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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.

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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 And Engine Cooling complaints

164 reports
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97,500 miles · Nov 2, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

ENGINE STALLS. WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT, HOT OR COLD, SLOWING DOWN TO STOP, TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, ON THE STREET ROADS AND FREEWAYS. STARTS AND GO AGAIN AFTER 5/10 MINUTES BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I PAID SO MUCH MONEY AND TIME FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND PARTS ALREADY AND YESTERDAY WAS THE WORST. MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER STALLED IN THE MID…

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ENGINE STALLS. WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT, HOT OR COLD, SLOWING DOWN TO STOP, TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, ON THE STREET ROADS AND FREEWAYS. STARTS AND GO AGAIN AFTER 5/10 MINUTES BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I PAID SO MUCH MONEY AND TIME FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND PARTS ALREADY AND YESTERDAY WAS THE WORST. MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. DATE: NOV 1, 2011, TIME:1550, AND MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, WHEN SHE'S NOT HAPPY, NOBODY'S HAPPY....SHE ALMOST GOT RAN OVER AS SHE OPEN HER DOOR, SHE COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE BUT WAIT FOR TIME TO EITHER COOL OFF OR RESET ON THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433968

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT AND NEEDS A NEW RADIATOR,AFTER CHECKING COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.I BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THE RADIATOR ISSUE. THE LEAK FROM THE RADIATOR CAN SEEP INTO THE GROUND AND INTO THE UNDERGROUND WATER SYSTEM,…

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MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT AND NEEDS A NEW RADIATOR,AFTER CHECKING COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.I BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THE RADIATOR ISSUE. THE LEAK FROM THE RADIATOR CAN SEEP INTO THE GROUND AND INTO THE UNDERGROUND WATER SYSTEM,NOT TO MENTION ANY ANIMALS THAT WOULD DRINK FROM THE PUDDLES LEFT BEHIND FROM THIS VERY TOXIC ANTI-FREEZE. THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS ITEM COST ALMOST $1200 AT A FORD DEALER,THESE TRUCKS ARE ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPLACED 3 OR MORE RADIATORS SINCE THEY PURCHASED THEIR EXPLORERS. IT SEEMS TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM FOR THE 2006 MODEL WHEN FORD CHANGED THE RADIATOR TO PLASTIC. I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS WHERE CAUSED WHEN THE RADIATOR FAILED AND SEIZED THE ENGINES WHILE PEOPLE WHERE DRIVING? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433146

39,000 miles · Oct 28, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY COULD REPLACE THE RADIATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY COULD REPLACE THE RADIATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #10433142

71,000 miles · Oct 25, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE RADIATOR .THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE RADIATOR .THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #10432798

80,000 miles · Oct 17, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED A READING INFORMING HER THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVER HEATING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED A READING INFORMING HER THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVER HEATING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10430539

85,000 miles · Oct 14, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CRAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE THAT REQUIRED THE RADIATOR BE REPLACED WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED VERSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10430205

105,000 miles · Sep 26, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE RADIATOR BEGAN TO LEAK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN HOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED EVERY 25,000 MILES. ALL OF THE RADIATORS WERE BEEN REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE RADIATOR BEGAN TO LEAK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN HOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED EVERY 25,000 MILES. ALL OF THE RADIATORS WERE BEEN REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10427481

44,000 miles · Sep 20, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS VEHICLE CONSTANTLY OVERHEATS. I HAVE TO ADD COOLANT EVERY FEW DAYS. IT FIRST STARTED DURING A DAY TRIP. PRIOR TO LEAVING I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AND ALL MY FLUIDS WERE FILLED. AFTER LEAVING THE HIGHWAY THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I HAD TO GO TO A GAS STATION AND ADD MORE COOLANT IT WAS ONLY A THREE HOUR TRIP AND IT WAS COMPLE…

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THIS VEHICLE CONSTANTLY OVERHEATS. I HAVE TO ADD COOLANT EVERY FEW DAYS. IT FIRST STARTED DURING A DAY TRIP. PRIOR TO LEAVING I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AND ALL MY FLUIDS WERE FILLED. AFTER LEAVING THE HIGHWAY THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I HAD TO GO TO A GAS STATION AND ADD MORE COOLANT IT WAS ONLY A THREE HOUR TRIP AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY. SHORTLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION BECAME SHIFTING HARD. IT JERKS AND SEEMS TO MISS GEARS. AT THE TIME IT ONLY HAD 40,000 MILES. NOW I HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND MUST KEEP COOLANT IN MY VEHICLE. I HAVE 4 SMALL CHILDREN AND I AM AFRAID THIS VEHICLE IS A FIRE DANGER BECAUSE OF THE RADIATOR. I AM FINANCING THIS VEHICLE AND DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET A NEW ONE. THIS VEHICLE TODAY HAS 54,000 MILES AND IF BUILT CORRECTLY I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET 100,000 WITHOUT ANY MAJOR REPAIRS. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND SHOW THEY STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS. THEIR SAYING SHOULD BE FORD FLIMSY NOT FORD TOUGH! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10426507

78,000 miles · Jul 22, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER HEATING BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONSULTED WITH HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER HEATING BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONSULTED WITH HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10414756

90,000 miles · Jul 11, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE TO VERY HOT. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE TO VERY HOT. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. THE MOST RECENT IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED AND THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10411869

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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