repaired · 2023 Q1
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2006 Ford FusionProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 730 owner complaints about the 2006 Ford Fusion, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-024 the manufacturer reports only 22% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 21, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2006 Ford Fusion has problems
730 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
319Air bags26 crash/fire/injury
150Power train3 crash/fire/injury
74Structure3 crash/fire/injury
71Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
47Engine
37Latches/locks/linkages
28Vehicle speed control
27Service brakes
21Exterior lighting
11518 other systems8 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 319 | 26 |
| Power train | 150 | 3 |
| Structure | 74 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 71 | 3 |
| Engine | 47 | 5 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 37 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 28 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 27 | 7 |
| Exterior lighting | 21 | 0 |
| 18 other systems | 115 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2006 Ford Fusion recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Risk. If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Do not driveRisk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Do not driveRisk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
100kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 72 air bags complaints. 49% were reported before 100,000 miles.
9under 30k miles35under 100k miles37100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
22 owners mentioned a cost$2,100median
Middle half: $625 – $2,950
Electrical system
9 owners mentioned a cost$600median
Middle half: $500 – $850
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2006 vs. every other Fusion year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Fusion median. How we score
'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2006 Ford Fusion safety ratings
2006 Ford Fusion 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.2% risk)
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2006 Ford Fusion, and the recalls they led to.
- Floor mat interference with acceleratorLed to recall 14E-028
In owners' words
What Fusion owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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.
The contact's daughter owned a 2006 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she noticed that the steering wheel was locked, making it difficult to control the vehicle. As a result of losing control of the vehicle, the contact's daughter was…
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the recall repair might be completed in…
Own a 2006 Fusion?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.