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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

Engine complaints

58 reports
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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

69,364 miles · Oct 29, 2014
EnginePower Train

PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE IN 2011 ONCE IT WAS HOME WITHIN 3 MONTHS BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS, I ALSO PURCHASE THE FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY EXPLAINED THEY COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT JOLTS, LUNGES, AND SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE. I FEEL EXTREMELY UNSAFE TRYING T…

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PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE IN 2011 ONCE IT WAS HOME WITHIN 3 MONTHS BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS, I ALSO PURCHASE THE FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY EXPLAINED THEY COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT JOLTS, LUNGES, AND SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE. I FEEL EXTREMELY UNSAFE TRYING TO PULL OUT AT AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE THE CAR STARTS TO JOLT AND I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE GAS IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO GO.IT IS HORRIBLE AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING; ESPECIALLY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. EVEN IF I AM DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR INTO OVERDRIVE TO STOP THE MAJORITY OF THE JOLTING, AND THAT DOES NOT EVEN GUARANTEE IT WILL STOP. IT HAS BEEN A BATTLE WITH THE DEALERSHIP. HAD IT INDEPENDENTLY CHECKED BY AAMCO AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, BUT THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS. NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651017

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2014
EnginePower Train

I BOUGHT MY FIRST FORD EXPLORER ALMOST 8 YEARS AGO. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND FELT VERY SAFE DRIVING MY NEWBORN SON. I HAD A SECOND SON AND DECIDED TO BUY A NEW FORD EXPLORER BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A DEPENDABLE CAR. NOW I AM REGRETTING THAT DECISION. I BOUGHT A 2006 FORD EXPLORER AT ROUND 60,000 MILES…

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I BOUGHT MY FIRST FORD EXPLORER ALMOST 8 YEARS AGO. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND FELT VERY SAFE DRIVING MY NEWBORN SON. I HAD A SECOND SON AND DECIDED TO BUY A NEW FORD EXPLORER BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A DEPENDABLE CAR. NOW I AM REGRETTING THAT DECISION. I BOUGHT A 2006 FORD EXPLORER AT ROUND 60,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS 70,000 AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO GET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AND IT STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT JOLTS, LUNGES, AND SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE. I FEEL EXTREMELY UNSAFE TRYING TO PULL OUT AT AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE THE CAR STARTS TO JOLT AND I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE GAS IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO GO.IT IS HORRIBLE AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING; ESPECIALLY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. EVEN IF I AM DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR INTO OVERDRIVE TO STOP THE MAJORITY OF THE JOLTING, AND THAT DOES NOT EVEN GUARANTEE IT WILL STOP. MY HUSBAND IS IN THE MILITARY AND GONE A GREAT DEAL. HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF HIS CHILDREN OR WIFE WHEN HE IS DEPLOYED OVERSEAS OR WHEN HE IS TRAINING AWAY FROM HOME. HE IS CURRENTLY AWAY FROM HOME FOR TRAINING, GETTING READY FOR DEPLOYMENT. HE IS CALLING EVERY CHANCE HE GETS TO MAKE SURE THE CAR HAS NOT BROKEN DOWN OR WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN AND ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS VERY HORRIBLE VEHICLE. IF I HAD ENOUGH MONEY I WOULD BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND TELL EVERYONE NOT TO EVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. I THINK I AM MORE UPSET WITH THE FACT THAT MY HUSBAND IS POSSIBLE BEING SENT OVERSEAS IN OCTOBER, AND HE CANNOT EVEN GO TO WAR WITH THE KNOWLEDGE HIS FAMILY IS SAFE. I REALLY WISH SOMEONE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ALL OF THE FAMILIES WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611147

88,000 miles · Jul 4, 2014
EngineService BrakesSteering

WE BOUGHT THIS USED FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. THE VERY NEXT DAY I NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. COUPLE MONTHS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN OFTEN. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING 45 MPH ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN AND LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, THE STEERING D…

