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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
37,000 miles · Jun 14, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT #RD RADIATOR GOING IN TODAY. FORD KNOWS ABOUT PROBLEM AND STILL LETS CUSTOMERS PAY FOR ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336214

49,000 miles · Jun 9, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

1. THE RADIATOR ON MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER 4.0L V6 BEGAN LEAKING AFTER JUST 3 YEARS AND 49K MILES--DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY RETURN IT TO THE DEALER. 2. IN TAKING IT TO MY FORD DEALER THEY SAID IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO M…

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1. THE RADIATOR ON MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER 4.0L V6 BEGAN LEAKING AFTER JUST 3 YEARS AND 49K MILES--DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY RETURN IT TO THE DEALER. 2. IN TAKING IT TO MY FORD DEALER THEY SAID IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $1200 (SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36K MILES). 3. FORD'S ISSUED A TSB IN APRIL 2009 WITH A DIAGNOSIS FOR THIS ISSUE AND HAVE A REDESIGNED RADIATOR THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING ANY FAILED RADIATORS THAT YEAR WITH. IN CONTACTING FORD MOTOR THEY TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE SINCE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335536

55,000 miles · Jun 9, 2010
Electrical System

I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER, IN 2009, THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT 3X WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN MASSACHUSETTS. MY MECHANIC AFTER REVIEWING THE VEHICLE DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD 2 CORRODED SENSORS WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER REPAIRING THE SENSORS WITHIN THE HARNESS, MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HARNESS SY…

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I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER, IN 2009, THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT 3X WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN MASSACHUSETTS. MY MECHANIC AFTER REVIEWING THE VEHICLE DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD 2 CORRODED SENSORS WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER REPAIRING THE SENSORS WITHIN THE HARNESS, MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HARNESS SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE STALLING OR OTHER SYSTEM FAILURE WOULD HAPPEN IN THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT I SHOULD PURSUE FORD TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SAFETY RAMIFICATIONS OF THE DEFECTIVE HARNESS. I TOOK MY COMPLAINT TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND MY VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THEIR SERVICE TECHNICIANS AND THE HARNESS WAS REVIEWED BY THEIR AREA MANAGER OF NORTHEAST DEALERSHIPS. FORD REPORTED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE HARNESS BUT WOULD OFFER LITTLE RE-IMBURSEMENT TO ME AS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WAS REQUESTING THAT FORD REPLACE THE FAULTY HARNESS FREE OF COST TO ME AS IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. FORD DISAGREED AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY ADDITIONAL RESOLUTION. IN THE LAST YEAR- I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AS I CANNOT AFFORD REPLACEMENT DUE TO EMPLOYMENT LAYOFFS- THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED REPEATEDLY; ON HIGHWAYS, SUBURBAN AND URBAN ROADWAYS, ALL PUTTING MYSELF AND FAMILY IN HARM'S WAY. I RECENTLY CONTACTED FORD AGAIN WANTING A WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT- FORD'S ANSWER WAS THE SAME AS IT WAS IN 2009, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE HARNESS UNLESS I PAY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD SHOULD CORRECT. I AM NOW BECOMING FEARFUL THAT IF NOT CORRECTED SOON, THAT IT WILL CAUSE HARM TO MYSELF AND FAMILY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335425

52,000 miles · Jun 7, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR IS LEAKING FROM A SEAM. MILEAGE IS 52,000. SEEMS VERY EARLY TO BE REPLACING A RADIATOR. DEALER WANTS $1100 TO REPLACE. IT APPEARS THAT RADIATOR FAILURE ON 2006 FORD EXPLORER V6 IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335054

80,000 miles · Jun 7, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10335041

51,000 miles · Jun 4, 2010
Service Brakes, Electric

ON TWO OCCASIONS (MAY 2009 AND NOW JUNE 2010) A TONE RING IN MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER'S ABS/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM BROKE. IT CAUSED THE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKES TO GO HAYWIRE. THEY BEGAN TO GRAB AND LOCK MY BRAKES WHEN I WAS MOVING CAUSING ERRATIC DRIVING. WHEN I WENT TO STOP, MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAVE READ …

