPH the all weather floor-mat shifted onto the top surface of the brake pedal and accelerator pedal. Consequently there was an unintended increase in acceleration. She rear-ended another vehicle. She was transported to the hospital with moderate injuries. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop. The failure occurred previously on two separate occasions; which there were no personal injuries or vehicle damage. The failure and current mileages were unavailable. Updated 10/27/09 updated 10/29/09.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated that while exiting a residential driveway, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without any warning. The contact mentioned that as a result of the failure, the vehicle crashed through a wall and into an apartment. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who was not able to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and the current mileage was 23,800.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced sudden acceleration while reversing from a parking space. The vehicle accelerated over a curve and crashed into a fence, fracturing the oil pan. A police report was filed for the incident. The contact had to shift into park in order to get the vehicle to stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was told that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Updated 11/03/11 updated 11/30/11

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. The contact was driving 3 MPH when the brakes were depressed and the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact crashed into a residential carport. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer confirmed that the throttle sensor malfunctioned.the manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired and the VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 65,000 and the current mileage was 67,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated that while shifting into drive, the vehicle accelerated abnormally and the contact crashed into a dumpster. There were no injuries. The police were contacted and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but the manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 24,000 and the current mileage was 29,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford 500. While driving various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating. After restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally. During the failure, the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the throttle body was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 94,000.

NHTSA investigations

Acceleration complaints in other Five Hundred years