Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford five hundred. While driving down-hill at speeds less than 50 MPH in snowy and icy conditions the vehicle slid into an embankment head-on. Next the vehicle crashed into a telephone pole and caused the rear bumper to become submerged in a ditch. Neither the frontal driver's or passenger's side airbags deployed. She suffered injuries to her back and chest. The…
2005 Ford Five Hundred airbags problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
7crashes
7injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 11 airbags complaints filed for the 2005 Ford Five Hundred, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2005 Ford Five Hundreds report two major airbag problems. First, the airbag warning light stays illuminated on some vehicles despite multiple dealer diagnostics finding no stored fault. In one case, a dealer kept the vehicle for weeks trying to troubleshoot an undiagnosed illuminated light; another owner found a loose seat-belt seam connected to the airbag sensor, which cost $129 to repair. A third owner's control module failed and was not covered by warranty.
Second, and more serious, multiple owners describe crashes where frontal airbags failed to deploy. One owner rear-ended a vehicle at 30 mph with no deployment. Another T-boned a vehicle at 35 mph; the driver-side airbag did not deploy and the seat belt did not prevent impact with the steering wheel. A third collided with a median at 55–65 mph with no deployment. Another rear-ended a stationary vehicle at 35–40 mph; the airbag sensor was struck but bags did not deploy. One owner in a head-on embankment crash under 50 mph reported neither frontal airbag deployed. None of these owners report any dealer diagnosis or fix; one notes no repairs were made to date. Additionally, one owner reports the instrument cluster and airbag system losing power simultaneously, causing the airbag light to illuminate.
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag failure to deploy in collision
Multiple owners report frontal airbags failing to deploy during crashes with significant impact forces. Speeds ranged from 30 mph to 65 mph, with damage consistent with deployment thresholds. One owner noted the airbag sensor was struck but airbags did not deploy.
When: During frontal collisions; mileages reported 34,500–104,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during front-end collision at 35–40 mph with front-end damage; No frontal airbag deployment during head-on collision with embankment at under 50 mph; Driver-side airbag did not deploy in T-bone collision at 35 mph; No airbags deployed in collision with median at 55–65 mph; Airbag sensor struck but airbags failed to deploy at 35–40 mph; No airbags deployed during rear-end collision at 30 mph
Airbag warning light illuminated—no stored fault found
Owners report persistent airbag indicator light despite multiple dealer diagnostics showing no actual fault codes or reproducible failure. Dealers were unable to identify the root cause and kept vehicles extended periods attempting troubleshooting.
When: Mileages 23,261–77,000; issue persisted over weeks to months
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag indicator light remained illuminated continuously; Passenger-side airbag off light illuminated; Dealer diagnostics found no airbag failure despite repeated visits
Repairs/costs cited: One owner's loose seat-belt seam (connected to airbag sensor) was repaired for $129; another vehicle had part ordered but repair details not provided
Airbag control module failure
Owner reported airbag light coming on intermittently with audible warning while driving. Ford dealer diagnosed a defective control module and stated the part was not covered under warranty, questioning whether a safety component should be recalled.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light came on several times during driving; Single audible warning chime accompanying light
Repairs/costs cited: Control module replacement required; Ford dealer noted part not covered under warranty
Dashboard electrical fault linked to airbag system loss
One owner reports that when the instrument cluster malfunctioned (speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, radio all lost power), the airbag system also lost power, causing the airbag light to illuminate. Owner contends the concurrent failure of critical safety systems warrants a recall.
When: Mileage not specified; intermittent during operation
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard cluster completely loses power (rpm gauge, speedometer, fuel gauge all fail simultaneously); Airbag light illuminates when dashboard malfunctions; Radio and heat functions also affected
Partial or delayed airbag deployment during rollover
In one severe crash involving unrelated throttle runaway, only the driver's-side airbag deployed after the vehicle became airborne and rolled twice, despite initial airbag deployment occurring earlier in the crash sequence. This suggests inconsistent or partial deployment behavior.
When: Approximately 22,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Initial airbag deployment during crash; Only driver-side airbag deployed during rollover phase after vehicle became airborne and rolled twice
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Ford Five Hundred?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Ford Five Hundred?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 23,261 and 97,000 miles, with the median around 55,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 23,261; a quarter make it past 97,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Ford/Five Hundred.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.