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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
107,000 miles · Jan 6, 2016
Power Train

RECENTLY MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WAS JOLTING/JERKING WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE, IT DID NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME JUST RANDOMLY, AND ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO I PUT MY EXPLORER INTO REVERSE TO LEAVE MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING IT WOULD NOT BUDGE, THE ENGINE REVED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO REVERSE BUT NOTHING. IT ONLY DOES IT WHE…

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RECENTLY MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WAS JOLTING/JERKING WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE, IT DID NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME JUST RANDOMLY, AND ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO I PUT MY EXPLORER INTO REVERSE TO LEAVE MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING IT WOULD NOT BUDGE, THE ENGINE REVED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO REVERSE BUT NOTHING. IT ONLY DOES IT WHEN I'M IN REVERSE THOUGH. I'VE BEEN RECENTLY RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST THIS YEAR, I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE, FORD SHOULD BE REPLACING THIS AND PAYING FOR THE COST, DEFINITELY DANGEROUS AND ALSO EXPENSIVE. HAD MY VEHICLE FOR UNDER A YEAR AND HAVE APPROX. 107K MILES AND IVE HAD IT LESS THAN A YEAR AND STILL OWE ROUGHLY 7K ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10818436

162,813 miles · Dec 2, 2015
Unknown Or OtherFire

VEHICLE WENT TO SHOP TO FIX ABS LIGHT. THE FOLLOWING MORNING BEFORE SHOP OPENED UP, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE (WHILE STATIONARY AND NOT RUNNING) BURNING COMPLETELY. THE FIRE CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE SHOP AND ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS IN THE ADJACENT BAY. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED FIRE STARTED ON ITS OWN AND CITED SI…

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VEHICLE WENT TO SHOP TO FIX ABS LIGHT. THE FOLLOWING MORNING BEFORE SHOP OPENED UP, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE (WHILE STATIONARY AND NOT RUNNING) BURNING COMPLETELY. THE FIRE CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE SHOP AND ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS IN THE ADJACENT BAY. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED FIRE STARTED ON ITS OWN AND CITED SIMILAR INCIDENTS FOR FORD EXPLORERS.

NHTSA ODI #10808090

60,000 miles · Nov 14, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS ENGAGED AND I AM RUNNING BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH AND DRIVING ON GENTLY ROLLING HILLS THE ENGINE WILL TURN OFF LEAVING ME NO POWER FOR BRAKES OR STEERING - NO CONTROL!

NHTSA ODI #10790407

107,000 miles · Nov 12, 2015
Power TrainService Brakes

EDDIE BAUER V8 2006 EXPLORER 107000 MILES THE ABS AND SRV LIGHTS CAME OFF. THE CAR WAS STUCK TO THE GROUND AND WOULD NOT SPEED AT ALL. GOT A MECHANIC TO CHECK AND MANY DIFFERENT CODES SHOWED UP. IN THE PAST WHEN THE SAME LIGHTS CAME UP I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING.THEY RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE THE FRONT …

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EDDIE BAUER V8 2006 EXPLORER 107000 MILES THE ABS AND SRV LIGHTS CAME OFF. THE CAR WAS STUCK TO THE GROUND AND WOULD NOT SPEED AT ALL. GOT A MECHANIC TO CHECK AND MANY DIFFERENT CODES SHOWED UP. IN THE PAST WHEN THE SAME LIGHTS CAME UP I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING.THEY RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE THE FRONT TIRES BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. FOR WHAT I KNOW IT SEEMS THE FORD EXPLORER HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND FORD REFUSES TO DO A RECALL TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #10789914

64,000 miles · Nov 4, 2015
Air Bags

THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STARTING TO MELT -VERY STICKY TO TOUCH.

NHTSA ODI #10788228

57,000 miles · Nov 2, 2015
Power Train

DIFFICULTY PUTTING VEHICLE INTO DRIVING GEAR WHILE STATIONARY EVER SINCE ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE IN 2006.TRANSMISSION PUMP WAS REPLACED IN 2010; HOWEVER, WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT THIS PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. VEHICLE HAS UNDERGONE REGULAR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE SO NOT SURE HOW THIS PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN. THE INITIAL REPAIR …

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DIFFICULTY PUTTING VEHICLE INTO DRIVING GEAR WHILE STATIONARY EVER SINCE ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE IN 2006.TRANSMISSION PUMP WAS REPLACED IN 2010; HOWEVER, WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT THIS PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. VEHICLE HAS UNDERGONE REGULAR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE SO NOT SURE HOW THIS PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN. THE INITIAL REPAIR WAS DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP IN GERMANY AS I WAS STATIONED THERE DUE TO MILITARY OBLIGATIONS. THIS REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AS WE WERE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. IT PLACED IN THE PARKING POSITION, IT BECOMES VERY TEDIOUS AND DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO REVERT GEARS TO REVERSE OR DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #10787841

