NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
630 reports103,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014
Service Brakes
RETURNING FROM HAVING NEW BRAKES AND CALIPER INSTALLED - BRAKES WERE BURNING HOT AND STRONG SMELL. THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER AN HOUR DRIVE BUT NOT ON SHORTER DRIVES - BEEN TOLD THERE IS NO APPARENT PROBLEM I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CONCERNS ABOUT BRAKES SEIZING UP ON EXPLORERS SO WANTED TO ADD MY CONCERNS TO T…
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RETURNING FROM HAVING NEW BRAKES AND CALIPER INSTALLED - BRAKES WERE BURNING HOT AND STRONG SMELL. THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER AN HOUR DRIVE BUT NOT ON SHORTER DRIVES - BEEN TOLD THERE IS NO APPARENT PROBLEM I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CONCERNS ABOUT BRAKES SEIZING UP ON EXPLORERS SO WANTED TO ADD MY CONCERNS TO THE POOL OF INFORMATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10605157
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2014
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKES SEIZED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT FIVE MINUTES LATER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKES SEIZED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT FIVE MINUTES LATER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10605139
100,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014
EnginePower Train
I'VE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. FIRST THE CAR SHIFTS HARD APPROX BETWEEN 10 MPH AND 20 MPH, THE CAR LUNGES, STALLS, THEN SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I TOOK THE CAR TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THEY DID A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FLUSH... THE CAR RAN SMOOTH FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS, THEN IT STARTED LEAKING TRANS…
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I'VE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. FIRST THE CAR SHIFTS HARD APPROX BETWEEN 10 MPH AND 20 MPH, THE CAR LUNGES, STALLS, THEN SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I TOOK THE CAR TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THEY DID A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FLUSH... THE CAR RAN SMOOTH FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS, THEN IT STARTED LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH RESULTED IN MY RADIATOR BEING RUINED. REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND A PLUG IN THE TRANSMISSION. ($1,800) THE CAR THEN RAN FINE UP THIS PAST SUNDAY. THE CAR AS ME AND MY WIFE WERE DRIVING HOME FROM A 400 MILE TRIP WITH THE AC RUNNING, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED LUNGING AND SHIFTING HARD AGAIN. I EXITED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON... THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND MAKING A LOUD CLUNK NOISE. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE DID ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FLUSH ON MONDAY JUNE 16, 2014... TWO DAYS LATER AND THE CAR STILL LUNGES, STALLS, AND SHIFTS HARD. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THERE'S NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I EVEN ASKED THEM BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2006 TRANSMISSION, THEY STILL COULDN'T HELP ME. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IN PARK, IT TENDS TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT/ EARLY MORNING... THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES... TOLD FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THERE'S NOTHING THEY COULD DO... THE LAST PROBLEM IS EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE THE CAR DOESN'T SHIFT INTO REVERSE... TOLD FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ONCE AGAIN, BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THERE'S NOTHING THEY COULD DO... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10599182
97,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
NHTSA ODI #10598625
106,000 miles · Jun 4, 2014
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury
I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT, PULLING VERY SLOWLY INTO MY PARKING SPOT, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED ROARING, IT LUNGED, HIT A PARKING CURB AND THEN THRUST INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR IN A PARKING GARAGE. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND ENGINE DIED. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED! I RECEIVED BURNS FROM THE AIR BAG CHEMICAL…
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I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT, PULLING VERY SLOWLY INTO MY PARKING SPOT, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED ROARING, IT LUNGED, HIT A PARKING CURB AND THEN THRUST INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR IN A PARKING GARAGE. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND ENGINE DIED. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED! I RECEIVED BURNS FROM THE AIR BAG CHEMICALS ON BOTH OF MY HANDS. I'M STILL SHAKEN UP ABOUT IT. NECK IS SORE AND LOWER BACK HURTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10596027
119,000 miles · Jun 3, 2014
Power Train
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. I THOUGHT SOMEONE HIT ME. IT DID THIS TWO MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THEN IT STARTED BEING VERY SLOW TO SHIFT INTO GEAR OR WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL WITH OUT SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE FOR 3 TO 5 MINS AT A TIME. THEN IT WOULD ONLY DRIVE A FEW BL…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. I THOUGHT SOMEONE HIT ME. IT DID THIS TWO MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THEN IT STARTED BEING VERY SLOW TO SHIFT INTO GEAR OR WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL WITH OUT SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE FOR 3 TO 5 MINS AT A TIME. THEN IT WOULD ONLY DRIVE A FEW BLOCKS BEFORE AGAIN REFUSING TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10595908
