Ford motor company sold my vehicle with a life-threatening design defect in the braking system. This design defect comprises a plastic cover over the stainless steel hydraulic brake lines where those lines pass from the front of the car to its rear beneath the driver side door. The ostensible purpose of the plastic cover is unknown to me, but its actual function is twofold. First, it traps…
2006 Ford Taurus brakes problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
4crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 17 brakes complaints filed for the 2006 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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 10 model years of Ford Taurus in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2006 Ford Taurus has a pattern of serious brake failures including corrosion-prone brake lines that can rupture without warning, failed master cylinders and boosters, ABS lockup on wet roads, and mysterious complete electrical shutdowns. Multiple owners have been in collisions due to brake failure—this is not a car to risk on the road.
The 17 complaints paint a grim picture of brake system reliability on the 2006 Taurus. The most alarming pattern: plastic covers over the hydraulic brake lines on the driver side trap moisture and road salt, leading to severe corrosion and eventual rupture of the lines themselves. One mechanic with 50+ years of experience called it the worst brake line damage he'd ever seen. When the lines burst, all brake fluid leaks out and brakes fail completely—no warning light, just total loss of stopping ability at highway speeds. Multiple owners hit other vehicles or nearly hit pedestrians because the brakes simply didn't work.
Beyond the brake lines, owners report complete brake failure with loss of pressure, brake master cylinders and boosters failing, ABS systems locking up the rear wheels on wet roads (causing uncontrolled sliding), broken brake housing castings, and in one case total electrical shutdown including engine kill-off while driving at freeway speed. A faulty cruise control cable also caused unintended acceleration by catching the throttle.
One owner replaced the entire brake system, paid for repairs, and the failure happened again. Another took a $3,000 loss refusing to drive the car after two near-miss incidents where the brakes wouldn't stop from 40 and 80 mph. A third experienced a collision with injuries when brake pressure vanished on wet roads. Dealers have been unable or unwilling to diagnose or fix several of these problems.
Same Ford Taurus brakes reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Brake line corrosion and rupture
Plastic covers over hydraulic brake lines trap moisture and road salt, causing rapid corrosion of stainless steel brake lines. Lines rust completely through and burst under braking pressure, causing sudden and complete brake failure.
When: At various mileages; one complaint at 103,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden and complete brake failure; Brake lines burst or rupture under braking; Brake fluid leak (large oil spot on driveway); Loss of brake pressure
Repairs/costs cited: Brake line replacement required; one mechanic report indicates extensive corrosion never before seen in 50+ years of automotive work
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mechanic reports urging Ford for recall were refused; no recall issued
Complete brake failure / loss of brake pressure
Vehicle fails to respond to brake pedal application, leaving driver unable to stop. Occurs at highway and city speeds with potentially catastrophic consequences.
When: At 178,000 miles; also reported to recur after dealer repair attempt
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes do not respond when applied; No brake pressure; Repeated brake pressure needed to eventually stop; Brake pedal goes to floor with little braking effect; Vehicle accelerates instead of stopping
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer was unable to repair in at least one case; failure repeated after initial repair attempt
Brake master cylinder and booster failure
Brake master cylinder and brake booster malfunction or failure. Owner reports mechanic indicated this is a recurring issue with Ford vehicles.
When: Failure noted at approximately 50 MPH during routine driving
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes not working properly; Difficult stopping
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of brake master cylinder and brake booster required
ABS system malfunction and lockup
ABS control module failure or ABS system locking rear brakes inappropriately, especially on wet roads, causing vehicle to slide uncontrollably.
When: At 26,000 miles; at 33,785 miles (ABS module failure); at 45 MPH on wet roads
Symptoms owners cite: ABS and 'Check Brake System' lights come on; Rear brakes lock up on wet roads; Brakes remain locked even after releasing and re-applying pedal; Vehicle slides uncontrollably; Tires burning rubber
Repairs/costs cited: ABS control module replacement cost $1,284 at 33,785 miles; dealer cleaned and adjusted rear brakes at 26,000 miles but problem persisted
Engine surge / unintended acceleration via cruise control cable defect
Faulty cruise control cable does not fit properly and catches on the throttle lever, causing engine to surge and unintended acceleration at stops. Cruise control malfunctions (car decelerates rather than holds speed).
When: During summer months; problem intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Engine surges at stop signs and lights; Unintended acceleration while braking; Speed increases without pressing gas pedal; Cruise control light comes on but car will not hold selected speed; Car decelerates in cruise control mode
Repairs/costs cited: Faulty cruise control cable replacement; owner paid $293.92
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or warranty coverage mentioned; owner notes similar issues reported affecting 19 million Ford vehicles
Brake housing defect / broken caliper casting
Brake housing casting breaks, with sections missing. Lower pin that allows brake pads to slide becomes stuck. Housing bent, preventing pin from sliding freely. Manifests as scraping brake sounds.
When: Unknown mileage; early discovery during brake pad inspection
Symptoms owners cite: Brake scraping sounds; Broken brake housing; Missing section of brake housing casting; Stuck brake pad sliding pin; Bent brake housing
Repairs/costs cited: Brake housing repair or replacement needed
Total electrical shutdown while driving
Vehicle shuts off completely while driving at freeway speeds. ABS and 'Check Brake System' lights come on prior to shutdown. Headlights also turn off, making vehicle extremely difficult to pull over and creating severe safety hazard.
When: Multiple incidents during same drive; problem recurred three times en route to dealer and after leaving dealer
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light and 'Check Brake System' light come on; Engine shuts off completely while driving; Headlights turn off; No brake function during shutdown; Unable to safely pull over
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose or replicate problem during service visit
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes 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 brakes problem on the 2006 Ford Taurus?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 54,021 and 86,000 miles, with the median around 68,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 54,021; a quarter make it past 86,000. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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.