Is the 2006 Ford Fusion a bad year?
730 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 150, 2.2× a quiet Fusion year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 55k–97k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 Fusion owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 73,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 319 (44%) | 60k–130k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 150 (21%) | 55k–97k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 74 (10%) | 42k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 71 (10%) | 62k–100k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Exterior lighting | 21 (3%) | 62k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 15 (2%) | 62k–104k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 12 (2%) | 53k–108k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Engine | 57 (8%) | 77k–116k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 36 (5%) | 88k–150k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 28 (4%) | 82k–120k miles · ahead | — |
| Latches and locks | 37 (5%) | 38k–69k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 6 (1%) | 12k–34k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 10 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 73,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 730 complaints: 38 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 23 report an injury · 16 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jul 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I drive 2006 Ford fusion that has about 74k and have not had any problems with until yesterday.
My 2006 Ford fusion 3.0L V-6 is experiencing severe problems with the transmission. This all started at 55,000MI.
When driving the wrench light comes on and the car looses power. I can't accelerate. If I pull off the road and turn off the car and turn it back on it fixes it.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 73,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 Ford Fusion: 5
The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The valves within the ABS Hydraulic Control Units (HCU) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives. This reaction may cause the valves to not close properly. If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal. The floor mat could shift such that it could interfere with the accelerator pedal, preventing its return to an idle position, which could result in unintended vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 8
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Ford Fusion. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Ford/lincoln/mercury: some vehicles, with diagnostic codes (DTCs) P0351, P0352, P0353, P0354, P0355…
Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Floor mat interference with accelerator
Neighbouring years
2007 Fusion: 1,062 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Fusion year
2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · All Fusion years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2006 Ford Fusion a bad year?
730 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 150, 2.2× a quiet Fusion year. At 73,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 55k–97k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Ford Fusion?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (319), transmission and drivetrain (150), body structure (74), electrical system (71), exterior lighting (21). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 55k–97k miles.
How many recalls does the 2006 Ford Fusion have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-158), Brakes (NHTSA 19V-904), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-024), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-384) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.