NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
58 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jun 9, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY EXCELERATES. I NOW KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT ALL TIMES IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING IGNITION. IT HAS HAS HAPPENED FOUR OR FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 2007 WHEN I PURCHASED IT FROM OCALA LINCOLN MERCURY AS A FORD CERTIFIED VEHICLE. IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 14…
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UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY EXCELERATES. I NOW KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT ALL TIMES IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING IGNITION. IT HAS HAS HAPPENED FOUR OR FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 2007 WHEN I PURCHASED IT FROM OCALA LINCOLN MERCURY AS A FORD CERTIFIED VEHICLE. IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 14,000. TODAY IT HAS ONLY 54,230 MOSTLY HIGHWAY. THAT IS LESS THAN 7000 MILES PER YEAR. ITR HAS REGULAR SERVICES AT MY LOCAL FOR DEALER. ALL OF MY REPAIR RECORDS ARE OBTAINABLE THROUGH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
NHTSA ODI #10515883
70,000 miles · Jun 2, 2013
EnginePower Train
DURING A LEFT TURN ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC OUR EXPLORER WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT LURCHED TO START AND WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10-15 MPH, NEARLY STALLING. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME BUT COULD NOT GET IT TO GO ABOVE 20 MPH. AT SPEEDS 10 - 20 MPH IT JERKED VIOLENTLY. THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AT SPEEDS 45 - 60. MOD…
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DURING A LEFT TURN ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC OUR EXPLORER WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT LURCHED TO START AND WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10-15 MPH, NEARLY STALLING. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME BUT COULD NOT GET IT TO GO ABOVE 20 MPH. AT SPEEDS 10 - 20 MPH IT JERKED VIOLENTLY. THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AT SPEEDS 45 - 60. MODERATELY ACCELERATING BETWEEN 45 - 60 MPH HAS CAUSED HARD JERKS FOR YEARS WITH THIS CAR PRIOR TO IT BEING OFF WARRANTY. WE'VE TAKEN IT TO TED BRITT FORD SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WE ALSO NOTED THEY ONLY PUT IT ON THE TICKET ONCE, THE OTHER TIMES TELLING US THEY TOOK IT OFF SINCE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE ISSUE AND WOULDN'T CHARGE US FOR IT. THE TIME MENTIONED IN THIS INCIDENT THE DEALER OFFERED TO SPLIT THE COST WITH US DUE TO OUR PREVIOUS ISSUES AND THEIR INABILITY TO FIX IT. THEY ALSO DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE AS WE STILL CANNOT ACCELERATE AT SPEEDS 45 - 60 WITHOUT HARD JERKING FROM THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. WE NO LONGER USE THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS TRYING TO SWITCH LANES OR MERGE ON TO A HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR VIOLENTLY SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND OFTEN LEFT US RUNNING OUT OF MERGE LANE SPACE WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO GET INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE READ SEVERAL SUCH PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND I AM SURPRISED NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. WE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS HAVING THIS CAR LOOKED AT AND IN FAILED ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10514682
86,000 miles · Apr 1, 2013
EnginePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
WITH ONLY 86,000 MILES OUR FORD EXPLORERS TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ONCE AGAIN. WHEN WE HAD 23,000 MILES ON OUR VEHICLE WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING RATHER HARD AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AT 58,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT WAS SO ROUGH THAT WE HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED. SINCE THE W…
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WITH ONLY 86,000 MILES OUR FORD EXPLORERS TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ONCE AGAIN. WHEN WE HAD 23,000 MILES ON OUR VEHICLE WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING RATHER HARD AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AT 58,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT WAS SO ROUGH THAT WE HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED. SINCE THE WARRANTY IS ONLY UP TO 36,000 WE DECIDED OUR BEST BET IS TO NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. WE HAD THE VALVE BODY REPAIRED AND IT RAN FINE UP UNTIL NOW. 86,000 MILES AND THIS VEHICLE IS ONCE AGAIN AT A REPAIR SHOP HAVING THE TRANSMISSION FULLY REBUILT. IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE PAID OVER $7,000 TO KEEP IT RUNNING WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE, TIRES, RADIATOR REPAIR, BRAKES AND NOW THE THIRD TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10505294
87,000 miles · Mar 25, 2013
EnginePower Train
JUST LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2006 FORD EXPLORER, WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. THERE WAS A JERK AS THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO FINALLY ENGAGE. I THOUGHT THE TRANS BROKE AT THE TIME? THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THEN ONCE. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE A…
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JUST LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2006 FORD EXPLORER, WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. THERE WAS A JERK AS THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO FINALLY ENGAGE. I THOUGHT THE TRANS BROKE AT THE TIME? THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THEN ONCE. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AS OTHERS WITH THE DELAYED SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. MY EXPLORER HAS JUST 88K MILES ON IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10504436
72,000 miles · Feb 27, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control
THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40-45 MPH AND STALLED. THIS AGAIN HAPPENED ON MAY 25, 2012 WHILE LEAVING ON OUR VACATION. WE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND RENTED ONE TO DRIVE THE REMAINING DISTANCE. WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC IT WAS FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BAD. WE HAVE REPLACED IT AND IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER THE VEHICLE BE…
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THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40-45 MPH AND STALLED. THIS AGAIN HAPPENED ON MAY 25, 2012 WHILE LEAVING ON OUR VACATION. WE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND RENTED ONE TO DRIVE THE REMAINING DISTANCE. WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC IT WAS FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BAD. WE HAVE REPLACED IT AND IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER THE VEHICLE BEGAN DOING IT AGAIN. AS YOU DRIVE IT WILL JUST COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. AS THE MECHANIC TOLD US THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY GOING TO THE ENGINE AND YOU CAN COAST TO THE SHOULDER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THIS WILL BE THE 2ND TIME CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM IF THIS IS THE TRUE ISSUE. IT WAS READ THERE IS A RECALL ON FORD VEHICLES FOR THAT YEAR MAKE BUT NOT FOR THE EXPLORER MODEL. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ALSO STATED THERE IS NO RECALL. WITH THE AGE AND LOW MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10500626
38,000 miles · Feb 8, 2013
Engine
WHILE DRIVING TO FLORIDA FROM MISSOURI, TO TAKE MY KIDS TO DISNEYWORLD, WITH A CAR THAT WAS WELL KEPT AND RELATIVELY NEW, ON THE HIGHWAY A FEW MILES AFTER PENSACOLA, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED, SO WE HAD TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. STEAM WAS COMING OUT FROM A CRACK ON THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. I HAD TO…
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WHILE DRIVING TO FLORIDA FROM MISSOURI, TO TAKE MY KIDS TO DISNEYWORLD, WITH A CAR THAT WAS WELL KEPT AND RELATIVELY NEW, ON THE HIGHWAY A FEW MILES AFTER PENSACOLA, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED, SO WE HAD TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. STEAM WAS COMING OUT FROM A CRACK ON THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. I HAD TO CALL FOR A TOWTRUCK AND LOST A COUPLE OF DAYS OF OUR VACATION UNTIL THE CLOSEST MECHANIC WE FOUND WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR WITH A NEW ONE FROM FORD. I GOT STUCK WITH A $1000 BILL SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. BUT THAT WAS NONE OF MY WORRIES. THE ISSUE WAS THAT THE CAR BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE ON A HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WITH A LOT OF SPEEDING 18WHEELERS. AT 70000 MILES THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED ON A SHORT 30 MILE EXCURSION TO BRANSON MISSOURI. THE HILLY HIGHWAY LEADING TO BRANSON MISSOURI IS NOT THE BEST PLACE TO BREAK DOWN. OPENED THE HOOD ONLY TO SEE THE RADIATOR STEAMING AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED AGAIN AND FIXED AT A $1200 BILL. THE VEHICLE IS A LEMON AND FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO BUY IT BACK OR AT LEAST FIX THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY. IT CAN BREAK DOWN ANYWHERE ANYTIME, AND BECAUSE THE WAY IT BREAKS DOWN AND STALLS BECAUSE OF THE OVERHEATING IT CAN CAUSE A REALLY BAD ACCIDENT IF YOU ARE UNLUCKY ENOUGH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10496898
87,000 miles · Jan 23, 2013
EnginePower Train
RANGE SHIFTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, TRUCK IS JERKING WITH ACCELERATION AND CHANGING GOING BETWEEN 1ST TO 5TH GEAR JOLTING THE VEHICLE. VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED MULTIPLE TIMES. FORD SAYS NO RECALL ON TRANSMISSION ISSUES. MINE IS A 6R60 TRANSMISSION IN THE 2006 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER WHICH HAS THE RA…
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RANGE SHIFTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, TRUCK IS JERKING WITH ACCELERATION AND CHANGING GOING BETWEEN 1ST TO 5TH GEAR JOLTING THE VEHICLE. VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED MULTIPLE TIMES. FORD SAYS NO RECALL ON TRANSMISSION ISSUES. MINE IS A 6R60 TRANSMISSION IN THE 2006 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER WHICH HAS THE RANGE SHIFTER LOCATED INSIDE TRANSMISSION. WILL COST $2300 TO FIX! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10494484
32,000 miles · Jan 23, 2013
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO A SAFE LOCATION AND NOTICED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO A SAFE LOCATION AND NOTICED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE DEFECT AND THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10494453
74,000 miles · Nov 29, 2012
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABNORMALLY LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIATOR PLASTIC FAILED AND CAUSED THE RADIATOR CRIMP TO LEAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABNORMALLY LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIATOR PLASTIC FAILED AND CAUSED THE RADIATOR CRIMP TO LEAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED IN 2010 AND THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE RADIATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACT AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
NHTSA ODI #10486465
83,000 miles · Nov 28, 2012
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO RISE. A FEW MILES DOWN THE HIGHWAY HE SAW A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE COMING FROM HIS ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. AFTER DIAGNOSIS FROM THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO RISE. A FEW MILES DOWN THE HIGHWAY HE SAW A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE COMING FROM HIS ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. AFTER DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE RADIATOR FRACTURED AND STARTED TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.
NHTSA ODI #10486343