Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD

2006 Ford F-150Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls and 589 owner complaints for the 2006 Ford F-150. Most complaints involve engine and engine cooling (79) and engine (74). The EPA rates it 14–16 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
14–16mpg
EPA · 8 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
14campaigns
Latest Feb 2011
Owner complaints
589
Top: engine and engine cooling
Fuel cost / yr
$3,900est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

14 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 F-150 PICK UP TRUCKS AS WELL AS CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 LINCOLN MARK LT VEHICLES. IF THE CLOCKSPRING JUMPER WIRE COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG LOWER HORN PLATE, THE WIRE INSULATION MAY BECOME CHAFED, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR A SHORT CIRCUIT. IF THIS OCCURS THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP MAY ILLUMINATE INDICATING THAT SERVICE IS REQUIRED.

Air bagsReported Feb 23, 2011NHTSA 11V107000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported May 11, 2009NHTSA 09E025000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 7, 2009NHTSA 09E012000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

589 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 2005 – Aug 2026
  1. Engine and engine cooling79
  2. Engine74
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic69
  4. Electrical system61
  5. Steering55
  6. Air bags48
  7. Power train47
  8. Structure44
  9. Fuel system, gasoline35

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each F-150 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996360
19972,855
19981,418
19991,121
20001,206
20011,340
2002955
2003464
20042,036
20051,121
2006589
2007492
2008369
2009324
2010851
20112,137
20121,717
20132,796
20141,362
20151,425
20161,798
20171,148
20181,929
20191,021
2020562
20211,042
2022605
2023419
2024195
2025119
20260
Crashes reported
58
Fires reported
18
Injuries reported
42
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine and engine cooling

79 reports3 fires
“The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power with an abnormal popping sound coming from the engine compartment. The failure occurred more often while attempting to accelerate or driving uphill. The vehicle occasionally stalled during the failure. The contact released the accelerator pedal slowly and the vehicle then started driving normally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the cam phaser had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cam phaser part no longer being manufactured. The contact stated that the part was no longer in production because the replacement part was defective and failed to fix the vehicle. The contact was informed by the dealer that a newer version of the cam phaser needed to be purchased and was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the repair was not covered under the Warranty. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 230,774.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 17, 2024Engine and engine coolingODI 11589276

Engine

74 reports5 fires
“Received notification by mail from your department about a recall on my trucks spark plugs breaking in the head .Took vehicle to local ford dealer and was told the vehicle was required to have over 100 thousand miles before the plugs would be replaced under recall . Now my vehicle has over 150 thousand miles and when I went to the same dealer I was told there wasn’t a recall on this truck . My documents I received from your department was lost during hurricane Sally. This is a well known recall every local mechanic knows about .”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2025EngineODI 11692320

Service brakes, hydraulic

69 reports14 crashes1 fire
“The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to stop and continued rolling forward. The contact stated that the vehicle came to a stop once the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle returned to normal function afterwards. The local dealer was contacted; however, the dealer refused to diagnose the vehicle because of its age of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while the contact's husband was driving at a slow speed, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to stop and continued rolling forward. The contact's husband stated that the vehicle came to a stop once the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2025Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11651318
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

8 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines
4.2L 6-cyl · 4.6L 8-cyl · 5.4L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
F150 Pickup 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
141916$3,900555
F150 Pickup 2WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
141916$3,900555
F150 Pickup 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
131715$4,150592
F150 Pickup 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
131815$4,150592
F150 Pickup 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
131715$4,150592
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
121714$4,450635
F150 Pickup 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
121614$4,450635
F150 Pickup 4WD FFV
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
121614$4,450635
  • F150 Pickup 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.2 L
    14 city · 19 hwy · $3,900/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • F150 Pickup 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.2 L
    14 city · 19 hwy · $3,900/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • F150 Pickup 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    13 city · 17 hwy · $4,150/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
  • F150 Pickup 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    13 city · 18 hwy · $4,150/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
  • F150 Pickup 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    13 city · 17 hwy · $4,150/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
  • F150 Pickup 2WD FFV
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    12 city · 17 hwy · $4,450/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • F150 Pickup 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    12 city · 16 hwy · $4,450/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • F150 Pickup 4WD FFV
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    12 city · 16 hwy · $4,450/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

3 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Ford F-150 as of Nov 9, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 9, 2026Vehicle 2356Vehicle 1813Vehicle 1812
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2006 F-150 questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Ford F-150 have?

14 safety recalls as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2006 Ford F-150 problems?

Owners filed 589 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine and engine cooling (79), engine (74), service brakes, hydraulic (69). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2006 Ford F-150 get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Ford F-150 at 14–16 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 9, 2026