← New search

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
32,655 miles · Dec 1, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER RADIATOR LEAKS WITH ONLY 33K MILES CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. RADIATOR BEING REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10368519

40,101 miles · Nov 30, 2010
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MADE A POPPING NOISE AND DISCONNECTED FROM THE MOTOR WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF VISIBILITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD PASS THE INFORMATION ON. THE VEHICLE WAS REPA…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MADE A POPPING NOISE AND DISCONNECTED FROM THE MOTOR WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF VISIBILITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD PASS THE INFORMATION ON. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,101 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10368348

40,000 miles · Nov 29, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT HAD TO TAKE APART THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK …

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT HAD TO TAKE APART THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000. UPDATED 03/31/11*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10368194

65,000 miles · Nov 21, 2010
Power Train

AT 65,000 MILES, MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO BUCK AND IT WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS. THE MECHANIC WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THERE HAS BEEN 17 ADJUSTMENTS ON MY TRANSMISSION SINCE IT WENT OUT. I HAD TO PAY $2600. FOR A NEW REBUILT . TRANSMISSION!!! THE VEHICLE WAS…

Read full complaint

AT 65,000 MILES, MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO BUCK AND IT WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS. THE MECHANIC WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THERE HAS BEEN 17 ADJUSTMENTS ON MY TRANSMISSION SINCE IT WENT OUT. I HAD TO PAY $2600. FOR A NEW REBUILT . TRANSMISSION!!! THE VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND I HAVE PROOF OF THE SERVICE HISTORY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT 65,000 MILES! ALSO MY RADIATOR HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I HAVE BEEN HOLDING OUT ON REPLACING IT, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT'S ANOTHER POPULAR PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367038

55,884 miles · Nov 18, 2010
Power Train

2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER ADDITION BLUE W/BEIGE TRIM. WITHOUT WARNING WRENCH LIGHT THEN TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. CARS RPMS WERE STUCK AT 3..3.5 YET CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING. AFTER DRIVING 18.7 MILES OTHER THAN FEELING & HEARING CLUCK AS CAR SHIFTED GEARS. HAS APPENDED SEVERAL TIMES (4). IN HEAVY TRAFFIC SLOW ACCELERATIO…

Read full complaint

2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER ADDITION BLUE W/BEIGE TRIM. WITHOUT WARNING WRENCH LIGHT THEN TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. CARS RPMS WERE STUCK AT 3..3.5 YET CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING. AFTER DRIVING 18.7 MILES OTHER THAN FEELING & HEARING CLUCK AS CAR SHIFTED GEARS. HAS APPENDED SEVERAL TIMES (4). IN HEAVY TRAFFIC SLOW ACCELERATION CAN LEAD BE REAR END COLLISION, I HAVE BEEN LUCKY SO FAR. RAPID AND HARD CLUCK WHEN MOVING FROM PARK CAUSES VEHICLE TO LURCH WHICH IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN TIGHT PARKING SPACES SUCH HAS GARAGE. THE DEALER HAS WORKED ON THE CAR TWICE FOR A TOTAL OF 8 DAYS. I WILL BE TAKING BACK AGAIN NOV 19TH 2010. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10366659

65,000 miles · Nov 16, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

NOTICED LEAKING UNDER 2006 EXPLORER. TAKEN TO DEALER AND TOLD RADIATOR NEEDED REPLACING FOR $980. VEHICLE HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. TOLD RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FROM THE FINS AND THAT THIS WAS "COMMON". IN CHECKING THIS OUT, THIS IS NOT COMMON FOR A CAR OF THIS AGE, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS 2006 EXPLORERS ARE PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM. THI…

Read full complaint

NOTICED LEAKING UNDER 2006 EXPLORER. TAKEN TO DEALER AND TOLD RADIATOR NEEDED REPLACING FOR $980. VEHICLE HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. TOLD RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FROM THE FINS AND THAT THIS WAS "COMMON". IN CHECKING THIS OUT, THIS IS NOT COMMON FOR A CAR OF THIS AGE, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS 2006 EXPLORERS ARE PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY A FORD PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE RADIATORS AT NO CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365918

65,000 miles · Nov 12, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATORS ON 2006 FORD EXPLORERS. MY FIRST RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AT 37,318 MILES. I NOW NEED A NEW ONE AT APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD REPLACEMENT ON JUST MY VEHICLE. FORD HAS OFFERED NO HELP AS TO THE COST OF REPLACING AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART. CHECKING ON LINE, I SEE OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE EXPE…

Read full complaint

RADIATORS ON 2006 FORD EXPLORERS. MY FIRST RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AT 37,318 MILES. I NOW NEED A NEW ONE AT APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD REPLACEMENT ON JUST MY VEHICLE. FORD HAS OFFERED NO HELP AS TO THE COST OF REPLACING AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART. CHECKING ON LINE, I SEE OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING FROM FORD. I REQUEST A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365515

50,000 miles · Nov 10, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

NOTICED LOW COOLANT LEVEL AND SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED FOR ABOUT 10 SECS, THEN WENT BACK TO NORMAL TEMP. TOOK TO THE DEALER TO GET CHECKED OUT, AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR BECAUSE THERE WAS IN FACT A SMALL LEAK. REPAIR COSTS WERE $1100 TO REPLACE A RADIATOR, YES A RADIATOR THAT HAD 50K MILES ON IT. RADIA…

Read full complaint

NOTICED LOW COOLANT LEVEL AND SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED FOR ABOUT 10 SECS, THEN WENT BACK TO NORMAL TEMP. TOOK TO THE DEALER TO GET CHECKED OUT, AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR BECAUSE THERE WAS IN FACT A SMALL LEAK. REPAIR COSTS WERE $1100 TO REPLACE A RADIATOR, YES A RADIATOR THAT HAD 50K MILES ON IT. RADIATORS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO GO OUT THAT EASILY, AND AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE WEB I HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME SORT OF ISSUES. FORD HAS ALREADY RELEASED A TSB FOR THIS FAULTY PART BUT WILL REFUSE TO GIVE ME ANY KIND OF REIMBURSEMENT, OR PAY FOR ANY OF THE WORK DONE. THE ONLY REASON I EVEN USED THE FORD DEALER WAS TO GET THE PCM UPDATE THAT ONLY THEY CAN DO. PLEASE HELP, COMPANIES HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PRODUCTS THEY SELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365227

62,000 miles · Nov 9, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR LEAKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10365074

97,000 miles · Oct 26, 2010
Power Train

I TOOK MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL FOUND THE TRANSMISSION PAN HEAVILY CORRODED JUST ABOVE AN EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE. TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY A 1.5 FOOT SECTION OF THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE THAT IS C…

Read full complaint

I TOOK MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL FOUND THE TRANSMISSION PAN HEAVILY CORRODED JUST ABOVE AN EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE. TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY A 1.5 FOOT SECTION OF THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE THAT IS COVERED WITH BLACKENED TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE HEAVIEST CORROSION IS EXACTLY ABOVE AND PARALLEL TO THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE. THE TRANSMISSION PAN ACTUALLY HAS SMALL HOLES IN IT JUST ABOVE THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIP. THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE IS ABOUT 1 1/4 INCHES BELOW THE TRANSMISSION PAN. AS A RESULT OF THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE AND THE TRANSMISSION PAN BEING SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, THE CONSTANT HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE HAS CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION PAN TO CORRODE, RUST AND LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID RIGHT ON THE EXHAUST CROSS OVER PIPE. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. THE DEALERSHIP IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION PAN. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS DENIED COVERAGE OF THIS UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN. I AM CURRENTLY SEEKING A REMEDY FROM FORD. THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362530

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