IllustrationFORD EXPLORER 2006- RADIATOR LEAKS . PROBLEM STARTS AT AROUND 40K. THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES IN MOST CASES TO REPLACE RADIATOR. REPLACEMENT COST ARE APPROX. $450.00. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Explorer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
960–25K
13925–50K
13950–75K
8575–100K
67100–150K
21150K+
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 reportsI OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER AND WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO STOP , I FEEL AN AWFUL JERK, JUST AS SOMEONE IS REAR-ENDED ME. FOR SOME REASON, WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, THE TRANSMISSION JERKS THE VEHICLE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND DOWN TO 1ST GEAR. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT WHAT FORD HAS MADE THE EXPLORER FOR, TO SHIFT WITH A SUD…
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I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER AND WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO STOP , I FEEL AN AWFUL JERK, JUST AS SOMEONE IS REAR-ENDED ME. FOR SOME REASON, WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, THE TRANSMISSION JERKS THE VEHICLE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND DOWN TO 1ST GEAR. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT WHAT FORD HAS MADE THE EXPLORER FOR, TO SHIFT WITH A SUDDEN JERK FROM GEAR TO GEAR. THIS IS NOT REALLY A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT CAUSES REAL PROBLEMS WHEN YOU EXPECT THAT YOU'VE PURCHASED A GREAT VEHICLE, BUT YOU ACTUALLY DIDN'T. I KNOW THAT I'M NOT PAYING FOR THIS MISTAKE OR FLAW IN DESIGN OF THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER. I WILL FIGHT THIS ISSUE TO THE END AS A MARTYR, AND I'M NOT KIDDING ABOUT THIS. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH THE 4.0 V6. I HAVE THE FAMOUS RADIATOR PROBLEM THAT IT SEEMS 90% OF 2006 OWNERS HAVE. FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB, BUT NO RECALL. I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH RADIATORS EVERY 5,000 MILES. MINE DIDN'T FAIL UNTIL ABOUT 75000 MILES, BUT IT STILL FAILED, SPEWING ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE DRIVE…
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I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH THE 4.0 V6. I HAVE THE FAMOUS RADIATOR PROBLEM THAT IT SEEMS 90% OF 2006 OWNERS HAVE. FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB, BUT NO RECALL. I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH RADIATORS EVERY 5,000 MILES. MINE DIDN'T FAIL UNTIL ABOUT 75000 MILES, BUT IT STILL FAILED, SPEWING ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY, AND CAUSING A LOT OF HOURS OF LABOR FOR ME. THE PART WAS ABOUT $300, BUT I SPENT OVER 6 HOURS INSTALLING IT, SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER $1,000 TO DO SO. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ON THE ROAD WHEN IT FAILS. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HADTHIS PROBLEM, AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL BY NOW. *TR
I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH A 4.0 V6. RECENTLY I WAS FILLING UP WITH GAS AND IT BEGAN CLICKING OFF EVERY 1/2 GALLON. I EVENTUALLY FILLED UP AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES. I TRIED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, THINKING IT WAS THE PUMP, SAME PROBLEM. ENDED UP TAKING APART THE WHOLE FUEL LINE SYSTEM LOOKING FOR A CLOG. NO SUCH LUCK. F…
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I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH A 4.0 V6. RECENTLY I WAS FILLING UP WITH GAS AND IT BEGAN CLICKING OFF EVERY 1/2 GALLON. I EVENTUALLY FILLED UP AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES. I TRIED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, THINKING IT WAS THE PUMP, SAME PROBLEM. ENDED UP TAKING APART THE WHOLE FUEL LINE SYSTEM LOOKING FOR A CLOG. NO SUCH LUCK. FINALLY DECIDED IT MUST BE THE EVAP/CHARCOAL CANISTER. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE, SO FORD OBVIOUSLY KNOWS ABOUT IT. BUT I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE PART TO COME IN, AND HAD NO OTHER VEHICLE TO DRIVE, SO I JUST CONTINUED FILLING UP FOR 30 MINUTES JUST TO GET A FULL TANK. THE WORST PART WAS THAT YOU COULD HEAR THE BUBBLING DOWN THE LINE, SINCE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WOULD NOT PROPERLY RELEASE PRESSURE FROM THE TANK. SOMETIMES THE GAS WOULD EVEN COME BACK OUT THE FILL HOLE AND SPRAY ME WITH GAS (A REAL SAFETY ISSUE). I ENDED UP GETTING THE PART VERY CHEAP OFF OF AN JUNKED EXPLORER. BUT THE PART FROM A DEALER WAS OVER $400. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU. *TR
2006 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 LITER. RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING AT 42,000 MILES AND JUST SHORT OF 4 YEARS OLD. LEAKING FROM THE LOWER TANK SEAL. MUST BE REPLACED, CAN'T BE REPAIRED. FORD WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT. THIS FAILURE ISN'T DUE TO CORROSION, IT IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT. MANY EXPLORER OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS KNO…
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2006 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 LITER. RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING AT 42,000 MILES AND JUST SHORT OF 4 YEARS OLD. LEAKING FROM THE LOWER TANK SEAL. MUST BE REPLACED, CAN'T BE REPAIRED. FORD WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT. THIS FAILURE ISN'T DUE TO CORROSION, IT IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT. MANY EXPLORER OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS KNOWN DEFECT AND CAN ONLY GET HELP IF THEY ARE FORTUNATE TO STILL BE WITHIN THE 36K MILE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. *TR
ABS FAILURE IN 2006 FORD EXPLORER. DEALER REPAIR SHOP IDENTIFIED BROKEN SENSOR RING ON LEFT-REAR WHEEL. REQUIRED EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT OF AXLE. CAR HAS ONLY 36,000 MILES AND A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS OLD. *TR
IT HAS A SHIFTING DELAY GOING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. WHEN IT DOES SHIFT, THERE IS A JOLT. SEEMS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS READY TO FALL OUT. *TR
2006 FORD EXPLORER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT SLIPS AND CAUSES A JOLT WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS, FEELS LIKE ONE IS BEING REAR ENDED. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS A WEIRD SOUND AS THIS HAPPENS. FORD HAS UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO REPROGRAM THE CAR. TOOK THE CAR BACK FOR THE FORD MECHANIC TO LOOK AT AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO. *TR
TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR OR WHILE STOPPING. 2006 FORD EXPLORER.. *TR
THE SUV JOLTS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, RPMS REV AND IS SLOW TO CHANGE INTO GEAR. OCCASIONAL LOUD CLUNCKING NOISES, ALSO LOUD NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. *TR
Official recalls
105V520000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.