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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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52,000 miles · Jan 26, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE OVERHAULED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE OVERHAULED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A PART WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI #10822221

107,000 miles · Jan 6, 2016
Power Train

RECENTLY MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WAS JOLTING/JERKING WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE, IT DID NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME JUST RANDOMLY, AND ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO I PUT MY EXPLORER INTO REVERSE TO LEAVE MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING IT WOULD NOT BUDGE, THE ENGINE REVED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO REVERSE BUT NOTHING. IT ONLY DOES IT WHE…

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RECENTLY MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WAS JOLTING/JERKING WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE, IT DID NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME JUST RANDOMLY, AND ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO I PUT MY EXPLORER INTO REVERSE TO LEAVE MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING IT WOULD NOT BUDGE, THE ENGINE REVED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO REVERSE BUT NOTHING. IT ONLY DOES IT WHEN I'M IN REVERSE THOUGH. I'VE BEEN RECENTLY RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST THIS YEAR, I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE, FORD SHOULD BE REPLACING THIS AND PAYING FOR THE COST, DEFINITELY DANGEROUS AND ALSO EXPENSIVE. HAD MY VEHICLE FOR UNDER A YEAR AND HAVE APPROX. 107K MILES AND IVE HAD IT LESS THAN A YEAR AND STILL OWE ROUGHLY 7K ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10818436

107,000 miles · Nov 12, 2015
Power TrainService Brakes

EDDIE BAUER V8 2006 EXPLORER 107000 MILES THE ABS AND SRV LIGHTS CAME OFF. THE CAR WAS STUCK TO THE GROUND AND WOULD NOT SPEED AT ALL. GOT A MECHANIC TO CHECK AND MANY DIFFERENT CODES SHOWED UP. IN THE PAST WHEN THE SAME LIGHTS CAME UP I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING.THEY RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE THE FRONT …

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EDDIE BAUER V8 2006 EXPLORER 107000 MILES THE ABS AND SRV LIGHTS CAME OFF. THE CAR WAS STUCK TO THE GROUND AND WOULD NOT SPEED AT ALL. GOT A MECHANIC TO CHECK AND MANY DIFFERENT CODES SHOWED UP. IN THE PAST WHEN THE SAME LIGHTS CAME UP I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING.THEY RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE THE FRONT TIRES BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. FOR WHAT I KNOW IT SEEMS THE FORD EXPLORER HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND FORD REFUSES TO DO A RECALL TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #10789914

57,000 miles · Nov 2, 2015
Power Train

DIFFICULTY PUTTING VEHICLE INTO DRIVING GEAR WHILE STATIONARY EVER SINCE ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE IN 2006.TRANSMISSION PUMP WAS REPLACED IN 2010; HOWEVER, WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT THIS PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. VEHICLE HAS UNDERGONE REGULAR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE SO NOT SURE HOW THIS PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN. THE INITIAL REPAIR …

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DIFFICULTY PUTTING VEHICLE INTO DRIVING GEAR WHILE STATIONARY EVER SINCE ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE IN 2006.TRANSMISSION PUMP WAS REPLACED IN 2010; HOWEVER, WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT THIS PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. VEHICLE HAS UNDERGONE REGULAR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE SO NOT SURE HOW THIS PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN. THE INITIAL REPAIR WAS DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP IN GERMANY AS I WAS STATIONED THERE DUE TO MILITARY OBLIGATIONS. THIS REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AS WE WERE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. IT PLACED IN THE PARKING POSITION, IT BECOMES VERY TEDIOUS AND DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO REVERT GEARS TO REVERSE OR DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #10787841

92,000 miles · Oct 15, 2015
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTING FROM MICHELIN INCORRECTLY MARKING TIRE SIZES: I HAD FOUR MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN P235/70R16 TIRES ON MY SUV. TWO WORE OUT AND WHERE REPLACED WITH MICHELIN LATITUDE P235/70R16 TIRES AS THE CROSS TERRAIN MODEL WAS DISCONTINUED. THE SUV THEN STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERA…

