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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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17,895 miles · Aug 10, 2007
Power Train

2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER V8 WITH SIX SPEED AUTO. PURCHASE VEHICLE USED WITH 17K MILES. PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION 1-2 WEEKS INTO OWNERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS ISSUES AS TO WHAT GEAR TO BE IN AND WILL LUNGE FORWARD OR CLUNK INTO GEAR. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT SOMETIME…

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2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER V8 WITH SIX SPEED AUTO. PURCHASE VEHICLE USED WITH 17K MILES. PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION 1-2 WEEKS INTO OWNERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS ISSUES AS TO WHAT GEAR TO BE IN AND WILL LUNGE FORWARD OR CLUNK INTO GEAR. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT SOMETIMES HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING INTO HIGHER GEARS AND WILL "CLUNK" INTO GEAR. IN ONE INSTANCE I TRIED TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT IN ORDER TO GAIN SPEED. THE ENGINE REVVED UP BUT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE RE PROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER THE FIRST TIME. THE SYMPTOMS SEEMED TO DISAPPEAR. A WEEK LATER, IT CAME BACK. THE SECOND TIME, THE TECH TOLD ME THAT IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION AND THAT THE TRANNY GETS CONFUSED AS TO WHAT GEAR TO BE IN. THE DELAYED AND HARSH SHIFTING IS DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT AS A RESULT OF IT HAPPENING. THE RANDOM SHIFTING INTO FIRST WHEN COMING TO A STOP SHOULD PROVE REAL INTERESTING ON THE ICE AND SNOW... *JB

NHTSA ODI #10199092

17,000 miles · Jun 11, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE DURING A DOWN SHIFT AND ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AND HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF ANY RECALLS. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR, AS RESULT THIS HAS BEEN R…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE DURING A DOWN SHIFT AND ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AND HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF ANY RECALLS. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR, AS RESULT THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10192963

796 miles · Apr 27, 2007
Power Train

TERRIBLE HESITATION WHEN PULLING UP TO STOP SIGN AND TRYING TO TAKE OFF. PARKING LOT AT SLOW SPEED TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. LIFTER STUCK IN MOTOR AT 700 MILES.NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT ISSUE AS OF YET. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10189103

8,869 miles · Apr 27, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OVER A HILL THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT REPAIR IT. THE DEA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OVER A HILL THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT REPAIR IT. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE PCM THREE TIMES AT 10,016, 14881, AND 17,037 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 17,207, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,869. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10189095

100 miles · Apr 26, 2007
Power Train

I PURCHASED A 2006 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR AND HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH IT SINCE I HIT 1000 MILES. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES AND THEY HAVE ADJUSTED, REPLACED A COMPUTER, DID OTHER TRANSMISSION WORK AND THE VEHICLE STILL DEMONSTRATES THE SAME ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS DURING SHIFTING…

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I PURCHASED A 2006 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR AND HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH IT SINCE I HIT 1000 MILES. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES AND THEY HAVE ADJUSTED, REPLACED A COMPUTER, DID OTHER TRANSMISSION WORK AND THE VEHICLE STILL DEMONSTRATES THE SAME ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS DURING SHIFTING AND ON SLOW DOWN TO STOP. THE VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD AND SHIFTS VERY ROUGH BETWEEN GEARS. FORD MOTOR CORP HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST ANY FURTHER AND HAS ASKED ME TO BRING MY VEHICLE BACK AGAIN FOR THE 5TH TIME. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE VEHICLE DOES JERK FORWARD WHEN YOU STOP. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS HAS PUT ME INTO A SITUATION WHERE I FEEL LIKE MY CHILDREN ARE UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL TO REAREND SOMEONE IF THE CAR FAILS TO STOP PROPERLY. WHERE IS FORD WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY AND CONSUMER LOYALTY??? THIS WAS MY THIRD FORD PURCHASE AND WILL MOST LIKELY BE THE LAST. A COLLEAGUE OF MINE ALSO PURCHASED THIS SAME VEHICLE AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10188964

791 miles · Apr 24, 2007
Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER V-8 LIMITED WITH THE SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED WITH UNDER 1,000 MILES. IT LURCHED, BUCKED, HIGH REVVED AND FAILED TO ENGAGE, THEN SUDDENLY ENGAGED AND EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY FORD. 13,000 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISSION LURCHES AND BU…

