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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

28 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

2006 FORD EXPLORER BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE PLUNGED INTO THE WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10243734

29,000 miles · Oct 16, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE JUMPS AS IF IT WERE STRUCK FROM BEHIND. THE VEHICLE JUMPS AND ACCELERATES IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION MODULE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE JUMPS AS IF IT WERE STRUCK FROM BEHIND. THE VEHICLE JUMPS AND ACCELERATES IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION MODULE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 29,000. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE BRAKES. UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA ODI #10205914

8,000 miles · Apr 18, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10188298

1,000 miles · Mar 23, 2007
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2006 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER'S DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT LIGHTS TURNED ON AT ANY GIVEN TIME OF THE DAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE LIGHTS TURNED ON WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO REGISTER THE CORRECT SPEED. WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD A…

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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2006 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER'S DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT LIGHTS TURNED ON AT ANY GIVEN TIME OF THE DAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE LIGHTS TURNED ON WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO REGISTER THE CORRECT SPEED. WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE IGNITION OFF, BUT IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 8 OCCASIONS, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, THE ANTI THEFT MODULE, AND THE COMPUTER. ALSO UNPLUGGED AND PLUGGED ALL THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8485.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10185973

1 miles · Nov 26, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

ALWAYS- THROTTLE HESITATION AT STOP TO ACCELERATE. THERE IS A MOMENTARY HESITATION WHICH IS DANGEROUS IN STARTING OUT. IF THE SUV WERE TO KILL DUE TO THE STALL, THERE COULD EASILY BE AN ACCIDENT. I'M CONTACTING MY DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I SHOULD HAVE DONE IT SOONER. THIS IS A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10174295

1 miles · Sep 16, 2006
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

I OWN A 2006 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER WITH 3000 MILES ON IT. HERE IS THE PROBLEM, JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN OR WHATEVER, THE ENGINE REVS TO 1200-1500 RPMS FOR JUST A BRIEF SECOND. I AM NOT GIVING THE CAR ANY GAS TO INDUCE THIS OCCURRENCE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE CAR IS DOING THIS AND NEITHER …

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I OWN A 2006 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER WITH 3000 MILES ON IT. HERE IS THE PROBLEM, JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN OR WHATEVER, THE ENGINE REVS TO 1200-1500 RPMS FOR JUST A BRIEF SECOND. I AM NOT GIVING THE CAR ANY GAS TO INDUCE THIS OCCURRENCE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE CAR IS DOING THIS AND NEITHER DOES MY LOCAL DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CAR IS IN FACT DOING WHAT I DESCRIBED ABOVE, BUT COULD NOT OFFER A FIX. I TESTED ANOTHER 2006 V6 EXPLORER WITH 3 MILES ON IT, TO MINE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SURPRISE; IT DID THE EXACT SAME THING AS MY TRUCK. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO THE SITUATION AND CALL SOME OF HIS ENGINEER BUDDIES TO SEE IF THEY COULD GIVE HIM ANY INFORMATION. I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM HIM. I AM ALSO BEGINNING TO NOTICE THAT I ACTUALLY HAVE TO BREAK HARDER TO GET THE TRUCK TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS CAN NOT BE NORMAL, YET MY FORD DEALER IS INSINUATING NOTHING IS ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE CAR. LONGER THAN NECESSARY STOPPING DISTANCES AND WILL LEAD TO UNNECESSARY COLLISIONS. BECAUSE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH 2006 V6 EXPLORERS MY DEALER WILL PROBABLY DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. I COMPLAINED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NEVER EVEN RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION THAT THEY RECEIVED MY EMAIL. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A RECALL SITUATION. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ALL 2006 V6 EXPLORERS EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ADMITTEDLY NOT BY ANY STRETCH A POWERFUL SUDDEN ACCELERATION BUT STILL IT IS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I AM CONFIDENT IN MY ASSESSMENT BECAUSE I HAVE PERSONALLY DRIVEN 2 EXPLORERS AND DIFFERENT SERVICE REP CLAIMED HE DROVE YET ANOTHER 06 EXPLORER THAT DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF FORD HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN ONE OF THERE CARS THEY SHOULD DESIGN A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AND THEN REPAIR THE AFFECTED CARS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10168424

100 miles · Aug 6, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE HAS 1978 MILES, 2006 FORD EXPLORER, HAS MAJOR HESITATION IN THROTTLE, AFTER 3 TRIPS TO DEALER, THEY SAY VEHICLE CANNOT BE REPAIRED". THIS SUV IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE HESITATION IN THE THROTTLE, CANNOT PULL INTO TRAFFIC, FROM STOP SIGN, OR FROM STOPPED POSITION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164629

6,800 miles · Aug 3, 2006
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

I WAS ON VACATION IN SMOKY MOUNTAINS IN GATLINBURG, TN AND WENT TO A PICNIC AREA WITHIN THE PARK. I HAD TO MAKE A 45-DEGREE TURN TO GET INTO THE PARKING SPACE, SO AT THAT ANGLE ONE WOULD ALMOST HAVE TO STOP. I GOT INTO THE PARKING SPACE FINE, GOT STRAIGHTENED UP FINE, HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THEN MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OW…

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I WAS ON VACATION IN SMOKY MOUNTAINS IN GATLINBURG, TN AND WENT TO A PICNIC AREA WITHIN THE PARK. I HAD TO MAKE A 45-DEGREE TURN TO GET INTO THE PARKING SPACE, SO AT THAT ANGLE ONE WOULD ALMOST HAVE TO STOP. I GOT INTO THE PARKING SPACE FINE, GOT STRAIGHTENED UP FINE, HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THEN MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, RPMS REVVING FASTER AND FASTER. MY COUSIN TOLD ME TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND I TOLD HER I WAS BUT IT JUST KEPT REVVING. MY FORD EXPLORER STOPPED AFTER PLOWING OUT OF THE GROUND A METAL CHARCOAL GRILL SET IN AT LEAST 1 FOOT OF CONCRETE, A PICNIC TABLE, AND A CONCRETE PARKING BARRIER. MY FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AND I HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE BACK OF THE EXPLORER, AND THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER GOT OUT HER DOOR ON A MAN'S SHOULDERS. I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY EXPLORER BACK, SO I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT IT YET. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164389

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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