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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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11,950 miles · Jun 27, 2008
Power Train

MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE IT TO LUNGE FORWARD WHEN STOPPING WHICH FORD SAYS THEY ARE AWARE OF BUT CANNOT SEEM TO FIND THE PROPPER REMEDY FOR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION THAT COULD CAUSE ME TO RUN INTO OTHER STOPPED VEHICLES. I HAVE BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN THREE TIMES TO GET THE PROBLEM F…

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MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE IT TO LUNGE FORWARD WHEN STOPPING WHICH FORD SAYS THEY ARE AWARE OF BUT CANNOT SEEM TO FIND THE PROPPER REMEDY FOR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION THAT COULD CAUSE ME TO RUN INTO OTHER STOPPED VEHICLES. I HAVE BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN THREE TIMES TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED WITH NO IMPROVEMENT WITH THE CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI #10232473

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2008
EquipmentPower TrainVisibility

WHEN THE CAR STOPS, STARTS OR DRIVES SLOW... IT JERKS WHEN CHANGING GEARS FROM 1ST THROUGH 3RD, BOTH UP- AND DOWN SHIFTING. IT HAS ALSO STARTED TO SLOW (FOR NO APPARENT REASON) WHEN DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY (GOING AROUND 65-70 MILES AN HOUR), I HAVE HAD MULLINAX FORD LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION 5 TIMES NOW, AND IT …

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WHEN THE CAR STOPS, STARTS OR DRIVES SLOW... IT JERKS WHEN CHANGING GEARS FROM 1ST THROUGH 3RD, BOTH UP- AND DOWN SHIFTING. IT HAS ALSO STARTED TO SLOW (FOR NO APPARENT REASON) WHEN DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY (GOING AROUND 65-70 MILES AN HOUR), I HAVE HAD MULLINAX FORD LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION 5 TIMES NOW, AND IT IS STILL THERE. CURRENTLY I AM INVOLVED IN A LEMON LAW CASE TRYING TO GET FORD TO BUY MY CAR BACK. THEY ARE STATING THAT THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND AT THE SAME TIME SAYING THAT IT IS DUE TO ABUSE OR NEGLECT ON MY PART ???? I CAN ONLY SUGGEST THAT OTHERS TAKE THE SAME ROUTE - THE MORE THE BETTER TO GET THE ATTENTION OF FORD TO COMPLETELY FIX THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE HAD MY COMPASS WORKED ON (DID NOT SHOW ANYTHING OR JUST TWO LINES) , THE GEAR SHIFTER REPLACED (WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF 'P'), THE REAR WINDOW REPLACED (DUE TO WATER LEAK) AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM REPLACED AS THERE WAS SOMETHING BEND ???. I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT WHEN WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THE CAR THE BREAKS WORKED DIFFERENTLY AFTERWARDS. IN MY OPINION THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER IS A LEMON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226300

12,000 miles · Apr 3, 2008
Power Train

MY 06 EXPLORER HAS BEEN LURCHING EXTREMELY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND VICE VERSA. ITS TO THE POINT THAT WHEN STOPPING I AM COMING LITERALLY WITHIN AN INCH OF HITTING ANOTHER CAR B/C THE CAR STOPS AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. MY CAR IS ALSO REVVING UP FOR NO REASON AT AROUND 3000-4000 RPM WHEN I DON'T EVEN PUSH ON THE GAS, OR BARELY T…

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MY 06 EXPLORER HAS BEEN LURCHING EXTREMELY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND VICE VERSA. ITS TO THE POINT THAT WHEN STOPPING I AM COMING LITERALLY WITHIN AN INCH OF HITTING ANOTHER CAR B/C THE CAR STOPS AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. MY CAR IS ALSO REVVING UP FOR NO REASON AT AROUND 3000-4000 RPM WHEN I DON'T EVEN PUSH ON THE GAS, OR BARELY TAP IT! I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WHILE DRIVING MY SUV. I CAME ACROSS THIS WEBSITE TODAY: CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE 66 OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 EXPLORER MODELS. FORD IS NOT TAKING ANY PROCEDURES INTO GETTING THE VEHICLES RECALLED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY TRUCK, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. THE TRUCKS ARE STILL CONSIDERED VERY NEW AND YET THEY ARE LURCHING AND HAVING A HUGE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE FORD DEALER IN MIAMI, FL THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM AND REPLACED MY BRAKES, YET WHEN I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED! THAT WAS IN NOV 2007. I AM NOW STATIONED IN ANCHORAGE ALASKA AT ELMENDORF AFB AND HAVE MADE AN APPT WITH THE FORD DEALER HERE ON MONDAY. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THERE IS NO PERMANENT FIX OUT THERE FOR THIS PROBLEM, EVERYTHING IS TEMPORARY. SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE TO GET THESE TRUCKS OFF THE ROAD. OBVIOUSLY WE ARE ALL DRIVING HAZARDS WAITING TO HAPPEN!! MY TRUCK IS JOLTING WORSE THAN EVER AND I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223268

