Most common 2006 Ford Fusion problems
Share of the 730 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Fusion complaints by model year
Best Fusion years: 2006, 2007, 2020. Years to avoid: 2010, 2011, 2012. Compare all years →
2006 Ford Fusion recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with DOT 4 fluid and install a new brake fluid reservoir cap.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2006 Ford Fusion:
Floor mat interference with accelerator
On May 27, 2014, Ford Motor Company submitted recall 14E-028 (Ford recall #14S07) to correct a safety-related problem with certain driver's side Ford optional all-weather floor mats sold for use in model year 2006 through 2011 model year Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr, and Lincoln MKZ vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly Plant (HAP) from November 9, 2007, to October 31 ,2010.NHTSA testing determined…
What 2006 Ford Fusion owners say
Air bags all 319 →
The contact owned a 2006 Ford Fusion. The contact's husband was driving in poor weather conditions speed unknown, hit ice and the vehicle skidded into a streetlight pole on the passenger side door. The vehicle caromed across the road and hit the opposite curb and rolled onto the roof. The contact stated she was not aware of any warning lights being illuminated. The contact said that the driver's side airbags did not deploy, and the passenger side airbags deployed but did not inflate. The police wrote out a traffic report and the driver were transported by ambulance to a hospital with injuries to his back, neck and head requiring emergency surgery. The passenger was being taken by the contact to a hospital today sustaining head pain and wrist pain. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle will not be repaired. …
The contact's daughter owned a 2006 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she noticed that the steering wheel was locked, making it difficult to control the vehicle. As a result of losing control of the vehicle, the contact's daughter was struck on the driver's side by another vehicle, after which the driver's side air bags failed to deploy. The passenger-side air bags did deploy. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it remained. No warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. A police report was filed. The contact's daughter was taken to the Emergency Room and treated for injuries to her head, left shoulder, and left leg. The other driver was also transported to the Emergency Room and treated for undisclosed injuries. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 150 →
When driving on city street at 45mph the car jolted excessively once and then went out of gear untill it slowed to 30mph and slammed again violently and rpms went up to 5000 which maintaned my speed at 45mph at that time the wrench light came on and as I was coming to a red light it jerked forward while I was braking almost hit a pedestrian in crosswalk. At green light I attempted to accelerate but the car moved slowly untill it reached 25 MPH and then went out of gear while I was on the gas I tried to put it into low gear to get going so I could pull over but it didnt respond as this was happening a desiel truck had rear ended me totaling the car I just bought a week prior. . Its very unsafe car for this transmission is apparently plagued with this problem for so many others I just hope it dosent take even one death of another life before this problem is admitted and recalled to fix. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Fusion. While driving between 20-38 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift gears, jerked severely, and the check engine and transmission warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to anderson Ford Lincoln (3601 stockton hill rd, kingman, az 86409, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the 4th and 5th gears were incorrect. While the vehicle was at the dealer for the gear repairs, it was also diagnosed that the valve body and solenoids needed replacement, and the PCM and TCM needed reprogramming. All the repairs were completed, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to an independent transmission facility where it was diagnosed with the same failure and parts as the dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle was once again repaired, but the failure persisted. …
Body & structure all 74 →
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 oncoming car, crossed over a median and finally stopped on another street across from the intersection.
[redacted] : the inside door handle broke on front passenger side and driver side. They have been breaking for over two years now. The price to fix this is going to be 243.50 and the Ford motor company will not fix it and will not give a percentage off. I am not the only one who is having this problem. It is all over the internet ways to fix this problem because Ford will not fix. Or do anything. This is a safety hazard if you have a wreck or emerge in water you would not be able to get out. I think your department needs to get involved....they recall the Ford f150 for the same thing, I am 68 years old and if I get into a wreck they will be no way for me to get out of my car.
2006 Ford Fusion engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Ford Fusion a good car?
Based on 730 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Fusion rates better than average: 70% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Fusion at the same age. It is one of the best Fusion years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Ford Fusion?
The air bags — 319 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (150) and body & structure (74).
How many recalls does the 2006 Ford Fusion have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2006 Ford Fusion, the most recent from March 10, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Fusion?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2007 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2011 and 2012. See the full Ford Fusion years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Ford Fusion problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 76,000 miles; 24% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.