INTERMITTENT SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION AND/OR SPEED CONTROL WILL NOT SET.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Ford Five Hundred cruise control problems
moderate 69 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
69
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 69 cruise control complaints filed for the 2005 Ford Five Hundred, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Owners have filed 69 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 19 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2005 Ford Five Hundred has a chronic throttle body problem that creates dangerous, unpredictable behavior. The most common complaint is sudden acceleration with the driver's foot on the brake—the vehicle lurches forward when stopped, parked, or shifting gears, forcing owners to stand on the brakes to avoid crashing. This happens on hot days especially and without any pattern. Multiple owners report the car moving on its own during parking maneuvers, nearly hitting pedestrians and property.
Power loss is another major failure mode. The vehicle enters "fail-safe" mode, limiting engine output to idle speed or 30 mph maximum. Owners describe being trapped on highways at 55–70 mph when power vanishes, unable to keep up with traffic. The check engine light or wrench symbol illuminates. Restarts sometimes restore power temporarily, but it fails again soon after.
Engine stalling at low RPM or traffic lights also appears repeatedly. Some owners report the car stalling multiple times in succession at intersections, then requiring extended cranking to restart. High idle RPM on startup is another consistent issue—owners sit waiting for RPM to drop before engaging drive.
Ford issued Recall 12N03, which involves throttle body cleaning and PCM reprogramming. However, owners report the recall either doesn't fix the problem or the problem worsens afterward, with some vehicles entering fail-safe mode more frequently post-service. Throttle body replacement ($400–$850+) is the typical fix, but multiple owners describe it as a temporary solution since failures recur. Throttle body parts have been on back order, leaving owners stranded. Ford has not issued a full safety recall despite acknowledging the issue, and dealers have refused further warranty coverage after initial recall service.
Same Ford Five Hundred cruise control reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration while stopped or at low speed
Vehicle surges or lunges forward without driver pressing the accelerator, typically when stopped, parked, shifting gears, or moving slowly. Occurs while foot is on brake. Most dangerous failure mode reported across majority of narratives.
When: Occurs at stops, in parking lots, when shifting from P to R/D, during low-speed maneuvers; often without pattern. Some owners report it happens more frequently in hot weather (90°F+) or when AC is running. Failure mileage ranges from 24,800 to 106,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lunges or surges forward without gas pedal input; RPMs rev up suddenly while brakes applied; Occurs when shifting into Drive or Reverse; Vehicle moves on its own during parking maneuvers; Engine revs to 1.5+ on RPM gauge; Requires full brake pressure to prevent collision
Codes mentioned: P0610B, P2106, P2104, P212
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement typical repair; parts costs range $400–$850 plus labor; some owners report $495–$690+ for throttle body plus diagnostics and labor ($128–$615). One owner paid $615.83 total. TSB mentions replacement ETB part numbers 5F9Z-9E926-AA and FMC 6F9Z 9E926 A (kit). Multiple owners report throttle body parts on national back order.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 05-25-13 documented but owners not notified. Recall 12N03 issued for throttle body cleaning/reprogramming and replacement. Some owners denied coverage post-recall when throttle body failed again. Ford Service Credit offered in some cases. Some dealers unable to get recall applied retroactively. No dealer assistance or warranty coverage for owners beyond initial recall service.
Loss of power/power loss in fail-safe mode
Engine enters fail-safe mode, limiting power output to idle speed only. Vehicle cannot accelerate normally; max speed drops to 30 mph or idles. Check Engine light illuminates with 'FAIL SAFE ENGINE MODE' or wrench symbol on dash. Leaves driver stranded on highway or unable to keep up with traffic flow.
When: Occurs at various speeds (55–70 mph highway driving, city driving, low-speed maneuvers). Can occur randomly or repeatedly in succession. Some incidents happen immediately after recall service (throttle body cleaning). Failure mileage 40,000–100,000+ miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle enters fail-safe mode with wrench/check engine light; Loss of acceleration power; vehicle will only idle or move at 30 mph max; Sudden loss of power while driving highway speeds; Vehicle limps home at very low speeds; Cannot downshift or accelerate normally; Requires restart to temporarily restore normal operation
Codes mentioned: P0610B, P2106, P2104
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body cleaning, PCM reprogramming, or throttle body replacement attempted. Labor diagnostics: $128–$600+. Throttle body replacement $400–$850+. Some repairs incomplete or unsuccessful; problem recurs within days to weeks post-repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 12N03 includes throttle body cleaning and PCM reprogramming. Some owners report that after recall service, vehicle worsens and enters fail-safe mode more frequently (5+ times in one month post-recall). PCM replacement not covered under recall even when recommended by dealer. No extended warranty or repeated-repair guarantee offered.
