Ford 500 years to avoid
The Ford 500 years to avoid are 2005 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 1979 is the cleanest year on record.
303
Total complaints
1
Recall campaigns
1979–2007
Years covered
1
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
500 years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | High complaint rate | 147 |
Every 500 year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 51 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 105 | 0 | |
| 2005avoid | 147 | 0 | |
| 1979 | 0 | 1 |
Common questions
What are the worst Ford 500 years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the 500 years to avoid are 2005. The cleanest year on record is 1979.
What is the best year for the Ford 500?
By complaint volume, 1979 has the cleanest NHTSA record among 500 years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Ford 500 have?
Across all model years, the 500 has 1 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 303 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.