2005 Ford Five Hundred Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2005 Ford Five Hundred has the worst complaint index (100) among its three data years, ranking 1st worst out of 3. It logged 510 complaints, led by Engine (36%) and Transmission & Powertrain (27%) issues, plus two recalls covering fuel tank straps and body structure.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 3 Five Hundred years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 510
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 20
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 6
- Injuries
- 14
- Top issue
- Engine
- Best nearby year
- —
- no alternative with data
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 18 city / 25 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 14 / 0
Top 2005 Ford Five Hundred problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine185 (36%)
- Transmission & Powertrain136 (27%)
- Electrical System101 (20%)
- Structure & Body54 (11%)
- Brakes51 (10%)
- Fuel System44 (9%)
- Other28 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires26 (5%)
- Airbags15 (3%)
- Steering9 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in frontal and head-on crashes even at speeds up to 70 mph.
- Front passenger and rear seat belts reportedly failed to restrain occupants during collisions, including on wet or icy roads.
- Owners describe unintended acceleration where the vehicle kept speeding up after the driver removed a foot from the pedal.
- A headlight failure was followed minutes later by a fire behind the headlight assembly.
- Owners report the instrument cluster going dark intermittently, sometimes coinciding with airbag warning lights.
- One owner reported the engine losing power (fail-safe mode) and the vehicle shifting into drive without accelerator input.
2005 Ford Five Hundred recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 06V383000Oct 5, 2006Structure & Body139,537 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
On certain passenger vehicles currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, north dakota, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, utah, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and wyoming. The side door latch mechanisms may experience water intrusion allowing the latch mechanism to freeze in cold weather.
Risk: As a result, the door latch pawl may not return to the latch position when the door is closed, and the door could open while the vehicle is moving.
Remedy: Dealers will install a shield over the front latches; seal a drain hole in the rear window trim molding on the freestyle rear side doors; and apply grease to all front and rear side-door latch mechanisms free of charge. The recall began on november 8, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
- NHTSA 05V515000Nov 9, 2005Fuel System123,206 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:mounting
On certain passenger vehicles, the straps that secure the fuel tank to the vehicle body may break, causing the fuel tank and fuel tank heat shield to drop on the driveshaft (all wheel drive vehicles) or exhaust system (front wheel drive vehicles).
Risk: If this happens, drivers may notice a noise or a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both fuel tank straps. The recall began on december 1, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
2005 Ford Five Hundred fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other Five Hundred years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Ford Five Hundred a bad year?
- Among the three model years with data, 2005 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks 1st worst out of 3, driven mainly by engine and transmission complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Five Hundred?
- NHTSA complaints show Engine issues account for 36% of complaints (median mileage 87,000), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 27% and Electrical System at 20%.
- Does the 2005 Ford Five Hundred have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists two recalls: one for fuel tank straps that could break and drop the tank (campaign 05V515000), and one for a body/latch shield and rear window drain issue (campaign 06V383000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2005 model compare to later years?
- The 2006 model has a lower complaint index of 50 with 364 complaints and no recalls, while 2007 has the lowest index at 0 with 199 complaints and one recall, making 2005 the highest-complaint year of the three.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Ford Five Hundred?
- EPA rates it at 20 mpg combined (18 city/25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250.