2005 Ford Five Hundred: check engine light

Filed Aug 19, 2025 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · UT

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal knocking sound. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics, where the flywheel was replaced twice with used parts because the part had been discontinued. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check transmission warning light, the check engine warning light, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart but was undrivable. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

Filed Aug 20, 2021 · Engine · 122,832 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Five Hundred. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the "fail safe engine mode" and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle stalled with the RPM revved up. The vehicle jerked while driving at an undisclosed speed. The dealer nor the independent mechanic was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to a dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 122,832.

Filed Apr 28, 2020 · Fuel system · TX

When I bought the car had engine light on so replace the spark plugs and put new battery problem still there. Had a mechanic check out and he said codes reading fuel problem so change out the fuel pump and put injector cleaner. Problem still there he said maybe the computer so now I don't know what to do. The problem is check engine light on and when you step on the throttle does not go pass 3000 RPM.

Filed Jul 12, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 244,141 miles · NC

Gauges drop check engine light comes on then wrench light then one shaped like a car n starts loosen power

Filed Jan 11, 2018 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 60,000 miles · IL

I have researched online and a lot of people with my same car are having the same problem. While driving my whole dash board goes out . I can no longer see how fast I'm going. Everything goes to 0 the gas goes to e and my reverse lights stay on until the dash board comes back up. If and when it comes back on my check engine light will be on. This has been happening every since I purchased the car 3years ago on and off.

Filed Dec 4, 2017 · Engine, Fuel system · 100,000 miles · NC

Bought the vehicle used in may 2010. Realized early-on that the transmission was not smooth, but willing to settle for less than perfection since it was a 2005 vehicle. In late 2012 or early 2013, I received 'recall' notice that PCM (I.e. - powertrain control module) could need to be reprogrammed due to stalling, herky-jerky transmission, etc. Took car to dealership, they ran diagnostics, charged me $100, and told me that my car wasn't effected because no error codes were noted and check engine light wasn't on. I was not happy, and refused to take my car to the dealership for repair. Problem persisted, until check engine light came on in october 2017 at roughly 125,000 miles. Took to local mechanic, was charged $150 for sensor replacement. Light came back on a day later. Took back, replaced sensor for free (nice!), but light back on a day later. Took to a different mechanic, was charged $250, replaced multiple sensors, light back on the next day. Took back to 2nd mechanic, when they shared with me that it was likely the PCM and the dealership would need to fix. Called dealership 3 days in a row, on hold for nearly an hour the 3rd time, was never connected to a service writer or tech, left 3 voice mails for service manager and was never called back. Researched issue and found the federal safety agency action number pe11018, where ford initiated a customer satisfaction program 12n03 to extend coverage terms of repair of engine idle RPM surge caused by PCM needing reprogramming with software containing updated idle speed control. Per the federal safety agency, symptoms associated with the condition may include check engine light, diagnostic codes (dtcs) p0505, p0506, or p061b. Ford issued bulletin tsb 11-10-21 that included updated powertrain control calibration.

Filed Sep 4, 2016 · 139,000 miles · CA

Driving when the call RPM drop and ABS goes out car won't excelerate "failsafe engine mode " is what it says n my check engine light and ABS light and rench light on, had to pull over and shut off and turn back on. Cleaned the throttle body and reprogramed the computer and it continues to happen at random and will randomly excelerate on its own with rpms rising and yet I'm no where near gas pedal, I'm on brakes. As my instrument panel will malfunction and all gauges will go to zero and wiggle and all warning lights will be displayed them goes completely black, this has also been very unsafe of an issue because at night when this happens you can't see your spend or gas or anything. And the fail-safe mode also has almost cause me to have crashed as well as been crashed into over four dozen times. Seeing how I pay for it to be fixed and nothing can't seem to fix it ... It's very scary and I worry for my life each time I drive

