Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2006 Ford Explorer, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train296
- Engine and engine cooling164
- Engine58
- Electrical system39
- Vehicle speed control28
- Service brakes, hydraulic23
- Unknown or other22
- Fuel system, gasoline18
- Visibility15
- Service brakes14
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 59 2006 Explorer vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 29 people died inside them, and 10 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2006 Ford Explorer failed the safety check 2.17% of the time — 7% less often than the average 2006 passenger car (2.34%). Median odometer at inspection: 152,910 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
40 first registered in 2006 are on Dutch roads; 90% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm20
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld12
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde11
- Remlicht werkt niet (goed)9
- Waarschuwingsinrichting controlesysteem bandenspanning geeft9
- Band onvoldoende profiel7
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen6
- Stabilisator ondeugdelijk bevestigd, gebroken of gescheurd5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1 cars built in 2006 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025.
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
6 of these cars first registered in 2006 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 198,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
109 2006 cars are on the New Zealand register; 12% arrived as used imports, 85% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 15.5–15.9 L/100 km (about 15 mpg US), CO₂ 357–366 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 17.8 | 12.7 | 15.5 |
| Explorer 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 18.4 | 12.8 | 15.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2006 Ford Explorer.
| 2005356 10 Nov 2005 | Other On certain vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may have been produced without grease applied to the output shaft gear. After a period of continuous use on the… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2006 Ford Explorer: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10243490 | 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 will only be available until inventory depletes. |
| 10156863 | 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 |
| 10155551 | 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 | 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 | 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, replace all of the camshaft roller followers on both banks/cylinder heads with part number 3L3Z-6564-A, not just the faulty roller follower(s). When replacing the camshaft roller followers, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-01. |
| 10109070 | 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 validate a concern. The PCM automatically monitors these inputs more accurately and will set diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when appropriate. Using these PIDs for diagnostics will lead to inaccurate results and improper ETB replacements. If a concern is intermittent and no DTCs are present, refer |
| 10055318 | 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 | 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 |
| 10032229 | FORD/MERCURY: SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6R60 TRANSMISSIONS MAY EXHIBIT VARIOUS TRANSMISSION PERFORMANCE ISSUES. WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER TRANSMISSIONS, SOME OF THE SHIFT CHARACTERISTICS ARE DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS MODELS DUE TO THE 100% SYNCHRONOUS DESIGN OF THE 6R60. *PE |
| 10029205 | 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 | 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 |
| 10026385 | FORD/MERCURY: 4.0L/4.6L HARD START/ROUGH RUNNING; AFTER LONG HOT SOAK/DIP IN RPM WHEN COMING TO A STOP; BUILT ON OR BEFORE 4/2/08. MAY EXHIBIT A DIP IN RPM BELOW NORMAL IDLE LEVEL OF 600 RPM ON DECELERATION. *PE |
| 10024323 | IMPROVED BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND FIRMNESS. *NJ |
| 10023992 | FUEL FILL--SLOW OR EARLY SHUT OFF--BUILT BEFORE 11/28/2007. *NJ |
| 10023943 | SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE |
| 10022296 | LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT POP/CLUNK NOISE. *KB |
| 10022287 | THUMPING/LOUD FLUTTER - BEHIND DASH IN DEFROST MODE - LACK OF AIRFLOW TO FLOOR - MANUAL A/C. *KB |
| 10022284 | FRONT SEAT MANUAL LUMBAR INOPERATIVE. *KB |
| 10021465 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) MAY NOT ILLUMINATE AND DIAGNOSITC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) MAY NOT BE SET WHEN A CERTAIN SENSOR OR NETWORK FAILURES OCCUR. *KB |
| 10021052 | MIL ON WITH DTC P0463 OR ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION. *KB |
| 10021040 | CALIBRATION UPDATE 4.0L - VARIOUS SYMPTOMS - SURGE, HESITATION, TORQUE CONVERTER CYCLING, NO UP SHIFT AFTER FORCED DOWNSHIFT, AND POOR A/C PERFORMANCE. *KB |
| 10021038 | MIL ON WITH P0463 OR ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION. *KB |
| 10020792 | DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) P0340, P0344, P0345, P0349. ARE FOUND. *KB |
| 10020078 | NO START WITH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 10020006 | ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM / TRACTION CONTROL / ROLL STABILITY CONTROL INDICATOR (ABS / TC / RSC) WARNING LAMP ON WITH DTC C1440. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)