2006 Ford Five Hundred Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 104about this part
- Share
- 29%of 364 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 77,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 104 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2006 Ford Five Hundred, 29% of the 364 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 77,500 miles. 4 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 own a 06 Ford fivehundred and at only 100,000 miles I began experiencing really hard downshifting and sometimes complete slip from gear slamming back into gear after rolling freely for a while happens when car reaches normal running temp was told whole transmission needs to be replaced seems like almost everyone with this vehicle regardless of the year has this same problem”
NHTSA complaint #11269306, filed 2019-10, 100,000 miles“The vehicle will stall and jerk. The vehicle will lunge out even when the brake is pressed. It has done this in parking lots and while driving. This is dangerous as it almost caused an accident by jerking backward immediately when I shifted to reverse when I was in the parking lot- my foot was on the brake and the car still excelled.”
NHTSA complaint #10448877, filed 2012-02, 171,064 miles“2006 Ford Five Hundred sel on several occasions our 2006 Ford Five Hundred has accelerated while pulling into a parking spot in a parking lot or into our garage. This usually occurs while our foot is on the brake at idle speed. Acceleration varies from mild to very noticeable by the passengers. Concerned about hitting pedestrians or other vehicles or losing control of vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10413352, filed 2011-07, 77,000 miles“2006 Ford 500 sel with CVT. Car bucks when slowing down to 20 mpf. Also will not accelerate so I cannot pass trucks on the highway. Real dangerous. Took it to the dealer while still in warranty and they could not find anything except to try to sell me a master control for $2100 and they would not guarantee this was the problem. This issue needs to be a recall.”
NHTSA complaint #10356809, filed 2010-09, 57,000 miles“My Ford Five Hundred is losing power while driving down the street without warning. No car should be performing this way and no known mechanical issues. The car is driven daily and maintenance has been kept/up to date. I think this is an issue with this Ford model and year should be a recall on it.”
NHTSA complaint #10438948, filed 2011-12, 141,000 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.
- 10018933Jan 1, 2005Harsh/erratic/slow downshifts or tip-in hesitation -- 6 speed automatic transaxle -- vehicles built before 10/17/2005.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2006 Ford Five Hundred
118 complaintsElectrical system
51 complaintsBrakes
39 complaintsFuel system
38 complaintsEngine
36 complaintsEngine cooling
23 complaintsOther or unknown
17 complaintsBody and structure
17 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaintsEquipment
11 complaintsElectronic stability control
8 complaintsAir bags
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 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