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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
40,000 miles · Apr 11, 2009
Power Train

EXCITER RING DAMAGE. REPLACED REAR AXLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264969

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2009
Power TrainInjury

MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING BUT REPROGRAM IT. IT HAS BEEN DONE 5+ TIMES. IT JERKS AND LUNGES INTO UPCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264843

21,000 miles · Apr 7, 2009
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WHICH NOW HAS 21 THOUSAND MILES LAST YEAR I HAD THE DASH CLUSTER REPLACE BECAUSE THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. THEN THE SHIFT LEVER WOULDN'T MOVE OUT OF PARK. (STILL HAPPENING) NOT THE ABS. TRACTION AND WRENCH LIGHTS HAVE COME ON. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264339

30,600 miles · Apr 2, 2009
Interior LightingStructure

SINCE 11/08, WE NOTICED THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE LIGHT WOULD LEAK WATER AFTER VARIOUS RAINFALLS. ON 12/1/08 WE TOOK THE SUV TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE OF THIS MATTER. IT WAS RELEASED TO US ON 12/3/08. THE CORRECTION WAS: INSTALLED UPDATED DRAIN TUBES, AS PER 07-20-6. ON 3/2/09 WE BROUGHT THE SUV TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, FOR T…

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SINCE 11/08, WE NOTICED THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE LIGHT WOULD LEAK WATER AFTER VARIOUS RAINFALLS. ON 12/1/08 WE TOOK THE SUV TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE OF THIS MATTER. IT WAS RELEASED TO US ON 12/3/08. THE CORRECTION WAS: INSTALLED UPDATED DRAIN TUBES, AS PER 07-20-6. ON 3/2/09 WE BROUGHT THE SUV TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, FOR THE SAME - OVERHEAD CONSOLE, DOME LAMP LEAKING, & FULL OF WATER, AND ROOF (HEADLINER) ABOVE REAR SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE LEAKING AND SOAKED WITH WATER AFTER VARIOUS RAINFALLS. THE CORRECTION THIS SECOND TIME WAS: CLEARED DRAINS. ON 3/30/09 WE BROUGHT THE SUV IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN. IT HAD RAINED THROUGH THE NIGHT, AND THE MORNING OF 3/29/09. THE DOME CONSOLE LIGHTS WERE LEAKING & HAD WATER INSIDE, THE ROOF HEADLINER ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WAS SOAKED & LEAKING WATER WELL INTO THE TRUNK AREA, AND THE RIGHT SIDE REAR BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS SOAKED & LEAKING WATER WELL INTO THE TRUNK AREA AS WELL. WE RECEIVED A PHONECALL FROM THE TECHNICIAN ON 3/31/09, STATING THAT NO LEAKS HAD BEEN FOUND, NO WATER STAINS VISIBLE. WE WENT IN TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT EVENING, AND SHOWED THE PICTURES TAKEN BY US ON 3/29/09 - SHOWING EXTENSIVE WATER LEAKAGE. THEY KEPT THE SUV TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE FOR LEAKS. ON 4/2/09 WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE TECHNICIAN, STATING THE DRAINS WOULD BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE EVENTS IS THAT I AM AFRAID TO ALLOW THE CHILDREN TO TURN ON THE DVD PLAYER, SUNROOF, & EVEN FEAR OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD/ELECTRICAL SAFETY ISSUES. MY HUSBAND HAS LOST DAYS @ WORK WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN SERVICE. MY ASTHMATIC CHILD HAS NOT FELT WELL FOR MONTHS NOW, WHICH LEADS US TO SUSPECT IF DUE TO THE LEAKAGE, THUS WETNESS, IF MOLD IS PRESENT SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE DRIVER HEATED SEAT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE 12/09, WHICH LEADS US TO SUSPECT IF THE WATER DAMAGE HAS STARTED CAUSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264014

25,500 miles · Mar 24, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

AS VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, ENGINE DIED. NO LIGHTS ON DASH TO INDICATE PROBLEM. NO SMOKE FROM ENGINE AT THAT TIME. VEHICLE PULLED OVER, HOOD OPENED, LOTS OF SMOKE POURED OUT. HAD TOWED TO CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. BOTH HEAD GASKETS BLOWN, HEADS WARPED, ONE PISTON BROKE. NEEDS ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE - ESTIMATED COST $6000. BOUGHT VEHICLE…

