I PURCHASED THIS 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AS A GIFT FOR MY WIFE,11/26/11 WITHIN A WEEK AFTER OWNING IT THE AWD MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. IN LOOKING OVER THE INTERNET I'M FINDING OTHER FORD OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT FORD DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE VERY COSTLY OVER AND ABOVE THE HIGH COST OF T…
2005 Ford Five Hundred powertrain problems
moderate 121 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
121
Recalls
0
Crashes
3
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
NOT LONG AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF SAFELY ONTO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND ONCE RESTARTED WAS FINE. WE HAVE SINCE STOPPED USING CRUISE CONTROL IN FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE AND SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. THE DASH WILL LIGHT CHECK…
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MILES PER HOUR A LOUD NOISE EMANATED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, ENGINE RPMS RACED FROM 1500 TO 4500, A CLATTERING NOISE FOLLOWED SOUNDING LIKE A METAL SPOON DROPPED INTO A RUNNING GARBAGE DISPOSAL, CAR DRAMATICALLY SLOWED COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION CONTROL, STEERING CONTROL UNCERTAIN AS CAR WANDERED. NO UNUSUAL EVENTS OCCURRED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, ITS OCCURRE…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 Ford Five Hundred?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 121 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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