2006 Ford Mustang Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Ford Mustang.

20052007
Complaints
506
per 10K Sold
30.4
US Sales
166,530
Crashes
32
Fires
3
Injuries
21
Fatalities
4
Recalls
4

Worst 2006 Ford Mustang Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1226 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:73,256 mi
Crash-related:6
Fires:1
#233 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:53,456 mi
Crash-related:7
Fires:1
#326 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:106,365 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2006 Ford Mustang.

Airbags
226
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Avg Miles
73,256
Unintended Acceleration
33
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
1
Avg Miles
53,456
Electrical Faults
26
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
106,365
Transmission / Drivetrain
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,970
Body Structure
19
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
58,083
Fuel System
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
95,507
Gasoline Fuel System
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
39,201
Engine Problems
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
137,359
Structural Problems
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
34,522
Brakes
10
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
104,574
Engine & Cooling
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
48,185
Suspension Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,115
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
627
Headlight/Taillight Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
94,615
Parking-Brake Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
24,900
Automatic Transmission
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
18,273
Hydraulic Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
26,664
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Manual Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2006 Ford Mustang. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2006 Ford Mustang

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,566,727 vehicles.

21V081000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module · Air Bags:frontal
~1,067 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

17V024000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~654,695 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

16V384000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~1,892,343 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

15V319000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~1,018,622 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Other Ford Mustang Years

2006 Ford Mustang — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2006 Ford Mustang reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2006 Ford Mustang has 506 NHTSA complaints, 32 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 226 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2006 Ford Mustang?
Top reported problems: Airbags (226 complaints, avg 73,256 mi); Unintended Acceleration (33 complaints, avg 53,456 mi); Electrical Faults (26 complaints, avg 106,365 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2006 Ford Mustang?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 69,960 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2006 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA complaints for the 2006 Ford Mustang include 32 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 21 injuries, and 4 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2006 Ford Mustang have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,566,727 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2006 Ford Mustang?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford Mustang reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2006 Ford Mustang

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