Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
960–25K
13925–50K
13950–75K
8575–100K
67100–150K
21150K+
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
900 miles · Nov 27, 2006
Power Train
OUR 2006 4.6, V8 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION EXPLORER HAS BEEN IN FIVE TIME FOR REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION STARTING AT JUST OVER 900 MILE TO NOW WITH 2400 MILES. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SERIOUS SHIFTING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THESE HAVE RANGED FROM DELAYED 1-2 AND OR 2-3 SHIFT, HIGH REV, DELAYED SHIFT WITH HARD DOWN SHIFT AND SEV…
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OUR 2006 4.6, V8 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION EXPLORER HAS BEEN IN FIVE TIME FOR REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION STARTING AT JUST OVER 900 MILE TO NOW WITH 2400 MILES. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SERIOUS SHIFTING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THESE HAVE RANGED FROM DELAYED 1-2 AND OR 2-3 SHIFT, HIGH REV, DELAYED SHIFT WITH HARD DOWN SHIFT AND SEVERE JERKING. THIS RESULTED IN THREE DAYS OF BACK PAIN. THEY HAVE REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION, REPLACED THE VALVE ASSEMBLY AND THE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION AND WE ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10174493
1 miles · Nov 26, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control
ALWAYS- THROTTLE HESITATION AT STOP TO ACCELERATE. THERE IS A MOMENTARY HESITATION WHICH IS DANGEROUS IN STARTING OUT. IF THE SUV WERE TO KILL DUE TO THE STALL, THERE COULD EASILY BE AN ACCIDENT. I'M CONTACTING MY DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I SHOULD HAVE DONE IT SOONER. THIS IS A PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10174295
Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2006
Seats
THE HEAD REST ON THE REAR SEATS OF THE 2006 FOR EXPLORER POSE A SERIOUS VISION OBSTRUCTION. YOU CANNOT SEE WHEN BACKING UP OR CHANGING LANES. IF YOU HAVE A CAR SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT YOU CANNOT LET THE HEAD REST DOWN. YOU ALSO CANNOT MOVE THE HEAD REST UP OR DOWN, ONLY TILT THE HEAD REST FORWARD. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10174285
25 miles · Nov 4, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HESITATES/STUMBLES WHEN PULLING OUT FROM STOP POSITION OR INTO TRAFFIC. FORD MOTOR SAYS THEY CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. SUV IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THIS CONDITION. IT IS ALMOST A YEAR OLD(2006) AND HAS 2535 MILES ON IT. FORD WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS AND HAVE HAD IT TO DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES WITH PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10172611
3,000 miles · Oct 25, 2006
Seats
UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT, THERE IS SURFACE RUST ON THE METAL FRAME AND COMPONENTS. RUST IS NOT LIKELY SERIOUS, BUT CAN STAIN ANYTHING IT TOUCHES, AND MAY PROGRESS TO MORE SERIOUS RUST, CAUSING PARTS TO BREAK DOWN, OR MALFUNCTION. DEALER I BOUGHT VEHICLE FROM CALLED FORD SERVICE CENTER, AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE…
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UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT, THERE IS SURFACE RUST ON THE METAL FRAME AND COMPONENTS. RUST IS NOT LIKELY SERIOUS, BUT CAN STAIN ANYTHING IT TOUCHES, AND MAY PROGRESS TO MORE SERIOUS RUST, CAUSING PARTS TO BREAK DOWN, OR MALFUNCTION. DEALER I BOUGHT VEHICLE FROM CALLED FORD SERVICE CENTER, AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND AS THEY DEEM IT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" IT IS NOT COVERED BY ANY SORT OF WARRANTY. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR??? RUST INSIDE A NEW VEHICLE??? CHECKED OTHER EXPLORERS ON THE LOT AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10171843
46,000 miles · Oct 15, 2006
Power Train
AT SHARP TURNS EITHER TO THE LEFT OF THE THE RIGHT, THE AUTO 4X4 ENAGAGES AND YOU FEEL A LARGE SHUTTER. I WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER(THEY REPROGRAMED THE 4X4 PERMITERS) 4 MONTHS LATER IF HAS CAME BACK. NOTHING HAS SEEMED TO FIX IT, MANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS LIKE MINE ON THE INTERNET
NHTSA ODI #10170873
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2006
Power Train
HARD DOWNSHIFT TO 1ST GEAR. NO NOISE BUT AFTER STOPPING TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO 1ST CAUSING SEVER JERKING AND IT WILL JUMP FORWARD. THERE IS A TSB BUT NO FIX FOR IT TERRIBLE FOR A 40000.00 VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10170678
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2006
Seats
THE HEADREST ON THE REAR SEATS OF THE 2006 FOR EXPLORER POSE A SERIOUS VISION OBSTRUCTION. YOU CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FOR PASSING OR CHANGING LANES. IF YOU HAVE A CAR SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT YOU CANNOT LET THE HEADREST DOWN. YOU ALSO CANNOT MOVE THE HEADREST UP OR DOWN, ONLY TILT THE HEADREST FORWARD. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10170602
10,500 miles · Oct 4, 2006
Power Train
I FEEL MY 2006 4.6,V8, XLT EXPLORER IS UNSAFE BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. YOU TRY TO JUDGE DISTANCE TO PULL OUT ON A STREET AND WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS IT DOESN'T GO! IT HAS A PAUSE AND THEN GOES. THE DEALER HAS 'RECALIBRATED' THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION RESPONSE THREE TIMES NOW! THE …
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I FEEL MY 2006 4.6,V8, XLT EXPLORER IS UNSAFE BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. YOU TRY TO JUDGE DISTANCE TO PULL OUT ON A STREET AND WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS IT DOESN'T GO! IT HAS A PAUSE AND THEN GOES. THE DEALER HAS 'RECALIBRATED' THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION RESPONSE THREE TIMES NOW! THE DATE INCLUDED IS THE LAST TIME IT WAS DONE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10169955
11,200 miles · Sep 17, 2006
Power Train
THIS IS A NEW 2006 V8 6 SPEED FORD EXPLORER WHICH HAS HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE I PURCHASED IT ON DEC 10, 2005. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER SHEEHY FORD OF GAITHERSBURG MD FIVE TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS PAST FRIDAY AT AN INTERSECTION I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATO…
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THIS IS A NEW 2006 V8 6 SPEED FORD EXPLORER WHICH HAS HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE I PURCHASED IT ON DEC 10, 2005. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER SHEEHY FORD OF GAITHERSBURG MD FIVE TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS PAST FRIDAY AT AN INTERSECTION I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE SO I PRESSED HARDER AND IT WAS IF IT SKIPPED A GEAR AND THEN THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AT A HIGHER THEN NORMAL SPEED AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
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 ↗
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