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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

Interior Lighting complaints

2 reports
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17,000 miles · Dec 4, 2009
Electrical SystemInterior Lighting

THE GEAR SHIFT LIGHT ON MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS BURNED OUT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALER SAID I HAVE TO BUY AN ENTIRE SHIFT UNIT AND WAS TOO EMBARRASSED TO EVEN CHECK THE PRICE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD SINCE PEOPLE WON'T REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT DUE TO COST AND WILL PLACE THE CAR IN THE WRONG GEAR AT NIGHT…

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THE GEAR SHIFT LIGHT ON MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS BURNED OUT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALER SAID I HAVE TO BUY AN ENTIRE SHIFT UNIT AND WAS TOO EMBARRASSED TO EVEN CHECK THE PRICE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD SINCE PEOPLE WON'T REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT DUE TO COST AND WILL PLACE THE CAR IN THE WRONG GEAR AT NIGHT LEADING TO INJURY. DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT FOUND A FEW ON LINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294512

30,600 miles · Apr 2, 2009
Interior LightingStructure

SINCE 11/08, WE NOTICED THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE LIGHT WOULD LEAK WATER AFTER VARIOUS RAINFALLS. ON 12/1/08 WE TOOK THE SUV TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE OF THIS MATTER. IT WAS RELEASED TO US ON 12/3/08. THE CORRECTION WAS: INSTALLED UPDATED DRAIN TUBES, AS PER 07-20-6. ON 3/2/09 WE BROUGHT THE SUV TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, FOR T…

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SINCE 11/08, WE NOTICED THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE LIGHT WOULD LEAK WATER AFTER VARIOUS RAINFALLS. ON 12/1/08 WE TOOK THE SUV TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE OF THIS MATTER. IT WAS RELEASED TO US ON 12/3/08. THE CORRECTION WAS: INSTALLED UPDATED DRAIN TUBES, AS PER 07-20-6. ON 3/2/09 WE BROUGHT THE SUV TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, FOR THE SAME - OVERHEAD CONSOLE, DOME LAMP LEAKING, & FULL OF WATER, AND ROOF (HEADLINER) ABOVE REAR SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE LEAKING AND SOAKED WITH WATER AFTER VARIOUS RAINFALLS. THE CORRECTION THIS SECOND TIME WAS: CLEARED DRAINS. ON 3/30/09 WE BROUGHT THE SUV IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN. IT HAD RAINED THROUGH THE NIGHT, AND THE MORNING OF 3/29/09. THE DOME CONSOLE LIGHTS WERE LEAKING & HAD WATER INSIDE, THE ROOF HEADLINER ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WAS SOAKED & LEAKING WATER WELL INTO THE TRUNK AREA, AND THE RIGHT SIDE REAR BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS SOAKED & LEAKING WATER WELL INTO THE TRUNK AREA AS WELL. WE RECEIVED A PHONECALL FROM THE TECHNICIAN ON 3/31/09, STATING THAT NO LEAKS HAD BEEN FOUND, NO WATER STAINS VISIBLE. WE WENT IN TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT EVENING, AND SHOWED THE PICTURES TAKEN BY US ON 3/29/09 - SHOWING EXTENSIVE WATER LEAKAGE. THEY KEPT THE SUV TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE FOR LEAKS. ON 4/2/09 WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE TECHNICIAN, STATING THE DRAINS WOULD BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE EVENTS IS THAT I AM AFRAID TO ALLOW THE CHILDREN TO TURN ON THE DVD PLAYER, SUNROOF, & EVEN FEAR OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD/ELECTRICAL SAFETY ISSUES. MY HUSBAND HAS LOST DAYS @ WORK WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN SERVICE. MY ASTHMATIC CHILD HAS NOT FELT WELL FOR MONTHS NOW, WHICH LEADS US TO SUSPECT IF DUE TO THE LEAKAGE, THUS WETNESS, IF MOLD IS PRESENT SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE DRIVER HEATED SEAT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE 12/09, WHICH LEADS US TO SUSPECT IF THE WATER DAMAGE HAS STARTED CAUSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264014

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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