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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

Visibility complaints

15 reports
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107,000 miles · Apr 7, 2014
StructureVisibility

THIS HAPPENED TO OUR 2006 FORD EXPLORER (EDDIE BAUER EDITION, V8 4WD). THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS EXPLODED INTO A MILLION TINY PIECES WITH NO EVIDENCE OF EXTERNAL TRAUMA. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE FREEZING (LOW 40S) AND IT WAS NOT IN THE SUN. APPROXIMATELY HALF THE GLASS WA…

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THIS HAPPENED TO OUR 2006 FORD EXPLORER (EDDIE BAUER EDITION, V8 4WD). THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS EXPLODED INTO A MILLION TINY PIECES WITH NO EVIDENCE OF EXTERNAL TRAUMA. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE FREEZING (LOW 40S) AND IT WAS NOT IN THE SUN. APPROXIMATELY HALF THE GLASS WAS SCATTERED ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY - 10+ FEET AWAY. THE REST OF THE GLASS WAS IN THE BACK OF THE SUV. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS AROUND WHEN THIS HAPPENED - AND WE WERE NOT DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY TO A BYSTANDER - OR AN ACCIDENT AS I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MUCH THAT WOULD ALARM THE DRIVER. I WILL BE CLEANING GLASS BITS FROM THE DRIVEWAY AND BACK OF THE SUV FOR A LONG TIME TO COME! AT LEAST IT IS NOT TOO WARM OUT SO NO IS TEMPTED TO WALK BAREFOOT ON THE DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578125

70,000 miles · Oct 22, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility

I HAVE HAD THE DOOR BLENDER PLASTIC PIECE CHANGED ON MY CAR THREE TIMES! EACH TIME THE SEASON CHANGES. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. I CURRENTLY HAVE A RADIATOR LEAK AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND PLASTIC HOLDER AS WELL. I ALSO CURRENTLY HAVE A TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE PROBLEM AND I WILL HAVE TO GET THAT FIXE…

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I HAVE HAD THE DOOR BLENDER PLASTIC PIECE CHANGED ON MY CAR THREE TIMES! EACH TIME THE SEASON CHANGES. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. I CURRENTLY HAVE A RADIATOR LEAK AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND PLASTIC HOLDER AS WELL. I ALSO CURRENTLY HAVE A TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE PROBLEM AND I WILL HAVE TO GET THAT FIXED AS WELL. THIS IS HORRIBLE. I PURCHASED THE FORD EXPLORER BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS DEPENDABLE. THIS IS DEPRESSING AND I CAN NOT AFFORD IT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548891

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2012
StructureVisibility

WAS DRIVING WHEN TILT GATE GLASS AJAR WARNING CAME ON, AT THE SAME TIME HEARD A WHISTLING NOISE. UPON STOPPING NOTICED THE LIFT GATE WAS AJAR WITH AND AWAY FROM THE HATCH BY SEVERAL INCHES. TIED TO CLOSE IT AND IT DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY UPON INSPECTION THE HINGE WAS BROKE THAT HOLDS THE GLASS TO THE VEHICLE. MANAGED TO GET THE …

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WAS DRIVING WHEN TILT GATE GLASS AJAR WARNING CAME ON, AT THE SAME TIME HEARD A WHISTLING NOISE. UPON STOPPING NOTICED THE LIFT GATE WAS AJAR WITH AND AWAY FROM THE HATCH BY SEVERAL INCHES. TIED TO CLOSE IT AND IT DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY UPON INSPECTION THE HINGE WAS BROKE THAT HOLDS THE GLASS TO THE VEHICLE. MANAGED TO GET THE GLASS SOMEWHAT BACK IN PLACE AND DROVE GINGERLY HOME ALL WHILE THE LIFT GATE AJAR LIGHT WAS ON. THERE IS A LOT OF WHITE RESIDUE PACKED IN PART OF THE HINGE NOT KNOWN IF IT IS ROAD SALT OR NOT AND THE HINGE HAS A CRACK WHERE IT SEPARATED. MY CONCERN IS THE FAILURE IS RELATED TO SALT AND FREEZING AND THAWING, AND IF THAT IS THE CASE HOW LONG BEFORE THE OTHER ONE FAILS... ALSO IF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH WINDOWS OPENED COULD IT HAVE CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER SCARING THE DRIVER OF OTHER TRAFFIC CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD ABOUT IT IN CASE THEY WANTED TO SEE IT AND GOT THE NORMAL BASIC REPLY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND BASICALLY WE DON'T' CARE AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10445609

