Is the 2006 Ford Taurus a bad year?
318 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Taurus years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2006 Ford Taurus are in line with other Taurus years. Speed control stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 Taurus 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 92,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 176 (55%) | 73k–124k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 42 (13%) | 70k–122k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 32 (10%) | 68k–117k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 26 (8%) | 70k–135k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 25 (8%) | 56k–116k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 21 (7%) | 47k–98k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 18 (6%) | 74k–119k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 15 (5%) | 59k–107k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (2%) | 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 92,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 318 complaints: 19 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Sep 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
2006 Ford taurus shuts off at stop lights and has rough idle. It also lurches forward repeatedly while the brake peddle is applied at intersection.
The car suddenly began to accelerate and was difficult to stop. I put it in neutral after I got to a place where I could park.
Ford motor company 2006 Ford taurus se 3.0 litre engine. The location of the oil filter is directly above the starter and starter solenoid assembly.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 92,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 Ford Taurus: 3
These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Certain passenger vehicles built for one specific fleet customer were modified for optional hands-free cellular phone operating capability. The padi lamp will fail to illuminate and the air bag warning lamp in the cluster will stay illuminated.
On certain trucks, passenger cars and sport utility vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may have been produced without grease being applied to the output shaft gear. After a period of continuous use on the high speed setting, lack of grease on the output shaft gear may cause the gear to distort or fracture during operation resulting in a loss of wiper function.
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: 3
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Ford Taurus. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Stuck throttle
Neighbouring years
2005 Taurus: 773 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2007 Taurus: 149 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Taurus year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · All Taurus 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 · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2006 Ford Taurus a bad year?
318 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Taurus years. At 92,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Ford Taurus?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: speed control (176), engine (42), transmission and drivetrain (32), brakes (26), electrical system (25).
How many recalls does the 2006 Ford Taurus have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 16E026000), Electrical system (NHTSA 06V-119), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 05V-520). 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.