Print this page

8.9

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,120
Average Mileage:
65,550 miles
Total Complaints:
20 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (7 reports)
  2. replace transmission (7 reports)
  3. new transmission (6 reports)
2006 Ford Mustang transmission problems

transmission problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2006 Ford Mustang:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2006 Ford Mustang Owner Comments

problem #20

Aug 052015

Mustang 4.0L V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission failed locked in 1st, first started with difficult shifting from neutral to 1st gear. than getting stuck in 1st. dropped the transmission, took it to a transmission shop that wanted $1900.00 to fix it. Found a used one for $650.00 and replaced it myself. Ran fine but started feeling hard again, dumped the Ford tranny oil and refilled it with AMsoil automatic tranny fluid. Haven't had a problem since, also manual said remove the 4 bolts but you have to removed the bell housing because of the hydro clutch. No bleeder port so do your best to drain and refill. No need to bleed when reassemble. just keep pumping the clutch alot it's a self bleeder and it shared the brake fluid resor

- Jim R., Ronkonkoma, NY, US

problem #19

Sep 012015

Mustang 4.0L

  • Manual transmission
  • 61,000 miles

Clutch went out at 61,000 miles 8 months after I bought the car used. Couldn't believe a new clutch installed was $1500. Had it done at dealer. Most places wanted $2000!

- Brian C., Tacoma, WA, US

problem #18

Jul 172015

Mustang GT 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 139,000 miles

I drove to work, nothing wrong with the transmission. I leave work and the transmission won't go into reverse. I had to drive 200+ miles to get home with a sh*tty transmission. F**k you Ford.

- Melvin A., Chesapeake, VA, US

problem #17

Oct 012014

Mustang Coupe V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

68000 and the tranny is starting to fail! Hell, my Dodge pick-up I traded for this car did better then this! Going to cost almost half of the blue book value to repair this Mustang!! She was acting funny a year after I purchased the car and two dealerships I took it to told me that they could not find any issues on the test machines! Eight years later the issue gets just a bit worse in shifting and NOW the shop see's a problem! TOO late for warranty work! What crapola. AND don't even get me started on the sorry cloth seats!

Update from Oct 21, 2014: $3700.00 to fix the tranny! all could have been avoided with about a $35.00 transmission dipstick! First and LAST Ford I will ever buy!

- Mark B., Raton, NM, US

problem #16

Jun 062014

Mustang V6 Pony 4.0

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,500 miles

First of all this is not my first mustang, its my third. No problems at all in the first two. number one lasted from myself to my daughter to her daughter. My second was destroyed in a wreck and the third one is the problem. I keep my cars clean waxed and showroom new at all times. Change oil and fluids regularly, but on my '06 there is no dipstick for the transmission. How in the HELL-o are you to check the condition of the transmission oil with out a dipstick. I do not have equipment to lift the car so tell me how am I to know if it needs changing (not by mileage) are its just low and needs topping off. I can not afford to take it into a auto shop just to check the tranny oil once a month. What great @&*#$)^ fool idea was it to leave or remove the dipstick out Mr. Dipstick.

LB

- Larry B., Lewisville, TX, US

problem #15

Sep 012013

Mustang GT Premium 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,555 miles

2006 Ford Mustang GT Premium Convertible, the automatic transmission totally failed 9-1-13 with only 13,555 miles on the car. This car was never abused and garage kept. I let Ford know about this issue and have received no reply.

Update from Sep 16, 2013: I just wanted to share what Ford's answer was to this transmission issue. They did get back to me in a timely manner and here is the response. "Most vehicle warranties provide a period of coverage for reasonable use and wear and tear using time (age) and mileage (distance). Both time and mileage impacts a vehicle as part of the natural aging process. The warranty on Ford Motor Company products provides both time and mileage consideration for warranty covered repairs. The warranty expires when either time or mileage is surpassed, whichever occurs first. Mileage is often spoken and written as 3/36 - meaning 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first".

I'm truly sorry that we cannot meet your expectations in this instance. Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company.

Recy Customer Relationship Center Ford Motor Company

- Dominic R., Sinking Spring, PA, US

problem #14

Dec 072012

Mustang GT V84.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

American auto workers are complaining that they're out of work! We've been building cars in this country for what, 100 years, and we still can't engineer a car as well as some of our foreign competitors? AUTO BUILDERS OF AMERICA – COMPLAIN TO YOUR ENGINEERS, OR WE’LL CONTINUE TO BUY FOREIGN!

I want to buy American, but it’s frustrating when you have to drop close to $2500 on a car that is so well maintained in every other aspect that it looks like it belongs on a showroom floor. My trans problem is identical to the ten previous complaints, so no need to elaborate further. This failed transmission problem should be a recall issue. Ford should have to pay for their ineptitude.

