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: engine
222 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 31, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND LEAKING FLUID. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT IS AFFECTING ALL THE FORD EXPLORER VEHICLES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 47,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 10, 2008
MY SUV STALLS ANY TIME THE CAR SLOWS DOWN OR IT WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN UP TO 60MPH SO THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. TONIGHT THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND TOOK 5 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. WHEN IT DID RESTART IT ACCELERATED SO RAPIDLY ANOTHER ACCIDENT ALMOST OCCURRED. I HAVE TAKEN THE SUV TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES OVER THREE YEARS AND THE SAY THAT IT IS DOING NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE FOUND WEBSITES THAT OTHER CONSUMERS ARE DRIVING IN THE SAME HAZARDOUS VEHICLES WITH NO RECOURSE FROM FORD. I AM RENTING A CAR NOW BECAUSE I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MINE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 28, 2008
MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER JERKS AND JOLTS EXTREMELY HARD WHILE COMING TO A STOP. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR THE WARRANTY REPAIR THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER WHICH SEEMED TO HELP FOR A FEW MONTHS. TODAY I RETURNED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY IT IS THREE TIMES AS BAD AS BEFORE. THEY TOLD ME AT FIRST IT WAS THE DRIVERS FAULT. THEN THEY CAME BACK AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION. MY NECK IS VERY SORE FROM ALL THE JERKING AND JOLTING IT HAS RECEIVED FROM THIS CAR. IN FACT MY NECK IS BURNING RIGHT NOW FROM PAIN. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, May 6, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE TOOK PLACE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE TOOK APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MINUTES TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND NO ERROR CODES WERE FOUND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,090 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,794.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 25, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY STALLED AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THEY ALSO DID NOT FIND ANY ERROR CODES WHEN A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS AND SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE PURCHASE DATE, TRANSMISSION TYPE, POWERTRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TYPE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 9, 2008
I HAVE HAD A SLOW LEAK IN MY EXPLORER FOR A WEEK, WE CHANGED THE OVER FLOW TANK AND THEN THE LEAK BECAME A MORE SERIOUS ONE. MY DAD LOOKED AT IT AND MY RADIATOR IS LEAKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT PLACES. IT IS GOING COST ME ABOUT $300.00 TO GET A NEW OR IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED THE PRICE OF IT. A OWNER OF A SHOP HAS INFORMED ME THAT HE HAS HAD TO REPAIR SEVERAL RADIATORS WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE AS MINE. IF THIS IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL YET. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 2, 2008, fire
RADIATOR FAILED CAR NEVER RAN HOT CAUSED ENGINE TO BLOW HEAD GASKETS. CAR WAS SERVICED 9 DAYS PRIOR AND RADIATOR WAS FULL. CAR STOPPED ON FREEWAY LATE AT NIGHT AND HAVE TO PAY 6,700.00 TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 29, 2008
I BEGAN TO NOTICE LEAKAGE UNDER MY CAR. IT APPEARED TO BE ANTIFREEZE SO I KEPT A CHECK ON IT. AFTER TWO WEEKS, THERE WAS A GUSH OF LIQUID. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THE RADIATOR WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPLORER NEW JUST 2 YEARS AGO. SHOULDN'T A RADIATOR LAST MORE THAN 2 YEARS? IT COST ME $80 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND $545 TO REPLACE IT. I HAVE THE OLD RADIATOR. IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER THERE IS CORROSION WHICH INDICATES THAT THERE HAD BEEN A MALFUNCTION OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 17, 2008
DEFECTIVE RADIATORS IN 2006-2007 FORD EXPLORERS. HOLE IN RADIATOR FROM WEAR FROM LACK OF RADIATOR SUPPORT. ALSO GASKET SEAL BETWEEN PLASTIC IN RADIATOR AND ALUMINUM. I CAN'T GET A REPLACEMENT RADIATOR BECAUSE THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE-3/17/08. SO IT'S OBVIOUS THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 17, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. AFTERWARDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS FLASHED ONE TIME. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COAST TO A STOP AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NO FAILURES. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND AN ERROR CODE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,700. UPDATED 4/16/08 *CN UPDATED
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Structure, Equipment, Dec 31, 2007
HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS STARTING WITH A LIFTER STUCK IN MOTOR AT 296 MILES, TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 15,700 MILES. BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED SINCE IT WAS NEW, OVERHEAD CONSOLE HAS FALLEN OFF TWICE, SATELLITE RADIO WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. DOOR RUBBED ON RUNNING BOARD, NOW GAS MILEAGE HAS DROPPED UNDER 10 MILES PER GALLON. 14 TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP SO FAR AND STILL NOT ALL IS FIXED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 5, 2007
WE HAVE TAKEN OUR 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH JUST OVER 20,000 MILES ON IT INTO THE SHOP 3 TIMES DUE TO INTERMITTENT LOSE OF POWER WHEN STARTING OUT. THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE HAS BEEN RELOADED 2 TIMES. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN I TOLD THE DEALER TO KEEP IT UNTIL IT WAS FIXED. AFTER 2 DAYS THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT BELIEVED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. FORD THEN ASKED US TO DRIVE A UNSAFE CAR TO TROUBLE SHOOT IT FOR THEM WITH A FLIGHT RECORDER HOOKED UP TO THE COMPUTER. FORD CARE AND THE DEALER ARE BOTH NOT WILLING TO CALL BACK AND FIX THE CAR. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 20, 2007, fire
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 20, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLS AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT AND AT SPEEDS OF 10 MPH OR GREATER. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY RESET THE COMPUTER. A WEEK LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 11,900 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 16, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE STALLED FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALLOWS HIS VEHICLE TO RUN FOR A WHILE BEFORE DRIVING IT, IN ORDER TO SEE IF THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 15,242 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,500. UPDATED 02-11-08 *BF ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AND IDLING ROUGH. UPDATED
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 19, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE TRAVEL SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS, THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FORD DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLING BEGAN ONCE HE STARTED USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 22,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB
Engine and engine cooling, May 10, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN TIMES. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 30, 2006
I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS A SEVERE ACCELERATION HESITATION PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN TO DEALERS AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT'S A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN AND I WOULD LIKE FORD TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE IN FIXING THE PROBLEMS AS IT NOW APPEARS MANY VEHICLES OF SAME MAKE ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS ISSUE SINCE I PURCHASED THE NEW EXPLORER IN FALL OF 2005. NM
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 4, 2006
ENGINE HESITATES/STUMBLES WHEN PULLING OUT FROM STOP POSITION OR INTO TRAFFIC. FORD MOTOR SAYS THEY CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. SUV IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THIS CONDITION. IT IS ALMOST A YEAR OLD(2006) AND HAS 2535 MILES ON IT. FORD WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS AND HAVE HAD IT TO DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES WITH PROBLEM. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 26, 2006
SUV HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING. DEALER SAYS CAN'T BE REPAIRED. 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH 1909 MILES. SENT E-MAIL TO YOU ON 08/05/06 CONFIRMATION #10164629 AS OF THIS DATE NO REPLY FROM YOU. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Aug 6, 2006
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 7, 2006
NEW FORD EXPLORER STALLS IN TRAFFIC WHICH IS DANGEROUS, DEALER HAS FOUND NOTHING WRONG AT THIS TIME, BUT HAS NOW HAD THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 10 DAYS. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE 2 DAYS THE FIRST TIME AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *NM