TRUCKS DOESN'T ENGAGE IN GEAR SOMETIMES, I HAVE PROBLEMS BACKING UP DOESN'T ENGAGE PROPERLY. I ALMOST GOT IN ACCIDENT WITH MY TWO BABIES WHERE IN THE VEHICLE. *JS
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Explorer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Power Train complaints
296 reportsI WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THEN I WENT TO DRIVE AND IT STARTED TO AND CUT OFF WHEN IT JOLTED LIKE SOMEONE HIT ME AND MY PASSENGER FROM THE REAR BUT IT WAS THE GEAR OR TRANSMISSION OR THE OVERDRIVE NOT ENGAGING, NOT SURE. I SAT THERE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES IN NEUTRAL AND THEN PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE…
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I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THEN I WENT TO DRIVE AND IT STARTED TO AND CUT OFF WHEN IT JOLTED LIKE SOMEONE HIT ME AND MY PASSENGER FROM THE REAR BUT IT WAS THE GEAR OR TRANSMISSION OR THE OVERDRIVE NOT ENGAGING, NOT SURE. I SAT THERE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES IN NEUTRAL AND THEN PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IT MOVED FORWARD. AFTER I PARKED THE CAR IT REPEATED THE ABOVE ACTION. *TR
WE HAVE A 2006, SIX CYLINDER EXPLORER. AT ONLY APPROXIMATELY 77,000 MILES, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR (A $2,000 EXPENSE), AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS TOTALLY SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE EITHER "REBUILT" OR REPLACED. YET ANOTHER NECESSARY REPAIR FOR AN AUTOMOBILE THAT HAS HAD ALL ITS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, GARAGE KEPT …
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WE HAVE A 2006, SIX CYLINDER EXPLORER. AT ONLY APPROXIMATELY 77,000 MILES, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR (A $2,000 EXPENSE), AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS TOTALLY SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE EITHER "REBUILT" OR REPLACED. YET ANOTHER NECESSARY REPAIR FOR AN AUTOMOBILE THAT HAS HAD ALL ITS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, GARAGE KEPT AND GENTLY DRIVEN AS A FAMILY COMMUTER. AT NINE MODEL YEARS OLD, WE AVERAGING 8,000 MILES A YEAR! THESE SORT OF SYSTEM FAILURES ARE A GENUINE SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR A MORE WIDESPREAD PROBLEMATIC OCCURRENCES. *TR
TRANSMISSION CLUNKS WHEN IT IS PUT INTO GEAR. I SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS CONDITION. FORD ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CONDITION BUT WITH ALL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS I THINK IT SHOULD BE FORDS PROBLEM TO FIX. *JS
IN THE LAST 2 YEARS I HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH HAS COST ME A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY. SIMILARLY TO THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPLAINTS LISTED THE VEHICLE JOLTS AND HESITATES WHILE IN MOTION. I HAVE BEEN TO REPAIR SHOP MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT.... AND NOT EVEN THE TECHNICIANS AT FORD SEEM TO KNOW WH…
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IN THE LAST 2 YEARS I HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH HAS COST ME A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY. SIMILARLY TO THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPLAINTS LISTED THE VEHICLE JOLTS AND HESITATES WHILE IN MOTION. I HAVE BEEN TO REPAIR SHOP MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT.... AND NOT EVEN THE TECHNICIANS AT FORD SEEM TO KNOW WHAT TO DO AS I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. ON MY LAST VISIT TO THE SHOP ( A WEEK AGO) I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER WHICH WORKS LIKE "THE BRAIN OF THE TRUCK" BUT THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT SO THEN I WAS ENCOURAGED " TO LOOK AT "SOMETHING NEW(ER)". I QUESTIONED WHY I SHOULD BE DOING THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS ONE 93K MILES ON IT.... AND WHY WOULD I BUY ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE WHEN THEY COULDN'T FIX OR FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE ONE I HAVE!!!!???? BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS DIRECTLY ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ,I AM CONFIDENT THAT THERE IS A LARGER PROBLEM OF WHICH FORD IS AWARE AND REFUSES TO ADDRESS. I AM AFRAID EVERY TIME I DRIVE AS I DO NOT KNOW OR HAVE MUCH CONFIDENCE THAT IT WILL OPERATE AS INTENDED. AFTER CALLING FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER, I WAS TOLD THAT MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO TAKE IT TO THE FOR REPAIR SHOP EVEN IF THEY DID NOT KNOW AND HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEN CANNOT IDENTIFY OF FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE IN 2011 ONCE IT WAS HOME WITHIN 3 MONTHS BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS, I ALSO PURCHASE THE FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY EXPLAINED THEY COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT JOLTS, LUNGES, AND SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE. I FEEL EXTREMELY UNSAFE TRYING T…
