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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

Wheels complaints

6 reports
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131,000 miles · Nov 22, 2019
EngineService BrakesWheels

I HAVE NOW HAD 2 PROBLEMS WITH THIS DEALERSHIP, AND PERSONALLY I BELIEVE EVERYONE DESERVES SECOND CHANCES, THE FIRST VEHICLE THE SELLER SOLD ME HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH GAS TANK HAD A HOLE IN IT AND EXPOSED WIRES RIGHT NEXT TO IT SO THAT TRUCK WAS A TICKING TIME BOMB, NOW I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH MORE ISSUES BUT AGAIN THE S…

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I HAVE NOW HAD 2 PROBLEMS WITH THIS DEALERSHIP, AND PERSONALLY I BELIEVE EVERYONE DESERVES SECOND CHANCES, THE FIRST VEHICLE THE SELLER SOLD ME HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH GAS TANK HAD A HOLE IN IT AND EXPOSED WIRES RIGHT NEXT TO IT SO THAT TRUCK WAS A TICKING TIME BOMB, NOW I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH MORE ISSUES BUT AGAIN THE SELLER MAKES ITS SEEM LIKE A PRETTY RELIABLE CAR AND LIES ABOUT THE ISSUES, COVERS UP THE STORIES AND THANK GOD MY BUDDY IS A MECHANIC AND I TAKE EVERYTHING I BUY TO HIM, WHEN I FIRST RECEIVED THE CAR, (AS MANY PEOPLE NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ANYTHING AS SOON AS THEY HEAR A WEIRD NOISE) I TOOK IT TO HIM AND HE RIDES WITH ME AND NOTICES SOME MAJOR ISSUES, I TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AND THE BACK SUSPENSION WAS GOING OUT (GOT THAT REPLACED) THEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING , LIKE NOT ONLY WAS LIED TO BUT NOW HAVING TO PAY 2000$ JUST TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING, NOT SUITABLE FOR ME NOR ANYONE, I FEEL BAD FOR WHOEVER THIS SELLER ALSO LIES TO. AND I AM FULLY AWARE THAT SOMEONE COULD GET THEIR LICENSE REVOKED FOR STUFF LIKE THIS, IF ANYONE WITH CLEAR EYES CAN SEE THIS SELLER SCREWS PEOPLE OVER. I TEXTED THE GUY ABOUT RETURNING THE VEHICLE AND JUST TO GET MY MONEY BACK BUT YET AGAIN NO ANSWER.

NHTSA ODI #11281755

118,000 miles · Sep 12, 2016
Wheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY AND THE ROTOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE LUG NUTS WERE LOOSE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY AND THE ROTOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE LUG NUTS WERE LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10905680

98,000 miles · Jul 14, 2014
Wheels

THE WHEELS ARE DISINTEGRATING AND EST SENSORY HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO THE CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING IN TRAFFIC AND IT TOOK ABOUT A MONTH TO FIND PROBLEM AND WAS VERY COSTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610401

89,000 miles · Dec 5, 2012
Wheels

SHARP BANG IN THE REAR FOLLOWED A FEW MINUTES LATER BY ANOTHER SHARP BANG. THOUGHT POSSIBLE CONTACT BETWEEN FRAME AN EXHAUST SYSTEM. CONTINUED DRIVING. AFTER ANOTHER 4-5 MILES NOTED FEELING IN CAR OF SLIGHT TRAMPING ON DECELERATION. CONTINUED TRAMPING ON DECELERATION AND INCREASED MORE NOTICEABLE IN RIGHT TURNS, BECAME LOUDER VI…

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SHARP BANG IN THE REAR FOLLOWED A FEW MINUTES LATER BY ANOTHER SHARP BANG. THOUGHT POSSIBLE CONTACT BETWEEN FRAME AN EXHAUST SYSTEM. CONTINUED DRIVING. AFTER ANOTHER 4-5 MILES NOTED FEELING IN CAR OF SLIGHT TRAMPING ON DECELERATION. CONTINUED TRAMPING ON DECELERATION AND INCREASED MORE NOTICEABLE IN RIGHT TURNS, BECAME LOUDER VIBRATION THROUGH BODY DETERMINED PROBLEM IN LEFT REAR. STOPPED CAR EXAMINED LEFT REAR WHEEL. TWO WHEEL BOLTS BROKEN, REMAINING THREE WHEEL NUTS LOOSE WITHIN A FEW TURNS OF COMING OFF. HAD DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 13 MILES SINCE INITIAL BANG AT SPEEDS OF 30-40 MPH. FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT WHEEL HAD NOT COME OFF AND I WAS NOT ON A FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487393

95,000 miles · Dec 14, 2011
Wheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LUG NUTS HAD SHEARED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LUG NUTS HAD SHEARED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ODI #10439895

50,000 miles · Sep 26, 2008
WheelsCrash

ON OUR 2006 FORD POLICE EXPLORES, THERE HAVE BEEN 7 TO 10 WHEEL SEPARATIONS ON OUR VEHICLES, HAS THERE BEEN AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE. AND DOES FORD USE THE RECALL WHEELS OFF OF THE CROWN VIC'S AND CROSS OVER TO THE EXPLORERS? THANK YOU MARK ORENDORFF *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243515

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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