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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

Tires complaints

4 reports
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106,930 miles · May 4, 2016
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LATITUDE TOUR GREEN X TIRES, SIZE: P245/65R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AREA WHERE THE TREAD MET THE SIDEWALL WAS SEPARATING. THE FAILURE WAS EVIDENT ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES ON 8/29/2014 FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LATITUDE TOUR GREEN X TIRES, SIZE: P245/65R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AREA WHERE THE TREAD MET THE SIDEWALL WAS SEPARATING. THE FAILURE WAS EVIDENT ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES ON 8/29/2014 FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED AGAIN. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,930.

NHTSA ODI #10863022

86,000 miles · Apr 1, 2013
EnginePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

WITH ONLY 86,000 MILES OUR FORD EXPLORERS TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ONCE AGAIN. WHEN WE HAD 23,000 MILES ON OUR VEHICLE WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING RATHER HARD AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AT 58,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT WAS SO ROUGH THAT WE HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED. SINCE THE W…

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WITH ONLY 86,000 MILES OUR FORD EXPLORERS TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ONCE AGAIN. WHEN WE HAD 23,000 MILES ON OUR VEHICLE WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING RATHER HARD AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AT 58,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT WAS SO ROUGH THAT WE HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED. SINCE THE WARRANTY IS ONLY UP TO 36,000 WE DECIDED OUR BEST BET IS TO NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. WE HAD THE VALVE BODY REPAIRED AND IT RAN FINE UP UNTIL NOW. 86,000 MILES AND THIS VEHICLE IS ONCE AGAIN AT A REPAIR SHOP HAVING THE TRANSMISSION FULLY REBUILT. IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE PAID OVER $7,000 TO KEEP IT RUNNING WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE, TIRES, RADIATOR REPAIR, BRAKES AND NOW THE THIRD TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505294

30,086 miles · Jul 20, 2010
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. SHE PURCHASED FOUR TIRES THIRTEEN MONTHS AGO AND THEY ARE APPROXIMATELY FIFTY PERCENT WORN. THE TIRES ARE GOODYEAR MODEL#FORTERA-HL, SIZE 245/65R17. THE GOODYEAR MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TIRES AT A PRORATED PRICE AT A FIFTY PERCENT DISCOUNT. SHE PREVIOUSLY PAID $60…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. SHE PURCHASED FOUR TIRES THIRTEEN MONTHS AGO AND THEY ARE APPROXIMATELY FIFTY PERCENT WORN. THE TIRES ARE GOODYEAR MODEL#FORTERA-HL, SIZE 245/65R17. THE GOODYEAR MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TIRES AT A PRORATED PRICE AT A FIFTY PERCENT DISCOUNT. SHE PREVIOUSLY PAID $600 AND NOW HAD TO PAY ANOTHER $300 FOR THE TIRES. THE FAILURE WAS 30,086 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 43,000. UPDATED 10/15/10 BF UPDATED 10/18/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10344184

7,098 miles · Sep 16, 2006
SeatsTires

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

NHTSA ODI #10169074

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.

Go deeper into Ford Explorer problems