2006 Ford MUSTANG problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
423 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 191 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 226 of 423 complaints (53.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 42 | 9.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 5.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 21 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 4.5% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 226 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 |
| Electrical System | 26 |
| Power Train | 19 |
| Structure:Body | 19 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 13 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 |
| Engine | 11 |
Air Bags: 226; Vehicle Speed Control: 33; Electrical System: 26; Power Train: 19; Structure:Body: 19; Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Fuel System, Gasoline: 12; Engine: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 57 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 30 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 51 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 57; 25,000 to 49,999: 30; 50,000 to 74,999: 51; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 12
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (57). 232 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 30 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 36 |
| 2015 | 30 |
| 2016 | 39 |
| 2017 | 109 |
| 2018 | 57 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2006: 30; 2007: 9; 2008: 8; 2009: 13; 2010: 21; 2011: 18; 2012: 12; 2013: 7; 2014: 36; 2015: 30; 2016: 39; 2017: 109; 2018: 57; 2019: 6; 2020: 7; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 4; 2024: 7; 2025: 4; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 42 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 21 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 21 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10155364 · 2006-04-14 (April 14, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES HAVE NOT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THIS OCCURRED AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 565 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166998 · 2006-08-29 (August 29, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM AN STOPPED POSITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM 50-90 MPH ON ITS OWN. BOTH FEET WERE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATION STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS STILL UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152927 · 2006-03-17 (March 17, 2006)
WHILE DRIVING AT 20-25 MPH GOING INTO A RIGHT HAND TURN THE CAR MADE A LOUD POP. THE LEFT REAR TIRE LOST CONTROL. THE REAR END WITH POWER ONLY ON THE GOOD WHEEL WAS LOSING CONTROL AND WITHIN A SECOND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS OFF THE WHEEL. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN 1 CITY BLOCK TO THE CLOSEST PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. BOTH LEFT FRONT AND REAR WHEELS ARE DESTROYED FROM CRUNCHING ON THE CONCRETE THE ONE BLOCK OF DRIVING TO GET SAFELY OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. ONCE STOPPED THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. HAD TO CALL 24 HR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO TOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,941 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158284 · 2006-05-25 (May 25, 2006)
ON 5/18/06 I DROVE FROM BRANSON, MO TO KANSAS CITY, MO. I STAYED IN KANSAS CITY TILL SUNDAY ONLY DOING IN TOWN DRIVING THE FOUR DAYS THREE NIGHTS I WAS THERE. DURING THE TRIP HOME SUNDAY MID-DAY I WAS AVERAGING BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER ABOUT 45 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE HOME I APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT. AFTER ABOUT A 45 SECOND STOP AT THE LIGHT I WENT TO ACCELERATE. AS I SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR THE CAR DROVE NORMAL FOR ABOUT 35-40 SECONDS, SUDDENLY LOST POWER THEN JOLTED FORWARD. I ENCOUNTERED THIS SPORADIC JOLTING FOUR TIME…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147344 · 2006-01-10 (January 10, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE GAS TANK WITH GASOLINE, AND ONCE THE TANK IS HALF FULL, THE GAS WILL BACK UP THROUGH THE FILLER NECK AND SPILL OUT OF THE SPOUT ONTO THE VEHICLE. THIS IS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE FILLER NECK WAS FUNCTIONING NORMAL. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO USE A DIFFERENT GAS STATION THAT OFFERED A DIFFERENT TYPE OF GAS PUMP NOZZLE. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUSPECTED THE GAS PUMP WAS FORCING THE GASOL…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155537 · 2006-04-17 (April 17, 2006)