Why should we pay 100% of their asking price to buy the vehicle, when they only deliver a car that will run 50000-70000 miles before a major failure? I’m checking Ford off my list of manufacturers that won’t get any more of my money – not until they stand behind major failures like this!

- gendronj, St Charles, IL, US

problem #13

Jul 102013

Mustang 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

I bought this car new and have had it in the shop many times for the same problem they always said they couldn't find anything. Now that I haven't got a warranty on it something inside transmission breaks and now I have to have new one. On my ford page when I took it in instead of putting transmission trouble they put something else.

- diane166, Vandalia, IL, US

problem #12

Jan 212013

Mustang V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

I was told by several different transmission shops, that the 2006 Mustangs have transmission issues and most of them can't be rebuilt. Estimate is $3200! Might as well be $10,000. Ford should recall this year model transmission!

- Shari B., Blanchard, OK, US

problem #11

Jan 012013

Mustang GT 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,000 miles

I bought my Roush Edition Mustang new on the lot and paid horribly overpriced for it. I loved it new and still love it 7 years later but Ford has made crap transmissions for decades and this is no different. At 35,000 miles, I took my car in for the Transmission service which is nothing but flushing the fluids and putting in new. $550 bucks is a scam rip off but I did it anyway. At about 50,000 miles, the trans began to clunk hard into gear driving at slower speeds. I took it into a shop and they said the computer struggles as to what gear it needs to go into at slow speeds. He said when he dropped the pan, very little shavings were seen so that is good. At 84,000 miles, I was driving the freeway at about 65MPH and all of the sudden my tach climbed to 4,500 RPM with not apparent power to the wheels. Classic transmission slip. Then a few miles further it did it again. But was fine for a day or 2 after. Then it did it again and I knew at that time that my transmission is failing.

Ford engineers...please figure these issues out and stop letting the Japanese beat the crap out of you.

Update from Jul 27, 2015: I had to replace my transmission totally at 85,000 miles. $3,200 for a completely remanufactured transmission.

- lylemac59, Yucaipa, CA, US

problem #10

Mar 012012

Mustang V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This car was great up until February...I brought it in for the 60,000 mi tune up and mentioned the transmission was bucking...of course it is a pony so maybe it is to be expected. So $800 later the tune up was done and was told the transmission was fine and didn't need service until I was as 150k miles...REALLY??? So I took it to Ford who told me 60k it is due for a flush...$189 later had that done...bucking stop?? NO..no I am told thes transmissions have this problem and it is an electrical shift issue and happen alot in the 2006 as well as radiator issues. So low and behold the repair will cost somewhere between $1,200 and $3,000.....can anyone say RECALL!!!

- lcazares05, San Jose, CA, US

problem #9

Mar 102011

Mustang V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles

my wife bought this car new. it only has 60000 on it now. the transmission has been a pain forever. clunks in forward and reverse. had it at dealer several times they said it was what they called a delayed shift. now that it is out of warranty they say it needs a new transmission. if we can get it going i am going to fix myself ( trade it on a camaro).

- Jerry R., Chickasha, OK, US

problem #8

Dec 192011

Mustang V6coupe Premium 4.Ol Sohc V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,300 miles

2006 Ford Mustang only had 74300 miles when transmission needed to be replaced.I was quoted 4293.15 to replace it.I called customer service and they said they would have a adjuster look at it.Ford dealership called and said instead of waiting for adjuster they would fix it for 2595.00 that the service manager and tech had talked about my circumstances.Service manager said Ford Motors adjusters look at how i had used there service department for oi changes etc to discount the price of transmission cost and that I had only used Ford service department a few times.I called the service manager back to ask him to save all the parts that i wanted to be able to verify that the transmission was taken out if the car and a new one would be put in.This is when I was told it was a rebuilt transmission going back in with a 3 yr unlimited mileage warranty going back in it.I have read a lot of Ford vehicle issues with transmission problems at low mileage.How do I know as a consumer that I didn't just need the computer reprogrammed and have been taken for a full transmission job.It is unacceptable to have to replace the transmission with low mileage.I am wondering since the Ford dealership came back with a better offer before the adjuster got there what did they really need to do the transmission?Hmmm perhaps just reprogram it.Systems I was having were the car would spin in drive and and wouldn't go anywhere.I would have to out it in 3 gear and gradually put it back in drive for it to work.It only did this in hot weather..In cold weather it would not skip. Gear shift jerked when shifting in to reverse to back up.Hesitated to go into drive but not that noticeable.

- Teresa M., Pensacola, FL, US

problem #7

Jun 012011

Mustang 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

Online comments say FORD WILL NOT DISCUSS TRANMISSION PROBLEM.

