Two problems related to transmission not engage have been reported for the 2006 Ford Fusion. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2006 Ford Fusion based on all problems reported for the 2006 Fusion.
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.
I own a 2006 Ford Fusion 4 door sedan. Upon arriving home from a short trip, I attempted to shut my car off. I shifted into what I thought was park and shut the car off. My key would not release from the ignition. I attempted to shift the car into park again and it showed it was in park. The keys still would not release from the ignition. I finally went into my home and looked online. I found online a description of the problem and a temporary solution. It seems the decorative ring around the button on the shifter keeps the button from fully disengaging. I went back out to my car and tried to shift out of park without hitting the button and was successful at which time the car was easy to roll. If the car was parked on a slope and the shifter did not fully engage in park it is possible that it could pop into neutral and roll away. I attempted to call my local dealer and was told that the service department was closed and nobody would be able to help me. This has happened 3 or 4 other times and eventually the keys came out but on this particular incident I struggled with it for most of an hour before I finally looked on the internet for the solution.