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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags319
  2. Power train150
  3. Structure74
  4. Electrical system71
  5. Engine47
  6. Latches/locks/linkages37
  7. Vehicle speed control28
  8. Service brakes27
  9. Exterior lighting21
  10. Fuel/propulsion system12
  11. Steering12
  12. Suspension11
  13. Service brakes, hydraulic11
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200612
200710
200810
200921
201063
201162
201243
201345
201444
201529
201640
2017163
2018121
201923
202019
202114
20225
20234
20240
20251
20261

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.

03 —Owner reports

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2026Air bagsODI 11751757

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2019Power trainODI 11240447

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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2019Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 11209510

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 13, 2021Electrical systemODI 11432703

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2023EngineODI 11526878

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2018Latches/locks/linkagesODI 11091709
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.