Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 79.6% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 257 complaints, typically at 5.5 years.
Ford Five Hundred years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 162 | 60 | yes | |
| 2006 | 299 | 107 | yes | |
| 2005 | 438 | 123 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2005 Five Hundred asks a median $3,699, against $2,450 for a 2006, the next model year: 51% more, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.
Among the 3 Ford Five Hundred years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2005, 2006, 2007; the three worth hunting are 2007, 2006, 2005.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 7.5% | covered | |
| 1 year | 13.9% | covered | |
| 2 years | 20.4% | covered | |
| 3 years | 28.8% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 43.9% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 60.3% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 73% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 80.2% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 84.8% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 88.3% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 90.4% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 92.3% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 95.1% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 97.1% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 99% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 20.4% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 79.6% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 48% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Ford Five Hundred, the early trouble is Service Brakes and Hydraulic — reported at around 2.9 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Power Train at 5.5 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 5.5 yrs | 10 | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5.4 yrs | 18 | — | |
| Electrical System | 6.2 yrs | 2 | 9 | |
| Engine | 8 yrs | 4 | 2 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4.3 yrs | 3 | 3 | |
| Service Brakes | 2.9 yrs | 3 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 2.1 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Fuel System | 4.3 yrs | 2 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Five Hundred's vehicle class. Per production run, the Dodge Charger draws 4.56, the Chrysler 300 4.11 and the Kia K5 3.08, against 3.18 for the Five Hundred.
| Same class as the Five Hundred | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Charger | 133 | 1983–2026 | |
| Chrysler 300 | 86 | 1999–2026 | |
| Kia K5 | 21 | 2021–2026 | |
| Hyundai Sonata | 152 | 1989–2026 | |
| Chevrolet Impala | 98 | 1981–2026 | |
| Lincoln Continental | 80 | 1981–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Ford Five Hundred reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 3.18 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.
Which Five Hundred years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2005, 2006, 2007. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2007, 2006, 2005. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Five Hundred problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, typically at 5.5 years, followed by Vehicle Speed Control.
Will the warranty cover Five Hundred problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 20.4% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 48% of the complaints here.
Is the Five Hundred more reliable than the Dodge Charger?
Yes: 3.18 complaints per production run for the Five Hundred against 4.56 for the Dodge Charger.
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