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2006 Ford Explorer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Ford Explorer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 609.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

547 reports with mileage · 83 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 296 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 164 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports7 fire reports10 injury reports

Engine complaints

58 reports
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40,130 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

DRIVING AT 45 MPH ,TRANSMISSION SHIFTED WITH A JERKY MOTION ,FIRST STARTED THEN.WHEN YOU FIRST TAKE OFF IT JERKS AND MAKES A NOISE. WHEN YOU BACK UP IT JERKS HARD ENOUGH IT WHIPS YOU BODY BACK. HAD IT CHECKED AT A TRANSMISSION PLACE. THEY TORE IT DOWN AND FOUND NOTHING ( $400). STILL JERKS AND SHIFTS ROUGH. DON'T KNOW HOW LONG …

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DRIVING AT 45 MPH ,TRANSMISSION SHIFTED WITH A JERKY MOTION ,FIRST STARTED THEN.WHEN YOU FIRST TAKE OFF IT JERKS AND MAKES A NOISE. WHEN YOU BACK UP IT JERKS HARD ENOUGH IT WHIPS YOU BODY BACK. HAD IT CHECKED AT A TRANSMISSION PLACE. THEY TORE IT DOWN AND FOUND NOTHING ( $400). STILL JERKS AND SHIFTS ROUGH. DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO LAST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566284

123,031 miles · Jan 1, 2014
EngineFuel System, GasolinePower Train

DEAR SIR FIRST OF ALL , I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT I AM NOT A US CITIZEN , BUT , I'M A FAMILY MAN & I FEEL FOR OTHERS , I OWN A FORD EXPLORER 06 , AND RECENTLY I'VE BEEN NOTICING THAT THE TRANS HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN , SHIFTING WRONGLY , JOLTING INTO GEAR IS NOT ENJOYABLE OR SAFE, THE OTHER DAY I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE AN ACCIDE…

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DEAR SIR FIRST OF ALL , I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT I AM NOT A US CITIZEN , BUT , I'M A FAMILY MAN & I FEEL FOR OTHERS , I OWN A FORD EXPLORER 06 , AND RECENTLY I'VE BEEN NOTICING THAT THE TRANS HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN , SHIFTING WRONGLY , JOLTING INTO GEAR IS NOT ENJOYABLE OR SAFE, THE OTHER DAY I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE TRANS REFUSED TO SHIFT WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO ESCAPE A SITUATION OF HITTING A CAR NEXT TO ME , I'VE LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET & FOUND THAT EVERYBODY IS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUES , YOU CAN GO FOR THE BELOW SITE & CHECK HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2006/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_LUNGES_HARD_JOLT_WHEN_SHIFTING.SHTML THE PROBLEM IS THAT FORD WON'T ADMIT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION , PUTTING PEOPLES LIFE IN DANGER FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE PLEASE FIX THIS AS IT'S VERY CRITICAL & DANGEROUS AT THE SAME TIME [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558062

25,000 miles · Dec 17, 2013
Engine

SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW IN JANUARY 2007 THE RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. NOW, IN DECEMBER 2013 WITH 114000 MILES, THE RADIATOR IS LOSING COOLANT AND THE ENGINE SMELLS OF COOLANT AFTER DRIVING. MOST LIKELY THE RADIATOR WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556379

97,000 miles · Dec 16, 2013
Engine

WE BOUGHT THE USED VEHICLE IN MARCH 2012 WITH A 30 DAY WARRANTY. DURING THE FIRST MONTH, NOTICED ENGINE SLIPPING (USUALLY AROUND 45 MPH). CHECKED FLUIDS, ADDED COOLANT AND NAIVELY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, AND IT SEEMED TO FOR ABOUT A MONTH. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE SINCE THEN. …

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WE BOUGHT THE USED VEHICLE IN MARCH 2012 WITH A 30 DAY WARRANTY. DURING THE FIRST MONTH, NOTICED ENGINE SLIPPING (USUALLY AROUND 45 MPH). CHECKED FLUIDS, ADDED COOLANT AND NAIVELY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, AND IT SEEMED TO FOR ABOUT A MONTH. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE SINCE THEN. WE ARE CONSTANTLY ADDING COOLANT AND DRIVING VERY CAREFULLY TO AVOID A HARD JERK IN THE TRANSMISSION AROUND 45 MPH. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THAT THE "TRANSMISSION WAS PROBABLY SHOT" BUT THAT THEY COULD CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS "FOR ABOUT $250 EACH EVEN THOUGH THAT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HELP." HOW IN THE WORLD CAN A SPARK PLUG BE THIS EXPENSIVE TO CHANGE? THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED US NEARLY $200 TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS FOR A PROBLEM THAT WE NOW KNOW IS RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD HAVE LONG AGO BEEN A RECALL, AND FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF ITSELF FOR NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM SOONER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556224

