2006 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
630 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 547 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 174 of 630 complaints (27.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 245 | 38.9% |
| Braking behavior | 96 | 15.2% |
| Engine operation | 52 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 18 | 2.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 174 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 114 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 75 |
| Engine | 58 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 55 |
| Electrical System | 33 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 |
| Unknown Or Other | 22 |
Power Train: 174; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 114; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 75; Engine: 58; Engine And Engine Cooling: 55; Electrical System: 33; Vehicle Speed Control: 27; Unknown Or Other: 22
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 96 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 139 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 139 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 85 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 67 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 96; 25,000 to 49,999: 139; 50,000 to 74,999: 139; 75,000 to 99,999: 85; 100,000 to 149,999: 67; 150,000 and above: 21
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (139). 83 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 31 |
| 2007 | 50 |
| 2008 | 42 |
| 2009 | 79 |
| 2010 | 99 |
| 2011 | 71 |
| 2012 | 54 |
| 2013 | 54 |
| 2014 | 47 |
| 2015 | 31 |
| 2016 | 31 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 31; 2007: 50; 2008: 42; 2009: 79; 2010: 99; 2011: 71; 2012: 54; 2013: 54; 2014: 47; 2015: 31; 2016: 31; 2017: 14; 2018: 12; 2019: 2; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 245 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 96 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 52 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10167801 · 2006-09-11 (September 11, 2006)
PROBLEM WITH SHIFTING GEARS FROM PARK, CAN TAKE UP TO ONE MINUTE IN CASES. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. I TOOK VEHICLE TO AL LONG FORD, THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR THREE WEEKS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM. AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK, THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10167801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167811 · 2006-09-11 (September 11, 2006)
THIS TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS A HARD SHIFT AT NEAR 0 MPH WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES TO SLOW TO A STOP, TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT AND COULD IF YOU ARE NOT HARD ON THE BRAKE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF STRIKING CLOSE OBJECTS, OTHER VEHICLES OR PERSONS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT IS UNPREDICTABLE, REPEATABLE AND VERY FRIGHTENING. FORDS RESPONSE IS THAT THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM AND HAVE NO FIX FOR THESE SYMPTOMS. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 4000 MILES AND IT…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145610 · 2005-12-19 (December 19, 2005)
MY FORD EXPLORER XLT 2006 HAD A DELAYED DELIVERY DATE TO ME FOR 2 DAYS DUE TO A "BAD CLUSTER" ON START UP. THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED AND I PICKED IT UP ON NOVEMBER 1, 2005. THIS VEHICLE IS LEASED. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH I HAD REPAIRED ON DECEMBER 8, 2005. ON DECEMBER 9, 2005 WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE TRUCK I PULLED OUT OF A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO FEEL VERY TIGHT AND IT WAS GRINDING WHEN STEERING SLIGHTLY LEFT OR RIGHT OF THE CENTER AND THEN IT WOULD FREE UP…
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150286 · 2006-02-14 (February 14, 2006)
UPON RELEASING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE CAR ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND OVER MY LEGS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10150286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159179 · 2006-06-07 (June 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
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159179 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174295 · 2006-11-26 (November 26, 2006)
ALWAYS- THROTTLE HESITATION AT STOP TO ACCELERATE. THERE IS A MOMENTARY HESITATION WHICH IS DANGEROUS IN STARTING OUT. IF THE SUV WERE TO KILL DUE TO THE STALL, THERE COULD EASILY BE AN ACCIDENT. I'M CONTACTING MY DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I SHOULD HAVE DONE IT SOONER. THIS IS A PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166957 · 2006-08-28 (August 28, 2006)
2006 FORD EXPLORER LTD. MEMORY SEAT NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT WOULD PLACE HIM UP AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL, OTHER TIMES IT WOULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD A FEW INCHES AND OTHER TIMES AFTER REMOVING THE KEY AND TRYING MORE THAN ONCE THE SEAT WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149540 · 2006-02-06 (February 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10149540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204226 · 2007-09-26 (September 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, …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162485 · 2006-07-15 (July 15, 2006)
PURCHASED A 2006 FORD EXPLORER ON 5/6/06 AND TOOK A ROAD TRIP TO ALABAMA AND ON THE WAY BACK AROUND OCALA,FL, WE STARTED SMELLING GAS SMELL AS WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WALKED AROUND IT. WE WERE ALWAYS STOPPED AT CONVENIENT STORES, WHICH HAVE GAS PUMPS AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. WE DID LOOK UNDER VEHICLE AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. WE KEPT DRIVING SOUTH TO COME HOME AND AROUND TAMPA,FL.. THE SMELL GOT A LITTLE MORE STRONG. LUCKILY WE MADE IT HOME W/OUT BLOWING UP. ONCE WE PULLED IN OUR DRIVEWAY, THE SMELL WAS REALLY BAD. MY HUSBAND GOT HIS FLASH…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,869 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318839 · 2010-03-11 (March 11, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPEW GAS BACK OUT OF THE FILLER TUBE, AND THEN DRAIN BACK INTO THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT FELT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RISK HIS SAFETY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 53,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318839 at NHTSA ↗