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I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER V-8 LIMITED WITH THE SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED WITH UNDER 1,000 MILES. IT LURCHED, BUCKED, HIGH REVVED AND FAILED TO ENGAGE, THEN SUDDENLY ENGAGED AND EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY FORD. 13,000 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISSION LURCHES AND BUCKS THE CARD FORWARD. WHEN GOING FROM SECOND TO FIRST, IT POPS BACK INTO SECOND, THEN INTO FIRST AGAIN. IF NOT FOR THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR COULD LUNGE FORWARD AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO PULL UP TOO CLOSE TO ANYTHING WHEN STOPPING. FORD CONTINUED TO RECALIBRATE THE TRANSMISSION THREE MORE TIMES TO NO AVAIL AND ON THE FOURTH AND FINAL REPAIR ATTEMPT THEY STATED THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FURTHER TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10188777

1,500 miles · Apr 20, 2007
Power Train

CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ROUGHLY, HESITATION AT COLD START, AND DURING SLOW TAKE-OFFS AND SLOWING DOWN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10188480

15,000 miles · Apr 5, 2007
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SURGES ON DOWNSHIFT BETWEEN 2ND AND 1ST....ENGINE RPM'S INCREASE AND TRANSMISSION SLAMS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A LURCH. FORD MOTOR HAS NO FIX FOR THIS AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE FLAWED VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH NO OWNER RECOURSE DUE TO FACT THAT FORD ENGINEER DOES NO KNOW WHAT TO DO. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10187137

600 miles · Mar 17, 2007
Electrical SystemPower TrainFire

2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAURER- WITHIN 12 HOURS OF PURCHASING THE CAR, THE STARTER CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAR WAS OUT OF SERVICE 1 WEEK. TRANSMISSION HESITATED FROM A COLD START ESPECIALLLY BAD WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. ENGINE ROARED AT TIMES, SOUNDED LIKE A JET TAKING OFF. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL, IT WAS THE ENGINE FAN ??…

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2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAURER- WITHIN 12 HOURS OF PURCHASING THE CAR, THE STARTER CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAR WAS OUT OF SERVICE 1 WEEK. TRANSMISSION HESITATED FROM A COLD START ESPECIALLLY BAD WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. ENGINE ROARED AT TIMES, SOUNDED LIKE A JET TAKING OFF. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL, IT WAS THE ENGINE FAN ???? CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHEN STARTING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AT FIRST SERVICE DEPT AGREED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH 8 CYLINDER TRANSMISSION AND THAT THEY WERE NO FIXES BUT THEN THE FORD REP GOT INVOLVED AND SUDDENLY THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THEY SUGGESTED THAT OUR ONLY RECOUSE WAS TO GO THRU THE LEMON LAW WHICH WE DID. IT WAS A LONG DRAWN OUT PROCESS BUT AFTER 6 MONTHS OF DEALING WITH THE SITUATION, THE LEMON ARBITRATION RULLED IN OUR FAVOR AND FORD WAS REQUIRED TO BUY BACK THE EXPLORER. I HAD A FORD EXPEDITION FOR 9 YEARS AND LOVED IT BUT AFTER THIS FIASCO WITH THE EXPLORER AND FORD'S REFUSAL TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, I WILL NOT EVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. I NOW HAVE A TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND COULDN'T BE HAPPIER. WHILE IT DOESN'T HAVE SOME OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE EXPLORER, THE PIECE OF MIND OF KNOWING THAT IT WILL ACTUALLY GO WHEN I PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC IS IMMEASUREABLE. TO THOSE STILL HAVING THE PROBLEMS, I WOULD SUGGEST THE LEMON LAW.

NHTSA ODI #10185415

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2007
Power Train

OUR 2006 EDDIE BAUER V-8 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS APPROX 6K MILES ON IT AND SINCE THE VERY FIRST DAY THERE HAS BEEN A HESITATION WHEN SHIFTING. FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LAG TIME FROM ENGAGING THE TRANSMISSION TO MOVEMENT AND IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH A RATHER LARGE "CLUNK". T…

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OUR 2006 EDDIE BAUER V-8 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS APPROX 6K MILES ON IT AND SINCE THE VERY FIRST DAY THERE HAS BEEN A HESITATION WHEN SHIFTING. FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LAG TIME FROM ENGAGING THE TRANSMISSION TO MOVEMENT AND IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH A RATHER LARGE "CLUNK". THIS IS OUT 4TH EXPLORER AND ENJOY THE STYLING BUT AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS OBVIOUS ENGINEERING FLAW. IT APPEARS FORD IS AWARE OF IT BUT HAS NO "FIX". *JB

NHTSA ODI #10182921

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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