19,000 miles · Nov 4, 2013
EnginePower Train

MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE TRUCK STARTED JERKING UNCONTROLLABLY AND HE COULDN'T BACK UP SO HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE. THE TRUCK WAS OFF WARRANTY SO HAD TO BUY A NEW RADIATOR. IN ORDER FOR THE RADIATOR TO HAVE A WARRANTY HAD TO BUY ANOTHER PART FROM THE FORD…

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MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE TRUCK STARTED JERKING UNCONTROLLABLY AND HE COULDN'T BACK UP SO HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE. THE TRUCK WAS OFF WARRANTY SO HAD TO BUY A NEW RADIATOR. IN ORDER FOR THE RADIATOR TO HAVE A WARRANTY HAD TO BUY ANOTHER PART FROM THE FORD PLACE FOR 200.00. GOT THE PART AND RADIATOR. WITHIN SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR, SAME THING HAPPENED, HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER RADIATOR. HAVE HAD THREE RADIATORS AND NOW THIS YEAR 2013 LEAKING AGAIN AND THE RADIATOR THAT I PAID $600.00 FOR THE RADIATOR PLACE HAS WENT OUT OF BUSINESS SO I HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER RADIATOR. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT HALF THE TIME, NEVER KNOW WHEN I WON'T BE ABLE TO MOVE IT IF ALL OF THE FLUID LEAKS OUT OR MAY STOP IN TRAFFIC SUDDENLY. PLEASE HELP US TO GET FORD TO RECALL THESE TRUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550737

97,468 miles · Sep 19, 2013
EnginePower Train

BOTH OF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST 2-3 YEARS BUT I CAN NOT REMEMBER EXACT DATES. FIRST MY CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING HOT CONTINUOUSLY OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME WHICH CAUSES ME TO HAVE TO PUT COOLANT IN AT LEAST ONCE EVERY MONTH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS COMMON WITH THE EXPLORERS BUT TH…

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BOTH OF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST 2-3 YEARS BUT I CAN NOT REMEMBER EXACT DATES. FIRST MY CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING HOT CONTINUOUSLY OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME WHICH CAUSES ME TO HAVE TO PUT COOLANT IN AT LEAST ONCE EVERY MONTH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS COMMON WITH THE EXPLORERS BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THEY FIRST TOLD ME IT WAS THE LINE TO THE RADIATOR THAT WAS LEAKING SO I HAD IT REPLACED, THEN NEXT TIME IT WAS THE THERMOSTAT AND HOUSING THAT THEY SAID WAS THE PROBLEM. SO I HAD THIS REPLACED. NOW TODAY 9/19/2013 I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I SEEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. SECONDLY MY CAR JERKS INTO GEAR WHEN I TRY TO PUT IN GEAR. THEY ARE TELLING ME NOW I NEED A TRANSMISSION BUT I SEE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH MANY EXPLORERS OWNERS AND IT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM EITHER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO BECAUSE MY CAR IS JERKING WHICH CAUSES ME TO ALMOST HIT PEOPLE OR DOESN'T GO INTO GEAR FAST ENOUGH WHICH CAUSES THEM TO ALMOST HIT ME. PLEASE HELP!!! THESE PROBLEMS FIRST STARTED TO OCCUR AROUND 40000 MILES. MY PROBLEM IS RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10544514

