The 2006 Ford E-150 has 17 NHTSA owner complaints and 15 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is cruise control at 3 complaints, typically surfacing around 49,687 miles (~$600 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
0
Critical
15
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2006 E-150?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 5.6/10 — around the segment average
15 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2006 Ford E-150? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
cruise control — 3 owner reports
· tends to show around 49,687 mi · ~$600 to fix
powertrain — 3 owner reports
· tends to show around 112,969 mi · ~$2,500 to fix
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 15 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
powertrain (~$2,500) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2006 E-150· lighting
Renzenberger, inc van number 4451 has had these problems for at least one month. My coworkers supervisor and I have complained multiple times to our supervisor but he said to just deal with it because he has no other vans available. To make a long story short, this van is a…
I just purchased a 2006 f-150 on sept.17,2006 and while driving on nov.25,2006 it locked up almost causing a rear end crash. There was no warning vehicle just stopped, after pulling off to the side of the road I saw that the 4 wheel dive low light was on but the switch for 4…
My Ford e150, econo van came to a sudden stall when I was driving on high way. Once it got stalled, I l don't have steering, power and brake control. The van won't start and won't stay idle. Or running, but after like 20 times trying to restart the car, it started running…
Drivers side window has rolled down and will go back up again. This item was fixed under warranty and has failed again. The vehicle is no longer under warranty and only 27,000 miles on it. This is an expensive repair and seems to be a common complaint. *tr
Had a problem with your 2006 Ford E-150?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.
Fix: MobilityWorks will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2015. Owners may contact MobilityWorks customer service at 1-800-769-8267, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. Note: These vehicles and wheelchair lifts were subject to a similar recall in 2014. All vehicles that received that recall remedy are still affected by this recall as well.
Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation after January 1, 2006
If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Fix: Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2015. Owners may contact Cumming's customer service at 1-800-639-5438 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Cumming's number for this recall is 14E-041.
Mobility Works is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Ford E-150, E-250 and E-350 vehicles manufactured August 2006 through August 2012
If the cable does not clear the wheel chair lift it may contact the power lug and, if it does not have a nonconductive cover, or it has an improperly installed non-conductive cover, a short circuit may occur that could result in a fire.
Fix: Mobility Works will notify owners and Ricon will provide a supplemental cover kit and instructions, free of charge. This recall campaign is expected to begin July 15, 2013. Owners may contact Mobility Works at 1-877-275-4912 and Ricon at 1-818-267-3000.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.6 out of 10 based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Ford E-150 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2006 Ford E-150?
The 2006 Ford E-150 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 5.6/10 — around the segment average; 15 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2006 Ford E-150?
Inspect the cruise control first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 3 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 49,687 miles. Average repair cost runs about $600 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2006 Ford E-150 a good used car to buy?
It scores 5.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 17 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is cruise control. Typical failure occurs around 49,687 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2006 Ford E-150?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is cruise control, with 3 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 49,687 miles. Average repair cost runs about $600 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The cruise control is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $600 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 49,687 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford E-150 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2006 Ford E-150?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 17 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $600, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 5 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Ford/E-150.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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