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PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE IN 2011 ONCE IT WAS HOME WITHIN 3 MONTHS BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS, I ALSO PURCHASE THE FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY EXPLAINED THEY COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT JOLTS, LUNGES, AND SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE. I FEEL EXTREMELY UNSAFE TRYING TO PULL OUT AT AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE THE CAR STARTS TO JOLT AND I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE GAS IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO GO.IT IS HORRIBLE AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING; ESPECIALLY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. EVEN IF I AM DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR INTO OVERDRIVE TO STOP THE MAJORITY OF THE JOLTING, AND THAT DOES NOT EVEN GUARANTEE IT WILL STOP. IT HAS BEEN A BATTLE WITH THE DEALERSHIP. HAD IT INDEPENDENTLY CHECKED BY AAMCO AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, BUT THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS. NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
THE VEHICLE WAS HESITATING AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING DURING A TURN CAUSING THE RPMS TO REV . THIS CAUSED SEVERAL CARS TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE SHOP AS IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2006 FORD EXPLORER THAT IT WAS A FAILED TRANSMISSION. COST TO FIX IS $2,508.
I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED LURCHING SEVERAL TIMES. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS UNTIL I GOT HOME. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE COULD NOT MAKE IT DO THE SAME THING. IT DID NOT DO IT AGAIN FOR SEVERAL WEEKS UNTIL I WAS PULLING A TRAILER. AT THAT TIME, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR. …
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I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED LURCHING SEVERAL TIMES. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS UNTIL I GOT HOME. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE COULD NOT MAKE IT DO THE SAME THING. IT DID NOT DO IT AGAIN FOR SEVERAL WEEKS UNTIL I WAS PULLING A TRAILER. AT THAT TIME, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR. I STOPPED AND SHIFTED IT INTO PARK. I THEN SHIFT IT INTO DRIVE AND STARTED DRIVING BUT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I AGAIN STOPPED AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE AND BEGAN MOVING, IT WOULD SHIFT INTO THE HIGHER GEARS BUT NOT INTO OVERDRIVE. THE LURCHING CONTINUED TO THIS DAY. *TR
CEL LIGHT CAME ON, CODE READ 02 SENSOR WHICH WAS REPLACED AND CEL LIGHT OFF NOW. TRANSMISSION JERKING HARD INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE AND HANGS UP BETWEEN GEARS, SUDDENLY LUNGING FORWARD. IN STOP AND START OR DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC, WITH LIGHTS EVERY BLOCK, IT WILL SOMETIMES LUNGE FORWARD AS I SLOW DOWN TO STOP, IDLES ROUGH, AND THEN HAS …
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CEL LIGHT CAME ON, CODE READ 02 SENSOR WHICH WAS REPLACED AND CEL LIGHT OFF NOW. TRANSMISSION JERKING HARD INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE AND HANGS UP BETWEEN GEARS, SUDDENLY LUNGING FORWARD. IN STOP AND START OR DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC, WITH LIGHTS EVERY BLOCK, IT WILL SOMETIMES LUNGE FORWARD AS I SLOW DOWN TO STOP, IDLES ROUGH, AND THEN HAS DIED. IT HAS TWICE SPUTTERED AND TRIED TO STALL TRYING TO CROSS BUSY INTERSECTION. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE!!!! AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT RIDICULOUS COST THAT APPARENTLY DOES NOT FIX PROBLEM AS INDICATED BY ALL FORD FORUMS. *TR
SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR SO HAD THAT IT FEELS LIKE I JUST GOT REAR ENDED WITH A BIG BANG. THE DATE ABOVE WAS THE FIRST TIME AND EVER SINCE IT KEEPS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. *JS
Official recalls
105V520000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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