← 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
85,000 miles · Jul 12, 2017
EnginePower Train

I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER , BOUGHT USED IN 2011/61000K. SINCE 2012 THE CAR STARTED SHOWING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING AND /OR ENGINE. WHEN DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH ON A HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED TO SURGE FORWARD, THEN BACK, KEEPING SURGING UNTIL THE CAR REACHED A HIGHER SPEED OF 60. IF DRIVING ON A HILL, IT WILL LOO…

Read full complaint

I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER , BOUGHT USED IN 2011/61000K. SINCE 2012 THE CAR STARTED SHOWING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING AND /OR ENGINE. WHEN DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH ON A HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED TO SURGE FORWARD, THEN BACK, KEEPING SURGING UNTIL THE CAR REACHED A HIGHER SPEED OF 60. IF DRIVING ON A HILL, IT WILL LOOSE ITS SPEED. I TOOK THE CAR TO FORD DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THE CAR NOW IS 120000K, STILL SAME PROBLEM. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD THAT WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMAS.

NHTSA ODI #11004696

249,280 miles · Jul 9, 2017
Unknown Or Other

REAR WINDOW HINGE FRACTURED, WINDOW FELL. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI #11003893

120,000 miles · Jul 6, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

THE CAR WAS SOLD WITH LIMITED WARRANTY, USED, BUT HAD WRITTEN COLD START ISSUE. THE VEHICLE GETS WARM IF WARM OUTSIDE AND WILL JUST COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME. RIDING DOWN INTERSTATE, WILL LOSE POWER THEN SHUT OFF AND LEAVE YOU WITH NO POWER STEERING TO CONTROL VEHICLE GOING HIGH SPEEDS, WILL SHUT OFF IN TOWN MULTIP…

Read full complaint

THE CAR WAS SOLD WITH LIMITED WARRANTY, USED, BUT HAD WRITTEN COLD START ISSUE. THE VEHICLE GETS WARM IF WARM OUTSIDE AND WILL JUST COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME. RIDING DOWN INTERSTATE, WILL LOSE POWER THEN SHUT OFF AND LEAVE YOU WITH NO POWER STEERING TO CONTROL VEHICLE GOING HIGH SPEEDS, WILL SHUT OFF IN TOWN MULTIPLE TIMES UPWARD OF A DOZEN OR MORE TIMES WHILE DRIVING, 1ST SHOP SENT TO SAID COULDN'T FIND ISSUE SECOND THEY SENT ME TOO SAID COMPUTER NEEDED REPLACING. EITHER WAY I NEVER WOULD HAVE PURCHASED IT WITHOUT IT BEING DONE HAD U KNOWN, MY FIANCE IS SMALL AND NO WAY SHE COULD HANDLE THE VEHICLE IF SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. ITS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED IF NOT REPAIRED AND LOOKED INTO MORE CLOSELY.

NHTSA ODI #11003275

130,000 miles · Jun 29, 2017
Power Train

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS BANGING INTO GEAR. IT JOLTS THE VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH AS IT SHIFTS. TRIED REPLACING TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT CONTINUES TO DO IT. FEELS LIKE I'VE BEEN REAR-ENDED AT TIMES. ITS A CONSISTENT OCCURRENCE.

NHTSA ODI #11002083

37,500 miles · Jun 5, 2017
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TRI STAR FORD (930 OLD US HWY 22, BLAIRSVILLE, PA 15717), BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHI…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TRI STAR FORD (930 OLD US HWY 22, BLAIRSVILLE, PA 15717), BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10993179

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2017
Power Train

OVERDRIVE HAS A HARD JOLT " HARD SHIFT" WHEN NORMAL DRIVING. I SEE THIS IS A BIG ISSUE WITH ALL FORD EXPLORERS, TOO BAD I DIDN'T DO SOME RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING A FORD.

NHTSA ODI #10992929

138,000 miles · Apr 29, 2017
Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A WRENCH LIGHT TURNED ON ON MY DASH. I THEN REALIZED THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT REVING AS USUAL I THEN PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT CONTINUED TO WORK JUST FINE OR SO I THOUGHT UNTIL IT HAPPENED A DAY LATER. IT HAPPENS EVERY SO OFTEN SINCE THEN, BUT IT IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WITH MY CHILD…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A WRENCH LIGHT TURNED ON ON MY DASH. I THEN REALIZED THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT REVING AS USUAL I THEN PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT CONTINUED TO WORK JUST FINE OR SO I THOUGHT UNTIL IT HAPPENED A DAY LATER. IT HAPPENS EVERY SO OFTEN SINCE THEN, BUT IT IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WITH MY CHILDREN ARE IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10981376

180,000 miles · Mar 16, 2017
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