100,000 miles · Mar 10, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO OVERHEAT SPORADICALLY AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHERE THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND ATTEMP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO OVERHEAT SPORADICALLY AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHERE THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE FAILURES. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE COOLING SYSTEM BUT WAS UNABLE TO DISABLE THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO MAKE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 04/25/11 *BF UPDATED 1/13/2012 *LN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10389739

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2010
Visibility

I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER MODEL. SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, THE REAR WIPER BLADE STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED THE DEALER WHICH I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS NOT COVERED AND A NEW MOTOR WOULD COST $300 PLUS LABOR. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WITH THE HEAVY SNOWS AND RAIN IN MY AREA, A MALFUNCTI…

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I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER MODEL. SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, THE REAR WIPER BLADE STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED THE DEALER WHICH I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS NOT COVERED AND A NEW MOTOR WOULD COST $300 PLUS LABOR. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WITH THE HEAVY SNOWS AND RAIN IN MY AREA, A MALFUNCTIONING REAR WIPER COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I KNOW OF 4 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND I AM SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON COMPLAINING OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370386

40,101 miles · Nov 30, 2010
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MADE A POPPING NOISE AND DISCONNECTED FROM THE MOTOR WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF VISIBILITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD PASS THE INFORMATION ON. THE VEHICLE WAS REPA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MADE A POPPING NOISE AND DISCONNECTED FROM THE MOTOR WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF VISIBILITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD PASS THE INFORMATION ON. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,101 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10368348

82,000 miles · Oct 18, 2010
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 05V520000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: MOTOR) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 05V520000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: MOTOR) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #10361034

63,000 miles · Nov 24, 2009
Visibility

WHILE TRYING TO TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONING, A CLICKING CAN BE HEARD AND THE AIR FLOW DOES NOT CHANGE OVER. THEN DURING COOLER DAYS THE HEAT IS INOPERATIVE, (IT STAYS ON COLD AIR) THE CLICKING IS PERSISTENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293441

13,500 miles · Jul 28, 2009
Visibility

1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE ARE SIMPLE. IT WAS A QUIET SATURDAY AFTERNOON (4:30 PM ON 7/18/09). I WAS ON A TWO WAY STREET ON THE WAY TO MY SWEETHEART'S HOUSE IN OVERLAND PARK, KS . I WAS GOING AT ABOUT 25 MPH. THERE WAS ONE OTHER CAR IN MY VISION ABOUT 75 FEET BEHIND ME. NO ONE WAS COMING AT ME. TO MY RIGHT WA…

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1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE ARE SIMPLE. IT WAS A QUIET SATURDAY AFTERNOON (4:30 PM ON 7/18/09). I WAS ON A TWO WAY STREET ON THE WAY TO MY SWEETHEART'S HOUSE IN OVERLAND PARK, KS . I WAS GOING AT ABOUT 25 MPH. THERE WAS ONE OTHER CAR IN MY VISION ABOUT 75 FEET BEHIND ME. NO ONE WAS COMING AT ME. TO MY RIGHT WAS AN EMPTY BASEBALL DIAMOND FOR THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL AND TO MY LEFT WAS A LARGE ( AT LEAST 10 FEET TALL) CONCRETE WALL ENCLOSING AN UPSCALE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. 2. WITHOUT WARNING I HEAR AN EXPLOSION FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY SHATTERING GLASS FROM MY SUNROOF CASCADING DOWN UPON ME. THE EXPLOSION WAS JUST THE SOUND OF THE SUNROOF SHATTERING. AS GOD IS MY WITNESS, I SWEAR TT JUST SHATTERED FROM CAUSES BEYOND MY KNOWLEDGE. 3. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY MORNING I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT AND REPLACED THE SUNROOF. MY BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY WAS STILL IN FORCE BUT FORD MOTOR REFUSED TO HONE UP ON THIS ONE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT FORD DOESN'T KNOW BUT WHAT IT WAS SHOT OUT ACCIDENTALLY BROKEN OUT OR IF SOMEONE HAD PUT THEIR FIST THROUGH IT. THE STRANGE THING WAS THE SUNROOF GLASS THAT WAS STILL IN THE SUNROOF FRAME WAS ANGLING UPWARD AS IF IT HAD BEEN STRUCK FROM INSIDE. THE SERVICE MANAGER POINTED THIS OUT TO ME. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP DID SPLIT THE COST OF REPLACEMENT WITH ME THOUGH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278547

40,000 miles · Apr 27, 2009
Visibility

POWER WINDOW WILL NOT WORK ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THEY FIRST STOPPED, STARTED AGAIN THEN STOPPED COMPLETELY. ALSO, CANNOT BE OPERATED FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR. ALSO, THE CABLE ON THE LIFTGATE WINDOW WILL FALL EVERY TIME THE WINDOW IS LIFTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266800

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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