126,000 miles · Jun 3, 2014
Power TrainStructureCrash
MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. AT 4:30 IN THE MORNING IT ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE ACROSS THE STREET. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN PARK AND THE DOORS WERE LOCKED. MY NEIGHBORS HEARD THE CRASH, LOOKED OUT THEIR WINDOW AND RAN OUTSIDE. A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND VERY SMALL CONCRETE WA…
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MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. AT 4:30 IN THE MORNING IT ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE ACROSS THE STREET. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN PARK AND THE DOORS WERE LOCKED. MY NEIGHBORS HEARD THE CRASH, LOOKED OUT THEIR WINDOW AND RAN OUTSIDE. A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND VERY SMALL CONCRETE WALL STOPPED THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE OUTSIDE OR ANY OTHER CARS. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT BODY DAMAGE TO MY EXPLORER AND THE LEFT REAR WHEEL IS PUSHED OUT. HOW DOES A VEHICLE ROLL ACROSS THE STREET WHILE IN PARK? EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SHOULDN'T THIS BE SOMETHING FORD WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10595843
45,000 miles · May 21, 2014
Power Train
STARTING DATE IS APPROXIMATE AND MILEAGE. WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE YOU COULD FEEL A JERK IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN IT WAS SHIFTING. AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, IT FELT LIKE YOU HAD BEEN HIT IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. WE FELT IT WAS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSIO…
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STARTING DATE IS APPROXIMATE AND MILEAGE. WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE YOU COULD FEEL A JERK IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN IT WAS SHIFTING. AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, IT FELT LIKE YOU HAD BEEN HIT IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. WE FELT IT WAS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION CENTER AND THEY REPLACED A SLEEVE AND SOLENOID BLOCK APRIL 8, 2014. NO PROBLEMS SINCE. HAVE BEEN READING OTHER PEOPLE HAVE AND SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10593147
44,000 miles · May 15, 2014
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT END AS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD ALREADY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RADIATOR TWICE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT END AS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD ALREADY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RADIATOR TWICE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10588698
Mileage unknown · May 7, 2014
Power Train
IT HAD A HARD LUNGE ANYTIME I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT (IT WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO GO WHEN I WAS STOPPED SO I WOULD PUT IT IN PARK, WAIT FOR THE GREEN LIGHT AND PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE SO I DIDN'T RISK THE CHANCE OF REAR ENDING SOMEONE), IT SEEMED IF I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TOO HARD, IT WOULD ACT LIKE IT COULDN'T SHIFT INTO THE N…
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IT HAD A HARD LUNGE ANYTIME I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT (IT WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO GO WHEN I WAS STOPPED SO I WOULD PUT IT IN PARK, WAIT FOR THE GREEN LIGHT AND PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE SO I DIDN'T RISK THE CHANCE OF REAR ENDING SOMEONE), IT SEEMED IF I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TOO HARD, IT WOULD ACT LIKE IT COULDN'T SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR CORRECTLY, IT MAKES ALL KINDS OF LOUD BANGING NOISES AND THE TIRES WOULD LOSE TRACTION. WE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION VALUE BODY AND THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. WE GOT THE TRUCK BACK AND IT IS STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. WE SPOKE WITH FORD WHO TOLD US THERE WAS NO WAY THERE WAS A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC BMW TRANSMISSION IN OUR FORD TRUCK - WE WERE RIGHT - WE GAVE FORD THE VIN FOR THE TRUCK AND THEY CAME BACK AND SAID "WE ARE SORRY, YOU ARE RIGHT IT IS A 6-SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION" (SO BASICALLY FORD HAD NO IDEA WHAT TRANSMISSION THEY PUT IN THE TRUCK) COME TO FIND OUT IT IS A FORD 6R TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS ONLY USED IN 2005 AND 2006 FORD EXPLORER AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY A PIECE OF CRAP! NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO FIX MY TRUCK! THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TO TWO TRANSMISSION SHOPS, A SHOP THAT HAS EXPERTISE IN COMPUTER PROBLEMS AND ANOTHER CAR SHOP. NO ONE HAS ANSWERS FOR ME. I CAN NOT GET A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER RENTAL UNLESS I'VE BEEN IN A WRECK. AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION SHOP IS TALKING ABOUT SENDING THE TRUCK TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND IT COULD TAKE A FEW MONTHS TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME TO BE OUT OF A RIDE FOR A FEW MONTHS! FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THEIR 2006 6R TRANSMISSIONS...THEY KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ALREADY OUT THERE AND FORD IS NOT LISTENING TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10586986