2005 Ford Five Hundred: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Jun 14, 2017 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · CT

Harsh and delayed shifting. Lunges forward when in drive at stop even with foot on brake, same in reverse. Car shifts fine for first 20-30 minutes then starts to shift hard up and down... Seems to get worse as car gets warmer

Filed Sep 25, 2012 · Acceleration, Transmission · KY

2005 ford five hundred. Consumer writes in regards to hard shifting and two instrument panel lights illuminating. *tgw the consumer also stated the RPM's would race at times. The consumer went to her local dealer and a diagnostic's test revealed a problem with the pcv valve. The pcv was replaced at a cost of $ 112.95. However, it did not resolve the problem. The consumer went back to the dealer for a transmission diagnostic test, but the dealer was unable to give a definitive answer as tow hat the problem was. Ford customer service was then contacted and they informed the dealer to replace the transmission at a cost of $5000. There was also another intermittent problem where the vehicle would rev while stopped at a stop sign, or red light etc. After getting other opinions, the consumer was informed, the problem was not with the transmission. After doing some research online, the consumer discovered it was a very common occurrence with her particular make, which seemed to be a manufacturing defect.

Filed Apr 18, 2012 · Transmission · 128,000 miles · MN

I had the need to avoid an accident by suddenly changing lanes but when I step on the gas pedal my transmission failed to shift to higher speed. Instead two clunking sounds took place before finally switching into higher gear .I was able to avoid the car in front of me , but now the car behind me almost rear ended us. This would have created a fatal chain reaction we could have been crushed in. I found out this cars have a great amount of failures on record ford 500 2005 please help

Filed Jan 22, 2012 · Transmission · 79,500 miles · CA

Driving from sj to la, calif. 200 miles into my journey with wife and 3 kids, pulled off highway for gas. Slowed down and noticed the wrench and check engine lights on and car would only go 10 to 15 miles per hour and revved at more than 3000 rpms. The car clunked hard when put into drive or reverse. Turned off the engine, several times and restarted. Sometimes fixed problem, other times did not. I had car towed to hanford, california, and then again to los angeles-another 198 miles to ford dealership. I had to rent a car and drive the rest of the way to la and drive back - 198 miles-to hanford-to return the rental car. I tested the car a few times in hanford and when it was at the ford dealer. From a cold start, the car worked fine. Drove and shifted well with no problems. But once the car warmed up, it went back into limp-mode, clunked hard when you shifted into drive or reverse, and would go only 10-15 MPH at 3000 or more rpms. The dealer test drove it and had the same result. The dealer got codes p0701, p0871, and p0961 and said that meant the transmission had internal problems. They said they called ford engineers who told them the likely problem was when the transmission fluid warms up, it is not properly circulating due to leaks in what they called two variators inside the transmission. They quoted the cost to replace the variators as $3600 for parts and labor of $1200 for a total of $4800 and that is more than the cost to replace the transmission for which they quoted $4500. So they replaced the transmission. After starting, they found a broken transmission mount so they replaced that for another $250 (part only - no labor charge). I test drove the new transmission yesterday. The car no longer goes into limp mode and drives nicely except after it warms up it clunks hard into drive and reverse and wines in reverse gear. Not taking car till fixed properly.

Filed Nov 19, 2011 · Transmission · 81,000 miles · LA

2005 ford five hundred sel 3.0l v6 automatic 6 speed transmission accelerating on interstate car severely hard shifted and then rpms flared let off gas and car slammed into a lower gear now car hard shifts in down gears and rpms go up car doesn't move sometimes while accelerating very sporadic and dangerous.

Filed Sep 6, 2011 · Body, Suspension · MI

The vehicle lunges while holding the brake when putting into reverse or drive and continues to do so while waiting to pull into traffic making it very dangerous! It also does this while trying to park making it dangerous to park near anything! I have seen several complaints regarding this very same problem stating it is a throttle body defect that costs at lowest $700.00 to repair. Front suspension is shot already with loud clunking noises, very rough ride! Rear doors fill with water which will result in rust holes! All of these problems have been reported several times by other owners of this same year and make of vehicle. Ford should be responsible for the repairs needed to fix these problems.

Filed Sep 1, 2010 · Transmission · 74,000 miles · OR

Shifting concerns are generally noticed during passing maneuvers with transmission at temperatures greater than 212 f (100 c) operating temperatures. Symptoms may be present during downshift 5-3 at 35 MPH (56 km/h) and/or 4-3 at 20 MPH (32 km/h) with throttle opening at approximately 50% or greater and include: harsh shift and/or clunk noise delayed shift and/or perceived slip/engine flare.

Filed Feb 27, 2010 · Seats, Transmission · 31,589 miles · MN

Just purchased a 2005 five hundred with 32000 miles and had to bring back to dealer for transmission up-down hard shifting. They said they had to flash w/new software. Picked up and did not notice any difference, still hard shifting. Have 10 days left on my 60 day warranty. Will bring back to dealer for diagnostics. Sounds to me that a huge amount of loyal ford customers are having a huge problem with the this transmission. I suppose I will have an transmission failure soon to come. Why in gods name is nobody doing something about this problem. I also had to have my driver heated seat pads replaced because of failure.

Filed Jul 21, 2009 · Transmission · 42,000 miles · NJ

I bought my 2005 ford 500 in missouri now live in new jersey the transmission started acting up at 42, 000 miles it has hard shirts with a clunking noise which was diagnosed as a valve body in the transmission I was reading in the ford forums their is quite of few cars with the same problem with ford 500.. I had to pull off the road once the transmission almost got me in a accident. I know ford knows of the problems but doesn't care .

Filed Apr 23, 2009 · Transmission · 76,000 miles · CA

When the car is very warm (start after a short time of being parked or 100+ degree day), when the transmission is shifted into drive or reverse, the engine revs to 1,500 RPM and the transmission engages making the car lurch forward, then stalls occasionally. The service indicator (wrench) light comes on and the engine operates in fail-safe mode. If this happens, then the car lurches when you let of the throttle (transmission "clunks"). Turn the car off and let it sit until it cools and the service light turns off and the car drives normal again. It's a CVT transmission.

Filed Aug 5, 2008 · Transmission · 640,000 miles · TX

For the past month or so my ford five hundred (2005 @ 64,000 texas hwy miles) has been shifting hard and changing gears erratically, while making clunking noises. We took it to our repair shop and they were mystified so they sent it to their transmission specialty shop. It turns out that they have another five hundred in the shop getting its transmission replaced because of the same problems. We just had the transmission flushed and oil changed but that did not help. The transmission shop contacted the ford dealer service center and they gave them the codes to 'flash' the newest codes into the transmission & throttle computers. No change. They tested new transmission modules with no change. So now they say they have to change out the transmission @ $4,300. This is not good! The transmission specialist says this is the 4th five hundred he has had this problem with and that they cannot get parts to repair the transmission so they have no other option but to replace it. I contacted my ford dealer and they also say they cannot get parts for the transmission. Tomorrow I am going to the big guys at ford and get an answer from them about what is going on.

Filed Dec 31, 2007 · Body · 55,000 miles · AZ

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 ford five hundred. While driving 25 MPH, the contact heard a clunking noise and the vehicle pulled to the left into oncoming traffic. The engine was still running. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the a frame detached from the sub frame. The vehicle is currently at the dealer and has not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 55,000.