Brake complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Since my vehicle was new I have complained to the dealership, and online, that the optional brake and accelerator pedal height adjustment rocker switch is wired improperly. That is, wired in reverse. The mounted switch clearly depicts a foot over a pedal in the center with an arrow pointing 'up' at the top of the switch and an arrow pointing 'down' at the bottom of the switch. This controls the height adjustment of both pedals from the floor and is designed to place the pedals within reach of the operator. On several occasions members of my family have depressed this switch while in motion pushing the top portion of the rocker switch assuming the pedals would rise 'up' as indicated by the arrows on the switch. Wrong!! …
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated that there was an internal leak on the passenger's side of the vehicle. The source of the leak was unknown. The contact had the vehicle repaired in 2007 for the same failure where the dealer diagnosed an improper welding however, the issue recently recurred. The vehicle was not been taken to a dealer for inspection or repairs. The contact also stated that the brakes, air conditioner and motor mounts had also failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 79,200.
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.
Continuation of suspension and brake problems after last filing with NHTSA. Braking in wet weather, descending steep grade, car pulls and fades. 2 days after longmont Ford had car for 6 days and returned it with clean bill of health. Omera Ford diagnosed brake and transmission programming problems and once again turned down rear rotors to very close to minimum specifications. Consumer report jan 2005 reports similar issues with braking, auto-week May-16-2005 reports brake fade and stability problems in their test track report. This is a first model year car for Ford which is based off of a modified Volvo design of under-carriage. The vehicle is now parked with an affidavit of non use on it because of the number of incidents and repairs that have occurred on rear suspension and brakes. …
I purchased a new 2005 Ford 500 in mid 2005. I only have 3600 miles on the vehicle. Rear wheels of my vehicle are completely blackened by brake dust that he had . Rear rotors were are deeply grooved and should be repaired or replaced. Shop foreman at dealership showed a release from the Ford engineer division that notified Ford dealers that Ford was aware of the problem. They are investigating the problem and will use different brake pads in the ....4th quarter of 2006, but were presently considering the problem to be normal and will not allow any warranty work. The shop foreman admitted that he considered the problem to be an engineering issue, was having problems with other new Ford vehicles, and was going to call Ford engineering about the issue. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Five Hundred years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (44) and 2006 (39) model years. Brake complaints make up 9% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Ford Five Hundred brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes 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 brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 31,000 miles; 79% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the foundation components › disc › rotor (17 mentions), followed by the foundation components › disc › pads (14).
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.