2005 Ford Five hundred erratic transmission behavior. Unsafe shifting causes car to lunge sideways and vibrate at higher speeds. The downshift delay lunges the car forward making quick stops unsafe and nearly creates a wreck everyday.

- Carmel, IN, USA

Transmission bucked when trying to pass at highway speeds. Vehicle has 73,000 miles and now transmission has to be replaced. Entire transmission replaced due to seal failure inside transmission.

- Hendersonville, TN, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Five hundred. While driving at approximately 60 mph, the vehicle suddenly downshifted gears and the rpms began to increase. The vehicle did not increase in speed and it stayed in one gear. The problem occurred five times. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The current mileage was approximately 41,000. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

- Huntington Park, CA, USA

Car fails to down shift when accelerating hard. Transmission slips and becomes disengaged. This prevents me from safely accelerating to pass or avoid other vehicles. Transmission problem are chronic on this 2005 Ford Five hundred 6 speed transmission.

- Mooresville, NC, USA

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.

- Cottage Grove, MN, USA

I own a 2005 Ford 500 (purchased 9/08 with 32K) currently has 58K; took to dealership last week due to transmission slipping at various speeds on city streets as well as interstate speeds (car jerks erratically); was advised it was a "computer glitch" & dealer charged $80 for diagnostics. Tonight I was driving down a city street when suddenly the car began to jerk erratically again only this time the display panel read "failsafe engine mode" and the check engine light (yellow wrench light) came on; once I got home I shut the car off; restarted it and the display panel cleared but from what I'm reading on different forums is that this could be a multitude of issues; car is under extended warranty; will be taking to dealership tomorrow.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

My wife has a 2005 Ford 500 and we witness a sudden lurch when shifting the vehicle out of park, andeven at times where we are at a standstill. This has been happening off and on for at least 2 years. We have contacted our local Ford dealership and we keep getting told its the air filter being dirty. I cleaned the filter(K&N) and reinserted it in the vehicle. We have not had any injuries or accidents as of yet, but we are afraid of the time where it does do it and cause an accident. Have there been other complaints about this problem?

- Austin, TX, USA

I was driving my vehicle on a city road doing 30mph when the car made a horrible exploding sound. After that point the car was making numerous grinding noises and would not accelerate. I stopped and had the car towed. The dealer told me it was electronic and wanted $1800 to fix it, but would not guarantee that it would fix the car. I got a second opinion and they showed me the inside of the transmission which was in shrapnel sized pieces. The damage was obviously not electronic. The vehicle is out of warranty by time but only has 33K miles on it. I am 70+ years old and have never driven the vehicle in any way that could cause this type of damage. I have spoken to several dealers and to Ford customer service and no one will help me. The repair is over $6000 and I have no guarantees that it will not happen again. There is an obvious massive mechanical defect in the vehicle that needs to be investigated. I have seen numerous complaints on this transmission yet Ford does not seem to acknowledge the problem even after Saturn had the same problems on a similar transmission.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

I own a Ford 500, I am now on my third replacement of a throttle body. I have found out that this is a common problem on that vehicle. This happens out of no where and is dangerous because when driving the vehicle it jumps forward and could cause an accident. Not only am I in danger but those in the vehicle are as well as those around me. The part is on back order for months but I have been able to get used throttle bodies but they keep going out and none have been successful. I just picked my vehicle up from Ford 3 days ago and its now back at the dealership yet again. The first time this happened I got stranded out of town for 4 days and had to drive half way back to my home town in a rental to get a used part and drive all the way back. This a huge inconvenience that has cost time and money. There is no telling how long this repair is going to take once again and how much money I will have to give away again.

- Macedonia, OH, USA

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.

- Peoria, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Five hundred. While driving 30 mph the vehicle began shaking and then idling as if it wanted to shut off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and inspected where it was determined that the valve body box was failing and the cost for repair would be $1800. The vehicle has not been repaired and the contact is trying to get the manufacturer to cover the cost of the repair. The contact called the manufacturer and a complaint was filed and the contact was advised that her claim would be reviewed. The failure mileage was 25,281 and the current mileage was 74,000. Updated 11/10/09 the consumer stated the vehicle shut off several times, the gauge act erratically. Updated 11/18/09

- Vancover, WA, USA

While driving for over 45 minutes or a really hot day car will buck and shake when slowing down. After that it has happened twice car slips out of gear then kick back in 30 seconds later while going 65mph on highway trying to pass someone.brought into dealer said never heard of this and could not repeat occurrence. So upgraded computer for $ $250 did not fix anything, then had to wait 3 weeks for another appointment going on Thursday wish me luck.

- Farmington, CT, USA

I purchased a used 2005 Ford Five hundred in July 2008. At the time the car had 68K miles, and no warranty. In January, my car started down-shifting very rough around 1000 RPM. This happens at every down-shift after the engine reaches a certain temperature. It also shifts hard when I accelerate as if to pass someone on the interstate. Ford has flashed the computer and found no problems. They suggested that I replace the valve body and fluid. I have been checking message boards and have noticed many other consumers are having the same exact issue with their Five hundreds, tauruses, and montegos with the cvt transmission. However, no one seems to have found a solution at this time, and Ford has not made any recalls. I refuse to shell out ridiculous amounts of money to "maybe" fix this serious transmission issue. Also, I am unable to trade my car for something else because it is now completely devalued. Please help the hundreds of Ford consumers who share in this issue.

- Maryville, TN, USA

I'm driving a 2005 Ford 500 that I have found to be a crash waiting to happen. Car only has 55K miles on it and I'm getting nothing but trouble from the transmission. This is a common problem with Ford cvt transmission. www.fordforums.com/F632/merged-transmission-problems-please-post-them-here-160576/ the transmission bucks, skips and shakes when decelerating/accelerating around 25mph. It does the same thing when trying to accelerate fast to pass someone. Or driving on a incline/decline. Ford has a serious problem here and they are not owning up to it!

- Peoria, AZ, USA

05 Ford Five hundred fwd. Transmission shudder down shifting around 1500 RPM feels almost like a brake problem. Happens more and more often especially on hot days. Dealer serviced transmission 55,000 miles changing fluid and communicating no apparent problems. Total failure 58,000 miles no reverse at all, could drive it on the trailer in low. Will require a new transmission for sure, this is the last Ford.

- Lakepoint, UT, USA

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.

- Cape May, NJ, USA

I have an 05 Ford 500, 2 wheel drive, w/6 speed at/trans. At 30K miles it developed a transmission "slippage/jerk" when slowing to a stop from 35mph or less. I have also noticed the same when accelerating at highway speeds or climbing a hill when I hit passing gear. I cannot use the cruise control in hilly terrain because of this problem. It feels as if the whole front end of the car will jerk loose.

- Alpena, MI, USA

2005 Ford 500 six-speed automatic transmission shifts to neutral when driver is attempting to pass at highway speeds. So far other drivers have also complained to Ford. So far Ford is not acknowledging this as a serious problem and has not issued a recall.

- Fremont, MI, USA

Transmission in Ford Five hundred is going bad at 65,000.

- Midlothian, VA, USA

I have a Ford Five hundred 2005 sel.with only 50,000 miles on it. When the car gets warm the transmission will shift in to a lower gear while driving on the road. I was almost hit from behind because of this. I noticed on the internet that this is a common problem with Ford.

- Gloucester, MA, USA