WHEN FILING GAS TANK WITH THE FUEL NOZZLE SET FOR FAST DELIVERY, THE GAS OVERFLOWS ONTO THE CAR. IT DOES NOT TRIGGER THE AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF ON THE FUEL NOZZLE. DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS IS THE "NEW" TANK DESIGN WHICH CONSISTS OF TWO CHAMBERS. THE RIGHTMOST CHAMBER FILLS FIRST AND THEN OVERFLOWS INTO THE SECOND CHAMBER. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT GAS SUPPLIERS, DIFFERENT BRANDS, AND EVEN DIFFERENT STATES. THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE THAT THERE WILL NOT BE OVERFLOW ONTO THE CAR IS TO CHECK THE GALLONS USED AND SLOW DOWN THE FLOW SO…
Owner-reported narrative. 210 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155537 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274373 · 2009-06-19 (June 19, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND THEN PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE. SUDDENLY, THE CONTACT HEARD WATER COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE DRIVER OBSERVED THAT THE PASSENGER FLOOR PANEL AREA AND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT EXHIBITED WATER LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE A…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10278448 · 2009-07-27 (July 27, 2009)
2006 FORD MUSTANG IS LEAKING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF WATER ONTO FRONT FLOOR BOARD AREA, BENEATH DASH. WATER IS SATURATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING FUSE BOXES AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, CAUSING WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A SERIOUS HAZARD. AN INTERNET SEARCH OF "MUSTANG LEAK" WILL PRODUCE MULTIPLE HITS OF MANY OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. FORD HAS RELEASED TSB 08-26-7 DETAILING THE PROBLEM FOR MODEL YEARS 2005 - 2009. CONSIDERING SO MANY YEAR MODELS INVOLVED, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150456 · 2006-02-16 (February 16, 2006)
2006 FORD MUSTANG EXHIBITING HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. FEELS AS IF CAR HAS STALLED THEN SLING SHOTS CAR INTO TRAFFIC. EACH INCIDENT NEARLY RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. DEALERSHIP CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE CAN'T MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO CAR. NO SENSOR ERRORS OR MESSAGES WHEN CHECKED, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH ELECTRONIC &/OR SENSORS FROM GAS PEDAL TO ENGINE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150456 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155529 · 2006-04-17 (April 17, 2006)
TOOK DELIVERY OF MUSTANG PREMIUM CONVERTIBLE (V6) ON 1/6/2006. DROVE HOME 17 MILES. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP AND TURNING ONTO SIDE STREET, THE ENGINE APPEARED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. DURING SUBSEQUENT DRIVES, ENGINE APPEARS TO ACCELERATE FROM A FULL STOP BUT THEN STALLS. IF ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED QUICKLY ENOUGH, THE ENGINE DOES NOT STOP; HOWEVER, IT MAY EXHIBIT THE STALL A SECOND TIME. DEALER INDICATES THAT NO INFORMATION IS RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 37 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161140 · 2006-06-30 (June 30, 2006)
A 2006 FORD MUSTANG, WITH 5400 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, WAS INVOLVED IN A TWO VEHICLE TRAFFIC COLLISION. THE DRIVER OF THE MUSTANG REAR ENDED A FORD RANGER PICKUP TRUCK AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAG OF THE MUSTANG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK AND RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. SINCE BOTH RESTRAINT SYSTEMS FAILED, THE DRIVER OF THE MUSTANG STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER CHEST. EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED BY THE MUSTANG. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200263 · 2007-08-21 (August 21, 2007)
STARTING AT APPROX. 50MPH I EXPERIENCE A SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, MOST OF THE TIME. FROM TIME TO TIME IT WILL NOT SHIMMY WHEN I REACH THE 50MPH BUT AS SOON AS I STOP AND START AGAIN THE SHIMMY RETURNS. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND ALL THEY DID WAS BALANCE THE TIRES AND DID NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO I HAVE HAD THE CAR ALIGNED, TIRES/RIMS FORCE ROAD BALANCED, NEW ROTORS, BRAKE PADS,BEARINGS CHECKED AND STILL HAVE THE SAME SHIMMY. DEALER WILL NOT HELP AND I NOR ANYONE ELSE KNOWS WHAT TO TRY NEXT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10200263 at NHTSA ↗