What is the crash rating of the 2006 Ford Taurus?
The 2006 Ford Taurus carries mixed crash ratings from major safety organizations, reflecting the standards of its era. Overall, it performed in the mid-range for a mid-2000s sedan, with stronger side-impact protection than frontal protection in some tests. Here’s how the key ratings break down by testing authority.
Context and what “crash rating” means
Crash ratings come from two primary U.S. safety organizations: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). NHTSA uses five-star ratings for frontal, side, and rollover tests and typically reports an overall score based on those results. IIHS rates individual tests (such as front, side, and roof strength) as Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor. For older models like the 2006 Taurus, both sources are commonly used to gauge overall safety performance.
NHTSA ratings
The following ratings reflect how the 2006 Taurus fared in NHTSA testing, which evaluates frontal, side, and rollover protection and combines them into an overall star rating.
- Frontal crash (driver): 4 stars
- Frontal crash (passenger): 4 stars
- Side crash: 5 stars
- Rollover: 4 stars
- Overall rating: 4 stars
These results indicate solid side-impact protection for the era and decent frontal protection, with the rollover risk remaining a factor typical of many mid-size sedans of the time. The overall rating of four stars places the Taurus in the mid-to-upper range for 2006 family sedans under NHTSA’s system.
IIHS ratings
IIHS ratings for the 2006 Taurus focus on frontal and side impact protection and roof strength, rather than a single overall star score. The following reflects IIHS assessments commonly cited for this model year.
- Frontal offset: Good
- Side impact: Good
- Roof strength: Acceptable
IIHS results suggest the Taurus offered strong protection in both frontal-offset and side-impact scenarios for its time, with roof strength that was adequate but not top-tier by IIHS standards.
Notes on variations by trim and market
Crashes ratings can vary by tested variant (e.g., Taurus versus Taurus-based Sable or Five Hundred in some markets) and by whether the evaluation used model-year-specific parameters. In some cases, Canadian or other international tests may show small variances. Always check the exact model year, trim, and testing authority when comparing ratings.
How to verify current or exact numbers
To confirm the most precise ratings for a specific 2006 Taurus example, consult these official sources, which archive test results by year and model:
- NHTSA official vehicle safety ratings page
- IIHS vehicle data and test results
When researching, look for the exact build (e.g., Taurus S or Taurus SE) and the tested year. Ratings can differ slightly between regions or test cycles, so aligning the data to the exact vehicle is important.
Summary
For the 2006 Ford Taurus, a combination of NHTSA and IIHS data shows a credible level of safety for its era: solid side-impact protection with four-star to five-star performance in various tests and decent frontal protection, accompanied by a roof strength rating that was acceptable by IIHS standards. If you’re evaluating a specific vehicle today, verify the exact ratings for that model year and trim from NHTSA and IIHS to ensure you’re looking at the precise configuration in question.
Bottom line
In short, the 2006 Taurus generally earned a four-star overall rating from NHTSA, with higher performance in side-impact tests, and received Good ratings in IIHS frontal and side tests, with roof strength rated as Acceptable. For precise numbers, always consult the official NHTSA and IIHS records for the exact model and trim in question.
