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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.

About this comparison →

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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55,884 miles · Nov 18, 2010
Power Train

2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER ADDITION BLUE W/BEIGE TRIM. WITHOUT WARNING WRENCH LIGHT THEN TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. CARS RPMS WERE STUCK AT 3..3.5 YET CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING. AFTER DRIVING 18.7 MILES OTHER THAN FEELING & HEARING CLUCK AS CAR SHIFTED GEARS. HAS APPENDED SEVERAL TIMES (4). IN HEAVY TRAFFIC SLOW ACCELERATIO…

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2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER ADDITION BLUE W/BEIGE TRIM. WITHOUT WARNING WRENCH LIGHT THEN TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. CARS RPMS WERE STUCK AT 3..3.5 YET CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING. AFTER DRIVING 18.7 MILES OTHER THAN FEELING & HEARING CLUCK AS CAR SHIFTED GEARS. HAS APPENDED SEVERAL TIMES (4). IN HEAVY TRAFFIC SLOW ACCELERATION CAN LEAD BE REAR END COLLISION, I HAVE BEEN LUCKY SO FAR. RAPID AND HARD CLUCK WHEN MOVING FROM PARK CAUSES VEHICLE TO LURCH WHICH IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN TIGHT PARKING SPACES SUCH HAS GARAGE. THE DEALER HAS WORKED ON THE CAR TWICE FOR A TOTAL OF 8 DAYS. I WILL BE TAKING BACK AGAIN NOV 19TH 2010. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10366659

97,000 miles · Oct 26, 2010
Power Train

I TOOK MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL FOUND THE TRANSMISSION PAN HEAVILY CORRODED JUST ABOVE AN EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE. TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY A 1.5 FOOT SECTION OF THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE THAT IS C…

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I TOOK MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL FOUND THE TRANSMISSION PAN HEAVILY CORRODED JUST ABOVE AN EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE. TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY A 1.5 FOOT SECTION OF THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE THAT IS COVERED WITH BLACKENED TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE HEAVIEST CORROSION IS EXACTLY ABOVE AND PARALLEL TO THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE. THE TRANSMISSION PAN ACTUALLY HAS SMALL HOLES IN IT JUST ABOVE THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIP. THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE IS ABOUT 1 1/4 INCHES BELOW THE TRANSMISSION PAN. AS A RESULT OF THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE AND THE TRANSMISSION PAN BEING SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, THE CONSTANT HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE HAS CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION PAN TO CORRODE, RUST AND LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID RIGHT ON THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. THE DEALERSHIP IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION PAN. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS DENIED COVERAGE OF THIS UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN. I AM CURRENTLY SEEKING A REMEDY FROM FORD. THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362530

97,000 miles · Oct 22, 2010
Power Train

MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER V8 HAS A HARD JOLT WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS COMING TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME AND FEELS LIKE I HAVE JUST BEEN REAR ENDED. AFTER READING ABOUT MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER 2006 FORD EXPLORERS I REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND MY MECHANI…

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MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER V8 HAS A HARD JOLT WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS COMING TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME AND FEELS LIKE I HAVE JUST BEEN REAR ENDED. AFTER READING ABOUT MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER 2006 FORD EXPLORERS I REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND MY MECHANIC SAYS TO TRY AN COMPUTER UPDATE FOR THE TRANSMISSION'S WILL GIVE THAT A TRY NEXT BUT I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A FORD RECALL AS THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLINE FOR THE 2006 MODEL THAT DROP WAY DOWN FOR THE 2007 MODEL. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS SEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL YEAR ALSO. IT APPEARS FORD FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR THE 2007 MODEL YEAR AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM FOR THE OWNERS THAT HAD ALREADY PURCHASED THE 2006 MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361701