HAVE A SEVERE GAS SMELL IN THE CAB HAVE HAD 3 DIFFERENT AUTO MECHANIC SHOPS LOOK AT IT CANT FIND THE SOURCE HAD GAS LINES REPLACED, GAS FILTER AND SMOKED NOTHING THEY ARE STUMPED AND MY PEOPLE ARE GOOD WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE ######## ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FORD. HELP ITS MAKING ME HAVE HEADACHES N FEEL SICK AND IT SM…

Read full complaint

HAVE A SEVERE GAS SMELL IN THE CAB HAVE HAD 3 DIFFERENT AUTO MECHANIC SHOPS LOOK AT IT CANT FIND THE SOURCE HAD GAS LINES REPLACED, GAS FILTER AND SMOKED NOTHING THEY ARE STUMPED AND MY PEOPLE ARE GOOD WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE ######## ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FORD. HELP ITS MAKING ME HAVE HEADACHES N FEEL SICK AND IT SMELLS SITTING AND DRIVING. ITS NON STOP N GETTING WORST.

NHTSA ODI #10966312

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2017
Power Train

TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY LURCHES AND MAKES VERY HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS. ENGINE RACES BETWEEN HARD SHIFTS. HAVE LOSS OF POWER BETWEEN SHIFTS WHICH HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. LURCHING SEEMS TO OCCUR MOSTLY AFTER DRIVING AT 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI #10958725

100,100 miles · Feb 8, 2017
EnginePower Train

GOT 2006 EDDIE BAUER W/98,000, 1 PREVIOUS OWNER (MOTHER) ALL SERVICING VIA THE SAME FORD DEALER (GENE BUTMAN), EXCEPT FOR A FEW OIL CHANGES FROM UNCLE ED'S. LATE NOV 2016 TOOK IT IN DUE TO THE HEAT WAS FLUCTUATING, WAS TOLD IT NEEDED THE THERMOSTAT AND HOUSING REPLACED (EVEN THOUGH IT HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED A FEW YEARS EARL…

Read full complaint

GOT 2006 EDDIE BAUER W/98,000, 1 PREVIOUS OWNER (MOTHER) ALL SERVICING VIA THE SAME FORD DEALER (GENE BUTMAN), EXCEPT FOR A FEW OIL CHANGES FROM UNCLE ED'S. LATE NOV 2016 TOOK IT IN DUE TO THE HEAT WAS FLUCTUATING, WAS TOLD IT NEEDED THE THERMOSTAT AND HOUSING REPLACED (EVEN THOUGH IT HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED A FEW YEARS EARLIER), ALSO HAD BRAKES & ROTORS DONE, THE 100,000 MILE CHECKUP SAID ALL WAS GOOD. A WEEK LATER THE EXHAUST FLUTE, ETC BROKE LOSE, GOT THAT REPAIRED & $2,000 LATER, FRIDAY 2/03/17 WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, THEN ENGINE LIGHT, VEHICLE SEEMED TO LUNGE FORWARD, DELAY, DOESN'T ENGAGE..ACCELERATE, FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS HANGING AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. A THUD FEELING WAS ALSO REPORTED BY MY MOTHER SEVERAL TIMES IN PREVIOUS YEARS TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, SO SHE HAD THEN DOCUMENT IT. TODAY I AM TOLD A TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED, WHICH IS A UNEXPECTED HUGE & SADDENING SURPRISE - IN 2012 AND 2013 THERE HAD ALREADY BEEN TRANSMISSION WORK ON THE VEHICLE. CHECKED AND SEE ALL REPORTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS OCCURRED ON THIS ONE, COOLING SYSTEM/RADIATOR/THERMOSTAT AND HOUSING ISSUES, EXHAUST ISSUES AND NOW TRANSMISSION ISSUES -- THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS FOR THIS EXACT MODEL AND OTHER EXPLORER AND FORD VEHICLES, ALL KNOWN ISSUES, MANY EXPLANATIONS WHY IT OCCURRED WITH THIS MODEL AND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THEM AND HAS PROVIDED NO RECALLS FOR ANY OF THESE SERIOUS DEFECTIVE MATTERS, NONE - ESPECIALLY WHEN EACH ARE VERY DANGEROUS MATTERS. TODAY I AM TOLD, THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WILL BE: $5,400, 3 YEAR WARRANTY AND A USED TRANSMISSION: $3,600 12 MOS OR 12,000 MILES. BOTH OPTIONS ARE VERY VERY EXPENSIVE. WHAT CAN NHTSA DO, WILL A RECALL EVER OCCUR? IT SEEMS FORD NEEDS TO STEP IN AND HELP WITH THESE REPAIRS. IT THERE ANY HELP WITH THESE MATTERS & COST? HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2006/ .

NHTSA ODI #10950269

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