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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

Service Brakes, Electric complaints

2 reports
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80,000 miles · Aug 2, 2010
Service Brakes, Electric

ABS LIGHT APPEARED , FOLLOWED BY ANTI SKID LIGHT , NOW WITH WRENCH FLASHING , ON A 2006 FORD EXPLORER , CAUSES IT TO DRIVE TERRIBLE ON GRAVEL , ALL THIS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION AND THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, MY CAR HAS 80,000 MILES AND DRIVES LIKE ITS 20 YEARS OLD AND ABOUT THAT RELIABLE. LIGHT HAS B…

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ABS LIGHT APPEARED , FOLLOWED BY ANTI SKID LIGHT , NOW WITH WRENCH FLASHING , ON A 2006 FORD EXPLORER , CAUSES IT TO DRIVE TERRIBLE ON GRAVEL , ALL THIS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION AND THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, MY CAR HAS 80,000 MILES AND DRIVES LIKE ITS 20 YEARS OLD AND ABOUT THAT RELIABLE. LIGHT HAS BEEN ON OVER A WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346911

51,000 miles · Jun 4, 2010
Service Brakes, Electric

ON TWO OCCASIONS (MAY 2009 AND NOW JUNE 2010) A TONE RING IN MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER'S ABS/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM BROKE. IT CAUSED THE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKES TO GO HAYWIRE. THEY BEGAN TO GRAB AND LOCK MY BRAKES WHEN I WAS MOVING CAUSING ERRATIC DRIVING. WHEN I WENT TO STOP, MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAVE READ …

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ON TWO OCCASIONS (MAY 2009 AND NOW JUNE 2010) A TONE RING IN MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER'S ABS/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM BROKE. IT CAUSED THE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKES TO GO HAYWIRE. THEY BEGAN TO GRAB AND LOCK MY BRAKES WHEN I WAS MOVING CAUSING ERRATIC DRIVING. WHEN I WENT TO STOP, MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAVE READ ON FORD FORUMS THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS FORD EXPLORER OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334660

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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