2006 Ford Explorer Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe transmission trouble: delayed or harsh engagement, sudden violent jerking when stopping or shifting, and in some cases loss of drive. Second most common are engine-cooling complaints, mainly radiator leaks and coolant loss leading to overheating, often at relatively low mileage. Many complaints come in between roughly 40,000 and 90,000 miles, and transmission symptoms are frequently described as coming on gradually before becoming frequent.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission jerks, slips or slams into gear

   • 305 complaints (48%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (260 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 35 quotes)
   • filed 2005–2023

   Complaints describe the transmission hesitating or revving without engaging when pulling away, then slamming into gear hard enough that it feels like being rear-ended. Others report harsh or delayed 1-2, 2-1 and 3-2 shifts, violent lurching when shifting into reverse, and occasional loss of drive at highway speed. Several owners say dealers found nothing wrong or recalibrated the computer without lasting effect, while transmission shops in some cases recommended a rebuild after finding debris in the pan. Reports span roughly 15,000 to 130,000 miles, with many clustered between about 50,000 and 80,000 miles.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the vehicle from cold and note any delay or thump going into drive or reverse, and any harsh downshift when slowing to a stop. Ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and whether any shift calibration or repair work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When coming to a stop, transmission jerks and it feels like you are getting rear-ended. Lots of complaints about this on various websites. Started right after car was bought, Ford said they could not find anything wrong, so we have been dealing with it... But it is getting worse, and I'm afraid I will get stuck with a costly repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10279308, filed 2009-08, 15,000 miles

   “I was driving down the highway when suddenly the vehicle lunged forward. I thought someone hit me. It did this two more times before I could exit the highway. Then it started being very slow to shift into gear or would not shift at all with out shutting off the vehicle for 3 to 5 mins at a time. Then it would only drive a few blocks before again refusing to shift into gear.”

   NHTSA complaint #10595908, filed 2014-06, 119,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Radiator leaks and coolant loss

   • 168 complaints (27%)
   • median 49,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (157 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 45 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2020

   Owners describe coolant leaking from the radiator, often at the seam where the plastic tank meets the aluminum core, with low coolant and temperature gauge swings or overheating that follows. Several complaints mention the radiator being replaced more than once, sometimes within a few years, and dealers attributing the leak to the radiator seal or the radiator itself. In a few reports the vehicle stalled or shut down after overheating. Many reports are under 50,000 miles, with some as low as roughly 20,000 to 35,000 miles; others appear around 60,000 to 85,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for dried residue or wet spots along the radiator seams and lower hose clamps. Ask for service records showing whether the radiator or hose clamps have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Radiator started leaking for no reason in 2006 Ford Explorer have been told by repair shop and other owners that this is a common thing the repair shop said that because this is a design flaw to expect it to happen again in a year I do not have 600. Dollars to put out every year on a vehicle that is not paid for should I let it go back.”

   NHTSA complaint #10305358, filed 2010-02, 67,875 miles

   “2006 Ford Explorer eddie bauer - had leaking from the radiator -- took to a mechanic, he stated that there was a crack in the seam of the radiator and we would need to replace it at our cost of $650.00 because Ford has not recalled the equipment but is more than aware there is an issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10261497, filed 2009-03, 47,500 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stalling or loss of power (throttle body)

   • 109 complaints (17%)
   • median 65,431 mi at 5.1 yrs old (96 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2022

   Owners report the engine cutting out or losing power without warning, sometimes at speed, with the wrench or check-engine light coming on and the vehicle dropping into a reduced-power mode. Several say a dealer replaced throttle body components, in one case repeatedly, and the stalling returned; some owners describe intermittent difficulty starting or rough running after a battery disconnect. Reports range from very low mileage up to about 130,000 miles, appearing at varied ages rather than one narrow window.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or electronic throttle components have been replaced and whether any related diagnostic codes were stored. A scan for pending codes before purchase is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving on speed limit I stopped at a light, car engine went dead. I turned key off and waited a few minutes, turned key on, car started as nothing was wrong. It has happened 3 times in the past year. Battery and alternator are pretty new. Decided to take to an authorized mechanic dealer, couldn't find anything wrong with the engine. Really? What if I was driving in a highway? Certainly I wouldn't be alive to report it!”

