2005 Ford Five Hundred Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 136about this part
- Share
- 27%of 510 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 73,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 136 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2005 Ford Five Hundred, 27% of the 510 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 73,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I stopped on a city street at stop sign. As I tried to accelerate, but the car would barely move. The throttle control/transmission warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. I turned the car off and let it sit for about 2 to 3 minutes. I started the car up and was able to make it home. I am thankful that this happen on city street and not on the highway. I plan on contacting my Ford dealer tomorrow.”
NHTSA complaint #11185706, filed 2019-03, 86,921 miles“I purchased the car used with the understanding that it had some issues with a misfire. Upon initial inspection I fount the car was throwing the code p0351 I cleared all faults and problem went away weks went by and problem started again but more sever during normal operation the car started shaking and shifting erratic I then came upon some k formation as to a recall Ford put in place stating improper calibration of PCM and TCM cause unnecessary interaction I the electrical system and malfunction of the vehicle”
NHTSA complaint #11366459, filed 2020-10, 237,232 miles“Backing out of the driveway in a 2005 Ford 500 awd, car stumbles then launched backward violently. Luckily I had my foot on the brake or the car would have kept going. Failsafe engine mode appears on the dashboard. This has happened several times before. Should be a recall on this car.”
NHTSA complaint #10413823, filed 2011-07, 77,778 miles“This problem is going for a while, even in a stop light, foot on brake pedal the engine accelerate himself and while shifting from park to reverse or drive the sound on the transmission is hard. It go from 700 rpms to 1300 rpms on seconds, and now is worse. Took the vehicle to two Ford repair dealers, after putting on the computer,both wanted to charge me $6,000.00 on a transmission, even knowing the recalls on this units.this car looks like new I can send you photos, and I love my car.”
NHTSA complaint #10716614, filed 2015-05, 94,000 miles“I own a 2005 Ford 500 (se model) car. It just passed 52k miles and the transmission just broken when I drove at normal speed on highway. I was luck that I can still survive. The dealer inspected it and told me to replace whole transmission. From the similar reports from a lot of customers, this is obviously a manufacturing issue. Please investigate Ford company on their common transmission problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10287089, filed 2009-10, 52,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11000557May 24, 2024Motorcraft® Continuously Variable Chain-Type Transmission Fluid (XT-7-QCFT in non-Canadian markets, CXT-7-LCF12 in Canada) is no longer manufactured and will only be available…
- 10022294Jul 25, 2007Transmission harsh shifting - no dtc's - mileage over 20,000 miles.
- 10021220Mar 23, 2007Transmission shifter binding / high effort bezel replacement.
- 10020134Jan 1, 2006Continuously variable transaxle (cvt) noise diagnosis.
- 10019914Jan 1, 2006Oil leak from power transfer unit.
- 10018076Sep 2, 2005Special field action 05l25 - output shaft speed (oss) sensor; turbine shaft speed (tss) sensor; transmission fluid temperature (tot) sensor were inadvertently omitted from the…
- 10017862Jul 1, 2005Vehicles with a cvt transaxle, may exhibit a fluid leak from the transaxle oil pan area.
- 10013304Jan 24, 2005Harsh or erratic upshifts/downshifts - wrench lamp illuminated with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p2544 - vehicles built before 1/7/2005 and equipped with the (awf21) 6 speed…
- 10018933Jan 1, 2005Harsh/erratic/slow downshifts or tip-in hesitation -- 6 speed automatic transaxle -- vehicles built before 10/17/2005.
- 10013317Jan 1, 2005Oil leak from power transfer unit.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2005 Ford Five Hundred
104 complaintsElectrical system
95 complaintsEngine
58 complaintsEngine cooling
49 complaintsBrakes
44 complaintsFuel system
44 complaintsBody and structure
33 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
22 complaintsOther or unknown
21 complaintsSuspension
17 complaintsAir bags
15 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Ford Five Hundred
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology