Body complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
For several months car has been lunging forward without my foot on the gas. A couple weeks ago while pulling into my driving way it lunged and the car ran into my concrete steps causing 3,500 worth of damage. This is very dangerous and could have been one of my daughters. I really hope you take this seriously because once lives are lost you can't get them back. I just want Ford to fess up and to take responsibility for this problem, so I May get it fixed and not kill or injure anyone.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Ford Five Hundred. During an inspection, the contact realized that the plate nut was not placed deep enough into the panel, which prevented the fuel filler neck from being securely fastened to the fender. The dealer stated that the fuel filler neck adapter was not securely attached. The dealer attempted to tighten the bolts, however, it created a larger gap. The current mileage was 1,500 and failure mileage was 500. The consumer stated there is a still a 1/8" gap between fuel filler and neck adaptor and right rear fender panel. The dealer stated rear muffler hanger has corrosion. Updated 10/18/07
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.
We have a 2006 Ford 500 which had the CVT transmission replaced after 4 weeks. The transmission continues to have a significant delay in engaging in reverse. My wife and daughter did not wait until the transmission engaged and have on occasion lurched backwards almost running over her little brother. With the front of the car on a decline the car will roll forward when in reverse until it engages and the user depresses the throttle. Olathe Ford and a factory rep. Inspected the vehicle and supposedly the vehicle is within specs. I don't think so, the car also whines when turning corners. I think the CVT transmission is out of specs. Ford doesn't use it anymore, nor do I want to. I have had many fords, this will be my last if this isn't resolved to my satisfaction. The car also has the instrument cluster which intermittently goes out, windshield leaks water and air. …
Car was brought in for throttle recall 3/28/13. Upon the return, the car began experiencing erratic surges of RPM/speed. Gears did not shift right with intermittent acceleration until vehicle shut off while driving on highway, barely escaping accident. Vehicle would not start & had to be brought back to dealer. Dealer stated it was a pre-exiting condition despite vehicle not having any prior issues before recall service. Dealer diagnosed & agreed to replace fuel filter. Vehicle restarted, but still with intermittent acceleration and improper gear shift surges at any speed. On 4/6/13, while driving on highway vehicle experienced several engine failures, narrowly escaping accident again. Shortly after while completely stopped, vehicle lunged forward hitting another vehicle from behind, causing severe damage to both bumpers along with engine failure. …
During any wet weather, water intrudes into my doors and becomes trapped. When opening the doors, the water gushes out and you can hear water sloshing around inside. There has also been leakage from the front and rear passenger doors of water into the interior of my vehicle from the bottom of the doors being filled with water. During the cold weather, this water then freezes my locking mechanisms when opening and closing the doors. There is a recall for this exact issue with my model, but according to Ford my VIN is not included even though the issue also affects my car. There have been times when my door with "lock" but it is not completely closed and has opened while moving. Fords only resolution for me has been to fix the issue at my cost, and they will reimburse me "if" my car would be included in the recall. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Five Hundred years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (33), 2006 (17) and 2007 (8) model years. Body complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Ford Five Hundred body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for any Ford Five Hundred model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Ford Five Hundred body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles; 46% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (30 mentions), followed by the body › door (5).
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.