Is the 2006 Ford Explorer a bad year?
630 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 296, 7× a quiet Explorer year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2006 Ford Explorer were filed between 40k and 89k miles. You're at 62,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 Explorer owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 62,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 296 (47%) | 40k–89k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 132 (21%) | 38k–86k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 39 (6%) | 42k–98k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 39 (6%) | 27k–106k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 28 (4%) | 8k–64k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 27 (4%) | 53k–92k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipers | 16 (3%) | 40k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 11 (2%) | 58k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 11 (2%) | 39k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 9 (1%) | 46k–99k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bags | 8 (1%) | 52k–107k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 6 (1%) | 52k–114k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Suspension | 5 (1%) | 34k–68k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Engine and coolingSTANDS OUT | 93 (15%) | 39k–60k miles · mostly behind | Water pump replacement $400–$1,106 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 62,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 630 complaints: 13 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 10 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in May 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Same issue as many many other people. Hard jerks/clunks while shifting into reverse and multiple gears and overdrive.
2006 Ford explorer automatic transmission that slips and causes a jolt when it downshifts, feels like one is being rear ended.
On this date, the explorer, while trying to back into driveway, would not go into reverse and was weak when trying to back, as if it did not go all the way into gear.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 62,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 Ford Explorer: 4
These seat covers are made of heavier thread and are not compatible with seats containing side airbags. The heavier seat cover could interfere with full deployment of the airbag in the event of a crash. An improperly deployed airbag could result in serious injury.
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 tempered glass and fails to conform to federal motor vehicle… In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(S) may be seriously injured by shattered glass.
Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
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. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 7
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Ford Explorer. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
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…
Ford/lincoln/mercury: if battery was disconnected or dead, vehicles/trucks may experience hard starts and engine idle RPM fluctuation and exhibit diagnostic…
Neighbouring years
2005 Explorer: 497 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2007 Explorer: 207 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Ford Explorer year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Explorer years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2006 Ford Explorer a bad year?
630 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 296, 7× a quiet Explorer year. At 62,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2006 Ford Explorer were filed between 40k and 89k miles. You're at 62,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Ford Explorer?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (296), engine (132), brakes (39), electrical system (39), speed control (28). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 40k–89k miles.
How many recalls does the 2006 Ford Explorer have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 10E043000), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 07E104000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 06E049000), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 05V-520). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.