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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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34,000 miles · Mar 23, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO, WHILE RETURNING FROM THE PARK WITH MY DOG, MY WARNING LIGHT FOR TEMPERATURE ILLUMINATED RED AND I SAW THAT THE TEMP. GAUGE HAD SPIKED TO HOT. I PULLED OVER AND AS I WAS GOING TO SHIFT INTO PARK, THE TEMP. GAUGE FELL BACK INTO THE NORMAL OPERATING RANGE VERY QUICKLY. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AN ANOMALY. ABOUT 3…

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ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO, WHILE RETURNING FROM THE PARK WITH MY DOG, MY WARNING LIGHT FOR TEMPERATURE ILLUMINATED RED AND I SAW THAT THE TEMP. GAUGE HAD SPIKED TO HOT. I PULLED OVER AND AS I WAS GOING TO SHIFT INTO PARK, THE TEMP. GAUGE FELL BACK INTO THE NORMAL OPERATING RANGE VERY QUICKLY. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AN ANOMALY. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER, I NOTICED THAT THE FAN WAS RUNNING LOUDLY AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE TEMP SPIKED AGAIN. I DID SO RESEARCH ON-LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS MODEL EXPLORER HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH RADIATORS FAILING. I BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN TO MY MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT MY RADIATOR WAS INDEED COMPROMISED AND WAS LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE UNIT. A NEW RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT AD WATER PUMP WERE INSTALLED COSTING ME CLOSE TO $1000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392589

63,133 miles · Mar 18, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING ABNORMALLY. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING ABNORMALLY. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEONE CONTACT HER WITHIN FOUR BUSINESS DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,133 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,500.

NHTSA ODI #10392146

62,000 miles · Mar 15, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED JUNE OF 2008, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLES COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED IN THE RADIATOR SEAL AND CAUSED THE ENG…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED JUNE OF 2008, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLES COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED IN THE RADIATOR SEAL AND CAUSED THE ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK. REPORT 1320050701 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ UPDATED 08/01/11

NHTSA ODI #10390192

100,000 miles · Mar 10, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO OVERHEAT SPORADICALLY AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHERE THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND ATTEMP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO OVERHEAT SPORADICALLY AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHERE THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE FAILURES. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE COOLING SYSTEM BUT WAS UNABLE TO DISABLE THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO MAKE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 04/25/11 *BF UPDATED 1/13/2012 *LN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10389739

72,686 miles · Jan 26, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BEGAN NOTICING A COOLANT SMELL AFTER USE, THEN NOTICED A LEAK THAT PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. I ADDED COOLANT TO KEEP DESIRED LEVELS. I HAD A MECHANICAL SHOP INSPECT AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS A "DEMO" FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALER W/ 11K MILES ON IT. AT 30K MILES THE RADIATOR W…

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I BEGAN NOTICING A COOLANT SMELL AFTER USE, THEN NOTICED A LEAK THAT PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. I ADDED COOLANT TO KEEP DESIRED LEVELS. I HAD A MECHANICAL SHOP INSPECT AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS A "DEMO" FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALER W/ 11K MILES ON IT. AT 30K MILES THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED W/ OEM BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY AS IT WAS LEAKING IN A SEAM. I HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED AGAIN, SO THE VEHICLE IS ON ITS' THIRD RADIATOR. MILEAGE AT LAST REPLACEMENT WAS 73K. SO 3 RADIATORS IN 73K MILES. THE MECHANICAL SHOP CONTACTED FORD ABOUT PARTS AND WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THESE RADIATORS AND AN"UPGRADED" RADIATOR IS AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES. I WENT WITH THE UPGRADED OEM VERSION, PARTS/LABOR WAS ABOUT $800. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378856

87,000 miles · Jan 11, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR RADIATOR RAN HOT, LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. RADIATOR DRAINED OF ALL FLUIDS WHILE ON HIGHWAY, BLEW HEAD GASKET ON ENGINE, DAMAGED ENGINE HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE AND RADIATOR. THIS IS THE THIRD RADIATOR ON CAR, FIRST AT 33,000 MILES, SECOND AT 67,000 MILES, LAST INCIDENT VEHICLE HAD 87,000 MILES. I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY, IF NOT COST …

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CAR RADIATOR RAN HOT, LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. RADIATOR DRAINED OF ALL FLUIDS WHILE ON HIGHWAY, BLEW HEAD GASKET ON ENGINE, DAMAGED ENGINE HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE AND RADIATOR. THIS IS THE THIRD RADIATOR ON CAR, FIRST AT 33,000 MILES, SECOND AT 67,000 MILES, LAST INCIDENT VEHICLE HAD 87,000 MILES. I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY, IF NOT COST WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER $ 7000.00 DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375550

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER RADIATOR LEAKS ,HAD REPLACED 3 ALREADY AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL SOMEBODY GETS HURT OR KILLED THEN IT'S TO LATE .THEY HAVE A FIX FOR IT BUT WHO PAY THE PEOPLE NOT FORD. WHEN THE TRUCK STALLS BECAUSE IT GETS HOT I BELIEVE THAT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. DON'T YOU? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10374090

32,655 miles · Dec 1, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER RADIATOR LEAKS WITH ONLY 33K MILES CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. RADIATOR BEING REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10368519

65,000 miles · Nov 16, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

NOTICED LEAKING UNDER 2006 EXPLORER. TAKEN TO DEALER AND TOLD RADIATOR NEEDED REPLACING FOR $980. VEHICLE HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. TOLD RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FROM THE FINS AND THAT THIS WAS "COMMON". IN CHECKING THIS OUT, THIS IS NOT COMMON FOR A CAR OF THIS AGE, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS 2006 EXPLORERS ARE PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM. THI…

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NOTICED LEAKING UNDER 2006 EXPLORER. TAKEN TO DEALER AND TOLD RADIATOR NEEDED REPLACING FOR $980. VEHICLE HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. TOLD RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FROM THE FINS AND THAT THIS WAS "COMMON". IN CHECKING THIS OUT, THIS IS NOT COMMON FOR A CAR OF THIS AGE, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS 2006 EXPLORERS ARE PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY A FORD PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE RADIATORS AT NO CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365918

65,000 miles · Nov 12, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATORS ON 2006 FORD EXPLORERS. MY FIRST RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AT 37,318 MILES. I NOW NEED A NEW ONE AT APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD REPLACEMENT ON JUST MY VEHICLE. FORD HAS OFFERED NO HELP AS TO THE COST OF REPLACING AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART. CHECKING ON LINE, I SEE OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE EXPE…

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RADIATORS ON 2006 FORD EXPLORERS. MY FIRST RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AT 37,318 MILES. I NOW NEED A NEW ONE AT APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD REPLACEMENT ON JUST MY VEHICLE. FORD HAS OFFERED NO HELP AS TO THE COST OF REPLACING AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART. CHECKING ON LINE, I SEE OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING FROM FORD. I REQUEST A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365515

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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