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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
28,000 miles · May 15, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER - 62,000 MILES AND I AM ON RADIATOR #5 - MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP - STATING IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND I DID NOT BY EXTENDED WARRANTY 1/2007 PURCHASED VEHICLE - 10/2007 28,000 MILES REPLACED RADIATOR - DEALER COST UNDER WARRANTY 3/2009 45,000 MILES REPLACED RADIATOR A…

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2006 FORD EXPLORER - 62,000 MILES AND I AM ON RADIATOR #5 - MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP - STATING IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND I DID NOT BY EXTENDED WARRANTY 1/2007 PURCHASED VEHICLE - 10/2007 28,000 MILES REPLACED RADIATOR - DEALER COST UNDER WARRANTY 3/2009 45,000 MILES REPLACED RADIATOR AGAIN - MY COST - NOT UNDER WARRANTY 10/2009 54,500 MILES REPLACED RADIATOR AGAIN . DEALER PD INDEPENDANT GARAGE - MARCH RADIATOR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. 5/10- REPLACED RADIATOR AGAIN - RADIATOR UNDER WARRANTY - BUT LABOR WAS MY COST ... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330532

62,000 miles · May 5, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER V6-4.0L NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAK AT 62,000 MILES TOOK TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE RADIATOR WAS BAD LEAKING AT SEAMS. TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THAT YEAR. REPLACEMENT FOR NEW RADIATOR IS $750 . HE TOLD ME TO CALL FORD AND SEE IF THEY HAD A SILENT RECALL ON THESE AS THE…

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2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER V6-4.0L NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAK AT 62,000 MILES TOOK TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE RADIATOR WAS BAD LEAKING AT SEAMS. TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THAT YEAR. REPLACEMENT FOR NEW RADIATOR IS $750 . HE TOLD ME TO CALL FORD AND SEE IF THEY HAD A SILENT RECALL ON THESE AS THERE IS A TSB OUT FOR THIS, THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. CHECKING DIFFERENT INTERNET SITES THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS HE STATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328926

44,000 miles · May 4, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, A RED SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPRO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, A RED SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 44,000. UPDATED 07/22/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/26/10

NHTSA ODI #10328770

44,071 miles · Apr 21, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING GEARS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIATOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; THE RADIATOR WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING GEARS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIATOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; THE RADIATOR WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIATOR COULD BE WARRANTIED AS THERE WAS A SIMILAR FAILURE IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO CALLED A LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,071. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPPROXIMATELY 44,200.

NHTSA ODI #10326832

79,000 miles · Apr 19, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS WITH MY EXPLORER I HAVE HAD IT DIE ON ME 4 TIMES AND HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. 4 TIMES THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS SOME SORT OF COMPONENT IN THE THROTTLE BODY THAT IS CAUSING IT TO DIE. IT HAS DIED TWICE ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DOING 65 MPH. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED …

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OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS WITH MY EXPLORER I HAVE HAD IT DIE ON ME 4 TIMES AND HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. 4 TIMES THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS SOME SORT OF COMPONENT IN THE THROTTLE BODY THAT IS CAUSING IT TO DIE. IT HAS DIED TWICE ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DOING 65 MPH. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ON THURSDAY APRIL 15TH. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND YET AGAIN THEY SAID IT WAS A SENSOR IN THERE AND FOR THE 4TH TIME THE REPLACED A COMPONENT OF THIS INSTEAD OF THE WHOLE THING. THEY CAN NOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX IT WHICH IS VERY DISCONCERTING TO ME. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT GO ABOVE 45 MPH BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT IT TO DIE ON MY ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN. THAT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE ANYONE ELSE HAS TO GO THRU WHAT I (AND BASED ON THE ONLINE COMMENTS MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE GONE THRU). FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 EXPLORERS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326372

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2010
Power Train

2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH A DEFECTIVE GEAR SHIFT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REPAIR WORK WAS MADE FOR THE RECALL. THEN WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT THIS REPAIR WOULD NOT FIX DEFECT AND CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE REPAIR. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS A PART OF A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM…

