2006 Ford Mustang Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write in about the Takata airbag inflator recalls, usually to say the replacement part was not available for months or years. Beyond that, complaints cluster around slow or spitting fuel fills, a throttle that sticks or surges, and water getting into the passenger-side floor area and disrupting the gauges and lights.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recall parts not available

   Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe receiving Takata driver or passenger airbag inflator recall notices and then waiting long periods for a replacement part. Several say the dealer had no part and no timeline, and some describe being told to avoid carrying a front passenger. A few report the airbag warning lamp coming on or the light indicating the passenger airbag is off, and one describes stripped mounting threads found when the recall work was attempted. Reported across a wide mileage range, often years after the recall letters were sent.

   Recall 15V319000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V384000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 21V0810004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the VIN against open recalls and ask for written confirmation that the driver and passenger inflator replacements were completed. Confirm the airbag warning light behaves normally on a cold start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall - we received a letter for this recall in july 2016. We immediately call our local lexington south carolina Ford dealership. The dealership took our information and told us they would call us when the part came in. We have not been called and it is january. We did call back in october too follow up and they had no information except to wait. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10943992, filed 2017-01, 190,000 miles

   “This takata airbag recall has been in effect for several years now and my local Ford dealer confirrmed to me today that the parts are still not available to correct this very serious safety hazard. How much longer are we supposed to avoid putting passengers in our cars that are under the takata airbag recall?”

   NHTSA complaint #11015171, filed 2017-08, 30,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Throttle sticks or engine surges

   • 44 complaints (10%)
   • median 31,450 mi at 6.5 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2023

   Complaints describe sudden unintended acceleration or a throttle that stays open, sometimes after a normal part-throttle press, with braking not slowing the car until the condition clears. Others describe the electronic throttle warning lamp coming on with the engine stalling or revving on its own, and some say the dealer could not reproduce or diagnose it. A separate group reports cruise control holding speed or pulling after it was switched off. Reported from under 20,000 miles to past 100,000, often at highway or passing speeds.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body has been cleaned or replaced and whether any software updates were applied. Note any throttle or wrench warning lamps during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On monday february 24 2014 at around 12:45pm, I was on my way home from work. I was sitting in my 2006 Ford Mustang gt in bumper to bumper traffic due to construction on the grand central parkway(queens ny) heading towards the van wyck expressway(east to brooklyn ny). As traffic started to move up slowly, I had pressed on the gas pedal to move forward and without hesitation the car jumps from 7 MPH to full throttle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10583647, filed 2014-04, 74,000 miles

   “Driving my 2006 automatic transmission Mustang scs on the freeway and accelerated to pass a car when the throttle went to the floor and became stuck. I had intended to accelerate from about 65 to 70. I tried to brake and this prevented me from speeding up past 85 but did not stop the car or even slow it down. The throttle was completely stuck. This lasted for about 12 - 15 seconds and then released on its own. Floor mats were not in the way at all; the first thing I checked. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10440604, filed 2011-12, 60,250 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel nozzle shuts off early or fuel spills out

   • 36 complaints (8%)
   • median 19,500 mi at 4.3 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2025

   Owners report that filling the tank is difficult: the pump clicks off well before full, or fuel sprays back out of the filler and runs down the car. Some say it began after many years of normal fill-ups, others at very low mileage, and several were told the tank design was the reason with no repair offered. A related complaint is an erratic fuel gauge that reads empty early or moves around after fueling. Reported from near-new mileage up past 100,000 miles, in ordinary fueling conditions.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Fill the tank during a test drive and watch whether the nozzle clicks off early or fuel spits back. Compare the gauge reading against a known amount added.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Cannot easily put gas in tank. This just started occurring after having 80,000 +/- miles on vehicle. The dealer stated that this car had updated (remedy) tank installed during production, because Ford knew of problem on 2005s. Newer tank worked successfully for many miles. Gassing up is now too frustrating to deal with. I've been a Ford fan for my entire life, but this might change my mind.”

   NHTSA complaint #10376598, filed 2011-01, 90,000 miles

   “Lately when I try to fill up my 2006 Mustang the gas pump either automatically stops around 1/2 tank or gas gushes down the side of my car and on the ground when trying to fill it full. Definite fire hazard along with other safety issues. Looked up online and this seems to be a issue with thousands of mustangs with the s197 gas tanks. Lets don't let a fire at a gas pump cost someone's life before we make Ford fix this issue. Car is out of warranty so Ford will not fix.”

   NHTSA complaint #10479398, filed 2012-10, 107,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Water leak into passenger floor area

   • 26 complaints (6%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2020

   Owners describe water entering on the passenger side from the cowl or windshield seam during rain or car washes, soaking the floor and sometimes reaching the rear seat. Several link the moisture to electrical trouble such as gauges dropping out, headlights going off, or the radio not shutting off, and some report a mildew smell. One owner notes the cowl drain area clogging with debris. Reported from around 50,000 miles upward, during rain or washing.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Lift the passenger floor mat and check for dampness, staining, or mildew smell. Look for debris blocking the cowl drain below the windshield and test that all gauges and lights work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “For about 3 years, constant problem with water leaking onto my passenger floor board. I have to put plastic bags outside the windshield underneath the wipers every time it rains. This doesn't keep all the rain from coming in but it helps. I can no longer go through a car wash because it floods the inside of my car. I now have a plastic bucket on the passenger floor board in case it rains while I am driving so the interior doesn't get flooded. There is now a mildew smell in my car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10872627, filed 2016-06, 70,000 miles

   “Water leak issue coming from the windshield and cowl area leaking into the passenger side compartment shorting out the smart junction box causing the gauges and all electrical to go haywire such as the headlight to go out while driving and the traction control to turn off as well as the windows and power locks to quit working and could cause an electrical fire inside the care if gone un noticed. I have the vehicle in the shop and this is going to cost me $600 or more due to fords knowing of an issue they will not own up to fix to ensure safety. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10559963, filed 2014-01, 56,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Parking brake cable sticks or loses tension

   • 15 complaints (4%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2020

   Owners report the parking brake sticking in cold weather so the car will not move until it warms up, or the lever going loose and no longer holding the rear wheels. Some were told water enters the cable and freezes, and one was told the part was on back order pending a redesign. A few say the rear brakes drag as a result. Reports span low mileage to past 60,000 miles, several in freezing temperatures.

   What to check: Set and release the parking brake several times and confirm the lever feels firm and the car holds on a slope. Ask whether the cable has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After the unusually cold weather my rear brakes are not working as well as they were before. The brake pads have been replace 3 months prior. The emergency brake is now loose. Now that the temperature is warmer,the emergency brake lever is still loose and it still feels like I am only braking with my front brakes. I have not had this repair yet because I cant afford it at the moment.”

   NHTSA complaint #10306209, filed 2010-02, 56,000 miles

   “The parking brake cable has lost all tension and no longer works to keep back wheels from moving. This creates a safety hazard because when parked on a hill the car is only supported by the transmission. Also the car seems to roll forward excessively when put in park without the brake on. I feel as if this is a safety issue that should be investigated.”

   NHTSA complaint #10568222, filed 2014-03, 75,000 miles

Buying note. Verify that the open airbag inflator recalls were completed with documentation, since parts availability was a recurring complaint. On a test drive, check for early fuel-fill shutoff, a sticky throttle or warning lamps, damp carpets on the passenger side, and a parking brake that holds firmly.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.