164,400 miles · Nov 1, 2015
Service Brakes

TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO MY FORD DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY PUT ON A NEW MASTER BRAKING CYCLINDER AND THE BRAKE PEDAL STILL GOES TO THE FLOOR. FORD DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHERE THE PROBLEM IS TO BE ABLE TO FIX IT AND FORD MOTORS IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #10787497

92,000 miles · Oct 15, 2015
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTING FROM MICHELIN INCORRECTLY MARKING TIRE SIZES: I HAD FOUR MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN P235/70R16 TIRES ON MY SUV. TWO WORE OUT AND WHERE REPLACED WITH MICHELIN LATITUDE P235/70R16 TIRES AS THE CROSS TERRAIN MODEL WAS DISCONTINUED. THE SUV THEN STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERA…

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TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTING FROM MICHELIN INCORRECTLY MARKING TIRE SIZES: I HAD FOUR MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN P235/70R16 TIRES ON MY SUV. TWO WORE OUT AND WHERE REPLACED WITH MICHELIN LATITUDE P235/70R16 TIRES AS THE CROSS TERRAIN MODEL WAS DISCONTINUED. THE SUV THEN STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE NEW TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY STARTED HAVING SIMILAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ALSO. AFTER MULTIPLE SPECIALISTS EXAMINED THE SUV, THE PROBLEM WAS ISOLATED TO THE 4X4 MODULE ENGAGING THE TRANSFER CASE DURING ACCELERATION. IT WAS DETERMINED BY MEASURING THE TIRES THAT THE VEHICLE IN FACT HAD SETS OF TIRES WITH DIFFERENT CIRCUMFERENCES, EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES WERE MARKED AS BEING THE SAME SIZE. WHEN THE CIRCUMFERENCES OF THE TIRES ARE NOT THE SAME IT CAUSES THE 4X4 MODULE TO BELIEVE A SLIPPING CONDITION IS PRESENT AND ENGAGE THE TRANSFER CASE. THE CONTINUAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSFER CASE RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSIN. I CONTACTED MICHELIN CONSUMER CARE FOUR TIMES OVER A TWO MONTH PERIOD ONLY TO BE TOTALLY IGNORED. MICHELIN HAS SOLD TIRES THAT ARE MARKED INCORRECTLY AS TO SIZE, WHICH RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO YOUR SUV, AND THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY.

NHTSA ODI #10782291

60,000 miles · Oct 3, 2015
Power Train

TRANSMISSION ISSUES, IT HARD SHIFTS, SLAMS INTO GEAR, NO IMMEDIATE ENGAGING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. FORD HAS CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION AND TEST DRIVEN IT THEN CLAIMS IT IS OPERATING FINE. DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY. ISSUES BEGIN ABOUT THE 60,000 MILE MARK.

NHTSA ODI #10779482

61,000 miles · Sep 26, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I-95 IN FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MISS AS WE ACCELERATED. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO A FORD DEALER SERVICE FOR PLUG REPLACEMENT. THIS AUTO HAS A 4.6 LITRE V-8 ENGINE. WE WERE AMAZED TO FIND THAT IT WILL COST UPWARDS OF $1000.00 TO REPLACE 8 SPARK PLUGS. THAT COST ESCULATES IF ANY PLUGS ARE BROKEN. THE PLUG…

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DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I-95 IN FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MISS AS WE ACCELERATED. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO A FORD DEALER SERVICE FOR PLUG REPLACEMENT. THIS AUTO HAS A 4.6 LITRE V-8 ENGINE. WE WERE AMAZED TO FIND THAT IT WILL COST UPWARDS OF $1000.00 TO REPLACE 8 SPARK PLUGS. THAT COST ESCULATES IF ANY PLUGS ARE BROKEN. THE PLUGS ARE TWO PIECE CONSTRUCTION AND SEPARATE ON REMOVAL. ONLY FORD CAN REMOVE THE PLUGS AND MORE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY BROKEN. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THESE PLUGS WITHOUT BREAKAGE. FORD RECOMMENDS NOT CHANGING THE PLUGS UNTIL 100,000 MILES. BY THAT TIME YOU ARE OUT OF GUARANTY AND IF THEY ARE HARD TO COME OUT AT 60,000 MILES IMAGINE IF THEY ARE LEFT IN. THESE PLUGS ARE KNOWN TO BLOW OUT OF THE HEAD AND I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY ACCIDENTS. I AM A DISABLED VETERAN 83 YEARS OLD AND A MECHANICAL ENGINEER. MY WIFE AND I ARE FISHERMEN AND NEED A VEHICLE TO BRING OUR BOAT TO WATER. WE ARE AVID FORD OWNERS AND ARE GREATLY DISSAPOINTED.

NHTSA ODI #10777840

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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