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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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50,000 miles · Nov 10, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

NOTICED LOW COOLANT LEVEL AND SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED FOR ABOUT 10 SECS, THEN WENT BACK TO NORMAL TEMP. TOOK TO THE DEALER TO GET CHECKED OUT, AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR BECAUSE THERE WAS IN FACT A SMALL LEAK. REPAIR COSTS WERE $1100 TO REPLACE A RADIATOR, YES A RADIATOR THAT HAD 50K MILES ON IT. RADIA…

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NOTICED LOW COOLANT LEVEL AND SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED FOR ABOUT 10 SECS, THEN WENT BACK TO NORMAL TEMP. TOOK TO THE DEALER TO GET CHECKED OUT, AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR BECAUSE THERE WAS IN FACT A SMALL LEAK. REPAIR COSTS WERE $1100 TO REPLACE A RADIATOR, YES A RADIATOR THAT HAD 50K MILES ON IT. RADIATORS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO GO OUT THAT EASILY, AND AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE WEB I HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME SORT OF ISSUES. FORD HAS ALREADY RELEASED A TSB FOR THIS FAULTY PART BUT WILL REFUSE TO GIVE ME ANY KIND OF REIMBURSEMENT, OR PAY FOR ANY OF THE WORK DONE. THE ONLY REASON I EVEN USED THE FORD DEALER WAS TO GET THE PCM UPDATE THAT ONLY THEY CAN DO. PLEASE HELP, COMPANIES HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PRODUCTS THEY SELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365227

62,000 miles · Nov 9, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR LEAKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10365074

54,129 miles · Sep 9, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING, LOST POWER, WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. CUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND START IT UP AND OFF YOU GO. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS OVER THE NEXT YEAR, ABOUT 2 TO 3 TIMES A MONTH. HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. FINALLY AFTER S…

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VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING, LOST POWER, WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. CUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND START IT UP AND OFF YOU GO. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS OVER THE NEXT YEAR, ABOUT 2 TO 3 TIMES A MONTH. HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. FINALLY AFTER SEVERAL MORE MONTHS OF THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND GIVE SOME MORE MONEY TO THEM, JUST FOR THEM TO COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT I HAVE A SMALL LEAK IN THE RADIATOR. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE. I'M ALREADY MAKING PAYMENTS EVERY MONTH FOR A VEHICLE THAT WON'T WORK RIGHT. I TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND GET ALL THE SERVICES DONE ON TIME. CURRENTLY I HAVE CLOSE TO 80,000 MILES ON MY EXPLORER. I HAVE BEEN READING THAT PLENTY OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED BOTH THE THROTTLE BODY AND RADIATOR GOING BAD, I HAVE READ THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE RADIATOR AND THROTTLE BODY TO GO BAD. FORD YOU NEED TO RECALL THIS, AND OWN UP TO THIS ISSUE. LONG STORY SHORT THIS WILL BE THE LAST FORD I PURCHASE, AND I'M THINKING ABOUT GETTING RID OF THIS ONE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10354774

30,000 miles · Aug 23, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER WHICH HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT HAS A LEAKING RADIATOR. FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD THIS IS NORMAL ON THIS YEAR VEHICLE. THIS IS SHAMEFUL AND FORD SHOULD MAN UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351241

21,747 miles · Aug 23, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

FORD EXPLORER 2006 ENGINE OVERHEATING. OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE 118 F', WAS STRANDED WITH INFANT IN THE CAR. HAD CAR TOWED, AND DISCOVERED THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE RADIATOR, COOLANT AND HOSE PARTS ON THIS MODEL, AS SHOWN ON HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2006/COOLING_SYSTEM/RADIATOR_FAILURE.SHTML A…

