Problems · NHTSA complaints
2006 Ford Fusion problems
Owners filed 730 complaints about the 2006 Ford Fusion with NHTSA between Jan 2006 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (319).
Complaints
730
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
38
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
33
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags319
- Power train150
- Structure74
- Electrical system71
- Engine47
- Latches/locks/linkages37
- Vehicle speed control28
- Service brakes27
- Exterior lighting21
- Fuel/propulsion system12
- Steering12
- Suspension11
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Engine and engine cooling11
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
12
10
10
21
63
62
43
45
44
29
40
163
121
23
19
14
5
4
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 21 |
| 2010 | 63 |
| 2011 | 62 |
| 2012 | 43 |
| 2013 | 45 |
| 2014 | 44 |
| 2015 | 29 |
| 2016 | 40 |
| 2017 | 163 |
| 2018 | 121 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 19 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
319 reports25 crashes3 related recalls
“The contact's wife owned a 2006 Ford Fusion. The owner received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V001000 (Air Bags) and 21V158000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The contact's wife no longer owned the vehicle. The manufacturer was unreachable.”
Power train
150 reports2 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED INTO FOURTH GEAR, OVERDRIVE, AND THEN DOWNSHIFTED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT MANAGED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,547.”
Structure
74 reports3 crashes
“I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED NHTSA, REFERENCE # 11119887, I EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME ON JANUARY 21, 2017 BY AL PIEMONTE FORD DEALERSHIP IN ILLINOIS. I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE THAT THE VEHICLE ALREADY HAD AN AIRBAG RECALL ON IT AND THEY SOLD IT TO ME WITHOUT DISCLOSING THIS INFORMATION. THEY LATER SENT ME MY FIRST RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL 16S26 / NHTSA RECALL 16V-384 WE WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHEN I WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHERE I WAS TOLD TO GO, THE FORD DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE NOT FOR THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. I SHOWED THEM PROOF OF OUR ACCIDENT INCLUDING PICTURES FROM THE INSURANCE SHOWING THE FORD DEALER THAT NEITHER OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE ACCIDENT. WE PROVIDED PROOF AND PAPERWORK TO THE FORD DEALER. THEY ONLY REPLACED ONE AIRBAG FOR FREE AND FORCED US TO PAY $536.41 OUT OF POCKET. THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE AND WE HAVE A SMALL CHILD. THEY TOLD US THE FACT THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CAR ACCIDENT IS NOT THERE PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO; SO WE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE, WE WE'RE FORCED TO HAVE BOTH AIRBAGS REPLACED. I…”
Electrical system
71 reports1 crash2 fires
“Faulty evap temperature sensor on my 06 Ford Fusion I purchased a couple of months ago. It is a huge safety issue, the vehicle thinks it’s running ICE COLD when it’s over 100 degrees outside. It emits hot or fluctuating air at random and it’s giving wrong readings which can cause the car to overheat or not sense when it is overheating. I do not know if the needle is correct and if it’s about to smoke or not.”
Engine
47 reports4 crashes1 fire
“The contact owns a 2006 Ford Fusion. The contact became aware of an oil leak on the ground underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that oil was leaking from the engine. The mechanic was unsure where the leak originated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.”
Latches/locks/linkages
37 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A LOCAL DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.