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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

Power Train complaints

296 reports
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100,400 miles · Aug 28, 2011
Power Train

NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. REGULAR VEHICLE USAGE. AFTER 4 OR 5 YEARS, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN CLUNKING AND HESITATING TO SHIFT. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION JOLTS VIOLENTLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN CORRECTED BUT I AM COMPLAINING NOW BECAUSE SO MANY SIMILAR REPORT…

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NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. REGULAR VEHICLE USAGE. AFTER 4 OR 5 YEARS, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN CLUNKING AND HESITATING TO SHIFT. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION JOLTS VIOLENTLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN CORRECTED BUT I AM COMPLAINING NOW BECAUSE SO MANY SIMILAR REPORTS HAVE ALSO BEEN FILED ACROSS THE INTERNET. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10422335

69,810 miles · Aug 23, 2011
Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER AND I HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND REAR BEFORE VEHICLE REACHED 70, 000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE TRANSMISSION OIL AND DIFFERENTIAL UNTIL 100,000 MILES. FORD SHOULD GUARANTEE THE TRANSMISSION AND REAR END UP TO 100,000 MILES, IT'S NT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10421150

66,720 miles · Jul 25, 2011
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

THE WRENCH, THE ABS, AND THE ANTI-SWAY ICONS STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2006 EXPLORER. THEY WOULD RESET IMMEDIATELY USING THE RESET BUTTON. THE DEALER REPLACED A WHEEL-SPEED SENSOR AND STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS DAMAGED WHEN THE "TONE" WHEEL CRACKED. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT UNLESS THE TONE WHEEL WAS REPLACED, THE ABS…

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THE WRENCH, THE ABS, AND THE ANTI-SWAY ICONS STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2006 EXPLORER. THEY WOULD RESET IMMEDIATELY USING THE RESET BUTTON. THE DEALER REPLACED A WHEEL-SPEED SENSOR AND STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS DAMAGED WHEN THE "TONE" WHEEL CRACKED. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT UNLESS THE TONE WHEEL WAS REPLACED, THE ABS WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN; IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE ABS, BUT DON'T THE DRIVER IS SET UP FOR THE BIG FALL! FORD IS AWARE OF THIS CRACKING PROBLEM: WHY NO RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10415114

145,000 miles · Jul 21, 2011
Power Train

2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT SPORT UTILITY 4X4 4.6L AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OR HESITATES GOING INTO GEAR. AT STOPS IT HAS A TENDENCY TO SLAM DOWN SHIFT HARD. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS SO MUCH BETWEEN GEARS IT AFFECTS THE MILEAGE SO I GET REALLY BAD GAS MILEAGE LESS THEN THE 13 LOW END OF THE 13/18 MPG SUGGESTED.…

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2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT SPORT UTILITY 4X4 4.6L AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OR HESITATES GOING INTO GEAR. AT STOPS IT HAS A TENDENCY TO SLAM DOWN SHIFT HARD. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS SO MUCH BETWEEN GEARS IT AFFECTS THE MILEAGE SO I GET REALLY BAD GAS MILEAGE LESS THEN THE 13 LOW END OF THE 13/18 MPG SUGGESTED. IT WILL TAKE ABOUT $2,000.00 TO GET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. I STILL OWE $8,000.00 ON THIS CAR. I AM JUST ABOUT READY TO SAY COME GET IT. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413949

60,000 miles · Jul 6, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN INSPECTED, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PAN WAS CORRODED AND WAS CAUSING THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ALONG W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN INSPECTED, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PAN WAS CORRODED AND WAS CAUSING THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10410675

64,303 miles · Jun 18, 2011
Power Train

I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH 64000 MILES. YESTERDAY WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACED. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE. AND EVERYONE HAD EXACT SYMPTOMS…

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I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH 64000 MILES. YESTERDAY WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACED. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE. AND EVERYONE HAD EXACT SYMPTOMS. FORD ACTS LIKE THIS ISN'T COMMON AND PLAYS DUMB TO THE FACT. I STILL OWE $15000 ON A VEHICLE AND CANNOT AFFORD $3000 TO REPAIR. SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND STOP FORD FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CITIZENS. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10407349

69,000 miles · Jun 2, 2011
Power Train

2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH 69,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MAKES A LOUD NOISE AS ENGINE IS WORKING BUT TRANSMISSION ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EITHER SELL IT OR TRY TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. ALSO, CONTROL BOX ON DASH PANEL WENT OUT AT 30,000 MILES. $700 TO REPAIR. TRANSMISSION COULD BE UPWARDS OF $4,000…

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2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH 69,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MAKES A LOUD NOISE AS ENGINE IS WORKING BUT TRANSMISSION ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EITHER SELL IT OR TRY TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. ALSO, CONTROL BOX ON DASH PANEL WENT OUT AT 30,000 MILES. $700 TO REPAIR. TRANSMISSION COULD BE UPWARDS OF $4,000 TO REPAIR

NHTSA ODI #10404263

48,000 miles · May 19, 2011
Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER THAT IS JERKING WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND ALSO HAS JUMPED OUT OF GEAR A COUPLE OF TIMES, THANK GOODNESS I WAS SITTING IN IT AND NO ONE GOT HURT. TAKING IT IN AGAIN TO THE SHOP TOMORROW HOPE THEY CAN FIND A PROBLEM. IF ANYTHING IS DONE I WILL KEEP THE OLD PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10402129

95,789 miles · May 17, 2011
Power Train

THE WRENCH APPEARED ON MY DASH , TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS BAD. THIS IS A 2006 EXPLORER WITH 96,000 MILES. I HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED AND WRENCH STILL ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10401203

60,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Power Train

BOUGHT AND OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER, EDDIE BAUER PURCHASED AS USED IN 2008 WITH 19,000 MILES ON IT. AT 60,000 THE TRANSMISSION LURCHES, AND SLIPS....FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS REAR ENDING YOU. SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATING, MAKES CLUNKING SOUND WHEN PUTTING INTO PARK OR REVERSE. RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE THOU…

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BOUGHT AND OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER, EDDIE BAUER PURCHASED AS USED IN 2008 WITH 19,000 MILES ON IT. AT 60,000 THE TRANSMISSION LURCHES, AND SLIPS....FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS REAR ENDING YOU. SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATING, MAKES CLUNKING SOUND WHEN PUTTING INTO PARK OR REVERSE. RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS AND APPARENTLY FORD HAS ISSUED NO RECALL AND OFFERS NO REPAIR SOLUTION (UNLESS YOU SHELL OUT $2500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION). IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT A SUV WITH 60,000 MILES NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION!! I STILL OWE JUST UNDER $10,000 FOR THIS TRUCK, WHERE IS THE JUSTICE IN BUYING AMERICAN?? I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT TO THIS ON-GOING FORD PROBLEM. PLEASE FORD...... DO SOMETHING!! THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10401031

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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