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2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH A DEFECTIVE GEAR SHIFT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REPAIR WORK WAS MADE FOR THE RECALL. THEN WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT THIS REPAIR WOULD NOT FIX DEFECT AND CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE REPAIR. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS A PART OF A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM WAS TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT LEVER FROM GETTING STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION, BY REPLACING THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CIRCUIT BOARD FREE OF CHARGE. PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD PERIODICALLY AND TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN PARK. THE CONSUMER HAD THE REPAIR PERFORMED. THE FIRST CIRCUIT BOARD REPLACEMENT DID NOT FIX THE DEFECT. SO A SECOND CIRCUIT BOARD WAS INSTALLED AND SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, A MONTH LATER, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BECAME STUCK IN PARK SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OTHER PARTS WITHIN THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE REPAIRS WERE OUTSIDE THE LIMITS OF THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10318703

40,000 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR LEAKED AND FAILED. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED TWICE BEFORE AND THE DEALER WAS REPLACING IT FOR THE THIRD TIME AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR LEAKED AND FAILED. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED TWICE BEFORE AND THE DEALER WAS REPLACING IT FOR THE THIRD TIME AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10325471

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR LEAK IN 2006 FORD EXPLORER. V6 ENGINE. HAPPENED AT 42,000 MILES. HAPPENED A SECOND TIME ON 4/11/10. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325258

39,000 miles · Apr 12, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHES 35,000 TO 40,000 MILES, RADIATOR FAILURE IS COMMON. RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER V6 AT 39,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THIS PROBLEMS IS KNOWN TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AS THEY'VE CREATED A TSB FOR IT STATING TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR WITH A NEW DESIGN AND TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE ON TH…

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ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHES 35,000 TO 40,000 MILES, RADIATOR FAILURE IS COMMON. RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER V6 AT 39,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THIS PROBLEMS IS KNOWN TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AS THEY'VE CREATED A TSB FOR IT STATING TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR WITH A NEW DESIGN AND TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE ON THE VEHICLE. RADIATORS SHOULD NOT FAIL THIS SOON ON NEW CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325255

71,000 miles · Apr 12, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

A FRIEND WITH 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAD THEIR ENGINE SEIZE ($5000) ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A FAMILY TRIP OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY DUE TO A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR AND NO ENGINE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. I BEGAN CHECKING MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO TAKE A SPRING BREAK FAMILY TRIP AN…

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A FRIEND WITH 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAD THEIR ENGINE SEIZE ($5000) ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A FAMILY TRIP OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY DUE TO A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR AND NO ENGINE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. I BEGAN CHECKING MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO TAKE A SPRING BREAK FAMILY TRIP AND NOTICED LOW ANITFREEZE ON MY TRUCK OVERFLOW TANK AND LEAKAGE ON THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE OF THE RADIATOR. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL CAR MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THEY WANTED $800 FOR A NEW RADIATOR. MY MECHANIC FIXED THE TRUCK BUT HIS PARTS CONTACT SAID THE RADIATOR IS ON A NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER BECAUSE OF THE ALL THE DEFECTIVE RADIATORS IN 2006-2007 FORD EXPLORER TYPE VEHICLES. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY REPAIR ABOUT 4 OR 5 A YEAR AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY OR RECALL. AFTER THE REPAIR I FOUND OUT THERE IS A TSB RECOMMENDATION FROM THE MANUFACTURE IN ORDER TO GET A LIFETIME WARRANTY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CAN ONLY DO THIS AND FOR $95 THE TSB WILL CORRECT THE TEMPERATURE COMPUTER SETTINGS SO THE COOLING FAN WILL TURN ON SOONER. THE HIGHER TEMPERATURES MAY BE THE REASON THIS RADIATOR IS FAILING BECAUSE THEY SHOULD LAST 10 PLUS YEARS OF THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE BEFORE NEEDING REPLACEMENT. THE GASKET SEAL BETWEEN PLASTIC AND ALUMINUM ON THE UPPER DRIVER SIDE IS THE CAUSING THE PROBLEM, SO IT'S OBVIOUS THERE IS A COMBINATION OF IMPROPER TEMPERATURE SETTINGS AND DEFECTIVE PART. THIS PART SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR A DEFECTIVE ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE DIRECT OR INDIRECT DEATHS AND/OR INJURIES. IT COST ME $530 INSTALLED AT A LOCAL RADIATOR REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325227

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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