no report yet
Windshield wiper/washer: motor
Risk. 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…
2006 Ford ExplorerProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 630 owner complaints about the 2006 Ford Explorer, most often about the power train. It is covered by 1 safety recall.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 27, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2006 Ford Explorer has problems
630 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
296Power train8 crash/fire/injury
164Engine and engine cooling3 crash/fire/injury
58Engine1 crash/fire/injury
39Electrical system
28Vehicle speed control
23Service brakes, hydraulic
18Fuel system, gasoline
15Visibility
14Service brakes
10120 other systems9 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 296 | 8 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 164 | 3 |
| Engine | 58 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 39 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 28 | 2 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 23 | 2 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 18 | 0 |
| Visibility | 15 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 14 | 0 |
| 20 other systems | 101 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2006 Ford Explorer recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
60kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 251 power train complaints. 82% were reported before 100,000 miles.
50under 30k miles206under 100k miles45100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine and engine cooling
32 owners mentioned a cost$775median
Middle half: $539 – $1,100
Power train
23 owners mentioned a cost$1,300median
Middle half: $625 – $2,500
Engine
10 owners mentioned a cost$1,900median
Middle half: $960 – $4,625
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2006 vs. every other Explorer year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Explorer median. How we score
6096339391,2078431,4501,7311,9591,3489523753,2951,1311,304497630208148331151,1988312,2391,6841,8202,4671,7067363031,25345627611321111440
'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2006 Ford Explorer safety ratings
2006 Ford Explorer 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 3 stars (22.8% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Explorer owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Hi, I purchased my 2006 ford explorer in 2019 from a mechanic lot. Since then I’ve changed the muffler, all 4 of the o2 sensors. Recently, after changing parts like the cylinder, spark plugs and wires as well as another set of o2 sensors and the EGR Valve, Mass Air flow sensor and the EGR sylenoid…
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!!
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.…
Own a 2006 Explorer?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.