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TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTING FROM MICHELIN INCORRECTLY MARKING TIRE SIZES: I HAD FOUR MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN P235/70R16 TIRES ON MY SUV. TWO WORE OUT AND WHERE REPLACED WITH MICHELIN LATITUDE P235/70R16 TIRES AS THE CROSS TERRAIN MODEL WAS DISCONTINUED. THE SUV THEN STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE NEW TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY STARTED HAVING SIMILAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ALSO. AFTER MULTIPLE SPECIALISTS EXAMINED THE SUV, THE PROBLEM WAS ISOLATED TO THE 4X4 MODULE ENGAGING THE TRANSFER CASE DURING ACCELERATION. IT WAS DETERMINED BY MEASURING THE TIRES THAT THE VEHICLE IN FACT HAD SETS OF TIRES WITH DIFFERENT CIRCUMFERENCES, EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES WERE MARKED AS BEING THE SAME SIZE. WHEN THE CIRCUMFERENCES OF THE TIRES ARE NOT THE SAME IT CAUSES THE 4X4 MODULE TO BELIEVE A SLIPPING CONDITION IS PRESENT AND ENGAGE THE TRANSFER CASE. THE CONTINUAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSFER CASE RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSIN. I CONTACTED MICHELIN CONSUMER CARE FOUR TIMES OVER A TWO MONTH PERIOD ONLY TO BE TOTALLY IGNORED. MICHELIN HAS SOLD TIRES THAT ARE MARKED INCORRECTLY AS TO SIZE, WHICH RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO YOUR SUV, AND THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY.

NHTSA ODI #10782291

60,000 miles · Oct 3, 2015
Power Train

TRANSMISSION ISSUES, IT HARD SHIFTS, SLAMS INTO GEAR, NO IMMEDIATE ENGAGING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. FORD HAS CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION AND TEST DRIVEN IT THEN CLAIMS IT IS OPERATING FINE. DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY. ISSUES BEGIN ABOUT THE 60,000 MILE MARK.

NHTSA ODI #10779482

99,256 miles · Sep 22, 2015
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND LEAVING YOU NOT MOVING IN TRAFFIC OR WORSE NOT BEING ABLE TO CROSS TRAFFIC. ALSO EXTREME HARD SHIFTS INTO REVERSE FROM PARK. I PUT A NEW (REBUILT)TRANSMISSION IN 4/18/13 AND 9/9/15 IT HAS ONLY BEEN TWO WEEKS AND ALREADY IT IS DOING THE HARD SHIFT THING.

NHTSA ODI #10767293

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2015
Power Train

ATTENTION!!!!! CLASS ACTION SUIT STARTED. CONTACT FELDMAN LAW GROUP P.A. , MITCHELL L. FELDMAN @ 813-639-9366 1715 N. WESTSHORE BLVD. SUITE 400 TAMPA FLORIDA 33607. HELP TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE TO ALL OF THE CONSUMERS WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIM TO THIS DEFECTIVE, COSTLY AND DANGEROUS PRODUCT PUT OUT BY FORD.

NHTSA ODI #10744463

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2015
Power Train

WOW!!!! $2700, THATS WHAT MY DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IS COSTING ME @ ONLY 69K MILES. WHO WANTS TO START A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST FORD? I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2006 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER IN LAS VEGAS AT FRIENDLY FORD. I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE. SHIFTING HARD, NOT ENGAGING AND LURCHING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TH…

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WOW!!!! $2700, THATS WHAT MY DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IS COSTING ME @ ONLY 69K MILES. WHO WANTS TO START A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST FORD? I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2006 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER IN LAS VEGAS AT FRIENDLY FORD. I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE. SHIFTING HARD, NOT ENGAGING AND LURCHING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO HEAR THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. BS, FORD KNOWS THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION BECAUSE MY SISTER BOUGHT THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA AT COUNTRYSIDE FORD THREE MONTHS AFTER ME AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THERE DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. OF COURSE HER TRUCK WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BET IF IT WASN'T THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN HER THE BS EXCUSE ALSO. OR MAYBE THE SERVICE MANAGER THERE WAS WILLING TO TAKE A CUT IN HIS BONUS FOR SPENDING MORE ON CUSTOMERS REPAIRS. BUY AMERICAN? WHY? THEY DO NOT BACK THEIR PRODUCT. SO PEOPLE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? SIT BACK AND LET FORD GET AWAY WITH THIS. NO, IT'S TIME FOR FORD TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. IF ANYBODY OUT THERE KNOWS HOW TO PROCEED WITH ACTION, POST THE INFORMATION ON THIS SITE.

NHTSA ODI #10735363

100,000 miles · Jul 17, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR WITH AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE AS THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO A MISFIRE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR WITH AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE AS THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO A MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10734758

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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