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WE BOUGHT THIS USED FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. THE VERY NEXT DAY I NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. COUPLE MONTHS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN OFTEN. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING 45 MPH ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN AND LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, THE STEERING DIDN'T WORK, THE ENTIRE CAR SHUT DOWN, I HAD A PANIC ATTACK BECAUSE I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED A HUGE ACCIDENT WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I PUT ON THE HAZARDS AND FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DRIFT INTO A THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CALLED THE TURNING LANE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES AND HAVE ONLY BEEN TOLD "WE ARE SORRY". I TRIED CALLING A LEMON LAW LAWYER BUT WAS TOLD, SORRY, IF THE TRUCK WAS A 2007 THEN I WOULD HAVE A CASE. SO, NOW WHAT DO I DO? I HAVE A 10,000 CAR LOAN FOR A VEHICLE THAT I AM FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE ANYWHERE. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10608239

64,863 miles · Jun 28, 2014
EnginePower Train

I WAS DRIVING UP SMALL HILL-DRY CONDITIONS AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. ON COMING VEHICLE SWERVED AND AVOIDED COLLISION. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AFTER THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR COMES ON. THE CAR ALSO JUMPS OUT WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND SOMETIMES IT IS VERY HARD TO SHIFT. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM! SAFETY RECALL IMPERATIVE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606630

100,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014
EnginePower Train

I'VE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. FIRST THE CAR SHIFTS HARD APPROX BETWEEN 10 MPH AND 20 MPH, THE CAR LUNGES, STALLS, THEN SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I TOOK THE CAR TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THEY DID A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FLUSH... THE CAR RAN SMOOTH FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS, THEN IT STARTED LEAKING TRANS…

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I'VE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. FIRST THE CAR SHIFTS HARD APPROX BETWEEN 10 MPH AND 20 MPH, THE CAR LUNGES, STALLS, THEN SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I TOOK THE CAR TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THEY DID A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FLUSH... THE CAR RAN SMOOTH FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS, THEN IT STARTED LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH RESULTED IN MY RADIATOR BEING RUINED. REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND A PLUG IN THE TRANSMISSION. ($1,800) THE CAR THEN RAN FINE UP THIS PAST SUNDAY. THE CAR AS ME AND MY WIFE WERE DRIVING HOME FROM A 400 MILE TRIP WITH THE AC RUNNING, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED LUNGING AND SHIFTING HARD AGAIN. I EXITED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON... THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND MAKING A LOUD CLUNK NOISE. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE DID ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FLUSH ON MONDAY JUNE 16, 2014... TWO DAYS LATER AND THE CAR STILL LUNGES, STALLS, AND SHIFTS HARD. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THERE'S NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I EVEN ASKED THEM BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2006 TRANSMISSION, THEY STILL COULDN'T HELP ME. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IN PARK, IT TENDS TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT/ EARLY MORNING... THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES... TOLD FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THERE'S NOTHING THEY COULD DO... THE LAST PROBLEM IS EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE THE CAR DOESN'T SHIFT INTO REVERSE... TOLD FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ONCE AGAIN, BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THERE'S NOTHING THEY COULD DO... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10599182

97,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ODI #10598625

44,000 miles · May 15, 2014
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT END AS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD ALREADY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RADIATOR TWICE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT END AS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD ALREADY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RADIATOR TWICE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10588698

80,000 miles · Mar 8, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AS IF IT STALLED. ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT VEHICLE HAD NO POWER. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO REGAIN POWER. ALWAYS FEARED BEING REAR ENDED OR STALLING ON RAILROAD TRACKS. DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND REPLACED IT. THE VEHICLE…

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WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AS IF IT STALLED. ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT VEHICLE HAD NO POWER. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO REGAIN POWER. ALWAYS FEARED BEING REAR ENDED OR STALLING ON RAILROAD TRACKS. DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND REPLACED IT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD THIS MALFUNCTION SINCE THE REPAIR ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567988

72,000 miles · Mar 7, 2014
EnginePower Train

SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION SLAMS HARD ON A FAST TAKE OFF, THEN AT 45 OR ABOVE CYCLES GEARS AND WON'T STAY IN OVERDRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567801

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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