112 complaints reported

2006 Ford F-150 Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
112
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Sep 2025

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 told there wasn’t a recall on this truck . My documents I received from your department was lost during hurricane Sally. This is a well known recall every local mechanic knows about .

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2014
Nov 2024

The vehicle will hesitate once it comes to a stop after several hesitations it would just shut down you have to keep restarting it, the restart get harder and harder.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2024
May 2024

The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power with an abnormal popping sound coming from the engine compartment. The failure occurred more often while attempting to accelerate or driving uphill. The vehicle occasionally stalled during the failure. The contact released the accelerator pedal slowly and the vehicle then started driving normally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the cam phaser had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cam phaser part no longer being manufactured. The contact stated that the part was no longer in production because the replacement part was defective and failed to fix the vehicle. The contact was informed by the dealer that a newer version of the cam phaser needed to be purchased and was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the repair was not covered under the Warranty. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 230,774.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2024
Aug 2023 Fire

The contact owned a 2006 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at a low rate of speed, an abnormal, popping sound emitted from the vehicle without warning. Soon after he heard the sound, the vehicle caught fire. The contact exited the vehicle and attempted to extinguish the fire with two fire extinguishers. The fire department was called to the scene and they managed to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The failure mileage was 174,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2023
Apr 2022

The engine shakes violently when driving and cause the truck to learch unexpectedly in forward or reverse. It unexpectedly looses power and dies. This has been going on for 4 years.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2018
Mar 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT-OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT SPUTTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED, LEADING TO AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2020
Oct 2019

MY F150 2006 IS GETTING A LOW OIL PRESSURE MESSAGE. I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY ALL SAID THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE. ONE CHANGED THE FAVORS CRANKSHAFT AND OIL PUMP. IT RAN FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS. AFTER THAT I BEGIN TO HAVE THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE, LOW OIL PRESSURE. WHAT CAN I DO?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2019
Jun 2019

THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO FORD 5.4 LITER TRITON V8 24 VALVE ENGINES AND FREQUENT FAILURES OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. A SEARCH OF ONLINE LITERATURE FROM AUTOMOTIVE EXPERTS AND MECHANICS REPORT AN UNUSUAL NUMBER OF THESE MANIFOLDS WARPING, CRACKING, AND BREAKING THE MOUNTING STUDS. REPAIRS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE, IN THE RANGE OF $1000 - $2000 PER MANIFOLD. LAST FALL 2018, MY 2006 F-150 5.4 TRITON, WITH ONLY 83,000 MILES, BEGAN LEAKING EXHAUST FROM THE RIGHT SIDE MANIFOLD. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS. (SOME INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS STATED THEY WILL NOT WORK ON THESE FORD MODEL MANIFOLDS ANYMORE.) THE TOTAL COST TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD WAS OVER $1800. THE PARTS AND MATERIALS WERE ONLY ABOUT $300. THERE WAS A LOT OF LABOR INVOLVED BECAUSE 6 OF 8 MOUNTING STUDS HAD TO REMOVED AND REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE LEFT SIDE MANIFOLD BECAUSE THE MOUNTING STUDS ON THAT SIDE WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF IMPENDING FAILURE. IN FACT, SOME OF THE STUDS MAY BE BROKEN ALREADY, BUT THE LEFT MANIFOLD IS NOT YET LEAKING, SO I DID NOT REPLACE THE LEFT MANIFOLD AT THAT TIME. I AM A RETIRED MINE ENGINEER/MANAGER. I WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE MAINTENANCE OF TRUCKS AND EQUIPMENT. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM IN THESE MANIFOLDS AND/OR THE HEADS THEY MOUNT ON. (THESE ARE THE HEADS THAT PROMPTED THE 5.4 TRITON SPARK PLUG SETTLEMENT.)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2018
May 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-150. REQUIRED OIL AND MAINTANCE SERVICES AT 3,000 MILE INTERVALS WERE DONE SINCE HE PURCHASED THE TRUCK AND THE ENGINE WENT OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR FLASHED. DENNY MENHOLT FORD (50 FORD LN, BUTTE, MT 59701, (406) 494-6333) DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO ENGINE RECALLS TO PROVIDE A RECALL REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. *BF*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2018
Jul 2018

HAVE A SLIGHT MISFIRE AND CALLED ALL MY LOCAL SHOPS AND NO SHOP WILL CHANGE THE PLUGS ON A F-150 WITH A 5.4L TRITON MOTOR. THEY SAID IT'S WELL KNOWN THAT ALL THE SPARK PLUGS WILL SNAP OFF IN THE BLOCK. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY WANT $1000 TO CHANGE THEM. WHILE IN ALL OTHER CARS AND TRUCKS IT'S $50-$100 JOB. RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE IT SEEMS THIS HAPPENS TO EVERY FORD THAT HAD THE 5.4L TRITON ENGINE. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? I CAN'T AFFORD $1000 TO CHANGE MY SPARK PLUGS. I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND THIS IS BEYOND MY MEANS CURRENTLY. I EMAILED FORD AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT BEING A KNOWN ISSUE. YET EVERY MECHANIC SHOP WILL AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CASES OF THIS ISSUE ALL OVER THE INTERNET.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2018
Jun 2018 Fire

AT 9:20 MONDAY MORNING 6/25/18 MY 2006 F-150 HAD BEEN SITTING STATIONARY, UNOCCUPIED AND TURNED OFF FOR 3 AND HALF HOURS. I WAS WAKEN UP BY MY WIFE TELLING ME MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE HAD BREACHED THROUGH THE HOOD AND CONTAINED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAD NO PRIOR TROUBLE TO THE OPERATION OF MY TRUCK THAT WOULD INDICATE A PROBLEM. THE FIRE DESTROYED ENTIRE FRONT OF TRUCK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2018
Jun 2018

AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATION DRIPS DOWN INTO #4 CYLINDER CAUSING A MISFIRE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2018
May 2018 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 FORD F-150. AFTER THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY, FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT APPROXIMATELY FIVE HOURS LATER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE HOME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED ALONG WITH TWO OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2018
Feb 2018

BOUGHT A USED FORD F 150 WITH 65700 MILES IN APRIL 2011. AFTER 7 YEARS AND ONLY PUTTING ON 34700 MILES THERE IS A LOUD TICKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT THE TRUCK ENGINE LOOSES POWER AND WHEN IT DOES HAVE SOME POWER IT FEELS LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT SHAKES AS IF THE TIRE IS COMING OFF. FORD STATES THE ENGINE SHOULD BE REPLACED OR SOME OTHER PROBLEMS THAT SEEM TO BE INHERENT WITH THE 5.4 AND NO WAY IS FORD EVEN WANTING TO FIX

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2018
Sep 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MISFIRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED CARBON BUILD UP ON THE SPARK PLUG HEAD, WHICH CAUSED IT TO CEMENT ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORD OF HONOLULU (1370 N KING ST, HONOLULU, HAWAII, 96817, PHONE NUMBER: (808) 824-3981) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A "CRAPPY" DESIGN WAS ON THE SPARK PLUG THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR SPARK PLUGS, BUT FRACTURED ONE OF THEM. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE FRACTURED SPARK PLUG. THE SPARK PLUG WAS NOT REPLACED DUE TO THE REPLACEMENT FEE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2017
Sep 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE REDUCED POWER ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MULLINAX FORD OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, 1551 E SEMORAN BLVD, APOPKA, FL 32703) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT PIPE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-392-3673 AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO CALL NHTSA. A CASE NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,600.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2016
Dec 2016

TOOK TRUCK IN FOR ROUTINE 100,000 MAINTENANCE AND TUNE UP. SPARK PLUG STUCK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND ENDED UP GETTING CHARGED $3,500 FOR THE REPAIR. I AM READING ONLINE OF HOW WIDESPREAD THIS PROBLEM IS AND FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE SPARK PLUGS AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD IN MY LIFETIME IF THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2016
Sep 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 8 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AFTER A SHARP RIGHT TURN. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,818.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2016
Jul 2016

VEHICLE JERKED WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN YOU REACH 45 TO 50 MPH. I WOULD LET OFF GAS AND THEN GIVE IT GAS AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT JERK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED SO I TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY RUN A CHECK . TOLD ME I NEED ANOTHER MOTOR. THIS TRUCK HAS 154000MILES. IT HAS NOT OVERHEATED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2016
May 2016

TOOK IN FOR A TUNE UP. BROKE OFF 7 SPARK PLUGS. GOT PIECE IN ENGINE. HAD TO TAKE ENGINE APART. TUNE UP WAS TO BE $535. NOW IT IS $2300.00

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2016
May 2016

ON 3 OCCASIONS MY VEHICLE ,OVER 4 MONTHS, HAS HAD A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS OCCURRED MOST RECENTLY WHILE I WAS EXITING THE INTERSTATE .WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN SO DOES THE DASH AND BRAKE LIGHTS, IT ALSO STOPS POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS TIME BY REACTING QUICKLY I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART ,AFTER TURNING KEY TO OFF POSITION FIRST.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2016
Apr 2016

ON NOVEMBER 16,2011 I WAS ON MY WAY TO SEE MY MOTHER WHO PASSED AWAY AND WHILE DRIVING IT SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF AND I HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND IT WAS SPARK PLUG ISSUE, THEN TWO YEARS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, I CHANGED ON PLUGS AND COIL PACKS AT GARAGE, NOW TWO YEARS LATER ANOTHER 3RD PLUG BREAKS INTO ENGINE, NOW IN NEED OF NEW ENGINE. MILES ARE OVER CLASS ACTION SUIT BUT NOT BY MANY. MY TRUCK IS WORTHLESS FOR FORDS LACK OF FIXING THIS ISSUE. I DO HAVE DOCUMENTS TO SHOW. THIS PROBLEM IS A REPEATED ISSUE AND END RESULT FOR THEM NOT TO RECALL ISSUE SOONER HAS ENDED WITH A NONE WORKING TRUCK ENGINE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2011
Apr 2016

TRUCK HAS ~116000 MILES. ENGINE RANDOMLY DIES WHILE IN MOTION (15 - 50 MPH) AND WHILE IDLING AT A STOP. NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING UNTIL ENGINE IS RESTARTED. HAS OCCURRED DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IN THE CITY. MAINLY OCCURRED GOING STRAIGHT (NOT TURNING). IMMEDIATELY RESTARTS. NO ENGINE CODES OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. THROTTLE BODY REPLACED WITHOUT FIXING CONDITION. "WRENCH" SYMBOL ON DRIVER DISPLAY HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE BUT CONDITION JUST STARTED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2016
Mar 2016

I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD WHEN THE "ENGINE FAILSAFE WARNING' LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENTIRE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. NO POWER AT ALL. VERY HARD TO STOP AND STEER. I NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. ANOTHER TIME I WAS ENTERING PARKING LOT WHEN IT HAPPENED. I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. BUT SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE ON A WARNING WHILE DRIVING IS VERY DANGEROUS. SOME INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS NOT A LONE OCCURRENCE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2016
Jan 2016

I HAVE A 2006 F-150 V8 4.6 THE HEATER COIL IN THE TRUCK HAS FAILED. AND THE WATER PUMP ALSO

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2015

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2006 Ford F-150 has 112 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.