Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Car engine accelerate on own. Tac meter shows over 3,000 RPM when I put it in neutral. I have to tap the accelerator and it goes back to normal. This happens about once a week now. I was slowing down for a stoplight and it happened. Brakes were not enough. Almost hit a car. Only by throwing into neutral allowed me to gain control and stop. My mechanic couldn't find anything. I cannot allow anyone else to drive this as I am the only one familiar to handle it. I'll probably sell it on a trade. I've read dozens of reports of this but no recall. I am surprised. If I get into an accident I have a lawyer handle it Here are others https://www.carproblemzoo.com/ford/taurus/cruise-control-problems.php
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Taurus. While parked and unoccupied, the vehicle became engulfed in flames underneath the hood. The contact extinguished the fire with a garden hose. A fire report was not filed. The vehicle remained at the contact's residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the engine stalled as the check engine and the oil warning lights illuminated. The contact maneuver to shoulder of the road and as the contact inspected the vehicle, it immediately ignited into flames from under the passenger side hood. The fire department extinguished the fire and the entire vehicle was burned. A police/fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 158,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Taurus. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle accelerated to 40 MPH on its own and while the brake pedal was applied. When the contact placed the gear shifter into the neutral position, the rpms increased from 200,000 to 300,000. The ignition was shut off and the gear shifter was placed into park. When the vehicle was restarted, the rpms increased to 300,000. The ignition was shut off a third time and restarted, and the rpms increased to 100,000. The failure recurred numerous times. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 118,320.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that there was a leak of transmission fluid from under the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was a transmission fluid leak and when the vehicle was turned off the fluid leaked into the motor. The mechanic diagnosed that the trans-axle vent needed to be replaced along with a 90 degree vent stem small hose with clamps. The 90 degree vent stem prematurely fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Driving on a freeway at 70mph when I let off the throttle but the car continued to accelerate. Came to a stop light after exiting freeway and had to slam on breaks to come to a full stop because the vehicle throttle would not stop accelerating. Checked for a rug or anything that might be stuck under the gas pedal and nothing was there. Once I arrived at the destination I put vehicle in park and the engine reved up to 4000 RPM. Opened hood and throttle was not stuck but after I moved the throttlebody to rev the engine it returned back to a normal idle speed. This is freaking dangerous. Dont buy this piece of crap car.
Around 6 pm I was driving down a residential street (25 miles speed), in motion, all of a sudden the car just turned off. Luckily I was able to steer to the shoulder. I noticed all dashboard lights on, my gas pedal was not working, but the A/C was still working and the radio. So I know it wasnt my 1 year old battery. I waited for 30 seconds and turned the key and it restarted again. My fiance, our 4 children and I were in the car at the time. 70% of my driving is freeway..this is our only car and im deathly afraid of this happening while im on freeway. I believe the engine is faulty on this year/model/make.
Purchased this vehicle used and immediately had episodes of the accelerator sticking. Happens on nearly every trip with this vehicle and happens 4-5 time on a 20 mile trip. Worse episodes of stuck accelerator with rapid acceleration as in freeway entrance ramps. The brakes can override the stuck accelerator, but it is frightening when it happens in town. After several months of dealing with this issue and not finding a cause, we have learned to stop the sticking by punching the accelerator hard once or twice at a point in the road where more forward acceleration will not be a safety issue. We have had this issue so much and are so familiar with it, I sometimes use it as a cruise control feature while on the freeway, but it is not as reliable and is not as steady as the true speed control device. This issue is dangerous for the inexperience driver and should be addressed quickly. …
My wife was driving our 2006 Ford Taurus and suddenly the car started accelerating out of control. She was able to slow the car down by braking firmly and eventually the car stopped doing it. We did not drive it the next day. Two days later, I was driving and braking for a red light when the car aggressively accelerated again. Only by slamming on the brakes did I avoid hitting the car in front of me. I put the car in park and turned it off and on again, but the engine was still racing out of control. I turned the car off and on again and pressed the accelerator quickly up and down and this stopped the engine from racing. Since that time, the car has accelerated more gently (without any pressure on the accelerator pedal) twice, both at highway speeds. Both times, mashing the accelerator seemed to temporarily relieve the symptoms. …
I was driving through downtown when I noticed increases acceleration and trouble with stopping. When I put my car in park, it would rev up to 2500 pm. I would stomp on accelerator and it brought it down to normal below 1000 RPM in park. Thankfully I avoided having 3 accidents. I was about to call for a truck but did not. I managed to drive my car back to work. My co-worker looked at it and saw the throttle was sticking and cruise control cable came off. He was able to reattach it and fix the throttle. A week after he fixed it I started to have some acceleration issues but minor and today it finally got worse. I looked on here to see if other people having the same issue and yes I did find a lot of people with same issues. I do agree with a lot of those people that this should be a recall. I can't afford to get it fixed by a professional or a new car.
Engine complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2006 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2006 Ford Taurus, 14% of the model year's 318 complaints. The component named most often is engine (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Ford Taurus engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2006 Ford Taurus, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Ford Taurus engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 95,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.