The Used Car Index

2006 Ford Explorer problems

NHTSA lists 630 complaints for the 2006 Ford Explorer, 13 of them mention a crash and 7 mention a fire. 10 complaints mention an injury, with 12 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as FORD EXPLORER.

At a glance

Complaints
630
With crash
13
With fire
7
With injury (complaints)
10
Injuries
12
Deaths
0
Recalls
1
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
199,942
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
40

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The available sales group does not match this vehicle variant.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
POWER TRAIN29647.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING16426.0%
ENGINE589.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM396.2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL284.4%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC233.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER223.5%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE182.9%
EQUIPMENT152.4%
VISIBILITY152.4%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION116
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCOOLING SYSTEM93
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE20
STRUCTUREBODY6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMINSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP5
EQUIPMENTAPPLIANCE4
POWER TRAINDRIVELINE4
POWER TRAINMANUAL TRANSMISSION4
SEATSFRONT ASSEMBLY3

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

1 recalls.

05V520000

Date: 2005-11-09. Systems: VISIBILITY.

Defect: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

40 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
POWER TRAIN8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC5
ENGINE3
EQUIPMENT2
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER2
STEERING2

10243490

Date: 2023-09-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

When performing any transmission fluid changes or topoffs involving MERCON SP, MERCON LV has replaced all versions of MERCON SP and can be used going forward. Mixing MERCON LV and MERCON SP in the same transmission is acceptable. After 30-Jun-2023, MERCON SP ATF will no longer be manufactured and wi

10155551

Date: 2019-02-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition

10156863

Date: 2019-02-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, STRUCTURE.

Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition

10148819

Date: 2018-10-02. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.

This SKU is a front upper ball joint. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for ball studs with excessive rotational friction in the ball joint assembly. Excessive friction in the ball joint assembly may cause a perceptible increase in steering effort.

10143079

Date: 2018-06-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE, EQUIPMENT.

Various vehicles equipped with a 4.6L, 5.4L, 6.8L modular 3 valve engine built on or before 8-Jan-2016 may exhibit symptoms that may include upper end engine noise, rough running, misfire and/or engine damage. If diagnosis leads to only camshaft/camshaft roller follower(s) requiring replacement, rep

10109070

Date: 2016-09-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to

10055318

Date: 2014-03-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

FORD/MERCURY: TO PREVENT HARNESS DAMAGE, ON SOME VEHICLES, RESULTING IN CONTACT WITH TIRE OR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, PROPER ROUTING OF WIRING HARNESS FOR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR IS KEY. 2006-2010 EXPLORER, MOUNTAINEER, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. *PE

10045340

Date: 2012-07-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: IF BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED OR DEAD, VEHICLES/TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE HARD STARTS AND ENGINE IDLE RPM FLUCTUATION AND EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0505, P0506, P2111 AND P2112. *PE

10029205

Date: 2009-06-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN.

FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN: VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: DRIVE AWAY HESITATION, LOSS OF RPM ON DECELERATION, DIFFICULTY STARTING, AND/OR IDLE RPM LESS THAN DESIRED. THE F53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS IS INCLUDED. *PE

10028736

Date: 2009-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

FORD: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT OIL SEPARATION FROM THE INTERNAL LUBE FOUND IN THE UNITIZED CARTRIDGE SEAL. OIL SEPARATION APPEARS TO BE AND IS OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED, AS AN AXLE LUBE LEAK. *PE

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
EXPLORER630

Same model, other years

All model years | All Ford models

Other Ford models, 2006

Sources

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