2006 Ford Fusion: complete transmission failure

Filed May 11, 2021 · 50,000 miles · CA

There's a blatant transmission safety concern for all 2006 ford fusions. According to multiple websites with forums, hundreds of people have been experiencing transmission concerns. The issue is when accelerating, the car slips out of gear and violently lurches forward and no longer accelerates, creating an extreme safety hazard especially on the highway. The only way, at least for me, to get it back into gear is to completely stop accelerating for a few seconds and then try accelerating again. This is absolutely a safety hazard on the highway and street driving. No mechanics or ford mechanics have been able to fix this issue, only recommend that the transmission be replaced, which is not an ideal repair, especially when this is happening as soon as 50,000 miles have been put on the car. I'm scared to drive my car, especially on the highway because my acceleration is limited and this could happen at any time. This has been happening to my car since it hit 50,000 and there's no way I can afford a new transmission, nor should I have to replace it since this has happened in multiple 2006 ford fusions. This issue has also happened to my driving around town. There are many reports on https://repairpal.com/transmission-problem-242 and some on https://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/fusion/2006/transmission/transmission_failure.shtml and https://fordproblem.com/2006-ford-fusion-power-train-automatic-transmission-problems-defects/amp/

Filed Oct 2, 2018 · Acceleration, Engine · 102,000 miles · CA

2006 ford fusion: when driving after the car gets warm up it is starts slipping and shifting someone harshly like it just got kicked. I was on the freeway and couldn't speed up almost got rear ended. I see others have the same issue after doing a search I found different answer as what could be wrong. Found out what the issue is with the aisin transmissions slipping which were used in the 2006 fusion. It is due to valve bore wear in the main control. If the trans fluid isnt burnt (meaning there is internal trans clutch damage) then you are looking at $800-$1000 to replace the main control. If the clutches are burnt the whole trans will have to be replaced cost??? Something like $4000-$5000. The problem is that when ford bought the aisin trans, ford did not buy the service rights. So there are no service parts available or training avail on how to service this trans. The issue with the main control has been so common that aisin has agreed to supply ford with service main controls.there has been a technical service bulletin out there. See below tsb bulletin date: feb 2007 various driveability/transmission symptoms - PCM/TCM calibration updates 3.0l - aisin f21 auto trans. ( the federal safety agency item number - 10021277 ) as one person posted. Ford needs to make this right!!! Very unsafe*** our car is parked in the garage we can not afford to fix it or sell it with a bad transmission .ammco said needs new transmission.

Filed Sep 15, 2014 · Transmission · 57,000 miles · OH

As reported multiple times these transmissions begin to slip very badly. While trying to merge into traffic almost 90% of the time hot or cold at about 40mph when you press the gas the transmission will slip leaving you hanging out to dry(this is extremely dangerous)...when downshifting sometimes around 20mph there will be a loud banging under the drivers side area...the tsb was issued way back in 2007 regarding all these issues but no recall...the floor mats were recalled? But not this issue. All over the internet you see the insane amount of people having this same issue due to the aisin transmission they used....same problem occurred in multiple makes and models of vehicles with same transmission components. They say replace the transmission "valve body" or aka control assembly...its only $2,000 if you haven't already burnt up the whole transmission then its $4-5k.

Filed Nov 18, 2013 · Body, Seat belts · 55,000 miles · MS

Tl* contact owns a 2006 ford fusion. The contact stated that the front passenger and both rear interior door handles became fractured when engaged. In addition, the contact was driving 55 MPH when the vehicle failed to respond to acceleration attempts over 55 MPH. The seat belt mechanism also failed and the contact was unable to secure the seat belt. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where the transmission was replaced. The interior door handles and the seat belt were not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000.

Filed Jul 4, 2013 · Transmission · 93,000 miles · NE

When attempting to accelerate at a highway speed, which caused the car to downshift, the transmission would "slip" out of gear, causing the RPM's to rev up to an unsafe level. To get the car back into gear, I had to remove my foot from the accelerator and let it coast for a bit. Once the RPM's returned to between 1000-2000, it slammed hard into gear and began driving again. This occurs regularly even at regular street speeds, when you need to accelerate where a downshift is necessary. This could easily lead to a crash. Ford motor company knows about the problem with the transmissions in these cars, basically it is due to valve bore wear in the main control. They have a defective control body which has extreme spool bore wear. A tsb was issued: tsb bulletin date: feb 2007 various driveability/transmission symptoms - PCM/TCM calibration updates 3.0l - aisin f21 auto trans. ( the federal safety agency item number - 10021277 ). No recall by ford to date. If you catch it before the clutch is burnt up, you can get by with replacing the main control valve body for around $800-$1000, however if you're beyond that point it's a $4500+ new transmission.

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 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 27, 2011 · Body, Electrical · 79,000 miles · TX

Early may 2011 I was driving home at 65mph and I lost 5th gear. Then 4th gear. On way to dealership I lost 3rd gear. Warranty covered a brand new transmission. They claim after a week they finally got the transmission in and installed but they were waiting on a part for it because the transmission came with a part for a mazda 6 and wouldn't work. After two weeks they were finally done. Took vehicle back to dealership on 09/26/2011 stating great difficulty getting vehicle to shift out of park. Also stated there is an excessive amount of heat coming from the console in to the cabin above the transmission. Also stated the transmission is shifting very hard at times. Ford called today and stated the transmission has no problems at all and that I can't get out of park because the shift interlock sylionid needed to be replaced requiring that everything from the shifter and everything below all the way to the floorboard would have to be replaced costing over $400. I have found hundreds of complaints online

Filed Sep 26, 2011 · Transmission · 47,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford fusion. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to shift into gear when she attempted to accelerate from a stop. The vehicle eventually jerked into gear and began to accelerate. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed a new transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 47,000.

Filed Jun 15, 2011 · Transmission · 63,000 miles · SD

I was driving on a highway at 65 miles per hour when all of sudden my car just started slipping out of gear. I have 70,000 miles on my car and it started with about 63,000 miles. I was just recently at a 2 way stop with the non stop being a highway of 64 miles per house in south dakota. I stopped and seen no cars coming and starting going across the intersection and my car wouldn't go into gear. I sat in the middle of the intersection trying to get it to go and finally after about 15 seconds I got it to run and luckily there was no traffic coming or I would had to get out of my car and run to the side because it wouldn't start going. I don't have the kind of money to go into a repair shop and spend 5000 dollars on a new transmission when I know that is what it is. It occurs probably once a day.