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FORD EXPLORER 2006 ENGINE OVERHEATING. OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE 118 F', WAS STRANDED WITH INFANT IN THE CAR. HAD CAR TOWED, AND DISCOVERED THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE RADIATOR, COOLANT AND HOSE PARTS ON THIS MODEL, AS SHOWN ON HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2006/COOLING_SYSTEM/RADIATOR_FAILURE.SHTML APART FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION, NO INJURIES TO REPORT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351201

300 miles · Aug 5, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

WE PURCHASED A 2006 FORD EXPLORER A FEW YEARS AGO AND EVER SINCE WE GO IT, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE WRENCH LIGHT COMING ON. WHEN THIS LIGHT TURNS ON THE CAR STARTS JERKING AND WE CANT STEP ON THE GAS ANY MORE BECAUSE THE CAR HESITATES TO GO. WE HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN THE CAR OFF, WAIT A WHILE THEN TURN IT BACK ON A…

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WE PURCHASED A 2006 FORD EXPLORER A FEW YEARS AGO AND EVER SINCE WE GO IT, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE WRENCH LIGHT COMING ON. WHEN THIS LIGHT TURNS ON THE CAR STARTS JERKING AND WE CANT STEP ON THE GAS ANY MORE BECAUSE THE CAR HESITATES TO GO. WE HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN THE CAR OFF, WAIT A WHILE THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND THE CAR IS OK AGAIN, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON SOMETIMES FOR A FEW HOURS AND SOMETIMES FOR A FEW DAYS. WHEN WE 1ST HAD THE PROBLEM WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. WE TOOK IT BACK A FEW MORE TIMES AND THEY KEPT TELLING US THE SAME THING. WELL THAT DEALER CLOSED, WE TOOK IT TO OTHER FORD DEALERS AND THEY WOULD TELL US THE SAME THING, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. WELL AT 1ST IT WOULD HAPPEN LIKE ONCE EVER 2 TO THREE WEEKS, THEN IT WOULD DO IT LIKE ONCE A DAY, WELL NOW IT DOES IT EVERYDAY MORE THAN ONCE A DAY. TWO DAYS AGO I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR IT HAPPENED TO ME. I ALWAYS HAVE MY 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WITH ME SO IM USUALLY ON CARPOOL. WELL WHEN THIS HAPPENED I HAD TO GET OUT OF CAR POOL CROSSING THE YELLOW LINES JUST SO THAT I CAN GET TO THE OTHER SIDE TO PULL OVER, AND I CANT STEP ON THE GAS. SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A WHILE AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND CONTINUED. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN NOT 2 TIMES, 6 TIMES TOTAL THAT DAY WHILE TRAFFIC IS MOVING AT 70 MILES AN HOUR, WE ALMOST CRASHED. I AM TIRED OF TAKING IT TO THE DEALER JUST FOR THEM TO SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. I EMAILED FORD CORPORATE AND ALL THEY CAN SAY IS TAKE IT AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. I TOLD THEM WE HAVE DONE THAT MANY TIMES AND THEY TELL US THE SAME THING. I GOT MAD SO I CALLED TO SPEAK TO A MANAGER, WHICH WAS NO HELP. SHE SAID FOR ME TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AGAIN. I ASKED HER IF THEY FOUND SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, IS FORD GOING TO HAVE IT FIXED AND SHE SAID NO. I LOOKED IN TO THIS AND THERE SEEMS TO BE LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2006 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10347524

67,000 miles · Aug 1, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

NOVEMBER 2009 AT 50,000 MILES HAD RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY DEALER. MARCH 2010 A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION PCM CARD WAS INSTALLED. HAD TO NOTIFY DEALER THREE TIMES THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT FUNCTIONING WELL, DEALER REBUILT TRANSMISSION. JULY 2010, 67000 MILES THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING SEPARATED AND …

