Problems · by component
2006 Ford F-150 engine and engine cooling problems
79 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Ford F-150 cite engine and engine cooling, 13% of all 589 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
79
13% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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 The contact was informed by the dealer that a newer version of the cam phaser needed to be purchased and was not covered under warranty.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.”
“I TRIED TO START MY TRUCK, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. IT TURNED OVER PERFECTLY BUT WOULD NOT START. IT HAD STARTED TWICE EARLIER IN THE DAY. THE FUEL PUMP DRIVER MODULE, LOCATED ABOVE THE SPARE TIRE ON THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK, HAD CORRODED AND FAILED.”
“THE RIGHT EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS HAD BROKEN APPROXIMATELY 5/5/2012, IN WHICH THEY DID NOT TELL ME THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DAMAGES. THEY JUST TOLD ME THE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND THE COST TO REPAIR IT. THIS CAUSED THE MANIFOLD TO WARP AND LEAK. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR IT UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER I CALLED THE WARRANTY COMPANY AND FOUND OUT IT WAS ACTUALLY COVERED. WHEN I HAD TAKEN IT IN, IN MAY 2012 THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE 1500.00 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE REPAIRS WERE FINALLY MADE IN MAY OF 2013 TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, BUT NOT TO THE CATALYTIC.CONVERTER WHICH STARTED CAUSING PROBLEMS IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. THIS LEAK MAY HAVE CAUSED THE RIGHT CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO FAIL ALSO, BUT HAVE FOUND MANY FORUMS STATING THAT FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ARE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE PICK UPS. AT THIS TIME I AM DRIVING THE PICK UP AND IT THROWS THE CODE P0420, FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER BELOW EFFICIENCY THRESHOLD. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD ALSO BE FORWARDED TO THE E.P.A. BECAUSE PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THEIR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AT THE PRICE OF 1200.00 PER SIDE. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD F-150'S THIS NEEDS ADDRESSED.…”
“VEHICLES MISFIRING AND STUMBLING DURING MODERATE ACCELERATIONS AND CRUISING WHEN A LOAD IS PUT ON MOTOR. ( GOING UP A HILL, SLIGHT INCLINE AND PASSING). SPARK PLUGS WERE UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FOR REPLACEMENT. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE NOT OF GOOD QUALITY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED MORE OFTEN THAN USUAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE, HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. $1249.00 TO CHANGE ONE SPARK PLUG. *TR”
“I WAS DRIVING HOME AND SLOWED DOWN TO 15 MILES PER HR TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND HEARD A BIG BANG I DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MOMENT I CONTINUED TO PROCEED ON AND THE NOISE WAS LOUD LIKE AN EXHAUST LEAK BUT TO COME FIND OUT THE NEXT TWO DAYS ON THINKING WHAT TO DO I PULLED OFF THE #4 PLUG IT WAS OUT OF THE MOTOR ALREADY IT ACTUALLY BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS IF ANY? *TR”
“ON JULY 1, 2012, MY 2006 FORD F-150 SUPER CREW TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN SITTING UNTOUCHED FOR A WEEK WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION. FIRE INVESTIGATORS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE BECAUSE THE TRUCK WAS APPROXIMATELY 90% BURNED. *TR”
Showing 6 of 79 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.