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AS VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, ENGINE DIED. NO LIGHTS ON DASH TO INDICATE PROBLEM. NO SMOKE FROM ENGINE AT THAT TIME. VEHICLE PULLED OVER, HOOD OPENED, LOTS OF SMOKE POURED OUT. HAD TOWED TO CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. BOTH HEAD GASKETS BLOWN, HEADS WARPED, ONE PISTON BROKE. NEEDS ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE - ESTIMATED COST $6000. BOUGHT VEHICLE USED WITH LIMITED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. PER FORD A CLAMP ON A HOSE TO THE THERMOSTAT MISSING CAUSED BREAKDOWN AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. DID RESEARCH, THERE WAS A TSB ABOUT CLAMPS TO RADIATOR HOSES (SHOULD INCLUDE THERMOSTAT) FOR REPLACEMENT DUE TO FAULTY COATING WHICH COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. HAD MY VEHICLE HISTORY RESEARCHED AND DOES NOT APPEAR THAT MINE WERE EVER REPLACED. NEITHER FORD NOR THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED ARE DOING ANYTHING TO FIX PROBLEM. ALSO DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW POWERTRAIN WARRANTY CAN COVER THE THERMOSTAT BUT NOT THE HOSES AND CLAMPS THAT ARE PART OF IT. ALSO BELIEVE THAT SINCE NO LIGHTS ON DASH TO INDICATE PROBLEM THAT COULD ALSO HAVE PREVENTED THIS FROM HAPPENING IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INSPECTED PROPERLY PRIOR TO SALE TO ME BY DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262977

50,000 miles · Mar 20, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SuspensionVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS / CHECK ENGINE / RSC WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN FOR A COUPLE OF MILES, BUT THEN IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A SAFE LOCATION AND WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF A ROAD IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER.…

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WHILE DRIVING THE ABS / CHECK ENGINE / RSC WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN FOR A COUPLE OF MILES, BUT THEN IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A SAFE LOCATION AND WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF A ROAD IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND OUT THE REAR RIGHT TOOTHED RING KNOWN AS AN "EXCITER RING" WAS LOOSE ON THE AXLE. THEY REPORTED THE WHOLE AXLE PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF HOW IT'S MADE AT A COST OF $630 INSTALLED. THEY INDICATED THEY HAD NO REQUIREMENT TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH UNFORESEEN SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT IS BEING UNDER REPORTED. MY TRUCK ONLY HAD 50K MILES AND I HAVE RESEARCHED MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS REPORTING THE PROBLEM ON CAR AND TRUCK FORUMS. I HAVE INDICATED ON THE FORUMS TO REPORT THIS DEFECT TO YOUR WEB SITE AND INCLUDED THE LINKS. THE FORUMS ARE INDICATING FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND MY DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN ONCE IN A WHILE. WE HAVE A LONG TRIP SCHEDULED SOON AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH ANOTHER TOOTHED SENSOR RING FALLING OFF. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE LETTING MY WIFE AND KIDS DRIVE IN THIS VEHICLE KNOWING THAT THERE ARE THREE OTHER AXLES WITH POTENTIALLY THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COMPANY THAT MADE THIS PART SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR A DEFECTIVE PART THAT COULD CAUSE DIRECT OR INDIRECT DEATH AND/OR INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262603

50,000 miles · Mar 18, 2009
Power Train

I TOOK MY WIFE'S EXPLORER TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DESCRIBED THE ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE POPPING INTO GEAR LATE, OR DELAYING BEFORE IT GOES INTO GEAR. I CAN EVEN FEEL IT WHEN IT CHANGES GEARS WHEN DRIVING. SOMETIMES MORE SUDDEN THAN OTHER TIMES. THEY SAID THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS....SO THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR 6 HOURS TO TELL ME THA…

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I TOOK MY WIFE'S EXPLORER TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DESCRIBED THE ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE POPPING INTO GEAR LATE, OR DELAYING BEFORE IT GOES INTO GEAR. I CAN EVEN FEEL IT WHEN IT CHANGES GEARS WHEN DRIVING. SOMETIMES MORE SUDDEN THAN OTHER TIMES. THEY SAID THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS....SO THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR 6 HOURS TO TELL ME THAT I OWED THEM $89 FOR TELLING ME WHAT'S WRONG, AND THEN TOLD ME ITS $1,300 TO FIX IT. THEY SAID SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK, NO RECALL YET, SO YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT YOURSELF. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PURSUE THIS FURTHER... THIS IS DANGEROUS, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD BEFORE PEOPLE ARE HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262393

74,000 miles · Mar 18, 2009
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. SINCE OCTOBER OF 2008, THE VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED AND THE ACCELERATOR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY STALLS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS OFF. THE VEH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. SINCE OCTOBER OF 2008, THE VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED AND THE ACCELERATOR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY STALLS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES REGARDING THE BRAKE FAILURE AND STALLING, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHE WOULD LIKE THE FAILURE INVESTIGATED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000. UPDATED 10/21/09 *BF UPDATED 10/21/09*JB

NHTSA ODI #10262383

40,000 miles · Mar 18, 2009
Power Train

MY FORD 2006 EXPLORER LIMITED JOLTS ALMOST EVERY TIME I COME TO A STOP. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TO GET REPROGRAMMED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE VALVE BOX IN THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262252

47,500 miles · Mar 11, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER - HAD LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR -- TOOK TO A MECHANIC, HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE SEAM OF THE RADIATOR AND WE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE IT AT OUR COST OF $650.00 BECAUSE FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THE EQUIPMENT BUT IS MORE THAN AWARE THERE IS AN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261497

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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