Motor Almanac

Ford / Taurus / 2006

2006 Ford Taurus

Family: Taurus · filed with NHTSA as TAURUS

Summary

  • Of the 309 complaints that name a component, 57% concern Accelerator & Cruise Control (176).
  • These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
  • Not enough history to compare this year with the rest of its generation.
  • 3 recalls filed for this model year.
  • 1 federal defect investigation covers this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints
318
Recalls
3
Investigations
1
NCAP overall
Not rated
Combined MPG
20
Annual fuel cost
$3,100
Median mileage at complaint
86,000 mi (n = 272)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths
19 / 4 / 12 / 1

What owners report

Accelerator & Cruise Control

176 complaints · 57% of complaints that name a component · median 91,000 mi (n = 155)

Owner report Throttle stuck and vehicle accelerated out of control. Had to brake hard and turn off engine to prevent crash. Speed Control Cable disconnected from cruise control. It has been repaired since the incident. Yes, was reproduced by the tow truck driver as well as at a service center. No warnings, only high engine revving …
Owner report The contact owns a 2006 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to slow down as needed while depressing the brake to make a left turn. The contact stopped the vehicle and shifted the gear shifter to park; however, while parked the RPM rose to 5,000 RPM. The vehicle was not…

Engine

43 complaints · 14% of complaints that name a component · median 95,000 mi (n = 38)

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPRO…
Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK OF TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF THE FLUID LEAKED INTO THE MOTOR. THE ME…

Powertrain

32 complaints · 10% of complaints that name a component · median 88,000 mi (n = 28)

Owner report Splines on Torque converter stripped out causing vehicle to just rev up and slow down to a stop. Car never moved again, had I been going up a large hill or something this could have been VERY VERY bad, because it wasn't until I was stopped that I realized it was the transmission having problems. After a bit of resear…
Owner report VEHICLE WAS DRIVING NORMALLY WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF AN ISSUE PRIOR. AFTER A STOP AT A LIGHT, CAR PROCEEDED TO DISENGAGE TRANSMISSION AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. ENGINE REVS BUT ZERO MOVEMENT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER.

3% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (2000–2007)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 178.

Model yearAll complaintsFirst three yearsNote
20001,195340most complaints
20011,037214
20021,426143
20031,223130
200437548not compared
200577447not compared
200631833not compared
200714925not compared

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

16E026000 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

Filed 2016-04-01 · 49,635 vehicles

Defect: Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.

Risk: A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.

06V119000 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Filed 2006-04-10 · 19 vehicles

Defect: 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.

05V520000 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

Filed 2005-11-09 · 199,942 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Federal investigations

ActionComponentOpenedClosedRecall
PE12005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES2012-03-072012-10-22

PE12005: Stuck throttle

Engines and fuel economy

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyCombinedFuel cost / yr
Taurus3.0L 6cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive182520$3100
Taurus3.0L 6cyl FFVAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive172520$3100

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

VariantOverallFrontalSideRollover
2006 Ford Taurus 4-DR. w/SABNot RatedNot RatedNot RatedNot Rated
2006 Ford Taurus 4-DR.Not RatedNot RatedNot RatedNot Rated

Service bulletins

Ford issued 13 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about engine and engine cooling.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

DateComponentSummary
2020-07-13STRUCTUREThis article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint wi…
2019-02-07STRUCTURESome 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Fo…
2019-02-07EQUIPMENTSome 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Fo…
2016-09-21ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYSThe Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate …
2006-12-06POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES WITH HARD START WHEN OPERATING ON E85 FUEL, POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CALIBRATION. WARRANTY EXTENDED FOR 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. SAMPLE CONSUMER LETTER ATTACHED. *KB
2006-01-01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLYFLEX FUEL - LONG CRANK/HARD START. *TT
2005-11-14LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHPOWER LOCK CONCERNS - SERVICE TIP. *TT
2005-11-14VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLSPOWER WINDOW CONCERNS - SERVICE TIP. *TT
2005-11-14ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGWDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT
2005-11-14ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGSPARK KNOCK, HESITATION ABOVE 3000 RPM, LOSS OF POWER, MISFIRE, AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO DETONATION AND PRE-IGNITION - 3.0L-2V VULCAN GAS/FFV. *TT

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this Taurus, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Ford Taurus model page.

Sources

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.