Filed Nov 7, 2014 · Fuel system · 163,000 miles · ME

I purchased new in 2005 a ford five hundred limited from a dealership. I have driven it and have been more than satisfied with it. I have had to do some work to it that according to the dealerships are common problems such as sway bar ends and a cv joint.especially living in the northeast. The reason I'm filing this safety complaint is due to the throttle body on this model vehicle. Approx a month or two ago as while driving, my car engine would rev up slightly and momentarily. Shortly after that started the vehicle (6 speed automatic) would not shift properly. I would only shift up if I would let off the gas peddle, shortly after that, the check engine light came on and then shortly after that while driving at any given speed it would go into "fail safe" check engine mode. I brought it to a mechanic and they found codes that had to do with the vehicle fuel system running "rich" but could not tell me what it was exactly. I then started reading about my vehicle and similar problems and found that many owners have complained about the same problem and found that it was a throttle body problem that ford new about on several models (including mercury) ford did not do a recall on this problem but rather sent a letter to owners ( I never received) saying that they would clean the throttle body and reset the control computer. The letter came out in 2012. The letter said that the problem would be covered free on vehicles that had less than 150,000 and under ten years. I do not qualify for the mileage. I have had the dealership clean the plates of the throttle body as the letter said and paid for it but the problem persist and in fact is worse. I called ford customer service that said that there was nothing they do other than go to another ford dealership to see if they could help. A car stalling while in in traffic is very dangerous and ford should take responsibility.

Filed Aug 22, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · 177,320 miles · KY

I was driving in town going about 40 MPH when the car lost all power, then engine failsafe mode displayed on the information center and a little wrench was also displayed. With no power steering, I had to pull over quickly in lunchtime traffic. After stopping the car, I waited a few seconds and restarted it. No problems with it until the next day when the check engine light came on. I have also noticed a mechanical smell coming from the AC. It appeared, at first, that this problem had come out of nowhere when I suddenly remembered two occasions when the rpms suddenly stuck on 3000 and would not stop until I put the car in neutral. Also, when using cruise control, the whole car shakes and stutters slightly when going up or down very slight inclines.

Filed Jun 19, 2014 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 131,000 miles · KS

Only had the car for five months driving down the street the check engine light came out car stopped in the middle of the street with my children in it and wouldn't start up..worst car I've ever bought second major incident that has happened since I got the car.it should be a recall major safety violation.

Filed May 23, 2014 · Electrical, Fuel system · 36,000 miles · MA

Part of an ongoing series of issues with this vehicle (see earlier reports), initial symptom was the dash lights & needles shutting off intermittently (but now for extended periods). Vehicle then began showing random warning lights including "check engine", which was diagnosed first time as low fuel level sensors a & b. Since that time I'd disconnected the battery on a suggestion of a mechanic friend and all the issues disappeared for a few weeks. Yesterday the check engine light came back, and the car was running poorly (creeping when first off brakes, not up shifting), when the dash was operable it showed alternating check engine/check transmission warnings, and vehicle was surging/lagging noticeably at highway speeds. I again did the battery disconnect last night, and the car is operating normal today, but I'm sure it will recur shortly. I am hesitant to take it to a dealer as this sounds like a significant electronics issue, and I have already read up on the ford tsb 06-17-9 that is documented online, not all of which aligns with my issues. Had the battery reset had no impact on the problems I would say it's a mechanical matter, but it seems clear its a computer or electrical issue.

Filed May 16, 2014 · Electrical · 35,500 miles · MA

I purchased the vehicle used on 2/21/14 w/31,000+/- miles, initial issue was with instrument cluster intermittently blipping on & off (sometimes for extended periods). That issue was followed by a check engine light, which when analyzed showed low fuel sensors a&b (occurred in late april 2014). Up to this point the vehicle was drivable with no impact on actual drivability. Last friday 5/9/14, I was at a light and when it turned green I proceeded to drive off, but vehicle was barley moving or responding to throttle input, this continued for a short distance & eventually built up to normal speed. It recurred again at the next light, with same symptoms. I contacted a mechanic I know and the next day I disconnected the battery cable in an attempt to clear the system, and as of a week later only the dash lights issue has recurred. However I feel the loss of power is a significant concern if it were to occur on a busy road or at highway speeds.