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ProblemsByVin File / 2006-FORD-FUSION NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Ford

2006 Ford Fusion problems

The 2006 Ford Fusion has 3 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 730 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.

The 2006 Ford Fusion has 730 NHTSA owner complaints and 5 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 312 complaints, typically surfacing around 106,705 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Ford Fusion owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2006 Fusion (this page) 730 5
2007 Fusion 1,064 5
2008 Fusion 1,353 6
2009 Fusion 1,021 7
2006 Ford Fusion
Photo: Wheatley Hill / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Ford Fusion
0 5 10
Reliability score
4.6 / 10

Below average for the segment. Multiple systems have recurring complaints.

3
Critical
2
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2006 Fusion?
High-risk ownership

Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.

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 Fusion? 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

⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 106,705 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 5 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 4.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — 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.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2006 Ford Fusion

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.

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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<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/reliability/2006-ford-fusion/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2006 Ford Fusion reliability snapshot" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#64748b;max-width:640px;margin:6px 0 0">Source: <a href="https://problemsbyvin.com/2006-ford-fusion/" style="color:#b8540a;font-weight:600">2006 Ford Fusion reliability snapshot — ProblemsByVin</a></p>

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
312 reports · fails ~106,705 mi · avg $1,100
severe
powertrain
144 reports · fails ~78,889 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
electrical
59 reports · fails ~84,247 mi · avg $850
severe
body
54 reports · fails ~79,521 mi · avg $1,500
moderate
brakes
28 reports · fails ~109,220 mi · avg $450
severe
engine
25 reports · fails ~89,170 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
cruise control
13 reports · fails ~100,256 mi · avg $600
severe
steering
12 reports · fails ~87,765 mi · avg $700
severe

Your road ahead on this 2006 Ford Fusion

When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.

  1. ~65,000 mibody~$1,500
  2. ~73,000 mipowertrain~$2,500
  3. ~80,000 miengine~$3,100
  4. ~90,000 mielectrical~$850
  5. ~90,126 misteering~$700
  6. ~105,000 miairbags~$1,100
  7. ~110,000 micruise control~$600
  8. ~110,550 mibrakes~$450

"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.

Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2006 Fusion's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2006 Fusion?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2006 Fusion · airbags
Keep getting run a round with phil long Ford ( takata recall ) nothing happen to my car yet phil long Ford will not honor recall almost one year has pass.
2006 Fusion · electrical
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford fusion. He cannot remove his vehicle keys from the ignition. The vehicle has not been inspected by the dealer. The failure mileage was 29,300.
12/31/2009 · at 29,300 mi · NHTSA ODI #10297687.0 · see electrical pattern →
2006 Fusion · airbags
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Ford fusion. Upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated while driving. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The contact received…
2006 Fusion · airbags
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Ford fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v384000 (air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
View all 730 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2006 Ford Fusion? 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.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 5

critical NHTSA 21V158000 March 10, 2021

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

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

Fix: 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.
critical NHTSA 17V024000 January 10, 2017

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

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

Fix: 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.
critical NHTSA 16V384000 May 31, 2016

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

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

Fix: 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.
View all 5 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2006 Ford Fusion reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 4.6 out of 10 based on 730 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Ford Fusion 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 Fusion?

The 2006 Ford Fusion is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 59 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 63,000–101,000 mi; Brakes: 28 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 89,000–150,000 mi; Reliability score 4.6/10 — below the segment average; 5 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 Fusion?

Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 312 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 106,705 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 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 Fusion a good used car to buy?

It scores 4.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 730 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 106,705 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 Fusion?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 312 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 106,705 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 106,705 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Ford Fusion 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 Fusion?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 730 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, 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.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Ford/Fusion. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Ford. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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