Owners report transmission complete failure from 15,000 miles. CAN'T EVEN CHECK FLUID LEVEL. SEALED UNIT, NO DIP STICK. Family Ford Certified mechanic say they charge about $250 to just check out unit and repairs are repoted to be in $2,000-$2,500 range. I'm afraid to take it to chain or local tranny shop. My mechanic won't touch these new trannies. NOW IT SITS IN GARAGE NOT SHIFTIN RIGHT IN DRIVE. Now driving my 02 mustang , 122,000 miles no problems.

"THANKS FORD ENGINEERS !!"

- jimbo7743, Joliet, IL, US

problem #6

Jul 142010

Mustang V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,000 miles

I have noticed that sometimes my car jerks really badly when I start accelerating or going at a slower speed for a few miles than trying to accelerate to a higher speed. Sometimes when I put in reverse the car will not move than a horrible jerk occurs when I shift back into drive. Here recently I noticed it is not shifting in a timely manner around speeds of 20-25mph. I was going to bring to shop, but my extended warranty states 75000. I was told it 9999 thousand miles before that coverage was up. I really hope I do not have to pay out of pocket for this. I have 78000 miles on it and have only had the car three years.

- Renee A., Norfolk, VA, US

problem #5

Aug 052010

Mustang GT 4.6L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles

I bought this car brand new and have always taken good care of it, i.e., well maintenanced and not dogged out. It's not even four years old yet and the automatic transmission has failed. It would not move into first gear or reverse and there was no indication that something was wrong with the tranny prior to failure.

I took it to a transmission shop with a reliable reputation and while it was there began doing research and asking other people who have done work on transmissions before. It turns out that the 2005 and 2006 Mustangs (and perhaps Explorers) have an engineering defect with a servo piston. The piston is mounted in the aluminum case and the steel shaft wears the aluminum down over time and it eventually fails, destroying the clutches and band, etc. A hardened brass bushing is then fitting in place of the original bracket area.

Once the transmission shop got back with me they confirmed what I had been told. Since this all happened once the warranty ran out it cost me $2400 for a full rebuild.

How did Ford miss this? It's not as if this is new technology and why is it they wait so long to (two years) to address such a major issue. We're talking complete failure which totally disables the car and costs the consumer a substantial amount of money to repair on a NEW car that is still being paid for and the fix is a simple brass bushing! I'm furious!

I guess since it doesn't kill anyone and they generally don't fall apart until after the warranty expires Ford doesn't care. The brand name is badly tarnished, in my eyes.

- kzin76sc, Summerville, SC, US

problem #4

May 262010

Mustang Camel V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,000 miles

On Monday I stopped at a stop sign and the car jerked on accelerating.

Tuesday morning when shifting into reverse the car would not move.

Barely a warning, no dash signal warning and the transmission is toast. In 2005 my store was located 250 miles from the Dearborn plant where the Engineers would drive the test vehicles 500 miles a day, I have spectacular pictures on many Mustangs in different colors parked in front of my store. I told my husband I was going to buy that new model. I wish the Engineers were around now to explain why a summer driven female only, driven car with 78,000 mile car would have the transmission go out instantly. And by the way the signal on the dash is for low transmission fluid pressure not high? I love my car and am very saddened by this!

- Brenda L., Morley, MI, US

problem #3

Jan 032009

Mustang LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

The car's barely three years old, and the tranny has failed! It wouldn't go into reverse at all, in drive it cracked and crunched and lurched and was undrivable--no help from the dealer, except to quote me $3500 to rebuild without even looking at it. It's currently in repair with a transmission place for $2200, no idea what exactly what parts failed.

This is about the 7th Mustang I've had, all of them have run TOO HOT--the heat messes up every system in the car. FIX IT, YOU WORTHLESS, SLACKER FORD ENGINEERS!!!!

- Brenda T., Orange City, FL, US

problem #2

Mar 162007

Mustang GT 4.6L

  • Manual transmission
  • 10,000 miles

click to see larger images

transmission failure

WITH ONLY 10K MILES THE TRANS STARTED TO GRIND SHIFTING FROM 1ST TTO SECOND GEAR, TOOK IT IN AND THEY PUT IN A NEW TRANS.....FORD TOUGH

- cjc, Gilbert, AZ, US

problem #1

May 142007

(reported on)

Mustang GT 4.6L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 6,100 miles

My car is in the shop right not awaiting the blessing from Ford to replace my smoked auto trans! I have been harder on my Jeep than I have on the mustang. There is no excuse why I smoked this trans with only 6000 miles on it. I thought the tires would be the first to go!

- johnsone192000, Crown Point, IN, US

Not what you are looking for?