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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

What owners actually said

630 reports
100,000 miles · Apr 13, 2015
Air Bags

NHTSA CASE # [XXX] JUST KNOW I REALIZE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM; IT IS RELATED WITH WEATHER TEMPERATURE. BEGINNING WINTER THE AIRBAG SOMETIMES LIT.. WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPPED, LIT CONTINUOUS, SO, I REPORTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP. (AT THAT TIME I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE FAILURE WAS LINKED TO TEMPERATURE}. WHEN TEMPERATURE BEGA…

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NHTSA CASE # [XXX] JUST KNOW I REALIZE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM; IT IS RELATED WITH WEATHER TEMPERATURE. BEGINNING WINTER THE AIRBAG SOMETIMES LIT.. WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPPED, LIT CONTINUOUS, SO, I REPORTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP. (AT THAT TIME I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE FAILURE WAS LINKED TO TEMPERATURE}. WHEN TEMPERATURE BEGAN INCREASING, AGAIN AIRBAG LIT SOMETIMES. NOW THAT WEATHER IS GOOD, THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS NORMAL OK. MY CAR'S AIRBAG IS AT RISK AT LOW TEMPERATURES. HOW THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I WANT FORD FIX IT. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705483

120,000 miles · Apr 12, 2015
Power Train

WE BOUGHT A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT FROM A DEALER IN SCHENECTADY NY IN 2006.LOVED THE SUV FOR THE FAMILY. THREE WEEKS LATER WE TOOK IT BACK FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES.THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE TO REVERSE SOMETIMES WITHOUT A DELAY THEN A JUMP.AND SHIFTED HARD ON ACCELERATION. WE WERE TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE DURING AN IN…

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WE BOUGHT A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT FROM A DEALER IN SCHENECTADY NY IN 2006.LOVED THE SUV FOR THE FAMILY. THREE WEEKS LATER WE TOOK IT BACK FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES.THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE TO REVERSE SOMETIMES WITHOUT A DELAY THEN A JUMP.AND SHIFTED HARD ON ACCELERATION. WE WERE TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE DURING AN INSPECTION. NOW HERE WE SET WITH AN EXPLORER WITH NO REVERSE AND NEEDING A 2000.00 DOLLAR REPAIR, WHICH WE BELIEVE COULD OF BEEN A PRE EXITING ISSUE. IF YOU LOOK UP THIS MODEL YOU WILL SEE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705187

126,000 miles · Mar 25, 2015
Power Train

WENT OUT TO DRIVEWAY TO START IT HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE A BACKFIRE THEN GURGLING TRANSMISSION FLUID RUNNING OUT ALL OVER DRIVEWAY. .M..NO PREVIOUS WARNINGS NOTHING BUT A CLUNKING NOISE SOMETIMES WHEN SHIFTING WHICH DEALER TOLD ME WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. .....VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE... I AM BEYOND ANGRY .…

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WENT OUT TO DRIVEWAY TO START IT HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE A BACKFIRE THEN GURGLING TRANSMISSION FLUID RUNNING OUT ALL OVER DRIVEWAY. .M..NO PREVIOUS WARNINGS NOTHING BUT A CLUNKING NOISE SOMETIMES WHEN SHIFTING WHICH DEALER TOLD ME WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. .....VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE... I AM BEYOND ANGRY ......JUST PAID THIS OFF..... TURNS OUT FORD KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS ......THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. .......I HAVE DRIVEN GUARDS FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS ..... . NEVER AGAIN. ... NO MORE FORD'S.........I TRIED TO BUY AMERICAN........AT WHAT COST TO ME.......I'M LOOKING FOR A TOYOTA.........YOU WANT MY BUSINESS...... GIVE ME A DECENT PRODUCT .......THE CADILLAC ELDORADO I HAD NINETEEN YEARS AGO DID THE SAME THING AT 67,000 MILES........I DO NOT DRIVE HARD.........OR JACKRABBIT OR DO FAST STARTS.......TIRED OF PAYING FOR TRYING TO BUY AMERICAN. .....NOW I KNOW WHY EVERYONE ELSE BUYS TOYOTA'S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10701680

