2006 Ford Explorer Problems, Recalls & Reliability
788 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Ford Explorer, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 17/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 62,500 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2006 Ford Explorer has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2006 sits among all Explorer years
What owners report
“This transmission should be recalled!!!! The reverse band breaks and is a known issue for this transmission!! No warning just went to reverse and nothing! Upon research this has been a known issue since day one!!”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Explorer
“My car slowed down to a craw in the highway and had to limp home at very low speed almost caused a crash.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Explorer
“Power train warning light comes on as driving down the highway at 75 mph. Car acted as if it would stop and as if transmission was slipping. We slowed car down, and moved it at a rate of 30 mph, but then car began acting normally. We stopped as soon as possible and turned car off and turned back…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Explorer
“Complete failure of the powertrain electrical harness. Heat degradation to wire insulation has exposed all conductors. Several other owner operators have experienced the same issue wherein the Dealer has attempted repair of existing trouble codes, by replacing sensors, modules and components.…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Explorer
“Took this vehicle to my ford dealer where i bought it and they put on a new master braking cyclinder and the brake pedal still goes to the floor. Ford dealer does not know where the problem is to be able to fix it and ford motors is aware of this problem and doing nothing about it at all.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Explorer
“When the speed control is engaged and i am running between 40 and 45 mph and driving on gently rolling hills the engine will turn off leaving me no power for brakes or steering - no control!”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Explorer
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 657 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 60,460 miles. Half of those reports fall between 39,750 and 87,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
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…
Fix: 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.
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2006 Ford Explorer reliable?
The 2006 Ford Explorer drew 788 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 17/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2006 Ford Explorer problems?
The top reported problems for the 2006 Ford Explorer are transmission & drivetrain (301 complaints), engine (227), and other (48).
At what mileage do 2006 Ford Explorer problems show up?
Owners most often report 2006 Ford Explorer problems around 60,460 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 39,750 and 87,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Ford Explorer have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2006 Ford Explorer. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.