2005 Ford Five Hundred lights problems

Filed Aug 19, 2015 · Acceleration, Electrical · 220,000 miles · MD

While driving dash lights, speedometer, tachometer, gas level, and temperature go out for several minutes at a time. Reverse lights come on and airbag light comes on. This is dangerous; unable to tell speed! Per internet research this is happening in several ford models and stems from a bad solder joint.

Filed Apr 2, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 33,850 miles · MA

Instrument cluster intermittently went dark and/or gauges went to zero/off positions, we pulled over to see if exterior lights worked and all did, as well as blinkers and flashers, but we noted that reverse lights were now on. It has recurred a few times, its most noticeable after dark as dash lights go black. Only light on dash was the airbag light. I went online & found info on a technical service bulletin "tsb 06-17-9 09/04/06 - intermittent instrument cluster", it does not appear to be a recall item so assuming any repairs are entirely owner cost ?

Filed Aug 30, 2013 · Lights · 81,000 miles · UT

Replaced low beam headlamp on driver side, noted electrical burn marks on one terminal. Replacement bulb did not work, had to wiggle to get it to work. Quit working daily without wiggling whole lighting socket , took apart noticed that the socket housing was brittle and cracked with burn mark on metal female lead. Two to three weeks later passenger low beam headlight would not work, wiggled passenger side light, came back on. Sometimes both light would go out at same time. Problem kept occurring through august. Found this has occurred on other ford five hundreds due to sockets overheating. Checked passenger socket and compared to driver side and both sockets and light bulbs look identical in damage. Burned/melted plastic on bulb base and cracked burned sockets. Replaced both side bulbs and sockets last weekend, both lights worked for three days before apparently fused the socket with the bulb on the driver side. Guessing the passenger side will do the same within next month like it did before.

Filed Nov 13, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · MA

The headlight socket on both headlights are over heating and melting causing the bulb not to operate. I'm just nervous that this will cause a fire as all the parts are plastic. I also noted on line that it is a very real problem and I'm not the only one experiencing this.

Filed Jan 6, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · 30,000 miles · OR

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford five hundred. The contact stated that the gauges on the instrument panel would become inoperative and all of the warning lights would illuminate on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the rear reverse sensor would only operate while the vehicle was in drive and the reverse lights would continuously illuminate while in drive. The dealer performed a hard reset on the vehicle, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified, but denied any assistance with repairs of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000 and the approximate current mileage was 80,000.

Filed Dec 9, 2011 · Engine, Lights · 70,000 miles · ID · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford five hundred. The contact stated that the harness for the front passenger side headlight had to be replaced because it melted. An authorized dealer stated that the failure may have been caused by excess moisture, but the contact stated that the headlight became brittle and fractured. The dealer also stated that the top motor mount had worn. The contact felt that these were manufacturers defects. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 89,700.

Filed Nov 23, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · MO

Similar issue as in pe07058. Instrument cluster fails for extended periods. In this time I have no instrumentation available, speed, RPM, fuel, etc. Multiple warning lights illuminate, including airbag. All interior lighting dims significantly. Reverse lights illuminate even while in park, or driving forward.

Filed Sep 13, 2011 · Lights · 91,000 miles · AK

05 ford five hundred, awd malfunction lights stayed on, speed fluctuation upward rapidly when take off causing very unsafe driving.

Filed Jun 28, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · 75,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford five hundred. The contact noticed that the instrument cluster would become dark intermittently which made it impossible to see the instrument display. When the vehicle accelerated forward the back up lights would illuminate without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who informed the contact that the instrument cluster was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was aware of the failure. None of the repairs were performed. The current mileage was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

Filed Oct 23, 2010 · Electrical, Lights · 19,000 miles · TX

I purchased a 2005 ford 500 4-door sedan 2-1/2 years ago from a ford dealership. It was described as a "program" car. I soon noticed that the dashboard display lights would not light up during daylight hours, even though the rheostat was set on maximum brilliance. I proved this by driving into a dark parking garage and saw that the said lights turned on at maximum. I asked the service manager about this and he said ford had wired the lights through the solar switch via the electronic control unit and could not be changed. This is a dangerous distraction when driving in daylight hours and to see the information o the dashboard the running lights must be turned off. In my opinion this defect needs to be remedied with a recall. Thank you.