45,304 miles · Oct 13, 2010
Power Train

9/9/10 FORD REPLACED GEAR SHIFT CIRCUIT BOARD. SHORTLY AFTER THERE WAS A 2 SECOND DELAY IN REVERSE AND A JERK. FORD REPLACED THE SOLENOID PACK IN TRANSMISSION AT MY EXPENSE. FORD EXPLORER EB AT 45,304 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360232

58,000 miles · Oct 7, 2010
Power Train

MY 2006 EXPLORER AT 58,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE OVERHAULED AS THERE WAS SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING. EVER SINCE THE POWER TRAIN LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON THERE IS A JERKING THAT OCCURS. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLES WITH THE POWER TRAN. FORD NEEDS TO PE…

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MY 2006 EXPLORER AT 58,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE OVERHAULED AS THERE WAS SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING. EVER SINCE THE POWER TRAIN LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON THERE IS A JERKING THAT OCCURS. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLES WITH THE POWER TRAN. FORD NEEDS TO PERFORM A RECALL. ABOUT EVER 38 MILES THE POWER TRAIN LIGHT COMES ON THEN OFF AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359501

55,000 miles · Oct 6, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER AND IT HAS ALMOST 60,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN JERKING VERY HARD WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST MONTH. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO WE HAVE HAD SERVICE OUR CARS FOR MANY YEARS. UPON DIAGNOSIS, THEY TOLD US THAT WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TO R…

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I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER AND IT HAS ALMOST 60,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN JERKING VERY HARD WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST MONTH. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO WE HAVE HAD SERVICE OUR CARS FOR MANY YEARS. UPON DIAGNOSIS, THEY TOLD US THAT WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TO REPAIR THE BROKEN PARTS, THEY STATED IT WOULD COST MORE TO REPAIR IT VERSUS GETTING A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. BOTH THE CAR DEALER AND WE WERE VERY SURPRISED A CAR THIS NEW AND WITH LOW MILES NEEDED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. WE RESEARCH THE INTERNET TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES. WE FOUND THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON REPAIR FOR THE 2006 EXPLORER. HERE IS ONE OF THE WEBSITES THAT DISCUSSES THIS SPECIFIC REPAIR.... HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2006/FORD/EXPLORER/AUTOMATIC+TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359421

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2010
Power Train

VEHICLE SHIFTS HARD AND JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE/DRIVE TO DRIVE. MULTIPLE SITES ON THE INTERNET REVEAL THE SAME OR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM HUNDREDS OF OWNERS DRIVING THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER. DEALER REQUESTED FORD ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR OF MY EXPLORER AND AS IN MANY OTHER CASES, FORD HAS REFUSED. THIS MODEL YEAR EX…

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VEHICLE SHIFTS HARD AND JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE/DRIVE TO DRIVE. MULTIPLE SITES ON THE INTERNET REVEAL THE SAME OR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM HUNDREDS OF OWNERS DRIVING THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER. DEALER REQUESTED FORD ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR OF MY EXPLORER AND AS IN MANY OTHER CASES, FORD HAS REFUSED. THIS MODEL YEAR EXPLORER OBVIOUSLY HAS MULTIPLE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. THESE DEFECTS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED AT FORD'S EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356815

40,000 miles · Aug 15, 2010
Power Train

2006 FORD EXPLORER PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE A VERY HARD JERK IS FELT. TODAY DRIVING TO WORK AND FELT AS IF I LOST POWER AND THEN JUST AS SUDDENLY REGAINED POWER AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR POWERTRAIN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349394

79,030 miles · Jul 29, 2010
Power Train

2006 FORD EXPLORER 4.6L V8 4X4 ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. WAS IN A LOW TRAFFIC AREA SO NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ANY THING BUT HAVE CONCERN FOR FAILURE TO HAPPEN AGAIN ON INTERSTATE OR IN TRAFFIC CAUSING POTENTIALLY DEADLY ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346241

40,000 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Power Train

2006 EXPLORER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR, HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. THIS HAS BEEN A PERIODIC PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342841

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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