NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
164 reportsClear category filter40,000 miles · Feb 15, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment
I BELIEVE THE FORD EXPLORER 2006 RADIATORS NEED TO BE RECALLED! FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY THAT ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THERE ARE 47 COMPLAINTS ABOUT RADIATOR LEAKS AND HAVING TO REPLACE RADIATORS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF IT OVERHEATS...IT COULD LEAVE SOMEONE STRANDED ON SIDE THE HIGHWAY, OR EVEN EXPLODE O…
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I BELIEVE THE FORD EXPLORER 2006 RADIATORS NEED TO BE RECALLED! FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY THAT ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THERE ARE 47 COMPLAINTS ABOUT RADIATOR LEAKS AND HAVING TO REPLACE RADIATORS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF IT OVERHEATS...IT COULD LEAVE SOMEONE STRANDED ON SIDE THE HIGHWAY, OR EVEN EXPLODE OR CATCH ON FIRE! PLEASE LOOK AT CARCOMLAINTS.COM AND REVIEW THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORD 2006 EXPLORER RADIATORS! MANY PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THIS SAME RADIATOR REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE! OK, NOW TO ME...I BOUGHT A 2006 FORD EXPLORER IN JANUARY OF 2006. IN MARCH OF 2008, I WAS TOLD THAT MY RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY A VEHICLE WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT, WHICH GET SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE CHECKS REGULARLY WITH A MECHANIC COULD HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM. WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY...I GOT IT REPAIRED OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE MY 36,000 MILE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. IT WAS VERY COSTLY. WELL,I CONTINUED TO GET MY VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AS SCHEDULED. WELL, JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO OR LESS THAN 23 MONTHS(LESS THAN 2 YEARS) LATER, I EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. ANOTHER RADIATOR LEAK! I HARDLY EVEN GO ANY WHERE! THE NEW RADIATOR WAS YET AGAIN ANOTHER FORD RADIATOR! I COULD HAVE BEEN LEFT ON SIDE THE ROAD OR HAD SOME SORT OF EXPLOSION! I BELIEVE THERE ARE DEFECTS IN THESE RADIATORS AND I BELIEVE THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS ISSUING OUT FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I BELIEVE THAT WE, THE CONSUMER, OR SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES DUE TO THEIR NEED TO STAY AFLOAT. AFTERALL, THEY TOO NEEDED A BAILOUT AND WHAT AGREAT WAY TO SAVE MONEY IF RADIATORS OR BUILTTO LAST ONLY A SHORT TIME,AND PEOPLE GO TO KEEP PAYING FOR NEW ONES! PLEASE CHECK ON THIS. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS NEEDED!!!!!!!! P.S. WHILE WRITING THIS LETTER, JUST RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THAT A TECHNICAL ALERT HAS BEEN PUT OUT ON 2006 FORD EXPLORER RADIATORS, AND BECAUSE OF THE COMPLAINT ...THE MODEL IS NOT BEING MADE ANYMORE! PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10310454
51,000 miles · Feb 15, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
RADIATOR HAS FAILED AT 51,000 MILE. FROM GOOGLE SEARCHES AND RESULTS AT HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2006/COOLING_SYSTEM/RADIATOR_LEAK.SHTML THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. FORD WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10310452
45,000 miles · Feb 5, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
AT 45,000 MY RADIATOR FAILED AND FORD NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. I DO NOT TAKE THE CAR OFF ROAD, AND KEEP ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. THIS IS VERY EARLY FOR A FAILURE, AND A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10306745
67,875 miles · Feb 4, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING FOR NO REASON IN 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAVE BEEN TOLD BY REPAIR SHOP AND OTHER OWNERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON THING THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW TO EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN IN A YEAR I DO NOT HAVE 600. DOLLARS TO PUT OUT EVERY YEAR ON A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT PAID FOR SHOULD I LET IT …
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RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING FOR NO REASON IN 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAVE BEEN TOLD BY REPAIR SHOP AND OTHER OWNERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON THING THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW TO EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN IN A YEAR I DO NOT HAVE 600. DOLLARS TO PUT OUT EVERY YEAR ON A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT PAID FOR SHOULD I LET IT GO BACK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10305358
40,000 miles · Jan 23, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS COOLING SYSTEMS PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND GAUGE WOULD SUDDENLY RISE. THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND THE HEAT WOULD BLOW COLD AIR. IN JULY 2009 I HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED AND WAS TOLD BY A FORD DEALER THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SEVEN MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEMS HAVE STARTED AGAIN. ENGINE SUDDENLY O…
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2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS COOLING SYSTEMS PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND GAUGE WOULD SUDDENLY RISE. THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND THE HEAT WOULD BLOW COLD AIR. IN JULY 2009 I HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED AND WAS TOLD BY A FORD DEALER THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SEVEN MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEMS HAVE STARTED AGAIN. ENGINE SUDDENLY OVERHEATS, THEN SUDDENLY DROPS, COLD AIR FROM THE HEATING SYSTEM. I AM TAKING THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAYS THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE RADIATORS, FANS, ETC., BECAUSE OF THE STEADY PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING WITH THEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10302044
41,330 miles · Jan 13, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
NOTICED A 6 INCH PUDDLE UNDER MY 2006 EDDIE BAUER. HAD IT TESTED AND THE TUBES AT THE BOTTOM WERE LEAKING. BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT RADIATOR FOR 220.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10299653
25,800 miles · Dec 9, 2009
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, OR DECELERATE, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER OVER FIVE TO SIX TIMES FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER AND THE POWER TRAIN MODULE . NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE FORD MANUFACTURE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, OR DECELERATE, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER OVER FIVE TO SIX TIMES FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER AND THE POWER TRAIN MODULE . NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,800. UPDATED 1/25/10 *CN UPDATED01/26/10.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10295046
42,000 miles · Nov 23, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A 2006 EXPLORER WITH 42000 MILES. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW OFF THE LOT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES. IT BEGAN 2 YEARS AGO WITH FLUID LEAKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO FORD AND I HAD "CRACKED HOSES." I THEN CALLED THIS PAST SUMMER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT CONCERNING LEAKING FLUID AND MY ENGINE FAN CONSTANTLY COMING ON …
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I HAVE A 2006 EXPLORER WITH 42000 MILES. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW OFF THE LOT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES. IT BEGAN 2 YEARS AGO WITH FLUID LEAKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO FORD AND I HAD "CRACKED HOSES." I THEN CALLED THIS PAST SUMMER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT CONCERNING LEAKING FLUID AND MY ENGINE FAN CONSTANTLY COMING ON AND OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NORMAL IN THE SUMMER. NOW A FEW MONTHS LATER...MY RADIATOR IS BAD AND ALSO NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. HAD I LISTENED TO MYSELF IN THE SUMMER AND FORCED THE ISSUE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY THEN. THERE ARE A LOT IF ISSUES WITH 2006 EXPLORER RADIATOR FAILURES WHICH I HAVE COME ACROSS IN THE INTERNET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10293220
53,000 miles · Nov 12, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER . HE NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER UNDER THE ENGINE. HE ASSUMED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS DRIPPING WATER. AS THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE HE SPECULATED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER . HE NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER UNDER THE ENGINE. HE ASSUMED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS DRIPPING WATER. AS THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE HE SPECULATED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 53,000. UPDATED 2/17/10 *CN UPDATED 02/22/10.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10291965
45,000 miles · Nov 12, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
FORD EXPLORER 2006- RADIATOR LEAKS . PROBLEM STARTS AT AROUND 40K. THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES IN MOST CASES TO REPLACE RADIATOR. REPLACEMENT COST ARE APPROX. $450.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10291962