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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
70,000 miles · Jun 2, 2013
EnginePower Train

DURING A LEFT TURN ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC OUR EXPLORER WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT LURCHED TO START AND WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10-15 MPH, NEARLY STALLING. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME BUT COULD NOT GET IT TO GO ABOVE 20 MPH. AT SPEEDS 10 - 20 MPH IT JERKED VIOLENTLY. THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AT SPEEDS 45 - 60. MOD…

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DURING A LEFT TURN ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC OUR EXPLORER WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT LURCHED TO START AND WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10-15 MPH, NEARLY STALLING. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME BUT COULD NOT GET IT TO GO ABOVE 20 MPH. AT SPEEDS 10 - 20 MPH IT JERKED VIOLENTLY. THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AT SPEEDS 45 - 60. MODERATELY ACCELERATING BETWEEN 45 - 60 MPH HAS CAUSED HARD JERKS FOR YEARS WITH THIS CAR PRIOR TO IT BEING OFF WARRANTY. WE'VE TAKEN IT TO TED BRITT FORD SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WE ALSO NOTED THEY ONLY PUT IT ON THE TICKET ONCE, THE OTHER TIMES TELLING US THEY TOOK IT OFF SINCE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE ISSUE AND WOULDN'T CHARGE US FOR IT. THE TIME MENTIONED IN THIS INCIDENT THE DEALER OFFERED TO SPLIT THE COST WITH US DUE TO OUR PREVIOUS ISSUES AND THEIR INABILITY TO FIX IT. THEY ALSO DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE AS WE STILL CANNOT ACCELERATE AT SPEEDS 45 - 60 WITHOUT HARD JERKING FROM THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. WE NO LONGER USE THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS TRYING TO SWITCH LANES OR MERGE ON TO A HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR VIOLENTLY SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND OFTEN LEFT US RUNNING OUT OF MERGE LANE SPACE WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO GET INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE READ SEVERAL SUCH PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND I AM SURPRISED NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. WE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS HAVING THIS CAR LOOKED AT AND IN FAILED ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10514682

45,000 miles · May 12, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System

FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT FUEL TANK FILLING ISSUES SINCE THEY ISSUED AN INTERNAL TSB IN 2007. PROBLEM CAUSES FUEL TANK TO FILL WITH PRESSURE, AND NOT ACCEPT FUEL. AS A RESULT, FUEL IS SPRAYED ALL OVER VEHICLE AND THE PERSON FUELING VEHICLE. WE HAD VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS NUMEROUS TIMES, AND STILL HAVING FUEL TANK ISSUES. THERE …

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FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT FUEL TANK FILLING ISSUES SINCE THEY ISSUED AN INTERNAL TSB IN 2007. PROBLEM CAUSES FUEL TANK TO FILL WITH PRESSURE, AND NOT ACCEPT FUEL. AS A RESULT, FUEL IS SPRAYED ALL OVER VEHICLE AND THE PERSON FUELING VEHICLE. WE HAD VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS NUMEROUS TIMES, AND STILL HAVING FUEL TANK ISSUES. THERE ARE "UNCOUNTABLE" NUMBERS OF FORD EXPLORER OWNERS THAT I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET, THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY DO NOT KNOW THAT FORD KNOWS THE REASON FOR THIS FAILURE. FORD SHOULD HAVE ISSUES A RECALL NOTICE TO PROTECT DANGER OF FUEL SPRAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511550

70,000 miles · Apr 12, 2013
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WAS SHUTTERING IN REVERSE AS WELL AS 2 AND 3 GEARS. FOR HAVING THIS TROUBLE AT 70000 SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE AND HAVING A TRANSMISSION GO OUT CAN BE DANGEROUS. IN DOING RESEARCH ONLINE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IS QUITE COMMON ON MY TYPE OF EXPLORER. I SUGGEST THAT FORD NEEDS TO HAVE A MANDATORY RECALL ON THESE VEHI…

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TRANSMISSION WAS SHUTTERING IN REVERSE AS WELL AS 2 AND 3 GEARS. FOR HAVING THIS TROUBLE AT 70000 SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE AND HAVING A TRANSMISSION GO OUT CAN BE DANGEROUS. IN DOING RESEARCH ONLINE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IS QUITE COMMON ON MY TYPE OF EXPLORER. I SUGGEST THAT FORD NEEDS TO HAVE A MANDATORY RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508091

10,010 miles · Apr 8, 2013
Power Train

MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION OIL. THIS LEAK IS COMING FROM THE LEFT QUICK CONNECT FITTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RADIATOR WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE TRANS COOLER LINE. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD COMPANY THAT THERE IS NO QUICK FIX TO THIS PROBLEM, THEY WILL HAVE TO "REPLACE THE RADIATOR" FOR A COST OF APPROX.....$950.00…

