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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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80,000 miles · Jul 8, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE TRUCK MAKE A HORRIBLE TICKING NOISE WHEN YOU START IT UP. IT WILL DO THIS UNTIL THE OIL GETS THRU THE MOTOR. FORD STATES THAT IT IS THE NATURE OF THE MOTOR FOR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IT IS EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST, AS IT SOUNDS LIKE A TICKING TIME BOMB THAT IS WAITING TO GO OFF. AFTER THE TRUCK HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A FEW…

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THE TRUCK MAKE A HORRIBLE TICKING NOISE WHEN YOU START IT UP. IT WILL DO THIS UNTIL THE OIL GETS THRU THE MOTOR. FORD STATES THAT IT IS THE NATURE OF THE MOTOR FOR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IT IS EMBARRASSING TO SAY THE LEAST, AS IT SOUNDS LIKE A TICKING TIME BOMB THAT IS WAITING TO GO OFF. AFTER THE TRUCK HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES THAN THE NOISE GOES AWAY, SEEMS THAT IF I SPENT THIS MUCH MONEY ON A VEHICLE, IT WOULDN'T SOUND LIKE AN OLD CLUNKER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10411457

46,200 miles · Jul 2, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR FAILURE CAUSING LEAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN ENGINE OVERHEAT AND POSSIBLY FIRE.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410313

28,000 miles · Jun 5, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER-BAD RADIATOR LEAK. STARTED LEAKING WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES ON IT. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED IT WOULD COST $ 1100.00 TO FIX. THEY ALSO TRIED SELLING ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10404494

65,000 miles · May 14, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

RADIATOR LEAKS BADLY, PLASTIC CRACKED. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TOO HARD AND HESITATES GOING INTO REVERSE ENDING WITH A LOUD BANG INTO GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10400854

25,000 miles · May 11, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE RADIATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED RADIATOR AND THE COMPUTER WOULD NEED REPROGRAMMING. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE RADIATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED RADIATOR AND THE COMPUTER WOULD NEED REPROGRAMMING. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY APPLY ANTIFREEZE OR WATER TO THE RADIATOR SO THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OVER HEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10400030

32,000 miles · May 2, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER 4.0 WITH LEAKING RADIATOR STARTING AT 30,000 MILES. ALSO THE VEHICLE AT DEFECTIVE THERMOSTATS AND RESERVOIR, THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD REFUSED TO RECALLED THIS PART FOR WHATEVER REASON, EVEN THOSE THEY KNOW ABOUT IT. HERE ARE LISTING OF OTHER PEOPLE MAKING COMPLAINTS ON OTHER WEBSITE OF THEIR R…

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2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER 4.0 WITH LEAKING RADIATOR STARTING AT 30,000 MILES. ALSO THE VEHICLE AT DEFECTIVE THERMOSTATS AND RESERVOIR, THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD REFUSED TO RECALLED THIS PART FOR WHATEVER REASON, EVEN THOSE THEY KNOW ABOUT IT. HERE ARE LISTING OF OTHER PEOPLE MAKING COMPLAINTS ON OTHER WEBSITE OF THEIR RADIATOR LEAK AND OTHER COOLING SYSTEM PARTS GOING BAD AS WELL. MANY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EFFECTED I THINK FORD SHOULD DEFINITELY ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.HERE ARE SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH CONSUMERS EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR RADIATOR PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2006/CONSUMER-REVIEWS.HTML HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2006/CONSUMER-REVIEWS/RECALL-THE-RADIATOR.HTML?STYLE=100625344&SUB=&REVIEWID=221461699 HTTP://WWW.EXPLORERFORUM.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=1900967. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10398456

43,600 miles · Mar 31, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALER, DETERMINE THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AT NO COST . JUST PURCHASED VEHICLE 3/29/2011 HAS 43,600 MILES. NOW I WORRYING ABOUT THE RADIATOR GOING BAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10393874

43,000 miles · Mar 28, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR EITHER FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ODI #10393079

59,000 miles · Mar 24, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER AND RECENTLY HAD WORK DONE. AFTER THAT WORK I NOTICED THAT COLLING FAN WAS COMING ON CONSTANTLY AND THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY LOUD AND SOUNDED LIKE ENGINE WAS ROARING. THEY DETERMINED THAT RADIATOR WAS LEAKING SO THEY REPLACED ENTIRE COLLING SYSTEM. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS AND VEHICLE ONLY HAS 60000 MILES …

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I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER AND RECENTLY HAD WORK DONE. AFTER THAT WORK I NOTICED THAT COLLING FAN WAS COMING ON CONSTANTLY AND THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY LOUD AND SOUNDED LIKE ENGINE WAS ROARING. THEY DETERMINED THAT RADIATOR WAS LEAKING SO THEY REPLACED ENTIRE COLLING SYSTEM. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS AND VEHICLE ONLY HAS 60000 MILES ON IT. I AM SO UPSET AND THINK THEY DONT KNOW WHAT WRONG. THEY HAD CAR FFOR 5 DAYS AND THEY CANT FIX IT. NOW I READ ALL THIS BAD INFO AND ASK WHT IS THERE NO RECALLS AND HOW DOES FORD HAVE THE ORDASISTY TO CHARGE ALL THESE PEOPLE FOR A KNOWN DEFECT... THIS NEEDS TO STOP AND SHAME ON FORD... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392820

52,000 miles · Mar 24, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

DEVELOPING COOLANT LEAK BELOW FORD EXPLORER 2006 RADIATOR. MY MECHANIC HAS DECLARED THE RADIATOR DEFECTIVE AND IS FAILING. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILED RADIATOR. THE FIRST FAIL WAS IN OCT 2009, APROX 48K MILEAGE, AND WAS CONSIDERED A PROBLEM KNOWN BY FORD. NOW I FACE A SECOND REPLACEMENT OF EXCESS $800 ESTIMATE MARCH 24TH 2011. MY …

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DEVELOPING COOLANT LEAK BELOW FORD EXPLORER 2006 RADIATOR. MY MECHANIC HAS DECLARED THE RADIATOR DEFECTIVE AND IS FAILING. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILED RADIATOR. THE FIRST FAIL WAS IN OCT 2009, APROX 48K MILEAGE, AND WAS CONSIDERED A PROBLEM KNOWN BY FORD. NOW I FACE A SECOND REPLACEMENT OF EXCESS $800 ESTIMATE MARCH 24TH 2011. MY ESTIMATED MILEAGE WAS 24K BETWEEN REPAIRS. THIS NEEDS TO BE SOLVED OR OUR FUTURE CARS WILL NEVER BE FORD! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392767

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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