   NHTSA complaint #11397509, filed 2021-02, 159,000 miles

   “Over the last 18 months with my Explorer I have had it die on me 4 times and had to get it towed to the dealer. 4 times they have told me that it was some sort of component in the throttle body that is causing it to die. It has died twice on me on the highway while doing 65 MPH. This is not acceptable. The last time it happened was on thursday april 15th. I brought it to the dealership and yet again they said it was a sensor in there and for the 4th time the replaced a component of this instead of the whole thing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10326372, filed 2010-04, 79,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   ABS and traction-control warning lights with cracked tone

   • 92 complaints (15%)
   • median 50,371 mi at 4.4 yrs old (78 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $640 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2020

   Complaints describe the ABS, traction-control and roll-stability lights coming on while driving, sometimes with a grinding noise or reduced braking response. Shops in these reports identified a cracked or loose toothed ring (exciter ring) on the axle, requiring replacement of the ring or the axle assembly. One owner also reported the parking brake failing to hold and the vehicle rolling after being shifted into park. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 66,000 miles in the sample, typically during ordinary driving.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm all warning lamps go out after startup, and ask whether the wheel speed sensors, harness routing or tone rings have been inspected or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At random times and not often, when I put the SUV in park, and turn off the truck and remove my foot from the brake, the truck will continue to roll. It is as though the SUV is in neutral, put it is in park. The SUV will roll until something stops it like a curb or applying the brake. To fix the problem, I have to place the shift gear to from park to another gear and back to park. At that time, the truck will catch. Over the past year or so, it has occurred 6 or 7 times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10429189, filed 2011-10, 39,750 miles

   “I own a 2006 Ford Explorer with only 64,000 miles and the tone rings on the ABS brakes have both cracked, not costing me over $1000 in repair bills. This is an item that should not crack with only 64k miles of use.”

   NHTSA complaint #10384096, filed 2011-02, 64,500 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Slow or difficult refueling and fuel smell

   • 26 complaints (4%)
   • median 57,500 mi at 4.3 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2019

   Complaints describe the fuel nozzle clicking off repeatedly so that filling the tank takes many minutes, and in some cases fuel spraying back out during filling. Owners report the canister, vent solenoid or hoses being replaced without a lasting fix. A separate set of reports mentions a persistent fuel smell inside the cabin that several shops could not trace. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 110,000 miles, though some complaints began much earlier in the vehicle's life.

   What to check: Try filling the tank during the test drive and note whether the nozzle shuts off repeatedly. Check for fuel odor around the filler neck and under the hood after the engine has run.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Have a severe gas smell in the cab have had 3 different auto mechanic shops look at it cant find the source had gas lines replaced, gas filter and smoked nothing they are stumped and my people are good want to know what the ######## are you gonna do about this problem Ford. Help its making me have headaches n feel sick and it smells sitting and driving. Its non stop n getting worst.”

   NHTSA complaint #10966312, filed 2017-03, 180,000 miles

   “Ford has known about fuel tank filling issues since they issued an internal TSB in 2007. Problem causes fuel tank to fill with pressure, and not accept fuel. As a result, fuel is sprayed all over vehicle and the person fueling vehicle. We had vehicle in for repairs numerous times, and still having fuel tank issues. There are uncountable numbers of Ford Explorer owners that I have found on the internet, that have this problem, and they do not know that Ford knows the reason for this failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10511550, filed 2013-05, 45,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with this platform is worthwhile, with attention to transmission shift quality, coolant leaks at the radiator, and stored diagnostic codes. Service records showing prior transmission or cooling-system work help set expectations for maintenance costs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.