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MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION OIL. THIS LEAK IS COMING FROM THE LEFT QUICK CONNECT FITTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RADIATOR WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE TRANS COOLER LINE. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD COMPANY THAT THERE IS NO QUICK FIX TO THIS PROBLEM, THEY WILL HAVE TO "REPLACE THE RADIATOR" FOR A COST OF APPROX.....$950.00. THE RADIATOR COST $500 LABOR $450. THE QUICK CONNECT FITTING THAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM IS $10.00. HELP, HELP, HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505596

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

140,000 miles · Mar 30, 2013
Power Train

I RECENTLY PAID OFF MY TRUCK AFTER YEARS ONLY TO HAVE THE CAR JERK OR LUNGES WHEN I DRIVE ABOVE 60 MPH I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART CAR IN ORDER FOR IT TO REENGAGE INTO GEAR. IT ALSO LUNGES BACKWARD WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE AS WELL AS WHEN I GO AROUND A CURVE OR DOWN A HILL OVER 40 MPH IT LUNGES AS WELL. I AM SINGLE MOTHER W…

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I RECENTLY PAID OFF MY TRUCK AFTER YEARS ONLY TO HAVE THE CAR JERK OR LUNGES WHEN I DRIVE ABOVE 60 MPH I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART CAR IN ORDER FOR IT TO REENGAGE INTO GEAR. IT ALSO LUNGES BACKWARD WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE AS WELL AS WHEN I GO AROUND A CURVE OR DOWN A HILL OVER 40 MPH IT LUNGES AS WELL. I AM SINGLE MOTHER WHO HAS ONLY THIS CAR AS TRANSPORTATION TO TAKE MY 6 YEAR OLD SON TO SCHOOL AND DRIVE ME TO WORK AND I AM SCARED TO DO SO BECAUSE OF THE LUNGING. I HAVE ALSO PAID 3000 TO AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS TO HAVE A REBUILD TRANSMISSION PUT INTO THE TRUCK AND THE ISSUE IS STILL NOT RESOLVED HAVE TAKEN IT BACK INTO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP 3 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE ISSUE....THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT FORD NEEDS TO RESOLVE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505021

87,000 miles · Mar 25, 2013
EnginePower Train

JUST LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2006 FORD EXPLORER, WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. THERE WAS A JERK AS THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO FINALLY ENGAGE. I THOUGHT THE TRANS BROKE AT THE TIME? THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THEN ONCE. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE A…

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JUST LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2006 FORD EXPLORER, WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. THERE WAS A JERK AS THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO FINALLY ENGAGE. I THOUGHT THE TRANS BROKE AT THE TIME? THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THEN ONCE. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AS OTHERS WITH THE DELAYED SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. MY EXPLORER HAS JUST 88K MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504436

63,000 miles · Mar 22, 2013
Power Train

TRANSMISSION JERKS PRETTY BADLY AT LOW SPEEDS. COULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY PROBLEM. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT FORD WON'T RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504122

89,000 miles · Mar 11, 2013
Power Train

SAME AS A BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION LUNGES HARD JOLT WHEN SHIFTING, WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF REGARDING THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER, NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I NEED TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WILL BE $3500.00 APROX. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINS ON THIS ISSUE.PLEASE DO SOMETHING!…

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SAME AS A BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION LUNGES HARD JOLT WHEN SHIFTING, WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF REGARDING THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER, NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I NEED TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WILL BE $3500.00 APROX. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINS ON THIS ISSUE.PLEASE DO SOMETHING!!

NHTSA ODI #10502355

74,000 miles · Mar 7, 2013
Power Train

EVERY TIME TAKING OFF FROM A STOP. VEHICLE WOULD GO 3 MPH FOR 15 SECONDS, WOULD THEN JOLT AND LUNG FORWARD FAST. THIS HAPPENED ALL THE WAY TO WORK FOR 27 MILES. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD REGARDING THIS ISSUE, THEY SAID THEY HAD NO PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME S…

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EVERY TIME TAKING OFF FROM A STOP. VEHICLE WOULD GO 3 MPH FOR 15 SECONDS, WOULD THEN JOLT AND LUNG FORWARD FAST. THIS HAPPENED ALL THE WAY TO WORK FOR 27 MILES. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD REGARDING THIS ISSUE, THEY SAID THEY HAD NO PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SEVERAL TIMES. LATER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I WAS STRANDED IN THE PARKING LOT UNTIL THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME HAD MOVED. *TR THE DEALER OVERHAULED THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED THE SERVOS IN THE VALVE.

NHTSA ODI #10501908

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