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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 · Feb 20, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FLUID OVERFLOWING TO THE OVERFLOW TANK, OVERHEATING AND CYLINDER MISFIRE READINGS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448571

130,000 miles · Feb 17, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE RADIATOR THREE TIMES AND GETTING READY TO DO IT AGAIN THE SECOND TIME THE TRUCK RAN HOT AND RUINED THE MOTOR. I THEN PUT ANOTHER MOTOR AND NEW RADIATOR AND IT HAS NOT BEEN 40000 MILES AND WITH NO WARNING AT ALL IT DONE IT AGAIN WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAS BEEN POSTED ONLINE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN…

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I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE RADIATOR THREE TIMES AND GETTING READY TO DO IT AGAIN THE SECOND TIME THE TRUCK RAN HOT AND RUINED THE MOTOR. I THEN PUT ANOTHER MOTOR AND NEW RADIATOR AND IT HAS NOT BEEN 40000 MILES AND WITH NO WARNING AT ALL IT DONE IT AGAIN WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAS BEEN POSTED ONLINE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED TO EVERY ONE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448370

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

70,000 miles · Jan 10, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY DECELERATE TO 40 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. LATER, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY DECELERATE TO 40 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. LATER, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THEY WOULD ASSIST HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10443314

73,000 miles · Jan 7, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE HAS HARSH UPSHIFTS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 1ST TO 4TH GEAR, CREATING MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL, THEN JERK FORWARD A FEW INCHES UNANNOUNCED, WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING A WRECK OR HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. THE SAME WILL OCCUR WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, AND VICE-VERSA. ALSO, SOMETIM…

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THE VEHICLE HAS HARSH UPSHIFTS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 1ST TO 4TH GEAR, CREATING MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL, THEN JERK FORWARD A FEW INCHES UNANNOUNCED, WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING A WRECK OR HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. THE SAME WILL OCCUR WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, AND VICE-VERSA. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE RPM WILL INCREASE DRASTICALLY ON ITS OWN WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN SPEED. I'M AFRAID THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE SPEED DECIDES TO INCREASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442778

47,422 miles · Jan 4, 2012
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT BOTH LITE UP ON THE DASH. THE CAR APPEARED TO BE RUNNING STRANGE, SHIFTING HARD. AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT RESTART FOR APPROX 20 MINUTES. IT WOULD RUN FINE FOR A DAY OR SO THEN THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY DROVE IT F…

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THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT BOTH LITE UP ON THE DASH. THE CAR APPEARED TO BE RUNNING STRANGE, SHIFTING HARD. AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT RESTART FOR APPROX 20 MINUTES. IT WOULD RUN FINE FOR A DAY OR SO THEN THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY DROVE IT FOR APPROX 23 MILES AND THE LIGHTS WOULDN'T COME ON. THE BATTERY TESTED LOW SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. WHEN TEST DRIVING AFTER THE BATTERY REPLACEMENT THE WRENCH LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT FINALLY CAME ON. THEY TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULDN'T START. AFTER WAITING 15 MINUTES TO AN HOUR IT WOULD START BUT THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AGAIN AND ONCE AGAIN AFTER TURNING IT OFF IT WOULDN'T RESTART. THEY CHARGED ME AN ADDITIONAL $759 TO FIX THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (AFTER AROUND $300 FOR THE BATTERY AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING). VERY FRUSTRATING - MY 2006 ONLY HAS 47K MILES AND IS RARELY DRIVEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442461

40,005 miles · Jan 1, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT W/4.0 L HAD A COOLANT LEAK AND NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR. MILEAGE WAS 40,005. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED ON 11/16/2009. TWO YEARS LATER (1/1/12) THE RADIATOR IS AGAIN LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 54,435. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442001

68,000 miles · Dec 27, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR FAILURE. THE RADIATOR FAILED CAUSING THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. SEE ODI NUMBER 10439878. REPLACED ENTIRE ENGINE AND RADIATOR IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT. (COSTING OVER $6000). PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441319

84,000 miles · Dec 14, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT THEN REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED AS IT PROCEEDED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE RADIATOR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT THEN REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED AS IT PROCEEDED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AGAIN AFTER TWO WEEKS. THE VEHICLES WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #10439929

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

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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