2006 Ford Explorer
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 635 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 26 Explorer model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 13 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 12 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EquipmentSep 3, 2010
MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
Campaign 10E043000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, glass, side/rearDec 11, 2007
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.
SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
Campaign 07E104000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Campaign 06E049000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, windshield wiper/washer, motorNov 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 05V520000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
39 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Interior lighting, Dec 4, 2009
THE GEAR SHIFT LIGHT ON MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS BURNED OUT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALER SAID I HAVE TO BUY AN ENTIRE SHIFT UNIT AND WAS TOO EMBARRASSED TO EVEN CHECK THE PRICE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD SINCE PEOPLE WON'T REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT DUE TO COST AND WILL PLACE THE CAR IN THE WRONG GEAR AT NIGHT LEADING TO INJURY. DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT FOUND A FEW ON LINE. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 2, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE ATTEMPTED TO START HIS VEHICLE WITH THE GEAR SHIFT IN PARK, HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL; HOWEVER, HE WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR $700. THE CONTACT IS AWARE THAT HIS EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT INCLUDE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 01/15/10. *LJ UPDATED 01/19/10.*JB
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 27, 2009
2006 FORD EXPLORER SPORADICALLY DOES NOT SPEED UP WHEN YOU HIT THE ACCELERATOR. FORD APPARENTLY KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND HAS A SOFTWARE FIX IN PLACE THAT YOU MUST PROACTIVELY CONTACT THEM ON...IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM ON THE ROAD AND CALL THEM BEFORE THEY WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT OCCURS EVERYTIME WE DRIVE THE CAR, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT CONSISTENT WHEN IT OCCURS OR HOW OFTEN...AT TIMES IT HAPPENS THE ENTIRE TIME THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT YOU CAN BE DRIVING 10MPH OR 70MPH AND WHEN YOU HIT THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR ENGINE WILL REV UP MUCH LIKE YOU WERE SITTING IN NEUTRAL (I.E. IT DOES NOT SPEED UP) AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS WILL KICK INTO GEAR/ENGAGE AND START SPEEDING UP. THIS SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU WERE NOT EXPECTING THIS TO OCCUR AND WERE TRYING TO PASS A CAR WITH POSSIBLE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS ISSUE SHOULD REQUIRE FORD TO RECALL THE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS INJURED, IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN. *TR
Electrical system, Apr 7, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WHICH NOW HAS 21 THOUSAND MILES LAST YEAR I HAD THE DASH CLUSTER REPLACE BECAUSE THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. THEN THE SHIFT LEVER WOULDN'T MOVE OUT OF PARK. (STILL HAPPENING) NOT THE ABS. TRACTION AND WRENCH LIGHTS HAVE COME ON. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Mar 18, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. SINCE OCTOBER OF 2008, THE VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED AND THE ACCELERATOR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY STALLS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES REGARDING THE BRAKE FAILURE AND STALLING, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHE WOULD LIKE THE FAILURE INVESTIGATED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000. UPDATED 10/21/09 *BF UPDATED 10/21/09*JB
Electrical system, Mar 4, 2009
FORD SPECIAL MESSAGE #15773 MY 2006 EXPLORER HAS TWICE TRIED TO START ITSELF, RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN SO LOW THAT A VEHICLE CHARGE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT. FORD DEALER STATED THEY WERE COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM, UNTIL I SHOWED THEM THE SPECIAL MESSAGE NO. THEY STILL ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX THE VEHICLE AS NOTED IN THE MESSAGE. *TR
Electrical system, Jul 22, 2008
MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER WILL JUST SHUT OFF WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING 55-60 MPH. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN USUALLY AFTER IT RAINS. MY ALARM GOES OFF PERIODICALLY WHEN NOBODY IS AROUND IT. FORD CANNOT SEEM TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Jul 18, 2008
ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO RESTART WITHOUT DEALER. ANTI LOCK BRAKE INDICATOR COMES ON ALONG WITH ENGINE LIGHT, SKID CONTROL LIGHT, DOORS UNLOCK AND LOCK WHILE DRIVING. BRAKES LOCK UP AND SPIN THE CAR OUT OF CONTROL WHEN DRIVING; POWER STEERING BECOMES MANUAL AT TIMES ALONG WITH THE POWER BRAKES NOT HAVING POWER AS WELL. TWO DEALERS HAVE HAD 4 DIFFERENT ADVISORS LOOK AT MY VEHICLE AND THEY SIMPLY STATE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION JERKED AND STAYED IN 4TH GEAR REVVING MOTOR VERY HIGH WHILE DRIVING. RECENTLY AC IS INTERMITTENTLY WORKING AND JUST LAST SUNDAY AGAIN WAS UNABLE TO START CAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED FOUR TIMES TO THE FORD DEALERS FOR REPAIR ON THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS REPAIR SHOP MORE THAN ELEVEN TIMES FOR THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. MY SERVICE WRITER WARNED ME THE LAST TIME I PICKED IT UP "PARKER, DO NOT DRIVE YOU CAR AS IT IS DANGEROUS AND A HAZARD TO EVERYONE ON THE ROAD." THE DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AS FAR AS TAKING IT BACK AND PUTTING ME INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THESE PROBLEMS WERE EVIDENT THROUGH THE OASIS REPORT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO ME AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE WAS A WARNING THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE WORKED ON BEFORE IT WAS SOLD. IT WAS NOT! THE DEALER OR FORD MOTOR COMPLAINT 800 NUMBER STATES IT IS MY VEHICLE AND TO DEAL WITH IT. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE CONTINUALLY OCCURRED THREATENING THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MARCH 2007 AS A "CPO" VEHICLE BUT HAVE REALIZED NOW THAT MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO THE DEALERS ONCE IT IS SOLD. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME? ALL THESE MATTERS HAVE OCCURRED FROM MAR 2007 THROUGH PRESENT. *TR
Electrical system, Nov 29, 2007
2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH TRAC AND WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER STATES THEY HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS FIXED AND THEN THE FAILURE WOULD BEGIN AGAIN. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, THE BRAKES WOULD PULSE AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. *JB
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 26, 2007
(1) I HAVE OWNED MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER FOR ONE YEAR AND FOUR MONTHS. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 21,000 MILES CURRENTLY ON IT. IT HAS HAD A LUNGING PROBLEM STARTING WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO TWO SEPARATE FORD DEALERS IN ATTEMPTS TO HAVE IT FIXED FOR A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES. THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. EACH TIME IT IS FIXED FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS UP TO A COUPLE OF MONTHS, HOWEVER, THE CLUNKING AND JERKING ONCE AGAIN SHOW. I BELIEVE THAT THEY UNPLUG THE BATTERY EACH TIME IT IS TAKEN IN, ALLOWING THE COMPUTER TO "FORGET" ITS ADAPTIVE LEARNING. (2) WHEN I TAKE OFF FROM A STOP IT HESITATES AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNPREDICTABLY. FURTHERMORE, WHEN STOPPING IT FEELS LIKE IT IS FREEWHEELING IN BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR WITH AN ABRUPT STOP AND A JERK THAT CAUSES A VIOLENT JERKING OF THE VEHICLE. THE FEELING IT PROVIDES IS ONE OF BEING REARENDED. (3) THE ONLY THING THAT HAS BEEN DONE IS TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER AND UNHOOKING THE BATTERY SO THE COMPUTER FORGETS ITS ADAPTIVE LEARNING. THIS IS A QUICK FIX FOR FORD AND DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Equipment, Electrical system, Aug 28, 2007
2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH FREQUENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTING INCONSISTENCIES WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE ERRATIC SHIFTING OF THE VEHICLE STARTED THE DAY AFTER PURCHASE AND AFTER THE INCIDENT HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO INFORM THEM OF THE DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP THEN IN TURN HAD THE CONSUMER COME IN ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THE SITUATION INVESTIGATED AND WOULD LIKE FOR THE DEALER TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE AT THE VALUE IN WHICH IT WAS SOLD. THE DEALER STATED THE SPEAKERS SOUND LIKE THEY ARE DISTORTED, TOP COVER OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS LOOSE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electrical system, Mar 23, 2007
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
Power train, Electrical system, Mar 17, 2007, fire
2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAURER- WITHIN 12 HOURS OF PURCHASING THE CAR, THE STARTER CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAR WAS OUT OF SERVICE 1 WEEK. TRANSMISSION HESITATED FROM A COLD START ESPECIALLLY BAD WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. ENGINE ROARED AT TIMES, SOUNDED LIKE A JET TAKING OFF. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL, IT WAS THE ENGINE FAN ???? CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHEN STARTING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AT FIRST SERVICE DEPT AGREED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH 8 CYLINDER TRANSMISSION AND THAT THEY WERE NO FIXES BUT THEN THE FORD REP GOT INVOLVED AND SUDDENLY THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THEY SUGGESTED THAT OUR ONLY RECOUSE WAS TO GO THRU THE LEMON LAW WHICH WE DID. IT WAS A LONG DRAWN OUT PROCESS BUT AFTER 6 MONTHS OF DEALING WITH THE SITUATION, THE LEMON ARBITRATION RULLED IN OUR FAVOR AND FORD WAS REQUIRED TO BUY BACK THE EXPLORER. I HAD A FORD EXPEDITION FOR 9 YEARS AND LOVED IT BUT AFTER THIS FIASCO WITH THE EXPLORER AND FORD'S REFUSAL TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, I WILL NOT EVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. I NOW HAVE A TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND COULDN'T BE HAPPIER. WHILE IT DOESN'T HAVE SOME OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE EXPLORER, THE PIECE OF MIND OF KNOWING THAT IT WILL ACTUALLY GO WHEN I PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC IS IMMEASUREABLE. TO THOSE STILL HAVING THE PROBLEMS, I WOULD SUGGEST THE LEMON LAW.
Electrical system, Equipment, Feb 6, 2006
ON 12/10/05, I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 FORD EXPLORER. YESTERDAY, FOR THE FIFTH TIME, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO START. I BROUGHT IT IN TO FORD ON 01/11/06, THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND TOLD ME IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN LAST NIGHT. *JB