YearToAvoid

2005 Ford 500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

No verdict The 2005 Ford 500 ranks worst of the 3 model years tracked, with 99 complaints and a complaint index of 100. Engine problems dominate at 42% of complaints, followed by transmission and powertrain issues at 28%, with failures typically showing up around 117,000 miles.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
100/100
#1 of 3 500 years
Verdict
No verdict
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
99
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
0
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
4
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
5
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
—
no alternative with data

Top 2005 Ford 500 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine42 (42%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain28 (28%)
  3. Electrical System20 (20%)
  4. Structure & Body9 (9%)
  5. Fuel System8 (8%)
  6. Other7 (7%)
  7. Brakes6 (6%)
  8. Airbags5 (5%)
  9. Steering3 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Engine idles roughly and surges, with the tachometer jumping from about 700 to 1,500 rpm while parked, in drive, or in reverse, without any warning light coming on.
  • Engine stalls unexpectedly at low speeds in parking lots and has died again in heavy traffic near 40 mph.
  • Throttle body failures cause idle surge and hesitation, sometimes requiring replacement shortly after warranty coverage ends.
  • Airbags fail to deploy in frontal collisions around 40 mph, resulting in serious injuries despite the crash severity.
  • Water seeps into door frames during rain and drains out from the rubber guard at the bottom of the doors.
  • Owners report the fuel tank strap corroding and failing even after a recall repair was supposedly completed.
2005 Ford 500 complaints: complaints filed per quarter102012 Q42013 Q42014 Q42015 Q42016 Q42017 Q42018 Q4
99 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q4 to 2019 Q4; peak 2013 Q3 (10).

2005 Ford 500 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2005 compared with other 500 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005No verdict100990—
2006No verdict50680—
2007No verdict0370—

All Ford 500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Ford 500 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints, the 2005 Ford 500 has the highest complaint volume and complaint index (100) of the three model years with data, ranking worst of the group. Engine problems account for 42% of its complaints.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Ford 500?
Engine issues are the top problem area, making up 42% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 129,000 miles. Owners commonly describe idle surge, stalling, and throttle body failures.
Does the 2005 Ford 500 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls specifically logged for the 2005 Ford 500 in this dataset, though a sample complaint references a factory recall for a corroding fuel tank strap.
How does the 2005 Ford 500 compare to later years?
The 2005 model has a complaint index of 100, compared to 50 for 2006 and 0 for 2007, making 2005 the worst-ranked year of the three tracked.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.