YearToAvoid

2006 Ford Taurus Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

64/100

#6 most-complained of 15 Taurus years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Ford Taurus has 318 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 64 out of 100 — #6 highest of 15 Taurus model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (198 complaints, 62% of the total). Complaints report 19 crashes, 4 fires, 12 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
318
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
19 / 4
Injuries / deaths
12 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17.5 city / 25 hwy

Top 2006 Ford Taurus problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine198 (62%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain32 (10%)
  3. Brakes30 (9%)
  4. Electrical System30 (9%)
  5. Airbags21 (7%)
  6. Fuel System18 (6%)
  7. Structure & Body17 (5%)
  8. Other12 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers9 (3%)
2006 Ford Taurus complaints: complaints filed per quarter422005 Q32007 Q42009 Q42011 Q42013 Q42015 Q42017 Q42021 Q1
385 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q3 to 2024 Q3; peak 2012 Q1 (42).

2006 Ford Taurus recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 06V119000Apr 10, 2006Electrical System19 vehicles

    Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

    Certain passenger vehicles built for one specific fleet customer were modified for optional hands-free cellular phone operating capability. To provide this functionality, a special overlay wire harness was installed that inadvertently did not include the circuits for passenger air bag deactivation indicator (padi) lamp function. As a result, these vehicles do not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.'

    Risk: The padi lamp will fail to illuminate and the air bag warning lamp in the cluster will stay illuminated.

    Remedy: The fleet customer was notified and all vehicles have been repaired. The recall began on april 28, 2006.

  2. NHTSA 05V520000Nov 9, 2005Visibility & Wipers199,942 vehicles

    Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor

    On certain trucks, passenger cars and sport utility vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may have been produced without grease being applied to the output shaft gear.

    Risk: After a period of continuous use on the high speed setting, lack of grease on the output shaft gear may cause the gear to distort or fracture during operation resulting in a loss of wiper function. Inoperative wipers under inclement weather conditions could cause a crash due to impaired visibility.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiper motor for the presence of grease and grease the wiper motor gears if necessary. The recall began on november 22, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673 or lincoln/mercury at 1-800-521-4140.

2006 Ford Taurus fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other Taurus years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid93774019.5
2006Caution64318220
2007Good36149020
2008Caution50175120.5

All Ford Taurus years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Ford Taurus a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Ford Taurus ranks #6 of 15 among Taurus model years (Complaint Index 64/100, verdict: Caution). It has 318 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Ford Taurus?
The most reported problem areas are engine (198 complaints), transmission & powertrain (32 complaints), and brakes (30 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 86,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2006 Ford Taurus, most recently reported 2006, covering electrical system and visibility & wipers.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Ford Taurus?
EPA rates the 2006 Ford Taurus at 20 MPG combined (17.5 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.