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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

What owners actually said

630 reports
80,000 miles · Jul 8, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE TRUCK MAKE A HORRIBLE TICKING NOISE WHEN YOU START IT UP. IT WILL DO THIS UNTIL THE OIL GETS THRU THE MOTOR. FORD STATES THAT IT IS THE NATURE OF THE MOTOR FOR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IT IS EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST, AS IT SOUNDS LIKE A TICKING TIME BOMB THAT IS WAITING TO GO OFF. AFTER THE TRUCK HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A FEW…

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THE TRUCK MAKE A HORRIBLE TICKING NOISE WHEN YOU START IT UP. IT WILL DO THIS UNTIL THE OIL GETS THRU THE MOTOR. FORD STATES THAT IT IS THE NATURE OF THE MOTOR FOR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IT IS EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST, AS IT SOUNDS LIKE A TICKING TIME BOMB THAT IS WAITING TO GO OFF. AFTER THE TRUCK HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES THAN THE NOISE GOES AWAY, SEEMS THAT IF I SPENT THIS MUCH MONEY ON A VEHICLE, IT WOULDN'T SOUND LIKE AN OLD CLUNKER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10411457

60,000 miles · Jul 6, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN INSPECTED, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PAN WAS CORRODED AND WAS CAUSING THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ALONG W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN INSPECTED, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PAN WAS CORRODED AND WAS CAUSING THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10410675

46,200 miles · Jul 2, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR FAILURE CAUSING LEAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN ENGINE OVERHEAT AND POSSIBLY FIRE.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410313

64,303 miles · Jun 18, 2011
Power Train

I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH 64000 MILES. YESTERDAY WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACED. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE. AND EVERYONE HAD EXACT SYMPTOMS…

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I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH 64000 MILES. YESTERDAY WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACED. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE. AND EVERYONE HAD EXACT SYMPTOMS. FORD ACTS LIKE THIS ISN'T COMMON AND PLAYS DUMB TO THE FACT. I STILL OWE $15000 ON A VEHICLE AND CANNOT AFFORD $3000 TO REPAIR. SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND STOP FORD FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CITIZENS. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10407349

86,000 miles · Jun 7, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKE LIGHT AND INTERMITTENT LOCKING UP BRAKES WITH STABILITY CONTROL ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT AS YOU LOSE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405412

28,000 miles · Jun 5, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER-BAD RADIATOR LEAK. STARTED LEAKING WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES ON IT. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED IT WOULD COST $ 1100.00 TO FIX. THEY ALSO TRIED SELLING ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10404494

69,000 miles · Jun 2, 2011
Power Train

2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH 69,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MAKES A LOUD NOISE AS ENGINE IS WORKING BUT TRANSMISSION ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EITHER SELL IT OR TRY TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. ALSO, CONTROL BOX ON DASH PANEL WENT OUT AT 30,000 MILES. $700 TO REPAIR. TRANSMISSION COULD BE UPWARDS OF $4,000…

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2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH 69,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MAKES A LOUD NOISE AS ENGINE IS WORKING BUT TRANSMISSION ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EITHER SELL IT OR TRY TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. ALSO, CONTROL BOX ON DASH PANEL WENT OUT AT 30,000 MILES. $700 TO REPAIR. TRANSMISSION COULD BE UPWARDS OF $4,000 TO REPAIR

NHTSA ODI #10404263

5,000 miles · May 31, 2011
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS NO FAILURE. NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENTLY MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10403903

Mileage unknown · May 27, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCE A FAILURE ON THE FUEL FILL SYSTEM IN 2008. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT MORE THAN A GALLON OF GAS IN AT A TIME, WAIT FOR AWHILE, ADD ANOTHER GALLON, ETC AS THE FUEL FILL WOULD ACT AS THOUGH THE TANK WAS FULL. TOOK TO A DEALER AND HAD IT REPLACED BASED ON TSB#07253. EXPERIENCED THE S…

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I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCE A FAILURE ON THE FUEL FILL SYSTEM IN 2008. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT MORE THAN A GALLON OF GAS IN AT A TIME, WAIT FOR AWHILE, ADD ANOTHER GALLON, ETC AS THE FUEL FILL WOULD ACT AS THOUGH THE TANK WAS FULL. TOOK TO A DEALER AND HAD IT REPLACED BASED ON TSB#07253. EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AGAIN NOW IN 2011 AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD SINCE IT WAS MORE THAN 12 MONTHS SINCE THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT I HAD TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE AGAIN TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10402963

48,000 miles · May 19, 2011
Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER THAT IS JERKING WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND ALSO HAS JUMPED OUT OF GEAR A COUPLE OF TIMES, THANK GOODNESS I WAS SITTING IN IT AND NO ONE GOT HURT. TAKING IT IN AGAIN TO THE SHOP TOMORROW HOPE THEY CAN FIND A PROBLEM. IF ANYTHING IS DONE I WILL KEEP THE OLD PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10402129

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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