NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
630 reportsMileage unknown · Apr 15, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY JERKED, SLOWED DOWN, AND UNEXPECTEDLY SURGED FORWARD. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY JERKED, SLOWED DOWN, AND UNEXPECTEDLY SURGED FORWARD. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10855726
69,400 miles · Apr 5, 2016
Power Train
COMPLETE AND TOTAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY. I WAS TRAVELING IN MY CAR WITH MY FAMILY WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSIVE BANG FROM UNDER OR CAR. I SHOOK MY WIFE AND SCARED MY CHILDREN. I KNEW IT DEFINITELY WAS NOT GOOD AND FELT AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF FORWARD MOMENTUM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WE WE…
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COMPLETE AND TOTAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY. I WAS TRAVELING IN MY CAR WITH MY FAMILY WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSIVE BANG FROM UNDER OR CAR. I SHOOK MY WIFE AND SCARED MY CHILDREN. I KNEW IT DEFINITELY WAS NOT GOOD AND FELT AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF FORWARD MOMENTUM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WE WERE TRAVELING IN THE FAST LANE AT THE TIME AND OTHER VEHICLES WERE FOLLOWING BEHIND US. THEY WERE NOT HAPPY AND HAMMERING THEIR HORNS AT OUR SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED DECELERATION. LUCKILY NO ONE REAR-ENDED US OR PANICKED AND SLAMMED ON THEIR OWN BRAKES WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR COLLISION ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND COME TO A SAFE STOP WITH IN A FEW FEET OF A YELLOW EMERGENCY CALL BOX. WE SIGNALED FOR ASSISTANCE AND HELP CAME TO ME AND MY FAMILY WITHIN 10 MINUTES. (THANK YOU TO ALL BY THE WAY) WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MAJOR BRAND TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE THEY FOUND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO BE BURNT AND BLACK, METAL PIECES IN THE PAN AND DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION TO BE A COMPLETE LOSS AND HAVE IT REPLACED WITH A CERTIFIED REBUILT TRANSMISSION. 69,000 MILE AT TIME OF FAILURE. NOT ACCEPTABLE AT LESS THAN 100,000. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER OR OTHER DRIVERS AROUND THESE VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A SERIOUS POSSIBLY LIFE THREATENING OR FATAL ACCIDENT COULD RESULT FROM THIS TYPE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE. THIS IS NOT A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION OR A CAR THAT WONT SHIFT GEARS OR AN ISSUE SIMILAR TO THOSE TYPE OF COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A TOTAL AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF A MAJOR VEHICLE COMPONENT UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CIRCUMSTANCES. I DON'T HAVE PICTURES, AS I AM REMOTE FROM THE VEHICLE UNTIL I PICK IT UP WHEN SERVICE IS FINISHED BUT I WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TOWING RECEIPTS AND REPAIR BILLS FROM SERVICING TRANSMISSION SHOP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10853496
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE GEAR SHIFTER STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED WITH FORCE OR THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE RESTARTED IN ORDER TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER OUT OF PARK. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE GEAR SHIFTER STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED WITH FORCE OR THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE RESTARTED IN ORDER TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER OUT OF PARK. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10853378
123,000 miles · Mar 21, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE IN REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE IN REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
NHTSA ODI #10850718
141,000 miles · Mar 15, 2016
Electrical SystemPower Train
MY 2006 EXPLORER HAS RECENTLY STARTED SHIFTING HARD AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR RIGHT AWAY. WHEN I PULL UP TO A STOP LIGHT OR BECOME STATIONARY IT WILL TRY TO DIE AND SOMETIMES WILL. AND WILL ALSO NOT GO INTO GEAR UNLESS I GIVE IT A LOT OF GAS AND THEN IT TAKES A MINUTE TO PICK UP COMPLETE SPEED. I HAVE ALREADY HAD…
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MY 2006 EXPLORER HAS RECENTLY STARTED SHIFTING HARD AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR RIGHT AWAY. WHEN I PULL UP TO A STOP LIGHT OR BECOME STATIONARY IT WILL TRY TO DIE AND SOMETIMES WILL. AND WILL ALSO NOT GO INTO GEAR UNLESS I GIVE IT A LOT OF GAS AND THEN IT TAKES A MINUTE TO PICK UP COMPLETE SPEED. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE MULTIPLE THINGS ON THIS VEHICLE AND AM SEEING THAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE. FORD DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THIS VEHICLE. ALSO MY INTERIOR LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT AND IS NOT THE FUSE OR BULBS.
