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: power train
301 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Oct 6, 2009
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
Power train, Oct 6, 2009
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE EARLIER THIS YEAR...WHEN I COME TO A STOP IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE REAR ENDED ME. THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY AND HAVE BEEN WATCHING FOR A RECALL ON THIS AND HAVE NOT SEEN ONE AS OF YET. I HAVE SEEN ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Sep 26, 2009
PURCHASED 2006 FORD EXPLORER. FEELS LIKE MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR TO TAKE OFF OR EVEN WHEN I COME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. HORRIBLE! *TR
Power train, Sep 7, 2009
2006 FORD EXPLORER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS A JOLT WHEN IT DOWNSHIFT AT STOPPING. IT FEELS LIKE ONE IS BEING REAR ENDED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. FORD TRIED TO REPROGRAM THE CAR, BUT IT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM OCCURS IN ABOUT 1 OUT OF 10 STOPS. THE DISTRACTION IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS ONE STOPS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS HAPPENED. FORD NEEDS A BETTER SOLUTION TO THIS COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Aug 31, 2009
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2006 FORD LIMITED EDITION EXPLORER. WITHIN 24 HOURS OF PURCHASE I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD "LUNGE" FORWARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRING THE SUV TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT FEELS AS IF YOU WERE JUST REAR-ENDED! I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAVE BEEN TOLD TO BRING THE CAR TO SERVICE. RECENT RESEARCH HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS SUV'S MODEL YEAR HAS THIS SAME DISTURBING TREND AMONG VEHICLE ACROSS THE USA. A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE AND A RECALL IS MY RECOMMENDATION. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT SUFFER FOR AN OBVIOUS FLAW ON THE BEHALF OF A MAJOR MANUFACTURER. *TR
Power train, Aug 6, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD/JERKS IN REVERSE AS WELL AS WHEN TRANSMISSION SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY GO FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE JERK FEELS AS IF YOU HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED AND THEN CAR LUNGES FORWARD. *TR
Power train, Aug 5, 2009
WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR FEELS LIKE I HAVE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES OR SOMEONE HAS REAR-ENDED ME. IT HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY MILE OR SO. DEALER SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT, THE BRAKES ARE FINE. *TR
Power train, Aug 4, 2009
WHEN COMING TO A STOP, TRANSMISSION JERKS AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE GETTING REAR-ENDED. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. STARTED RIGHT AFTER CAR WAS BOUGHT, FORD SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, SO WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH IT... BUT IT IS GETTING WORSE, AND I'M AFRAID I WILL GET STUCK WITH A COSTLY REPAIR. *TR
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
Power train, Jul 22, 2009
BOUGHT A 2006 EXPLORER IN DEC. 06 AND HAVE SINCE NOTICED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE MOST CONCERNING IS WHEN THE CAR LUNGES/JERKS FORWARD WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK/REVERSE TO DRIVE. IT IS NOW ALSO STARTING TO SHOW A LOSS OF POWER WHEN SHIFTING THROUGH GEARS AS THE ENGINE REVS BUT GOES NO WHERE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE LUNGIN/JERKING AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FEEL IT. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY SO THIS DOES NOT SURPRISE ME. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN NOTICING THIS REVVING AND LOSS OF POWER WHEN SHIFTING GEARS (IT'S AN AUTOMATIC). I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO MECHANICS BOTH OF WITH AGREED THAT THE REVVING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE FAN CLUTCH, NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS, BUT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE LOSS OF POWER. I'M SURE THAT THIS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, AFTER READING THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. IT APPEARS AT THIS TIME THAT THE ONLY THING THAT HAS BEEN OFFERED TO THE CUSTOMER LIKE ME, IS REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER WHICH RUNS $150. THIS REPROGRAM SEEMS TO HELP ONLY SOMETIMES. THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS VERY COSTLY AND FUNDING IS NOT EASY TO COME BY THESE DAYS. *TR
Power train, Jul 13, 2009
MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER FEELS LIKE ITS BEING REAR ENDED. I DIDN'T START FEELING THIS UNTIL I DROVE OFF THE DEALERSHIP LOT WITH MY NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK TWO TIMES TO DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED . *TR
Power train, Jul 1, 2009
CAR SHIFTS HARD FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR, A HARD JOLT LIKE SOMEBODY HAS HIT YOU IN THE REAR END. *TR
Power train, Jun 24, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT WOULD JOLT BACK EXTREMELY HARD. THE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SUSTAIN A WHIPLASH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NEARLY EVERY TIME SHE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. SHE PLANNED TO THE VEHICLE REPAIRED IN THE LATTER PART OF JUNE 2009. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO CALL NHTSA AND FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,244 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
Power train, Jun 14, 2009
WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ABS,TRACTION AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. A GRINDING NOISE STARTED AND FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE BEING USED EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. COULD HAVE CAUSED A ACCIDENT IF I WASN'T DRIVING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. WE NOW HAVE A CAR SITTING IN OUR DRIVE BROKEN DOWN THAT WE STILL OWE OVER 15,000 FOR. CALLING FORD MONDAY TO HAVE IT TOWED OVER. WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, IT LOOKS LIKE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A 5 YR OLD AND A 2 YR OLD AND WANT A CAR THAT IS SAFE. THE BRAKES FAILED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND FORD TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *TR
