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: vehicle speed control
28 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Sep 16, 2006
I OWN A 2006 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER WITH 3000 MILES ON IT. HERE IS THE PROBLEM, JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN OR WHATEVER, THE ENGINE REVS TO 1200-1500 RPMS FOR JUST A BRIEF SECOND. I AM NOT GIVING THE CAR ANY GAS TO INDUCE THIS OCCURRENCE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE CAR IS DOING THIS AND NEITHER DOES MY LOCAL DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CAR IS IN FACT DOING WHAT I DESCRIBED ABOVE, BUT COULD NOT OFFER A FIX. I TESTED ANOTHER 2006 V6 EXPLORER WITH 3 MILES ON IT, TO MINE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SURPRISE; IT DID THE EXACT SAME THING AS MY TRUCK. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO THE SITUATION AND CALL SOME OF HIS ENGINEER BUDDIES TO SEE IF THEY COULD GIVE HIM ANY INFORMATION. I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM HIM. I AM ALSO BEGINNING TO NOTICE THAT I ACTUALLY HAVE TO BREAK HARDER TO GET THE TRUCK TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS CAN NOT BE NORMAL, YET MY FORD DEALER IS INSINUATING NOTHING IS ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE CAR. LONGER THAN NECESSARY STOPPING DISTANCES AND WILL LEAD TO UNNECESSARY COLLISIONS. BECAUSE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH 2006 V6 EXPLORERS MY DEALER WILL PROBABLY DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. I COMPLAINED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NEVER EVEN RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION THAT THEY RECEIVED MY EMAIL. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A RECALL SITUATION. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ALL 2006 V6 EXPLORERS EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ADMITTEDLY NOT BY ANY STRETCH A POWERFUL SUDDEN ACCELERATION BUT STILL IT IS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I AM CONFIDENT IN MY ASSESSMENT BECAUSE I HAVE PERSONALLY DRIVEN 2 EXPLORERS AND DIFFERENT SERVICE REP CLAIMED HE DROVE YET ANOTHER 06 EXPLORER THAT DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF FORD HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN ONE OF THERE CARS THEY SHOULD DESIGN A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AND THEN REPAIR THE AFFECTED CARS. *NM
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
Vehicle speed control, Aug 3, 2006, crash
I WAS ON VACATION IN SMOKY MOUNTAINS IN GATLINBURG, TN AND WENT TO A PICNIC AREA WITHIN THE PARK. I HAD TO MAKE A 45-DEGREE TURN TO GET INTO THE PARKING SPACE, SO AT THAT ANGLE ONE WOULD ALMOST HAVE TO STOP. I GOT INTO THE PARKING SPACE FINE, GOT STRAIGHTENED UP FINE, HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THEN MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, RPMS REVVING FASTER AND FASTER. MY COUSIN TOLD ME TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND I TOLD HER I WAS BUT IT JUST KEPT REVVING. MY FORD EXPLORER STOPPED AFTER PLOWING OUT OF THE GROUND A METAL CHARCOAL GRILL SET IN AT LEAST 1 FOOT OF CONCRETE, A PICNIC TABLE, AND A CONCRETE PARKING BARRIER. MY FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AND I HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE BACK OF THE EXPLORER, AND THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER GOT OUT HER DOOR ON A MAN'S SHOULDERS. I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY EXPLORER BACK, SO I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT IT YET. *JB