2006 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 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 10155068 · 2006-04-11 (April 11, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A SEVERE WINDSHIELD GLARE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. UPDATED 5/10/2006 - THE DASHBOARD REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND COVERED ABOUT 70% OF THE WINDSHIELD. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155075 · 2006-04-11 (April 11, 2006)
FUEL LEVEL AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGES ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ IN DAYLIGHT, REQUIRING A DRIVER TO TAKE HIS/HER EYES FROM THE ROAD FOR AN EXCESSIVE PERIOD OF TIME. THIS CREATES A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155913 · 2006-04-23 (April 23, 2006)
(1) DRIVER'S SEAT BACK LATCH BROKEN (2) COULD NOT ENTER, OR EXIT FROM, BACK SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE (3) NOT REPAIRED AS YET. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 74,975 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155913 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 10161238 · 2006-07-02 (July 2, 2006)
WHEN TRYING TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO ANY GEAR AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME; THE GEAR SHIFT SAFETY LEVER WILL NOT ENGAGE ALLOWING ME TO CHANGE GEARS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161238 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V520000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
Reported: 2005-11-09 (November 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