NHTSA ODI #10849703
190,149 miles · Jan 27, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
I BOUGHT A 2006 EXPLORER IN 2010 AND IN 5 YEARS I HAVE HAD A SENSOR THAT'S GOES INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, THEN TRANSMISSION REBUILTED, AND THE RADIATOR REPLACED TWICE. NOW THAT IT'S PAID OFF LEAKING COOLANT AGAIN MAKING IT RUN HOT. NOW IT SAYING CHECK THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND STOP ON ME ON THE FREEWAY AND NOW WON'T STAY S…
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I BOUGHT A 2006 EXPLORER IN 2010 AND IN 5 YEARS I HAVE HAD A SENSOR THAT'S GOES INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, THEN TRANSMISSION REBUILTED, AND THE RADIATOR REPLACED TWICE. NOW THAT IT'S PAID OFF LEAKING COOLANT AGAIN MAKING IT RUN HOT. NOW IT SAYING CHECK THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND STOP ON ME ON THE FREEWAY AND NOW WON'T STAY STARTED. THOUGHT I WAS DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF THE TRUCK BUT IT KEEPS BREAKING DOWN. ALSO THE WRENCH THING IS ON AND WON'T STAY STARTED EVEN WHILE PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR ALL AFTER I JUST HAD ANOTHER SENSOR REPLACED. AND BESIDES THE RADIATOR LEAKING AGAIN THAT PLASTIC THING THEY CALL A THERMOSTAT HOUSING MAY BE CRACKED. I FEEL I'M SPENDING MORE MONEY REPAIRING THINGS ON THIS TRUCK IN 5 YEARS THAT MOST PEOPLE SPEND ON A NEW CAR. IF I HAD SEEN ALL THE PROBLEMS THIS MODEL YEAR WAS HAVING WOULD HAVE WENT A DIFFERENT BRAND.
NHTSA ODI #10822613
145,000 miles · Jan 26, 2016
Power Train
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED 7 YEARS AGO FROM CARMAX. IT HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FROM DAY 1. IT ALWAYS SHIFTS HARD. TODAY THE LITTLE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY..
NHTSA ODI #10822342
52,000 miles · Jan 26, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE OVERHAULED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE OVERHAULED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A PART WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
NHTSA ODI #10822221
158,000 miles · Jan 23, 2016
Unknown Or Other
I HAVE REPLACED THE RADIATOR 2 TIMES AND GETTING READY TO REPLACE FOR THE 3RD TIME. THIS IS MY 1ST FORD VEHICLE AND IF THIS CONTINUES IT WILL BE MY LAST. I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. A RECALL. FORD STAND BY YOUR VEHICLE. IT LEAKS TRANSMISSION FLUID AT …
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I HAVE REPLACED THE RADIATOR 2 TIMES AND GETTING READY TO REPLACE FOR THE 3RD TIME. THIS IS MY 1ST FORD VEHICLE AND IF THIS CONTINUES IT WILL BE MY LAST. I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. A RECALL. FORD STAND BY YOUR VEHICLE. IT LEAKS TRANSMISSION FLUID AT THE RADIATOR AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IS REPLACE THE RADIATOR. ALL 3 TIMES IT LEAKS AT THE SAME PLACE. MY MECHANIC SAYS THERE IS NO STABILIZATION FOR THIS HOSE SO IN A SHORT TIME IT BREAKS AND STARTS THE LEAK. FIX YOUR PROBLEM FORD.
NHTSA ODI #10821823
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2016
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED TEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED TEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10820436