Power train, Jun 14, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 EXPLORER V-6 EDDIE BAUER. MY VEHICLE HAS 35,302 MILES. I WAS OUT RUNNING ERRANDS ON A SATURDAY MORNING WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THEN WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED JERKING AS THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THEN AS I BEGAN TO DRIVE (AFTER THE RED LIGHT) I NOTICED THE RPM'S JUST SEEMING TO GO UP AND DOWN AS I WAS DRIVING. I HAD ABOUT 5 MORE TIMES THAT I NEEDED TO STOP (STOP SIGNS) MY VEHICLE BEFORE I GOT HOME AND IT CONTINUED TO JERK AS I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE AT ALL DRIVING WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. AFTER THE CAR FIRST JERKED WHEN I WENT TO STOP THE WRENCH ILLUMINATED STATING POWERTRAIN PROBLEM. I STARTED DOING RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND I HAVE FOUND HUNDRED OF THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WHY HAS FORD NOT LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM, COME UP WITH A SOLUTION AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
Power train, Apr 11, 2009
EXCITER RING DAMAGE. REPLACED REAR AXLE. *TR
Power train, Apr 9, 2009
MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING BUT REPROGRAM IT. IT HAS BEEN DONE 5+ TIMES. IT JERKS AND LUNGES INTO UPCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR
Power train, Mar 18, 2009
I TOOK MY WIFE'S EXPLORER TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DESCRIBED THE ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE POPPING INTO GEAR LATE, OR DELAYING BEFORE IT GOES INTO GEAR. I CAN EVEN FEEL IT WHEN IT CHANGES GEARS WHEN DRIVING. SOMETIMES MORE SUDDEN THAN OTHER TIMES. THEY SAID THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS....SO THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR 6 HOURS TO TELL ME THAT I OWED THEM $89 FOR TELLING ME WHAT'S WRONG, AND THEN TOLD ME ITS $1,300 TO FIX IT. THEY SAID SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK, NO RECALL YET, SO YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT YOURSELF. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PURSUE THIS FURTHER... THIS IS DANGEROUS, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD BEFORE PEOPLE ARE HURT. *TR
Power train, Mar 18, 2009
MY FORD 2006 EXPLORER LIMITED JOLTS ALMOST EVERY TIME I COME TO A STOP. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TO GET REPROGRAMMED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE VALVE BOX IN THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL. *TR
Power train, Feb 27, 2009
2006 FORD EXPLORER. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT STAY ENGAGED. DRIVING ALONG (HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS) AND CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR (AS THOUGH IT IS IN NEUTRAL). ENGINE WILL "REV" WHEN THE PEDAL IS PRESSED BUT THE GEAR WILL NOT RE-ENGAGE FOR 30 SECONDS OR SO. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS! I HAVE COASTED OFF THE ROAD, WHILE DODGING TRAFFIC ON APPROXIMATELY 50 OCCASIONS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT 7 TIMES AND HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Power train, Feb 19, 2009
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY FORD EXPLORER JERK THE CAR FORWARD WHEN THE TRUCK IS STOPPED. FEELS AS IF SOMEONE HIT THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AFTER IT IS STOPPED. THIS OCCURS ALMOST EVERYTIME THE TRUCK IS STOPPED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE FORD DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. EACH TIME THE ACT AS IF THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. THE TELL ME THEY WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION. THIS DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO. THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED AND AS OF TODAY WILL NOT TAKE ANY ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AS THEY STATE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR
Power train, Jan 28, 2009, crash
WHILE IN PARK VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN INCLINE ALMOST STRIKING PERSON AT BOTTOM OF DRIVEWAY LUCKILY HE JUMPED OUT OF THE WAY AND IT STRUCK SIDE OF HIS TRUCK CAUSING DAMAGE, DRIVEWAY HAD BEEN SNOW COVERED BUT CLEARED DOWN TO ASPHALT, HAD BEEN PARKED APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING . THIS HAS SINCE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES IN VARYING WEATHER CONDITIONS, INCLUDING RAINY, SNOWY, AND SUNNY WITH DRY PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS ROLLED FORWARD AND BACK, WITH AND WITHOUT THE PARKING BRAKE SET, WHICH THE PARKING BRAKE IT TAKES LONGER AND ROLLS SLOWER; EACH TIME THERE AFTER STRIKING VEHICLE PARKED CLOSELY AS A PRECAUTION, WHEELS GET CHOCKED NOW WHEN PARKED ON INCLINE TO PREVENT SUV FROM ROLLING. FORD HAS CHECKED MULTIPLE TIMES AND NOT FOUND ANY ISSUES AND FIXED OR REPLACED NOTHING SAYING IT IS BECAUSE OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NOT A CONTAINING LIMITED SLIP GEARING. *TR
Power train, Jan 14, 2009
SHIFT HANDLE FREQUENTLY "STICKS" IN THE PARK POSITION. MANUAL DISABLING OF THE SHIFT INTERLOCK MECHANISM WAS REQUIRED TO ALLOW ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE INTERLOCK DISABLING PROCESS WAS PERFORMED SUCCESSFULLY IN EACH INSTANCE (AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL). IN EACH CASE, THE DRIVER WHO EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTE THE PROCESS AND REQUIRED THE ASSISTANCE OF ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER WHO WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. *TR
Power train, Jan 3, 2009
THE SHIFT HANDLE FREQUENTLY IS "STUCK" WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO GEAR FROM THE PARK POSITION. *TR
Power train, Dec 1, 2008
APPARENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM LEAD TO DISCOVERY OF BLOWN RADIATOR. *TR