2006 Ford Five Hundred Brake Problems

Which parts fail

• Foundation components › Disc › Pads
  8
• Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
  6
• Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
  1
• Foundation components › Drum › Drum
  1

Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1648%
• 25k–50k
  1133%
• 50k–75k
  13%
• 75k–100k
  39%
• 100k–150k
  13%
• 150k+
  13%

Owner reports

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

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Five Hundred. The contact was driving in reverse at an unknown speed. As the contact applied the brakes, the vehicle would not respond and hit a shopping cart, which in turn the cart hit another vehicle. A police report was filed but no injuries were reported. The failure was not diagnosed. Approximately four months later while driving at an unknown speed, the contact applied the brakes and experienced an increase in stopping distance. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was told that the rear brake pads would need to be replaced as the pads and rotors had worn out. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 15,000 and the current mileage was 16,000. Updated 05/24/11 updated 08/10/11

The brakes are spongy. Very seldom they will be normal. Most of the time they will be soft and have to be pumped. Sometimes the brakes will be firm for a couple of seconds and then the pedal will sink to the floorboards. This occurs during during normal driving and stopping and also occurs when vehicle is in parked. Brakes have been professionally serviced including hooked to a computer for proper bleeding. Problem has not been resolved.

While stoping at red light car stalls buckles dose not go over 50 MPH as it hits 50 MPH rpms go to6000 speed stays on 50 MPH and I can't go on a high way cause I can't keep up with traffic noise coming from moter car got hot going up hills in 80 degree weather and it just all around runs like [redacted].

Unintended acceleration from stop when brake released. From sept 2006 until present. Approx $3000 each time. Hit garage wall. (approx 5 collisions with wall) still does it. Finally found out when & why.

In June 2007, my wife took our 2006 Ford Five Hundred (sel) to the local dealer for an oil change. She was informed at the time that she needed to have the rear brake pads replaced. The car had only 26,800 miles on it. I was in disbelief and told her not to allow the work. I took the car to an auto service center that I trusted the next day. Sure enough, the pads needed to be replaced. I had them do the work. I then complained to the local dealer that this wear rate was unacceptable and cars normally go significantly longer before needing rear pad replacement. I received a letter from them stating that the "brake wear on your vehicle is considered to be within normal parameters" . I knew this was not true. In July, I received a letter from Ford motor co. Stating that they were extending the warranty on the rear pads to 36,000. I received a refund from the dealer. …

Traveling south on I-26 across the tn/nc border through sam's gap on a snowy day LED me to drive very slow and come to a stop at the truck information area at the top of the hill. When I saw a large transfer truck pull out onto the road and proceed down the hill I felt it was safe to follow. This truck was moving a lot faster than I was and I was "covering the brake" and tapping it occasionally down the steep incline, but there was ice on the road and when I tapped the brakes the car began to spin and hit the concrete median on all 4 corners of the vehicle with pretty strong force. The seat belt correctly locked down on the driver side, but the air bag did not deploy properly. The air bag light was illuminated and I could smell like something was burning. I assumed this was the compound used in the air bag. …

This is in regard to a 2006 Ford Five Hundred with rear brake grinding. I received a notice ( 07n10)from Ford motor company July 2007 . It stated that my vehicle May have had direct exposure to moisture for an extended period that May have caused the brake pads to swell and create a slight drag condition. Low levels of brake drag could lead to premature brake pad wear. At 36,000 miles the rear brakes began to grind . The rear brake pads and rotors were replaced at no charge . When I brought the auto to the dealer for repairs the service manager told me the front and rear brakes needed to be replaced because it was an all wheel drive vehicle. When the appointment was made to have the repairs completed at the dealer I was insured all the parts were available. To my surprise the dealer did not have all the needed parts to make the repairs. …

I bought my 2006 Ford 500 in June of 2006. I had a problem with the rear brakes getting very dusty (on rims), so I went to the Ford dealership and asked about this problem. At the time the answer was, "those are the brakes which the manufacturer installed and there is nothing we can do about it. So, I had to accept this answer and go on about my business. At 12000 miles (December 2006) I took the car in for an oil change. When they were driving my car in for the oil change they noticed a squeeling noise coming from the rear wheels. I guess they checked the rear wheels and found excessive wear on the rear brakes. Anyhow, now they have changed and repaired the brakes. I was told when I picked up the car that there was an service bulletin on the brake problem.

The new car rear brakes have excessive wear on the rotors and when wet the brake pads expand causing the car to jerk excessively when brakes are applied. This condition is extremely excessive at very very slow speeds. When pulling out of a parking spot hours after a rain the excessive brakes can even cause neck pain. My concern is that even though I know Ford will replace these brake pads as promised: I am very concerned that the rotors that have very excessive wear will be tuned and not replaced. It appears to the naked eye that a quarter of an inch has been worn off of the rotors, and the car only has 12500 miles on it. Ford is aware of the brake problem, but is waiting for the excessive wear to replace the pads. What should I do?

1st issue: when the vehicle is at a stop light, the car feels like it's going to jump forward even while the brake is depressed. I worry about rear-ending the car in front of me. Then when the car is in park, the car begins to rev or idle high as if the accelerator has been pressed. 2nd issue: while in park or driving at low speeds of 30-35mph, the instrument panel quits working and the A/C stops as if the car was turned off. It'll then come back on and will continue to come on and off. The bad thing is that the hazard lights won't even work. There's no warning. We have already had the throttle body repaired last year in 2011 when we found out it's a common problem but not covered under warranty nor a recall issued.

Brake complaints in other Five Hundred years