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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
Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2007
Electrical System

2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH TRAC AND WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER STATES THEY HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS FIXED AND THEN THE FAILURE WOULD BEGIN AGAIN. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, THE BRAKES WOULD PULSE AND …

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2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH TRAC AND WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER STATES THEY HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS FIXED AND THEN THE FAILURE WOULD BEGIN AGAIN. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, THE BRAKES WOULD PULSE AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10210567

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2007
Power Train

WE OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER, AND ITS TRANSMISSION SLIPS, GETS CONFUSED DURING DOWNSHIFTS, AND NOW HAS DEVELOPED A LURCH FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP, WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" BUT FORD IS WORKING ON A PROGRAM FOR THE COMPUTER THAT THEY ARE RELEASING IN MID NOVEMB…

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WE OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER, AND ITS TRANSMISSION SLIPS, GETS CONFUSED DURING DOWNSHIFTS, AND NOW HAS DEVELOPED A LURCH FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP, WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" BUT FORD IS WORKING ON A PROGRAM FOR THE COMPUTER THAT THEY ARE RELEASING IN MID NOVEMBER. FIRST OF ALL, IF THIS IS NORMAL WHY IS THIS THE SECOND ATTEMPT AT CREATING A FIX FOR A "NON-EXISTENT" PROBLEM WITH A "NORMALLY FUNCTIONING TRANSMISSION." FORD INSTRUCTED THE DEALERSHIPS TO LET IT BE UNTIL THE NEW "PROGRAM" COMES OUT IN NOVEMBER. WHERE EXACTLY DOES THAT LEAVE THE CONSUMER, I HAVE A TRANSMISSION THAT HAD HAS BEEN SLIPPING IN GEAR AND MIS-SHIFTING FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES AND A 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. IF THIS DOESN'T BECOME MORE OF A SAFETY CONCERN, WHICH I AM AFRAID IT WILL, I WILL LIKELY HAVE INCREASED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE OF IT. PLUS, NEVERMIND THIS CURRENT MODEL EXPLORER WILL NOW HAVE A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RESALE VALUE AS THESE TYPES OF COMPLAINTS INCREASE. PLEASE HELP! THIS WAS A LARGE INVESTMENT TO MAKE, AND NOW I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE CONSEQUENCE FOR FORDS FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208137

3,000 miles · Nov 5, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

WE HAVE TAKEN OUR 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH JUST OVER 20,000 MILES ON IT INTO THE SHOP 3 TIMES DUE TO INTERMITTENT LOSE OF POWER WHEN STARTING OUT. THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE HAS BEEN RELOADED 2 TIMES. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN I TOLD THE DEALER TO KEEP IT UNTIL IT WAS FIXED. AFTER 2 DAYS THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT B…

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WE HAVE TAKEN OUR 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH JUST OVER 20,000 MILES ON IT INTO THE SHOP 3 TIMES DUE TO INTERMITTENT LOSE OF POWER WHEN STARTING OUT. THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE HAS BEEN RELOADED 2 TIMES. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN I TOLD THE DEALER TO KEEP IT UNTIL IT WAS FIXED. AFTER 2 DAYS THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT BELIEVED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. FORD THEN ASKED US TO DRIVE A UNSAFE CAR TO TROUBLE SHOOT IT FOR THEM WITH A FLIGHT RECORDER HOOKED UP TO THE COMPUTER. FORD CARE AND THE DEALER ARE BOTH NOT WILLING TO CALL BACK AND FIX THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207972

4,700 miles · Oct 29, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT DOWNSHIFTING CORRECTLY. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP OR DRIVING BETWEEN 1 AND 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUMPED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS: SEPTEMBER 22, 2006, OCTOBER 9, 2006, AND SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. ON EACH VISIT, THE DEALER PERFORMED…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT DOWNSHIFTING CORRECTLY. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP OR DRIVING BETWEEN 1 AND 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUMPED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS: SEPTEMBER 22, 2006, OCTOBER 9, 2006, AND SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. ON EACH VISIT, THE DEALER PERFORMED A TRANSMISSION UPDATE THAT ONLY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. IT IS CURRENTLY OCTOBER 2007 AND THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,700.

NHTSA ODI #10207271

15,000 miles · Oct 26, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PCM FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI #10207038

29,000 miles · Oct 16, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE JUMPS AS IF IT WERE STRUCK FROM BEHIND. THE VEHICLE JUMPS AND ACCELERATES IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION MODULE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE JUMPS AS IF IT WERE STRUCK FROM BEHIND. THE VEHICLE JUMPS AND ACCELERATES IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION MODULE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 29,000. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE BRAKES. UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA ODI #10205914

17,000 miles · Oct 16, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE PROPERLY AND HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE PROPERLY AND HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000. UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED ON ENGAGEMENT. UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ODI #10205904

33,322 miles · Oct 5, 2007
Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS INCONSISTENT WHEN SHIFTING. SOMETIMES ENGINE ROARS WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN BETWEEN GEARS. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT ON OCCASION. PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE (2006 FORD EXPLORER IN NOVEMBER 2006 WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AS A USED CAR) AND EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEMS UNTIL THE FIRST PART OF JUNE 2007. *JB UPDATED…

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TRANSMISSION IS INCONSISTENT WHEN SHIFTING. SOMETIMES ENGINE ROARS WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN BETWEEN GEARS. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT ON OCCASION. PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE (2006 FORD EXPLORER IN NOVEMBER 2006 WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AS A USED CAR) AND EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEMS UNTIL THE FIRST PART OF JUNE 2007. *JB UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION PAN SOLENOID BODY. UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ODI #10205094

200 miles · Oct 2, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR AND THE SPEED DECREASED TO 5 MPH IN 2-5 SECONDS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MECHATRONIX, HOWEVER, …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR AND THE SPEED DECREASED TO 5 MPH IN 2-5 SECONDS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MECHATRONIX, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,500.

NHTSA ODI #10204716

59 miles · Oct 2, 2007
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD REFLECTS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THEY ALSO ADVI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD REFLECTS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THEY ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BUY AN AFTERMARKET MAT TO PLACE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR EITHER A REFUND OR AN EXCHANGE FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59.

NHTSA ODI #10204656

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