IllustrationTHE UNIT HAS ISSUES WITH THE SEAT BELTS. I CALLED THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RECALL CAMPAIGN REGARDING THIS ISSUE, AND NO GUARANTY CAN BE APPLY.
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
960–25K
13925–50K
13950–75K
8575–100K
67100–150K
21150K+
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
Seats complaints
11 reportsDRIVERS POWER SEAT IS LOOSE. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO TRACK. SEAT FEELS LOOSE AND MOVES FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON ACCELERATION OR BRAKING. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS HOW DISTRACTING THIS IS. THE AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT SEEMS TO BE GETTING GREATER AND GREATER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED; HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED; HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 11/29/16*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL DROPPING NOISE AND BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE WOULD OFTEN LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. WHEN BRAKING, THE VEHICLE WOULD…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL DROPPING NOISE AND BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE WOULD OFTEN LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. WHEN BRAKING, THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK VIOLENTLY AS IF SOMEONE HAD CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE PASSENGER REARVIEW MIRROR WHEN THE SECOND ROW SEAT WAS UPRIGHT BECAUSE THE HEADREST WAS OBSTRUCTING HER VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PADDING ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN UPHOLSTER SHOP. THE UPHOLSTERER ADDED MORE PADDING TO THE FRONT SEAT AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS MADE THE SEAT MORE COMFORTABLE. THE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PADDING ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN UPHOLSTER SHOP. THE UPHOLSTERER ADDED MORE PADDING TO THE FRONT SEAT AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS MADE THE SEAT MORE COMFORTABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS IS A COMPANY CAR AND USES THE VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SALES LOCATIONS. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED COPY OF LETTERS TO FORD PERTAINING TO THE DEFECT , COPY OF REGISTRATION, AND INSURANCE CARD. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DISCOMFORT OF THE SEAT CAUSED HIS LEG TO BECOME SWOLLEN AND UPON SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT, IT WAS DISCOVERED HE SUFFERED A DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS AND A BLOOD CLOT HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND CAUSED A PULMONARY EMBOLISM. THE VEHICLE IS A COMPANY OWNED. UPDATED 08/07/07 *TR
THE HEAD REST ON THE REAR SEATS OF THE 2006 FOR EXPLORER POSE A SERIOUS VISION OBSTRUCTION. YOU CANNOT SEE WHEN BACKING UP OR CHANGING LANES. IF YOU HAVE A CAR SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT YOU CANNOT LET THE HEAD REST DOWN. YOU ALSO CANNOT MOVE THE HEAD REST UP OR DOWN, ONLY TILT THE HEAD REST FORWARD. *JB
UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT, THERE IS SURFACE RUST ON THE METAL FRAME AND COMPONENTS. RUST IS NOT LIKELY SERIOUS, BUT CAN STAIN ANYTHING IT TOUCHES, AND MAY PROGRESS TO MORE SERIOUS RUST, CAUSING PARTS TO BREAK DOWN, OR MALFUNCTION. DEALER I BOUGHT VEHICLE FROM CALLED FORD SERVICE CENTER, AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE…
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UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT, THERE IS SURFACE RUST ON THE METAL FRAME AND COMPONENTS. RUST IS NOT LIKELY SERIOUS, BUT CAN STAIN ANYTHING IT TOUCHES, AND MAY PROGRESS TO MORE SERIOUS RUST, CAUSING PARTS TO BREAK DOWN, OR MALFUNCTION. DEALER I BOUGHT VEHICLE FROM CALLED FORD SERVICE CENTER, AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND AS THEY DEEM IT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" IT IS NOT COVERED BY ANY SORT OF WARRANTY. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR??? RUST INSIDE A NEW VEHICLE??? CHECKED OTHER EXPLORERS ON THE LOT AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
THE HEADREST ON THE REAR SEATS OF THE 2006 FOR EXPLORER POSE A SERIOUS VISION OBSTRUCTION. YOU CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FOR PASSING OR CHANGING LANES. IF YOU HAVE A CAR SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT YOU CANNOT LET THE HEADREST DOWN. YOU ALSO CANNOT MOVE THE HEADREST UP OR DOWN, ONLY TILT THE HEADREST FORWARD. *NM
2006 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED DRIVER SEAT WOULD NOT RETAIN MEMORY ON #2 SETTING. WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE THE SEAT WONT GLIDE BACK UNTIL THE #2 BUTTON IS PUSHED. TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *KB THE DEALER HAD TO REPROGRAM THE SEAT MEMORY MODULE AND REPROGRAM BOTH REMOTES. THE DEALER RESET THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS. *NM
2006 FORD EXPLORER LTD. MEMORY SEAT NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT WOULD PLACE HIM UP AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL, OTHER TIMES IT WOULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD A FEW INCHES AND OTHER TIMES AFTER REMOVING THE KEY AND TRYING MORE THAN ONCE THE SEAT WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. *JB
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.