When there is a heavy rain. Water builds up on the floor boards of the front passenger side of the vehicle. Researching this online I notice that there are many others with similar problems which leads me to believe that this sis a defect rather than a one time thing. The cause of the leak seems to be in the engineering of the in-cabin filter and crowl. *tr
2006 Ford Taurus body problems
moderate 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
When does it fail?
Of the 12 body complaints filed for the 2006 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 13 model years of Ford Taurus in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Water leaks into the front passenger floor during rain on many 2006 Taurus models—a widespread defect Ford has not recalled. Owners also report rapid tire wear, alignment issues, and occasionally a driver door that opens in cold weather.
Water intrusion into the front passenger floorboard is the dominant complaint across 10 of 12 narratives. Owners report water pooling from dampness to 2 inches of standing water after rain or car washes, originating from the cowl panel, rain hat, firewall area, or in-cabin filter assembly. Carpet padding becomes saturated, creating odor and occasional mold concerns. One owner notes moisture has affected the air conditioning system. Multiple owners explicitly state this is a widespread defect, not an isolated failure. Dealers have attempted repairs—replacing cowl panels, rain hats, dashboards, and resealing heater boxes—but these efforts have been unsuccessful in cases documented here. Ford declined financial responsibility for repairs once vehicles exited warranty, and no recall has been issued.
One owner reports catastrophic tire wear: four complete tire sets over 2.5 years (27,000–82,000 miles), with inner-edge cupping and alignment drift every 2–3 months. The owner suspects frame or structural damage, particularly given the vehicle's prior rental history.
A second owner reports the driver door opening spontaneously in below-freezing temperatures, with difficulty closing it. This owner notes similar complaints from other Taurus owners.
One complaint documents driver-side wheel well corrosion at 77,000 miles.
Same Ford Taurus body reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Water intrusion into front passenger floor
Water accumulates on the front passenger-side floorboard during rain or car washes. Owners report water pooling in quantities ranging from dampness to approximately 2 inches of standing water. The water saturates carpet padding, creates odors, and can affect the air conditioning system. The leak appears to originate from the cowl panel, rain hat, firewall area near the center console, or in-cabin filter assembly. Multiple owners report this as a widespread defect rather than an isolated occurrence.
When: 50,000–77,000 miles; occurs during heavy rain or routine car washes
Symptoms owners cite: Water pooling on front passenger floorboard after rain; Wet, damp carpet padding on passenger side; Strong carpet odor from moisture; Squishy sound when stepping on wet padding; Water intrusion during car washes; Occasional air conditioning system failure related to moisture
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostics identified cowl panel, rain hat, dashboard, heater box seals, and in-cabin filter as potential sources. Some dealers refused repair attempts; Ford stated no responsibility for repair costs once warranty expired. Replacement of cowl panel and rain hat unsuccessful in at least one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford declined financial responsibility for repairs on out-of-warranty vehicles; no recall issued despite multiple owner complaints suggesting widespread defect
Accelerated tire wear and alignment drift
One owner reports requiring four complete tire sets over approximately 2.5 years (27,000 to 82,000 miles), with the dealer covering the first three sets. Tires exhibit cupping on the inner edge. Alignment checks are required every 2–3 months at approximately $40 per visit, with additional charges for adjustments. Owner suspects frame or structural damage, particularly given the vehicle's prior history as a rental car.
When: Began shortly after purchase (27,000 miles); recurring every 2–3 months over 55,000 miles of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid tire wear requiring replacement every 6–8 months; Inner edge tire cupping; Recurrent loss of wheel alignment; Need for alignment service every 2–3 months
Repairs/costs cited: Owner paid $800 for four new tires and two new struts; dealer covered first three tire sets under warranty. Alignment costs $40 per service, plus additional charges for corrections.
Driver door opens unexpectedly in cold weather
Driver-side door opens spontaneously while driving in cold (below-freezing) conditions. Owner reports difficulty closing the door once opened, requiring multiple attempts before successful closure. Owner notes this is a known issue among multiple Taurus owners and appears to be temperature-related.
When: Winter/below-freezing temperatures
Symptoms owners cite: Driver door opens by itself during operation; Difficulty closing door once opened; Multiple closing attempts required
Driver-side wheel well corrosion
Driver-side wheel well shows corrosion. Owner did not seek diagnostic testing or repair; the complaint was merely reported to the manufacturer.
When: 77,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Corrosion visible on driver-side wheel well
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I have a 2006 Ford taurus. I used to live in texas and moved to buffalo area this summer. This morning when I drove my car out of the parking lot and onto the street road, the driver door suddenly opened by itself. Then I was trying to close the door while I was trying but all failed. Then I had to pull my car in the nearby parking space and stopped the car. Eventually after trying quite a few…
Had body trouble with your 2006 Ford Taurus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2006 Ford Taurus?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 50,000 and 75,100 miles, with the median around 62,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 75,100. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Ford/Taurus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.