Engine stalling at idle or during low-speed operation
Engine stalls unexpectedly at traffic lights, low RPM, or during gear shifts. Requires restart; may stall again immediately. Strands driver in traffic or at intersections with children in vehicle.
When: Stalling occurs at low RPM, stop lights, while shifting gears, or when moving slowly into drive from park. Multiple stalls in sequence reported. Failure mileage 50,000–75,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls at idle or low speed; Stalls when stopping at traffic light; Stalls when shifting from Park to Drive; Stalls repeatedly in succession; Requires multiple restart attempts; Fuel filter replacement did not solve problem
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (generic)
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body cleaning and PCM reprogramming attempted by dealer; problem persisted. Fuel filter replaced without resolution. Owner states dealer spent 6+ hours diagnosing without fixing issue. Full throttle body replacement recommended but not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer performed recall service (throttle body cleaning/PCM reprogramming) but could not duplicate problem. No definitive repair completed. Owner not satisfied with repeated diagnostics.
High idle RPM on startup
Vehicle idles at abnormally high RPM when engine starts (10,000+ RPM reported). Owner told to let car idle until RPM drops before engaging drive. Issue persists after recall service.
When: Upon startup. Reported as ongoing issue since purchase (2005). After recall throttle body cleaning (05/23/13), problem worsened with additional check engine light and wrench warning.
Symptoms owners cite: High idle RPM on cold or warm start; RPM remains elevated for extended idle time; Check engine light appears after recall service; Wrench warning symbol on dashboard
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed throttle body cleaning per recall; problem not resolved. Mechanic suggested throttle body reset/recalibration was needed. Owner took vehicle back to Ford dealer; dealer refused further warranty coverage and offered throttle body replacement at customer's cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall performed but ineffective. Dealer and corporate claimed issue not their responsibility post-recall. Owner directed to pay for replacement out-of-pocket.
Jerking, hesitation, and rough acceleration
Vehicle jerks or hesitates during acceleration. Rough power delivery or surging during normal driving. Can cause engine mounts to fracture in severe cases.
When: During acceleration from stops or at various speeds. One case reports jerking caused engine mount fractures. Failure mileage 40,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle jerks or hesitates during acceleration; Rough engine feel; Violent surge forward; Engine mount damage/fractures reported; Vehicle suddenly decelerates without brake input
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement and PCM/transmission control module reprogramming recommended. Repair performed but failure recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; repair attempted under dealer warranty but problem reappeared.
Inability to shift or sluggish gear engagement
Difficulty shifting out of Park or shifting gears. Vehicle may not move when shifted into Drive despite engine running.
When: When attempting to shift gears or engage transmission. One incident at failure mileage 59,240 where vehicle would not move forward.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not move forward after shifting into Drive; Wrench light illuminates; Shift improves after sitting in Park for minutes; Gear shift sticks or is difficult to move
Codes mentioned: Wrench warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body diagnosed as sticking; replacement needed ($695.86 quoted). Owner unable to pay; repair not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No coverage information provided.
Synthesized from 69 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* - the contact stated that the car accelerates unexpectedly. The contact stated that once she starts the car and drives a short distance at 10 MPH and comes to a complete stop the car will then accelerate unexpectedly. She has taken the car to the dealer (freemont Ford) a dozen times and they have not been able to find a problem. The contact said that the car is still at the dealer.
Dt: the contact stated when applying brake pressure the engine revved at an elevated level. He shifted the vehicle into neutral. When this occurred and the rpms subsided. He took the vehicle to the dealer, who performed a diagnostic test, but this did not produce any codes indicating the source of the problem. Therefore, no repairs were made. He contacted the manufacturer and they referred…
Had cruise control 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 cruise control problem on the 2005 Ford Five Hundred?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 69 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 58 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 62,000 and 119,950 miles, with the median around 87,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 62,000; a quarter make it past 119,950. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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.