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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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54,877 miles · Mar 10, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE RECALL; NUMBER 09D11 (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; OPERATION) REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY REPAIR WAS INSUFFICIENT AND FAILED TO ADDRESS THE GEAR SHIFTER SAFETY DEFECT. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER REGARDING THE MALFUNCTIO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE RECALL; NUMBER 09D11 (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; OPERATION) REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY REPAIR WAS INSUFFICIENT AND FAILED TO ADDRESS THE GEAR SHIFTER SAFETY DEFECT. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER REGARDING THE MALFUNCTION AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,877.

NHTSA ODI #10318405

54,730 miles · Feb 26, 2010
EquipmentPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THE GEAR SHIFT ALSO MOVED OUT OF PARK OWN ITS OWN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH HER VIN FOR THE GEAR SHIFT AND MAD…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THE GEAR SHIFT ALSO MOVED OUT OF PARK OWN ITS OWN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH HER VIN FOR THE GEAR SHIFT AND MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS ON ITS OWN IT WOULD LUNGE FORWARD AND A METAL ODOR WAS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,730.

NHTSA ODI #10314699

50,000 miles · Feb 25, 2010
Power Train

WE BOUGHT A 2006 FORD EXPLORER NEW IN 2006. AFTER THREE YEARS AND 50,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING VERY HARD FROM PARK TO REVERSE TO DRIVE. NOW, AT 61,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT RESPONDING WHEN PRESSING THE THROTTLE WHILE CAR IS ALREADY IN MOTION. IF YOU LET YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE THROTTLE AND THEN PRESS T…

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WE BOUGHT A 2006 FORD EXPLORER NEW IN 2006. AFTER THREE YEARS AND 50,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING VERY HARD FROM PARK TO REVERSE TO DRIVE. NOW, AT 61,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT RESPONDING WHEN PRESSING THE THROTTLE WHILE CAR IS ALREADY IN MOTION. IF YOU LET YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE THROTTLE AND THEN PRESS THE THROTTLE AGAIN THE ENGINE JUST REVS UP FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING ON OR OFF THE INTERSTATE. FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314086

53,000 miles · Feb 20, 2010
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

BOUGHT 2006 EXPLORER NEW. AROUND 14,000 MILES ENGINE PROBLEMS STARTED, HAVE TAKEN CAR IN TO FORD DEALER WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED ABOUT 7 TIMES FOR BASICALLY SAME PROBLEM ~ ENGINE LIGHT / CAR ENGINE LUNGING . MECHANICS DID DIFFERENT THINGS; REPLACED ONE DEFECTED PART WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, RESET COMPUTER, BUT PROBLEM ALWAYS CA…

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BOUGHT 2006 EXPLORER NEW. AROUND 14,000 MILES ENGINE PROBLEMS STARTED, HAVE TAKEN CAR IN TO FORD DEALER WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED ABOUT 7 TIMES FOR BASICALLY SAME PROBLEM ~ ENGINE LIGHT / CAR ENGINE LUNGING . MECHANICS DID DIFFERENT THINGS; REPLACED ONE DEFECTED PART WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, RESET COMPUTER, BUT PROBLEM ALWAYS CAME BACK. SOMETIMES HAPPENING BEFORE I MADE IT HOME. SOME TIMES MONTHS LATER. NOW THEY THINK MAYBE IT COULD BE THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312364

23,519 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Power Train

WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION WILL BANG INTO GEAR AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND. ALSO HAVE HAD BUCKING AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP AND DOWN AND SLIPS. WAS TOLD THE BUCKING AND SLIPPING IS DUE TO A LEAN READING IN THE COMPUTER. TOLD TO CHANGE SPARK PLUGS. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THREE OF THE EIGH…

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WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION WILL BANG INTO GEAR AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND. ALSO HAVE HAD BUCKING AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP AND DOWN AND SLIPS. WAS TOLD THE BUCKING AND SLIPPING IS DUE TO A LEAN READING IN THE COMPUTER. TOLD TO CHANGE SPARK PLUGS. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THREE OF THE EIGHT PLUGS BROKE OFF AS THEY WERE TRYING TO TAKE THEM OUT. THE SPARK PUG ARE MADE BY MOTORCRAFT WHICH IS FORD. THEY HAD TO BUY A KIT TO EXTRACT THEM AND IT COST AN ADDITIONAL $300.00 TO CHANGE EIGHT PLUGS WHICH I HAD ALREADY PURCHASED AT A COST OF $68.00. IT DIDN'T FIX THE ERRATIC SHIFTING AT FIRST. STILL SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO SECOND AND ACTED UP SHORTLY AFTER GETTING IT BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308578

56,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Power Train

SPARK PLUG SEPARATES AND REMAINS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THEM. THREE OF EIGHT WAS CHANGING SPARK PLUGS DUE TO THE COMPUTER MAKING THE TRANSMISSION BUCK AND SLIP WHEN DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308541

30,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Power Train

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A STOP MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER LUNGES FORWARD AS IF SOMETHING IS SKIPPING. IT HAS BEEN DOING IT SINCE 30K MILES AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE OR FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY, SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY ISSUE. SAID IT WOULD NOT BRAKE BUT WOULD JUST BE AN ANNOYANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308346

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2010
Power Train

MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER FREQUENTLY LURCHES/LUNGES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND STARTING UP FROM A STOP. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS BEING REAR-ENDED. *TW

NHTSA ODI #10307160

48,000 miles · Jan 22, 2010
Power Train

2006 FORD EXPLORER HARD OR SLOW TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10301839

19,200 miles · Jan 13, 2010
Power TrainStructure

I BOUGHT A 2006 FORD XLT EXPLORER WITH APX. 17,000 MILES. I HAD IT FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS IT HAD ABOUT 19,000 MILES. I DRIVE IT ABOUT 100 MILES TO A CONVENTION AND BY THE TIME I GOT THERE AND PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING HARD, JERKING AND LUNGING. IT WAS MAKING A LOUD BANGING SOUND AND FELT LIKE THE TRANSMI…

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I BOUGHT A 2006 FORD XLT EXPLORER WITH APX. 17,000 MILES. I HAD IT FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS IT HAD ABOUT 19,000 MILES. I DRIVE IT ABOUT 100 MILES TO A CONVENTION AND BY THE TIME I GOT THERE AND PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING HARD, JERKING AND LUNGING. IT WAS MAKING A LOUD BANGING SOUND AND FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING TO FALL OUT. I TOOK IT TO FORD, THEY DID SOME WORK ON THE TRANSFER CASE AND REPLACED A MODULE. ABOUT A MONTH AND A THOUSAND MILES LATER, IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO FORD AND THEY DID SOME MORE WORK. THE SHIFTER LEVER WAS REPLACED. LATER IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE THE PROBLEM. IT DOESN'T DO IT EVERY DAY BUT DOES DO IT SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, SOME DAYS ARE WORSE THAN OTHERS. AS TIME GOES BY IT SEEMS TO GET WORSE AND HAPPEN MORE OFTEN. SOMETIME WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THERE IS A DELAY TO ENGAGE AND ONE MORNING IT CAUSE ME TO BACK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT ALSO HAS A CRACKED RUNNING BOARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299683

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.

Go deeper into Ford Explorer problems