Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 199 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 Ford Five Hundred, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 35 | 18% |
| Power train | 29 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 5% |
| Power train | 8 | 4% |
| Power train | 8 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 8 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 3% |
| Structure | 5 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
It's starting not going into highway gears (5&6) just revs real high and when it does finally, it kicks really hard. Sounds and feels like it's going to drop out from under the car.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
AFTER DRIVING HALF-HOUR IN HIGH-WAY SOUTHWARD ON I-45 IN THE MORNING. THE CAR CANNOT BE ACCELERATE AT AROUND 40MPH WHEN I RAMP UP TO 288, AND THE AUTO-LOCK LIGHT TURNED RED. SECONDS LATER, IT RECOVERED BACK. 2 MINUTES
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I HAD THIS CAR REPAIRED TWICE AT A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC SHOP THAT COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. EVERY TIME, THE CAR COMES TO STOP OR DIES ON ME. I REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER ONE TIME THAT IS UNDERNEATH THE CAR. NOW THE CA
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
IT BEGAN WITH THE 12 VOLT NOT WORKING. PUT IN NEW FUSE IT BLEW. THEN INSTRUMENT PANEL SPEEDOMETER GOES BLACK, IF YOU GOT THE DASH IT COMES BACK ON THE BATTERY GOT COMPLETELY DRAINED BOUGHT A NEW ONE. STILL HAVE A SHORT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
CAR IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE GAS TANK AREA, LOOKS LIKE ITS LEAKING FROM THE FILLER NECK. AT TIMES IT LEAKS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT. I'M ALSO HAVING SURGING ISSUES. MAINLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO SHUT DOWN IN TH
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS BELONGS IN ENGINE OR FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF 'GAS PEDDLE' IN EITHER. THE DATE OF 07/17/2013 IS APPROXIMATE. IT MAY HAVE BEEN BETWEEN 2013 - 2015. I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXA
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FLASHES THEN GOES BLACK WHILE DRIVING. INTERIOR EXTERIOR AND GAUGE LIGHTS GO BRIGHT AND DIM AND GO OUT ALTOGETHER WHILE DRIVING. CAR DIES WHILE MOVING. BATTERIES ONLY LAST 1 YEAR FROM BEING DRAINED. N
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT SOCKET BURNS OUT THE BULB. THE BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS. THE ENTIRE LIGHT SOCKET UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE TECH INFORMED ME THAT WAS A PROBLEM WITH TH
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2007 Ford Five Hundred. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND MERCURY MONTEGO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 11, 2006. THE FUEL TANKS MAY NOT HAVE CONSISTENT WELDS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL FILLER NECK SPUD WHICH CAN AFFECT THE STRENGTH OF THE JOINT. SOME FU
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 16, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE
Risk: FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
| Reliability raw | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 199 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and vehicle speed control is the most reported area with 35 of them (18%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2007 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.