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ON TWO OCCASIONS (MAY 2009 AND NOW JUNE 2010) A TONE RING IN MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER'S ABS/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM BROKE. IT CAUSED THE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKES TO GO HAYWIRE. THEY BEGAN TO GRAB AND LOCK MY BRAKES WHEN I WAS MOVING CAUSING ERRATIC DRIVING. WHEN I WENT TO STOP, MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAVE READ ON FORD FORUMS THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS FORD EXPLORER OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334660

46,000 miles · Jun 1, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MODEL YEAR - 2006 MAKE - FORD MODEL - EXPLORER V6 COMPONENT* - CRACKED RADIATOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10333996

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2010
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE CAN TAKE FROM 1 TO 10 SECONDS TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. I AM SURPRISED I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT FROM THIS DEFECT. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO GEAR THAT IT GETS STUCK IN A HIGHER GEAR WHICH AFFECTS ACCELERATION FROM A DEAD STOP.…

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THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE CAN TAKE FROM 1 TO 10 SECONDS TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. I AM SURPRISED I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT FROM THIS DEFECT. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO GEAR THAT IT GETS STUCK IN A HIGHER GEAR WHICH AFFECTS ACCELERATION FROM A DEAD STOP. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO POWER DOWN THE VEHICLE AND RESTART IT. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO LURCHES ON STOPS, MAKING IT FEEL AS IF YOU HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT NOBODY HAS FORCED FORD TO RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT OWNERS SAFETY CAN BE PLACED IN THIS AMOUNT OF DANGER AND STILL NOT HAVE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10333967

37,000 miles · May 26, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER XLS V6 RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING AFTER 36,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10332283

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2010
Power Train

I BOUGHT A 2006 EXPLORER AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES.THE FIRST MAJOR ISSUE WAS WHEN MY CAR WOULD OCCASIONALLY STALL OR DIE OUT. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN BECAUSE IT STALLED ON THE HWY WHILE I WAS DOING 65 MPH AND THE CAR DIED. I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SID…

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I BOUGHT A 2006 EXPLORER AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES.THE FIRST MAJOR ISSUE WAS WHEN MY CAR WOULD OCCASIONALLY STALL OR DIE OUT. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN BECAUSE IT STALLED ON THE HWY WHILE I WAS DOING 65 MPH AND THE CAR DIED. I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER. I GOT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY RADIATOR. THEY FIXED THIS BUT I EXPLAINED A MONTH LATER THAT THE CAR WAS STILL STALLING ALONG WITH ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AND THE VOLUME ON THE RADIO WOULD GO UP ALSO ON ITS OWN. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A RESOLUTION. I TRIED TO TRADE THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD NO. I CRIED AND EXPLAINED MY SAFETY CONCERNS FOR MY CHILDREN BUT THEY DO NOT CARE. FINALLY THE CAR WAS NOT ANY BETTER BUT STARTED TO STALL MORE OFTEN AND EVEN BEGAN TO LURCH FORWARD ALMOST CAUSING ME NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. THE LAST TIME IT STALLED WAS ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS WHICH WAS SO DEVASTATING TO ME AND MY CHILDREN. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD AFTER AN 1 HOUR AND A HALF THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I REFUSED TO LEAVE AND SUGGESTED THEY KEEP LOOKING BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT SAFE. THE CAME BACK AFTER ANOTHER HOUR AND TOLD ME THAT THEY CALLED FORD AND THEY SUGGESTED A PART TO REPLACE BUT COULDN'T GUARANTEE IT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SURE THAT WOULD WORK. I SAID NOT TO KEEP LOOKING. AFTER 3 HOURS AT THE DEALER THEY HAD TO BRING ME HOME AND DRIVE MY CAR AROUND WITH A COMPUTER ATTACHED. THEY CALLED AND SAID AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 57 MILES IT DIED ON THEM AND THEY COULD BARELY GET IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT WOULD COST EST 448 AND CHARGED ME 100 DOLLARS FOR THEM LOOKING AT IT. WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED UNDER WARRANTY IF THEY WOULD HAVE LISTENED TO MY CONCERNS? FORD IS NOW PUTTING MY CHILDREN AT RISK OF POSSIBLY GETTING INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT NOW STALLS EVERY TWO MINUTES EVER SINCE THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330788

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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