95,000 miles · Mar 25, 2015
Power Train

I HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 EXPLORER. IT LUNGES, JOLTS, DOESN'T ENGAGE AND SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR SO HAD THAT IT FEELS LIKE I JUST GOT REAR ENDED WITH A BIG BANG! FORD DOES NOT TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE 06' EXPLORER DESPITE HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING …

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I HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 EXPLORER. IT LUNGES, JOLTS, DOESN'T ENGAGE AND SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR SO HAD THAT IT FEELS LIKE I JUST GOT REAR ENDED WITH A BIG BANG! FORD DOES NOT TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE 06' EXPLORER DESPITE HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN I TRIED TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION AN THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T ENGAGE. AT VARIOUS TIMES MY VEHICLE WOULDN'T ENGAGE WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION OR WHEN IT DID ENGAGE IT WOULD JERK. ANOTHER TIME I SLOWED AT A YIELD AND WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE BUT WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS IT ACCELERATED VERY QUICKLY WITH JERKING MOTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10701614

55,000 miles · Mar 12, 2015
Power Train

WHILE SHIFTING INTO GEAR, EXPLORER SLAMS AND MAKES A BANG SOUND. TRUCK LUNGES OR JERKS AND WHILE DRIVING TRUCK JERKS INTO GEARS WHEN CHANGING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10693771

66,000 miles · Feb 27, 2015
Parking Brake

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, IT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,00…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, IT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10691158

68,000 miles · Feb 26, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10690839

236,000 miles · Feb 13, 2015
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THEN THE ENGINE MAINTENANCE LIGHT CAME ON. PRESSED THE GAS AGAIN IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE TO PARK IT AND PUT IT BACK IN D - DRIVE IT STILL WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. 10 MINUTES LATER TURN ON THE VEHICLE AND PUT …

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THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THEN THE ENGINE MAINTENANCE LIGHT CAME ON. PRESSED THE GAS AGAIN IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE TO PARK IT AND PUT IT BACK IN D - DRIVE IT STILL WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. 10 MINUTES LATER TURN ON THE VEHICLE AND PUT IN D-DRIVE AND IT ENGAGED BUT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEXT GEAR. ABLE TO MAKE TO PARKING LOT AND GET HELP. I DO AGREE WHY DID FORD MAKE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO ADD THEIR OWN TRANSMISSION FLUID IF IT RUNS LOW. NO DIP STICK FOR IT AS WELL TO CHECK IF IT IS LOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683254

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2015
Power Train

TRUCKS DOESN'T ENGAGE IN GEAR SOMETIMES, I HAVE PROBLEMS BACKING UP DOESN'T ENGAGE PROPERLY. I ALMOST GOT IN ACCIDENT WITH MY TWO BABIES WHERE IN THE VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10681931

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2015
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THEN I WENT TO DRIVE AND IT STARTED TO AND CUT OFF WHEN IT JOLTED LIKE SOMEONE HIT ME AND MY PASSENGER FROM THE REAR BUT IT WAS THE GEAR OR TRANSMISSION OR THE OVERDRIVE NOT ENGAGING, NOT SURE. I SAT THERE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES IN NEUTRAL AND THEN PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE…

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I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THEN I WENT TO DRIVE AND IT STARTED TO AND CUT OFF WHEN IT JOLTED LIKE SOMEONE HIT ME AND MY PASSENGER FROM THE REAR BUT IT WAS THE GEAR OR TRANSMISSION OR THE OVERDRIVE NOT ENGAGING, NOT SURE. I SAT THERE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES IN NEUTRAL AND THEN PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IT MOVED FORWARD. AFTER I PARKED THE CAR IT REPEATED THE ABOVE ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680829

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.

Go deeper into Ford Explorer problems