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NOVEMBER 2009 AT 50,000 MILES HAD RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY DEALER. MARCH 2010 A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION PCM CARD WAS INSTALLED. HAD TO NOTIFY DEALER THREE TIMES THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT FUNCTIONING WELL, DEALER REBUILT TRANSMISSION. JULY 2010, 67000 MILES THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING SEPARATED AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK OUT WITH NO TEMPERATURE WARNING RESULTING IN A BLOWN ENGINE. REPLACED ENGINE AND WE ARE NOW GETTING INTERMITTENT THROTTLE FAULT LIGHTS ALONG WITH ENGINE SPEED INPUT CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION CODE P0320. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346706

35,000 miles · Jul 27, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 FORD EXPLORER - PROBLEM WITH RADIATOR. I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPLORER BRAND NEW AND AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR, THE RADIATOR STARTED GOING BAD AND AS OF NOW, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 7 RADIATORS. MY PARENTS BOUGHT THE SAME YEAR EXPLORER AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 5 RADIATORS. I CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY, AND OF COURSE, THEY TOLD ME T…

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2006 FORD EXPLORER - PROBLEM WITH RADIATOR. I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPLORER BRAND NEW AND AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR, THE RADIATOR STARTED GOING BAD AND AS OF NOW, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 7 RADIATORS. MY PARENTS BOUGHT THE SAME YEAR EXPLORER AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 5 RADIATORS. I CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY, AND OF COURSE, THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE HAD NO REPORTS OF THE DEFECT. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE. A FRIEND WHO WORKS FOR FORD TOLD US THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THOSE RADIATORS BUT THAT THERE IS NO SOLUTION SO THEY ARE UNABLE TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE MOST TERRIFYING CASE WAS 2 YEARS AGO. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH NASHVILLE TENNESSEE AT 7 MONTHS PREGNANT AND MY CAR OVERHEATED ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAD ONLY HAD MY MOST RECENT RADIATOR FOR 3 MONTHS. IT APPARENTLY CRACKED. THE RADIATORS LEAK FLUID SO YOU MUST CHECK FLUIDS REGULARLY TO PREVENT A BREAKDOWN AS THERE HAS BEEN NO WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345583

32,000 miles · Jul 26, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

SECOND RADIATOR IN 2006 FORD EXPLORER, FIRST ONE WAS AT 32000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN OVER 100 COMPLAINTS BUT YET NO RECALL FROM FORD. THE FIRST WAS COVERED UNDER THE NEW WARRANTY. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE PURCHASED A NEW SERVICE WARRANTY WHEN THAT ONE EXPIRED, NOW AT 92,000 MILES THE RADIATOR COMPLETELY DRAINED CAUSING THE MOTOR HEAD…

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SECOND RADIATOR IN 2006 FORD EXPLORER, FIRST ONE WAS AT 32000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN OVER 100 COMPLAINTS BUT YET NO RECALL FROM FORD. THE FIRST WAS COVERED UNDER THE NEW WARRANTY. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE PURCHASED A NEW SERVICE WARRANTY WHEN THAT ONE EXPIRED, NOW AT 92,000 MILES THE RADIATOR COMPLETELY DRAINED CAUSING THE MOTOR HEAD GASKET TO BLOW. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER GETTING A NEW MOTOR AND RADIATOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345358

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIRD RADIATOR REPLACEMENT IN A YEAR. FIRST ONE WENT OUT AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. THE OTHERS HAVE ONLY LAST A COUPLE MONTHS. WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRENTY FOR REPLACEMENTS AND NOW IT IS NOT. AFTER SEEING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS ABOUT THIS ISSUE IT IS ABOUT TIME FORD TAKES THIS ISSUE AND DOES SOMETHING TO FIX IT. AND FIX IT…

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THIRD RADIATOR REPLACEMENT IN A YEAR. FIRST ONE WENT OUT AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. THE OTHERS HAVE ONLY LAST A COUPLE MONTHS. WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRENTY FOR REPLACEMENTS AND NOW IT IS NOT. AFTER SEEING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS ABOUT THIS ISSUE IT IS ABOUT TIME FORD TAKES THIS ISSUE AND DOES SOMETHING TO FIX IT. AND FIX IT RIGHT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341501

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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