2006 Ford F-150 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (52) · Steering (38) · Engine And Engine Cooling (38)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford F-150 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
500 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2011-02-23 · campaign 11V107000 · 1,325,000 vehicles
Defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 F-150 PICK UP TRUCKS AS WELL AS CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 LINCOLN MARK LT VEHICLES. IF THE CLOCKSPRING JUMPER WIRE COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG LOWER HORN PLATE, THE WIRE INSULATION MAY BECOME CHAFED, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR A SHORT CIRCUIT. IF THIS OCCURS THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP MAY ILLUMINATE INDICATING THAT SERVICE IS REQUIRED.
Risk: THE DRIVER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG COULD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IF OCCURRING WHILE IN MOTION.
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND INSTRUCT THEM TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO A FORD OR LINCOLN/MERCURY DEALER TO HAVE A NEW CLOCKSPRING JUMPER WIRE INSTALLED THAT INCORPORATES A PROTECTIVE MESH COVER. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THIS SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SOME VEHICLES IN MARCH 2011. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ON THE EXPANDED POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MAY 9, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
Service bulletins (56)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Wheels 2024-07-24 · TSB 24-2188 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 22-2219 to update the parts list and service procedure to clarify applicable steps by vehicle application. some 2003-2020 expedition/navigator and 2006-2020 f-150 (non-raptor) vehicles equipped with 4wd may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel a
Structure 2023-04-04 · SSM 51536 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
for 2000-2024 ford and lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. it is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (vin) from a different vehicle. most modules on these affe
Power Train 2022-06-21 · TSB 22-2219 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2003-2020 expedition/navigator and 2006-2020 f-150 (non-raptor) vehicles equipped with 4wd may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. this may be due to partial engagement of the integrated wheel ends (iwe). to correct this condition, follow the service procedure
Wheels 2020-10-16 · TSB 20-2307 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2003-2020 expedition/navigator and 2006-2020 f-150 vehicles equipped with tod transfer cases may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. this may be due to partial engagement of the integrated wheel ends (iwe). to correct this condition, follow the service procedur
Structure 2020-07-13 · TSB 20-2233 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this 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 with or without accompanying white dust. panel replacement is
Engine And Engine Cooling 2020-02-07 · DOR-N3Z7B-03 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this sku is an oil dipstick. the customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the dipstick tube. the dipstick tube inner diameter may be small enough that it prevents installation of the oe dipstick.
Showing the 6 most recent of 56 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-03 · Structure:body“the dealership sold this vehicle to me with a rusted frame …”
2026-06-12 · Air Bags · 200,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owns a 2006 ford f-150. the contact stated that while the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. no warning lights were illuminated. the contact's son lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle crashed into a guardrail and landed on its side. the air bags did not deploy.…”
2026-04-08 · Unknown Or Other“the problem is that the paint in the cargo area is peeling or fading, and i think that problem is a factory defect. that part of the cargo area is galvanized, i need to know if that is in a recall, thank you.…”
2026-03-30 · Visibility/Wiper“around the 1st of february 2026 the weather had turned cold around 6 degrees fahrenheit and i had just had my vehicle inspected in january so i know everything was fine then. my wife and i had driven to her office about 2 miles from our home and i of course had the heat on and defrost on. we went into the office to clean because that a weekly job f…”
2026-02-23 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“i was recently involved in an accident in my vehicle. it was a head on collision and my airbag did not fully deploy. though i was travelling the speed limit, had i been on a freeway and going the legal speed limit i think i might have been seriously injured. the libable insurance company encouraged me to contact ford to see it this has been an issu…”
2025-10-09 · Engine“received notification by mail from your department about a recall on my trucks spark plugs breaking in the head .took vehicle to local ford dealer and was told the vehicle was required to have over 100 thousand miles before the plugs would be replaced under recall . now my vehicle has over 150 thousand miles and when i went to the same dealer i was…”
2025-04-24 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 212,000 mi“odometer fraud. the contact sold a 2006 ford f-150. the contact stated that the vehicle was sold with approximately 212,000 miles but later discovered that the buyer had relisted the vehicle for sale with an advertised mileage of 135,713. the vehicle was a private sale. local authorities had been notified.…”
2025-03-28 · Power Train“while in drive, accelerating to highway speeds or cruising around 30 mph it will downshift and jump to about 4000 pms's and not shift up into 3rd gear. it blown 1 engine and i have replaced the transmissions, taken it to a ford dealership and they weren't able to help me. i've replaced the ecm and anti-theft modal also and the symptoms still persi…”
2025-03-28 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 145,000 mi“the contact owns a 2006 ford f-150. the contact stated that while coming to a stop, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to function as intended. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to stop and continued rolling forward. the contact stated that the vehicle came to a stop once the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. no warning li…”
2024-12-04 · Structure:frame And Members“see attached document for complaint. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.