IllustrationTHE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING ON MY EXPLORER AND FORD REFUSED TO FIX IT, EVENTHOUGH IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER FOR THE RADIATOR LEAKING. *TR
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
22 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT ACCIDENTALLY STRUCK THE SAFETY VALVE SWITCH WITH HIS FOOT. THE SWITCH IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE FIREWALL NEAR THE GLOVE BOX. MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY RE…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT ACCIDENTALLY STRUCK THE SAFETY VALVE SWITCH WITH HIS FOOT. THE SWITCH IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE FIREWALL NEAR THE GLOVE BOX. MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE COMPONENT. THE SWITCH IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO HIS FOOT, WHICH MAY CAUSE HIM TO ACCIDENTALLY STRIKE IT WITHOUT KNOWING. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
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.