2006 Ford Fusion: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Oct 27, 2014 · Transmission · 51,320 miles · CA

While shifting from higher gear to lower gear while climbing a hill, transmission jumped between gears, slamming the gears as if popping a clutch (it's an automatic transmission). On another hill, the vehicle did not engage in the lower gear, revving up to about 4000 RPM as if in neutral, leaving the car decelerating on the uphill stretch among speeding traffic. I had to move the gear shift to neutral and back to drive, ease on the accelerator, and the lower gear engaged, after slowing to about 35 on 65 MPH speed limit freeway. Ford lists the repair in tsb 08-24-1 as "transmission harsh shifting" and recommends replacement of the main control. This part has been identified as faulty and common with the transmissions installed on my vehicle and many other makes and models. It presents a clear danger to drivers and passengers who risk being rear-ended due to sudden deceleration or stranded due to "harsh shifting" damage to the transmission and drive train. I have no confidence driving the car out of town or near any hill, and the vehicles should be recalled.

Filed Jun 16, 2014 · Transmission · 124,135 miles · MI

Trying to accelerate onto highway, vehicle would rev up to limit 6k and slam into gear causing tires to spin and almost lose control. Have to park and turn off vehicle to resume driving. Others time car would just lose momentum and rpms go very high but no movement. Again, park car turn off and resume driving. Was told by many mechanics that this is a tranny problem in this model ford. Cost of $2,000 to repair. Seems to be very common and am just logging my records incase ford finally acknowledges it.

Filed Mar 22, 2013 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · IL

We started having problems with the transmission in our 2006 ford fusion in early 2012. We replaced the transmission in april when it had roughly 65,000, with a used transmission. It was fine for a few months, and now we are having hard shifting and transmission slippage. The car has around 70,000 miles now. I have heard of this issue by many fusion owners, and ford refuses to do anything about it. It is in my opinion that the transmissions in this car need to be recalled.

Filed Aug 26, 2012 · Transmission · 62,000 miles · CO

Car equipped with aisin f21 6 speed automatic transmission. When the automatic transmission down shifted there was a loud clunk and the car slowly came to a halt. The engine RPM increased as I tried to get the vehicle to move off to the side of the road. After shutting the car off and restarting it was able to get me home. The next time I drove it, it was fine for a while and did it again. Took it to the ford dealer and was told it needed an new transmission control valve body. I asked if there had been problems with this transmission in other fusions and they said none that they knew of. In looking on the internet I find that this transmission has been a problem for many people from the years 2005-2010. Check service bulletin put out by ford # 08-24-1 publication date nov. 13 2008. I am sure there are other service bulletins also. Many people have had their vehicle stop on a very busy highway and have been put in danger because of the above problem. Since ford had been aware of this problem they should have had a recall to correct it in the interest of public safety. Thank you

Filed Jul 18, 2012 · Transmission · 107,124 miles · MO

I was driving up a steep hill when the transmission began to slip in and out of gear. Several very loud clunking noises were heard under the vehicle like the transmission was not working properly. I began to slow down on a busy road with several car behind me due to the fact that the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle directly behind me almost ran right into the rear end of the car with my 7 week old son in the back. When I took it to the dealership they followed the tsb 08-24-1 recommendations and said that I needed a new transmission. This vehicle is very dangerous to drive now. I will not take it on the road due to the fact that it will not accelerate at times. This problem only occurs after about 1 hour of driving the vehicle. A recall is needed!

Filed May 9, 2012 · Transmission · 106,688 miles · SC

Hard shifting from 1st to 2nd. Just want it fixed.

Filed Dec 14, 2011 · Transmission · PA

The car started about 2 years ago, slipping out of gear when having to accelerate. It also slams into gear when down shifting. This is very dangerous, my wife was getting on the interstate and it slipped out of gear and she had to coast off of the highway because there was a tractor and trailer quickly approaching. We also cannot go up any big hills or mountains. We have had it at the dealership when it first happened and they changed the transmission fluid and updated the computer. This cost $500. They finally came to the conclusion that it needed a new transmission which would cost $4000. We still owe over $12,000 and do not have the $4000 to replace the transmission.

Filed Sep 23, 2011 · Transmission · 74,000 miles · MO

Transmission problems on v6 six speed transmission. Hard shifting from 3rd to 4th gear (sometimes a very loud bang). Down shifts like a manual transmission when slowing down.

Filed May 20, 2011 · Transmission · 37,000 miles · IN

2006 ford fusion transmission slips out of gear and slams back into gear at highway speeds. Also clunks into each gear as it is downshifting.

Filed Jan 18, 2011 · Transmission · 15,000 miles · MN

2006 ford fusion s 2.3 l with 5sp automatic transmission... With less than 20,000 miles I brought my car to a ford dealer and was told nothing was wrong with the transmission... Now I know it sounds huge, but 3 years later hard shifting and sometimes refusing to shift for a car with an msrp of 19800 and 100000 more miles of extremely irritating shifting (clunking) I am up a creek without a paddle for a known faulty transmission. So either I pay on this car for nearly 2 more years for a yard ornament or pay out 4000 to fix it. This is a known and quite common problem. I was told it was normal and nothing was wrong... Really? I have had 10 yr old cars with 200,000 miles that shifted better than this car did after 15000 miles. Ridiculous....... Ford knows of this problem and has refused service and replacement due to cost. They knew of this problem 4 years ago and still thousands are paying thousands of dollars to repair a faulty transmission.

Filed Dec 1, 2010 · Transmission · 55,000 miles · OH

I own a 2006 ford fusion se with the 3.0 v6 engine. At just over 55,000 miles, vehicle would come out of gear while shifting between 30-60mph, roughly 2nd-3rd, or 3rd-4th gear. Vehicle would go into a high rev and not move. After letting off gas, you have to wait 5 seconds for it to "re-engage", then sometimes in a high gear at low speeds causing vehicle to shake violently. This is a very serious and dangerous mechanical flaw with this transmission! It is the aisin transmission used in a variety of ford, lincoln, and mercury vehicles. (2005-2006 ford five hundred, 2006 ford fusion, 2006 mercury zephyr, 2006 mercury milan, 2005-2006 mercury montego) there are 100's to 1000's of complaints on these and multiple tsb (technical service bulletins) through ford motor company, etc. (tsb 07-26-9, tsb 08-24-1) calling it aisin transmission harsh shifting. Harsh being an easy term to describe this problem. And still no recall on this or compensation from dealer or manufacturer. If your vehicle is out of warranty, you are on your own with this $1,500 plus repair on a defective valve body according to ford motor co. This is a tremendous safety issue especially when needing to merge or accelerate rapidly to get onto a freeway system or overtake and pass on the highway! I guess it will take a serious injury or fatality to cause a law suit for anything to be done except a tsb! With all the documentation and complaints I have seen on these, I hope the manufacturers have a strong legal team! I will never buy a ford, lincoln, or mercury again. And we wonder why americans buy foreign! It is a sad day people, but the truth hurts! Our us car makers need to stand behind their products better and improve their business ethics or they will continue to fail and go bankrupt.

Filed Jul 26, 2010 · Transmission · 88,353 miles · KY

Events leading: normal driving operation. Failure:transmission slips after reaching 35 MPH+, occurs anytime I am on the highway going uphill or trying to pass. Have seen many forums with others that are having similar issues. Causes my car to slip out of gear until I let off the accelerator or causes a very hard shift causing the transmission to bang really loud. What has been done to fix: nothing currently, have only done research into the issue and found many forums with individuals that have similar issues and have had their vehicles in to the dealer only to have their car worked on and still have problems.