500 miles · Mar 15, 2008
Power TrainFire

CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10185415 IN FOLLOW-UP TO THE ABOVE CASE, I HAVE BEEN READING THE SUBSEQUENT COMPLAINTS AND READ WITH DISGUST THAT ALOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WRITING NOW BOUGHT THE 2006 EXPLORER AS USED. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE TURNED OURS IN UNDER THE LEMON LAW FOR ALL OF THE SAME REASONS LISTED IN THE OTHER …

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CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10185415 IN FOLLOW-UP TO THE ABOVE CASE, I HAVE BEEN READING THE SUBSEQUENT COMPLAINTS AND READ WITH DISGUST THAT ALOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WRITING NOW BOUGHT THE 2006 EXPLORER AS USED. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE TURNED OURS IN UNDER THE LEMON LAW FOR ALL OF THE SAME REASONS LISTED IN THE OTHER COMPLAINTS BUT WITHIN A DAY OR TWO OF TURNING THE VEHICLE IN, THERE WAS A BIG COLORED PICTURE OF MY EXPLORER IN MATHEWS CURRIE FORD'S USED CAR AD. MY PROBLEMS WERE JUST BEING RESOLD TO SOME UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE GETTING A DEAL ON A GOOD LOW MILEAGE CAR. IT'S IS A SHAME THAT FORD IS STILL ALLOWED TO SELL THOSE EXPLORERS AND THEY TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELLING DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221304

12,000 miles · Jan 13, 2008
Power Train

HARD JOLTS WHEN STOPPING AND WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, FORD MOTOR CO. RECOMMENDS KEEP DRIVING IT. DEALERSHIP STATES THEY CAN'T FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214643

24,000 miles · Jan 7, 2008
Power Train

WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE JOLTS AND LUNGES FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214077

296 miles · Dec 31, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS STARTING WITH A LIFTER STUCK IN MOTOR AT 296 MILES, TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 15,700 MILES. BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED SINCE IT WAS NEW, OVERHEAD CONSOLE HAS FALLEN OFF TWICE, SATELLITE RADIO WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. DOOR RUBBED ON RUNNING BOARD, NOW GAS MILEAGE HAS DROPPED UNDER 10 MILES PER GALLON. 14 TRIP…

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HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS STARTING WITH A LIFTER STUCK IN MOTOR AT 296 MILES, TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 15,700 MILES. BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED SINCE IT WAS NEW, OVERHEAD CONSOLE HAS FALLEN OFF TWICE, SATELLITE RADIO WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. DOOR RUBBED ON RUNNING BOARD, NOW GAS MILEAGE HAS DROPPED UNDER 10 MILES PER GALLON. 14 TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP SO FAR AND STILL NOT ALL IS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10213279

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2007
Power Train

WE OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER, AND ITS TRANSMISSION SLIPS, GETS CONFUSED DURING DOWNSHIFTS, AND NOW HAS DEVELOPED A LURCH FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP, WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" BUT FORD IS WORKING ON A PROGRAM FOR THE COMPUTER THAT THEY ARE RELEASING IN MID NOVEMB…

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WE OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER, AND ITS TRANSMISSION SLIPS, GETS CONFUSED DURING DOWNSHIFTS, AND NOW HAS DEVELOPED A LURCH FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP, WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" BUT FORD IS WORKING ON A PROGRAM FOR THE COMPUTER THAT THEY ARE RELEASING IN MID NOVEMBER. FIRST OF ALL, IF THIS IS NORMAL WHY IS THIS THE SECOND ATTEMPT AT CREATING A FIX FOR A "NON-EXISTENT" PROBLEM WITH A "NORMALLY FUNCTIONING TRANSMISSION." FORD INSTRUCTED THE DEALERSHIPS TO LET IT BE UNTIL THE NEW "PROGRAM" COMES OUT IN NOVEMBER. WHERE EXACTLY DOES THAT LEAVE THE CONSUMER, I HAVE A TRANSMISSION THAT HAD HAS BEEN SLIPPING IN GEAR AND MIS-SHIFTING FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES AND A 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. IF THIS DOESN'T BECOME MORE OF A SAFETY CONCERN, WHICH I AM AFRAID IT WILL, I WILL LIKELY HAVE INCREASED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE OF IT. PLUS, NEVERMIND THIS CURRENT MODEL EXPLORER WILL NOW HAVE A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RESALE VALUE AS THESE TYPES OF COMPLAINTS INCREASE. PLEASE HELP! THIS WAS A LARGE INVESTMENT TO MAKE, AND NOW I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE CONSEQUENCE FOR FORDS FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208137

4,700 miles · Oct 29, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT DOWNSHIFTING CORRECTLY. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP OR DRIVING BETWEEN 1 AND 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUMPED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS: SEPTEMBER 22, 2006, OCTOBER 9, 2006, AND SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. ON EACH VISIT, THE DEALER PERFORMED…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT DOWNSHIFTING CORRECTLY. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP OR DRIVING BETWEEN 1 AND 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUMPED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS: SEPTEMBER 22, 2006, OCTOBER 9, 2006, AND SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. ON EACH VISIT, THE DEALER PERFORMED A TRANSMISSION UPDATE THAT ONLY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. IT IS CURRENTLY OCTOBER 2007 AND THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,700.

NHTSA ODI #10207271

15,000 miles · Oct 26, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PCM FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI #10207038

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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