VehicleVerdict

2006 Ford Fusion problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Among the better years

The 2006 Ford Fusion is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 5 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 919 owner complaints run below the Fusion median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying. Complainants reported 47 injuries in total across these filings.

Airbags leads the complaint categories with 320 reports (35% of the total).

919

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

1

Investigations

57

Crash-involved

4

Fires reported

47

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2006 compare to other Fusion years?

Fusion NHTSA complaints by model year, 2006 highlighted7,021 complaints2006: 919 complaints2007: 1,277 complaints2008: 1,532 complaints2009: 1,165 complaints2010: 7,021 complaints2011: 3,650 complaints2012: 3,046 complaints2013: 2,357 complaints2014: 1,751 complaints2015: 1,266 complaints2016: 2,032 complaints2017: 1,369 complaints2018: 564 complaints2019: 396 complaints2020: 257 complaints
Fusion NHTSA complaints by model year, 2006 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Fusion years to avoid →

What are the most common 2006 Ford Fusion problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags32035%
Transmission15217%
Body & Structure768%
Electrical System768%
Engine586%
Brakes384%
Latches & Locks374%
Other344%
Speed Control283%
Lighting212%
Fuel System152%
Steering121%
Tires & Wheels121%
Suspension111%
Seats101%
Seat Belts91%
Visibility & Wipers81%
Driver Assistance10%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)10%

Does the 2006 Ford Fusion have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21V158000AirbagsMarch 10, 2021 · 2,602,668 units

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. 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.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.

19V904000BrakesDecember 18, 2019 · 600,166 units

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles. 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.

Consequence

If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with DOT 4 fluid and install a new brake fluid reservoir cap. In addition, the HCU will be tested to detect a possible stuck valve condition, replacing the HCU as necessary. All services will be performed free of charge. The recall began April 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S54.

17V024000AirbagsJanuary 10, 2017 · 654,695 units

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

16V384000AirbagsMay 31, 2016 · 1,892,343 units

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

14E028000OtherMay 29, 2014 · 82,579 units

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain all weather driver side accessory floor mats sold for use in model year 2006-2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, and 2007-2011 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 9, 2007, through October 31, 2010. The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement mats, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S07. NOTE: Vehicles built after October 31, 2010, while potentially equipped with the same floor mats, are equipped with a Brake Over Accelerator (BOA) feature that prevents simultaneous accelerator and brake application, allowing the vehicle to be safely stopped by pressing firmly and steadily on the brake pedal.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AT 55 MPH INTO A SAND DUNE. THE CAR ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND HAS NOT…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · October 31, 2006 · crash

“TRANSMISSION STICKS IN GEAR, THEN ABRUPTLY CHANGES. LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY, CAR STRUGGLED TO REACH 40 MPH WHILE OTHER VEHICLES REACHED SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 55-65 MPH. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · April 19, 2010 · fire

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED A REMOTE STARTER THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED BURNED A FUSE. THE FUSE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE TURN SIGNALS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · September 6, 2015 · fire

“I WAS PARKING IN A BETTENDORT, IOWA RESTAURANT PARKING LOT WHEN MY CAR SURGED FORWARD. I APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT CAR WOULD NOT STOP. IT LEFT THE PARKING LOT, CROSSED A SIDEWALK AND WENT ONTO A STREET NEAR AN INTERSECTION. I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES, BUT CAR STILL WOULDN'T STOP. IT COLLIDED WITH AN…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · June 3, 2016 · crash

“I WAS PARKING IN A BETTENDORT, IOWA RESTAURANT PARKING LOT WHEN MY CAR SURGED FORWARD. I APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT CAR WOULD NOT STOP. IT LEFT THE PARKING LOT, CROSSED A SIDEWALK AND WENT ONTO A STREET NEAR AN INTERSECTION. I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES, BUT CAR STILL WOULDN'T STOP. IT COLLIDED WITH AN…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · June 3, 2016 · crash

2006 Ford Fusion — common questions

Is the 2006 Ford Fusion reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 919 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Fusion year, with 5 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2006 Fusion problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (320 complaints), transmission (152 complaints), body & structure (76 complaints).

Does the 2006 Ford Fusion have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2006 Ford Fusion. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2006 Ford Fusion under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Ford Fusion years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Fusion years to avoid are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2014, 2015. The cleanest record among Fusion years belongs to 2020.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.