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 2007 Ford Five Hundred owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My throttle body went completely out at 99481 miles. I paid approx. $800 for the repair/replacement. Ford motor company reimbursed for the service on 12/11/2012 after so many complaints had been made about the throttle body in this model that they were paying for previous services for any repairs/replacements made for this part. I believe the replacement part used was also defective, and made mention of my concern to my Ford dealership at the time. They agreed that there was no guarantee that I did not receive a defective replacement part as the new part they were using a year later was different. I have had my replacement throttle body cleaned and re-programmed several times (at least twice a year since the replacement). Ford motor company will do nothing now that I have been told I need a new throttle body which is about an $800 repair. …
I was driving on the highway and my vehicle will go into limp mode and have no power, when I pull over after almost smashing up the car jerked and I shut it off and turn it on its fine but this same problem keeps occurring every day at different speeds. I have a trick I put it in nutral and shut it off while im driving and that will correct the problem, it will do it ten times im a row and its very dangerious, I went to the dealer and po 701 code came up and they said ot a internal failure and found no metal scraps under the pan filter, so far they saod the transmission is no good and cant be repair but after 15,000 miles later the car still drives but does that everyday, is there amythimg I can do to repair this transmission I cant afford the $7,500 price quote they said. I. Need help with car and still driving it till this day 5 12 15
Purchased a new Ford Five Hundred in 2007. Have kept up with all regular maintenance. After putting about 20,000 miles on the vehicle, I started having a problem with sudden acceleration. I would come to a stop at an intersection, mailbox, or drive-thru and let my foot off the brakes and the car would "jump" -- accelerate on its own. My foot would not even be on the gas pedal. I took it to the Ford dealership and was told that the transmission had to be "reprogrammed". I specifically asked could it be a problem with fuel system and was told no. I had the work completed but the problem persists to this day. I have had several near misses with rear end collisions. Finally as I was entering a parking space, the car accelerated on its own and hit a post in front of the parking space.
Was stopped at a drive-thru window and when I went to pull up to receive my food, the car lurched ahead of the window. I put the car in reverse to pick up my food and it lurched so fast backward that I had no control of it, even with my foot on the brake. This caused a crash into the front of another car. I have never had an accident and I am a careful driver. I received a moving violation and there was damage done to both cars. Enough damage that our insurance company is involved. Ford should do something about these lurch problems before someone is killed. Thank goodness no one was in front of me or they would have been killed, please, Ford, do something about these fords that have this problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated abnormally. The contact stated that the vehicle would also jerk abnormally when in drive. The dealer was notified of the failure however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure and current mileage was about 150,000. Updated 10/16/12 the consumer stated the vehicle went over a curb and eventually hit a metal where a sign once was. The vehicle was jerking before the accident. Updated 10/24/2012
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Ford Five Hundred. While driving 45 MPH, there was a delay in acceleration. The check engine and traction control warning indicators were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 149,000.
Car in the mornings is accelerated and when placed in reverse it moves by itself very accelerated and its parked on a flat surface with no slopes. Transmission feels as if running forcefully but changes gears I guess fine just got the car and has low miles at 27000 miles. And does it everyday.
It's starting not going into highway gears (5&6) just revs real high and when it does finally, it kicks really hard. Sounds and feels like it's going to drop out from under the car.
Car: 2007 Ford 500 limited. Moving shift lever from park to reverse or to drive, after about 1 second the car "lurches" forward or backward. I keep the brake locked down when changing gears for several seconds until I'm sure it won't jump.this is dangerous. When this first started happening, I almost ran over someone in a parking lot as I wanted to back out of a parking spot. I took this in for service and mentioned it to the service manager. As he drove the car around to the back, he said he noticed it too and asked the transmission man to look it over. Since I was having the transmission oil changed, he thought it might be related to old fluid. (car had about 70K miles at the time). Its about 5K miles since the service and the caris as bad or worse than it has ever been. …
In September 2010 (at 42K miles), my 2007 Ford Five Hundred sel started to suddenly lurch forward or backward when shifted from park, especially if the front end was sitting higher. When this happened, the wrench and check engine icons would light up and the car lost 95% of its power. Turning off the engine for 30 seconds or so would cause the wrench icon to turn off, but the check engine icon would stay lit. The car would drive normally and the check engine light would turn off overnight. After this happened several times, a Ford dealer said that itwas the TCM module which wasn't covered by my extended warranty. I paid $1000 to have the TCM replaced by a certified Ford mechanic. In April 2011 the car began to repeat the same symptoms. I've had the car to 3 Ford dealers, but they all say they can't do anything unless the car is actually malfunctioning at the time. …
Transmission complaints in other Five Hundred years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2007 Ford Five Hundred?
NHTSA has 59 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2007 Ford Five Hundred, 30% of the model year's 199 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (17 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Ford Five Hundred transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2007 Ford Five Hundred, though it has 1 recall for other components. 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 2007 Ford Five Hundred transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.