I have a 05 500. Today it had strange dash problems today. All the gauges flicked on and off for a short period of time. I first thought the car had stalled because the gauges went dead like the engine had cut, but it was running just fine.It only did this when the car was somewhat cold.

 

Take your car to the dealer, I had the same exact problem about a year ago and they fixed it.

This is the TSB I took with me for the dealer.

TSB 06-17-9
09/04/06
INTERMITTENT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
OPERATION - INCLUDING GAUGES SWEEP/RESET - MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND/OR REVERSE LIGHTS STAY ON - VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 2/17/2006
FORD:
2005-2006 Five Hundred, Freestyle

MERCURY:
2005-2006 Montego

This article supersedes TSB 06-6-2 to update the Service Procedure.
ISSUE
Some 2005-2006 Freestyle/Five Hundred/Montego vehicles built before 02/17/2006 may exhibit intermittent instrument cluster concerns with one of the following symptoms:

Very temporary intermittant condition at which time the Instrument Cluster pointers will intermittently "home" randomly after the ignition switch is in the run position. This is when all pointers travel to the low end of gauge travel, jitter for two to four seconds, and then recover. This condition may be more likely to occur as the vehicle drives over rough road surfaces.
During hard fault or prolonged intermittant condition, most functionality of the cluster will cease operation as soon as the issue is present, including all gages becoming inoperative.
While the fault exists, multiple warning lights will be illuminated, Cluster High Speed Controller Area Network (CAN) or Medium Speed CAN network communication with other module(s) will be inoperative, and reverse lights will stay on. If the fault discontinues, the tachometer and speedometer gauges will sweep and then reset. Look for U1900 diagnostic trouble code (DTC) in other electronic modules, as well as P0462/P2067 in the powertrain control module (PCM).
These symptoms could be the result of a defective solder joint on the printed circuit board in the instrument cluster.

Good Luck

 

This is a common problem from what I have found. Its a factory defect although Ford will not provide any help with. The Dealer is worthless to, all they want is to have you buy a new one for $ 890.00 plus installation.

Here is the simple and best answer: take out the gauge cluster and ship it to United Radio in Syracuse, New York (315) 446-8700.

$ 155.00 to $ 175.00 and they go through your cluster and repair the issue.

Took them 2 hours and there you have it.

Nice people and professional too.

 

Visit Instrument Cluster Repair, Speedometer Repair, Odometer Repair for repair of Ford 500 and Freestyle clusters.

 

My mom has a 2005 Ford Five Hundred 40k miles And the back up lights were on when in park or driving. And the dash lights did not come on. They replaced the battery and alternator. And a week later the car won’t start now. It makes clicking sounds when you turn the key. It has been connected to the computer 3 times and shows no codes.