77,180 miles · Aug 15, 2013
EnginePower Train

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CAR SPEED WENT TO 0 MPH, TRANSMISSION TOTALLY SLIPPED. SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. ONCE I SIT THERE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES ON SIDE OF ROAD IT WILL THEY START TO WORK AS IT SHOULD. BUT IT DOES MAKE LOUD NOISES WHILE MOTOR SHIFTS GEARS. THIS IS A KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM YET NO FORD RECALL. UNACCEPTABLE!…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CAR SPEED WENT TO 0 MPH, TRANSMISSION TOTALLY SLIPPED. SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. ONCE I SIT THERE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES ON SIDE OF ROAD IT WILL THEY START TO WORK AS IT SHOULD. BUT IT DOES MAKE LOUD NOISES WHILE MOTOR SHIFTS GEARS. THIS IS A KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM YET NO FORD RECALL. UNACCEPTABLE!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535591

87,000 miles · Aug 14, 2013
EnginePower Train

TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AT RED LIGHT. IT STARTED GOING BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF FORWARD. HAD TO PUT INTO PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE TO GET IT TO DRIVE. STILL GOING ON. NOW WHEN ACTUALLY ON THE ROAD IT IS GETTING OUT OF GEAR WHEN VEHICLE IS AT DRIVING SPEED. ENGINE REVS UP TO 5000RPMS, THEN DOWN TO 1000RPM. VEHICLE LUNGING. …

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TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AT RED LIGHT. IT STARTED GOING BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF FORWARD. HAD TO PUT INTO PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE TO GET IT TO DRIVE. STILL GOING ON. NOW WHEN ACTUALLY ON THE ROAD IT IS GETTING OUT OF GEAR WHEN VEHICLE IS AT DRIVING SPEED. ENGINE REVS UP TO 5000RPMS, THEN DOWN TO 1000RPM. VEHICLE LUNGING. WILL GET HURT I'M SURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535277

70,000 miles · Aug 6, 2013
Engine

FROM JULY 5TH TO PRESENT MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER TRUCK WAS TOED TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. EACH TIME IT WAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OVERHEATING. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2005. THE RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACE TWICE, THE TRANSMISSION ONCE, THE THROTTLE , ETC. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT …

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FROM JULY 5TH TO PRESENT MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER TRUCK WAS TOED TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. EACH TIME IT WAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OVERHEATING. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2005. THE RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACE TWICE, THE TRANSMISSION ONCE, THE THROTTLE , ETC. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT NOW AFTER THE RADIATOR WAS A REPLACED AND THE THROTTLE, ETC. AT A COST OF $2300.00.THE CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AND /OR GASKETS THAT NEED REPLACING. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY A CAR WITH NORMAL MILEAGE, WHICH WAS ONLY INVOLVED IN ONE MINOR FENDER BENDER.CAN NEED SO MUCH MAJOR WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533794

92,500 miles · Jul 16, 2013
Engine

I WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND TURNING LEFT TO A SMALL STREET. I SAW AN ENGINE LIGHT SHOW ON, AND THEN THE ENGINE STOP. AT THAT POINT, I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL, AND ALSO IT WAS SO DIFFICULT FOR ME TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD MENTION THIS PROBLEM AT THE FORD DEALER IN GREENFIELD, MA WHO FIXED MY ABS BREAK ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. A PERSON…

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I WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND TURNING LEFT TO A SMALL STREET. I SAW AN ENGINE LIGHT SHOW ON, AND THEN THE ENGINE STOP. AT THAT POINT, I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL, AND ALSO IT WAS SO DIFFICULT FOR ME TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD MENTION THIS PROBLEM AT THE FORD DEALER IN GREENFIELD, MA WHO FIXED MY ABS BREAK ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. A PERSON AT THE SERVICE RESPONDED, " THAT'S NORMAL. OUR COMPUTER DOES NOT SEE OTHER ISSUE BESIDE THE ABS." I SPEND $85 FOR DIAGNOSIS THE ABS BREAK PROBLEM AND SPEND ALMOST $500.00 TO FIX THE BREAK. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A SMALL BODY SHOP IN MY AREA. THIS PERSON RAN THE COMPUTER THROUGH THE VEHICLE SYSTEM, AND THE COMPUTER DID NOT SHOWN ANY PROBLEMS. THEN, I CALLED FORD CORPORATE AND TRIED TO GET SOME ADVICE FROM THE COMPANY. THE COMPANY SAID I SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALER TO GET OTHER OPINION. MEANING THAT I HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $85.00 AGAIN, AND I STILL DO NOT KNOW I WILL GET AN ANSWER OR NOT. MY CONCERN, I DO NOT WANT TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525201

Official recalls

1

05V520000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Nov 9, 2005

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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