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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

630 reports
50,000 miles · Mar 7, 2014
Power Train

VEHICLE BANGS INTO GEAR FROM 1ST TO 2ND, AND CONSTANTLY SLIDES IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHILE THE ENGINE IS REVVING AT 2500 RPM. ALSO HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. SHOP ADVICE WATER GETTING INTO WIRE HARNESS THEY FIX BY DRYING IT AND PUTTING GREASE BUT ISSUE PERSISTS (NO CODE). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567749

145,782 miles · Mar 6, 2014
Power Train

THE CAR JOLTS REALLY BAD WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THEN WHEN YOU CHANGE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567661

40,130 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

DRIVING AT 45 MPH ,TRANSMISSION SHIFTED WITH A JERKY MOTION ,FIRST STARTED THEN.WHEN YOU FIRST TAKE OFF IT JERKS AND MAKES A NOISE. WHEN YOU BACK UP IT JERKS HARD ENOUGH IT WHIPS YOU BODY BACK. HAD IT CHECKED AT A TRANSMISSION PLACE. THEY TORE IT DOWN AND FOUND NOTHING ( $400). STILL JERKS AND SHIFTS ROUGH. DON'T KNOW HOW LONG …

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DRIVING AT 45 MPH ,TRANSMISSION SHIFTED WITH A JERKY MOTION ,FIRST STARTED THEN.WHEN YOU FIRST TAKE OFF IT JERKS AND MAKES A NOISE. WHEN YOU BACK UP IT JERKS HARD ENOUGH IT WHIPS YOU BODY BACK. HAD IT CHECKED AT A TRANSMISSION PLACE. THEY TORE IT DOWN AND FOUND NOTHING ( $400). STILL JERKS AND SHIFTS ROUGH. DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO LAST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566284

76,000 miles · Feb 10, 2014
Power Train

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, THERE WAS A VISIBLE TRANSMISSION LEAK. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS TO REPLACE WERE THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND TRANSMISSION.…

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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, THERE WAS A VISIBLE TRANSMISSION LEAK. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS TO REPLACE WERE THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. DYD

NHTSA ODI #10563700

64,565 miles · Feb 5, 2014
Power Train

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED AND THEN SLAMMED INTO REVERSE. AS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN OVER THE PAST YEAR THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AND ALSO THE VEHICLE WILL SLAM INTO GEAR DURING TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM ON OCCASION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. I…

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I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED AND THEN SLAMMED INTO REVERSE. AS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN OVER THE PAST YEAR THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AND ALSO THE VEHICLE WILL SLAM INTO GEAR DURING TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM ON OCCASION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. IT SLAMS WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. I HAVE BEEN TO A FEW REPAIR SHOPS AND HAVE GOTTEN DIFFERENT REASONS FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563099

80,224 miles · Feb 5, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT (THROTTLE CONTROL) CAME ON ALONG WITH SERVICE INDICATOR (WRENCH). I STOPPED AT SERVICE STATION AND WAS TOLD (AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC) THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRONICS IN THE THROTTLE CONTROL AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563019

80,000 miles · Jan 20, 2014
Power Train

I STARTED MY CAR AND, WHEN I PUT IN REVERSE, TRANSMISSION WONT SHIFT. PUT ON DRIVE, DIDN'T SHIFT, NEITHER ON NEUTRAL. WHEN SHIFTED TO 3RD, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED. PUT BACK IN REVERSE AND WORKED/ *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560671

Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPLORER IN 2006 BUT THREE YEARS LATER HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. AFTER THAT I NOTICE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP EVERY NOW AND THEN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAVE ESCALATED SINCE JUNE 2013 WITH THE VEHICLE JACKING OR DRAGGING BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS. MY WIFE IS ACTUALLY AFRAID OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND INSTE…

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I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPLORER IN 2006 BUT THREE YEARS LATER HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. AFTER THAT I NOTICE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP EVERY NOW AND THEN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAVE ESCALATED SINCE JUNE 2013 WITH THE VEHICLE JACKING OR DRAGGING BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS. MY WIFE IS ACTUALLY AFRAID OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND INSTEAD PREFERS TO DRIVE MY 2000 HONDA ACCORD WHICH HAS BEEN RUNNING WITH NO PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL AND YEAR OF MY FORD EXPLORER AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AND SO HE TOLD ME I SHOULD FILE THIS COMPLAIN SINCE THIS WAS NOT OUR FAULT BUT A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH BY THE LOOK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THIS SITE, FORD IS AWARE OF. MY QUESTION IS WHY HAS FORD NOT RECALLED THIS BECAUSE AFTER CHECKING THIS SITE, I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SAME RELATED ISSUES (MAINLY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION), ARE CUSTOMERS SUPPOSED TO SUFFER AND SPEND MONEY FOR THINGS THAT THE FORD COMPANY HAS NEGLECTED OR FOR THEIR POOR WORKMANSHIP? I BELIEVE NOT. FORD NEEDS TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEMS FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. I, JUST LIKE EVERYONE WHO BOUGHT A FORD EXPLORER WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR AUTOMAKERS DOING WELL AND THAT'S WHY WE BUY THE CARS BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR FAMILIES SAFETY OR FINANCES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558066

123,031 miles · Jan 1, 2014
EngineFuel System, GasolinePower Train

DEAR SIR FIRST OF ALL , I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT I AM NOT A US CITIZEN , BUT , I'M A FAMILY MAN & I FEEL FOR OTHERS , I OWN A FORD EXPLORER 06 , AND RECENTLY I'VE BEEN NOTICING THAT THE TRANS HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN , SHIFTING WRONGLY , JOLTING INTO GEAR IS NOT ENJOYABLE OR SAFE, THE OTHER DAY I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE AN ACCIDE…

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DEAR SIR FIRST OF ALL , I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT I AM NOT A US CITIZEN , BUT , I'M A FAMILY MAN & I FEEL FOR OTHERS , I OWN A FORD EXPLORER 06 , AND RECENTLY I'VE BEEN NOTICING THAT THE TRANS HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN , SHIFTING WRONGLY , JOLTING INTO GEAR IS NOT ENJOYABLE OR SAFE, THE OTHER DAY I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE TRANS REFUSED TO SHIFT WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO ESCAPE A SITUATION OF HITTING A CAR NEXT TO ME , I'VE LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET & FOUND THAT EVERYBODY IS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUES , YOU CAN GO FOR THE BELOW SITE & CHECK HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2006/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_LUNGES_HARD_JOLT_WHEN_SHIFTING.SHTML THE PROBLEM IS THAT FORD WON'T ADMIT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION , PUTTING PEOPLES LIFE IN DANGER FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE PLEASE FIX THIS AS IT'S VERY CRITICAL & DANGEROUS AT THE SAME TIME [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558062

25,000 miles · Dec 17, 2013
Engine

SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW IN JANUARY 2007 THE RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. NOW, IN DECEMBER 2013 WITH 114000 MILES, THE RADIATOR IS LOSING COOLANT AND THE ENGINE SMELLS OF COOLANT AFTER DRIVING. MOST LIKELY THE RADIATOR WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556379

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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