2006 Ford Explorer Reliability
The 2006 Ford Explorer has 635 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and engine & cooling. Compared with nearby Explorer model years (2004–2008), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Explorer's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
635
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
13
Complaints citing a crash
7
Complaints citing a fire
2006 Ford Explorer complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 model year, filed between 2005 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 301 | 47% |
| Engine & cooling | 165 | 26% |
| Engine | 58 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 39 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 39 | 6% |
| Speed control / throttle | 28 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 22 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 19 | 3% |
2006 Ford Explorer recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2006 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05V520000 | Nov 9, 2005 | Visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer / motor | 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. |
| 06E049000 | May 24, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to… |
| 07E104000 | Dec 11, 2007 | Visibility / wipers — glass, side/rear | 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… |
| 10E043000 | Sep 3, 2010 | Equipment | Marathon is recalling certain seat covers, brand superhides with part numbers 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, and 630, sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These seat covers are made of heavier thread and… |
How the 2006 compares with nearby Explorer years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Explorer analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,408 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
| 2005 | 568 | 3 | Body structure | Better year |
| 2006 (this page) | 635 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
| 2007 | 208 | 3 | Powertrain / transmission | Better year |
| 2008 | 148 | 3 | Electrical system | Better year |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2006 Ford Explorer
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2006 Ford Explorer can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2006 Ford Explorer reliability FAQ
Is the 2006 Ford Explorer reliable?
The 2006 Ford Explorer has 635 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and engine & cooling. Compared with nearby Explorer model years (2004–2008), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Explorer's typical year.
What are the most common 2006 Ford Explorer problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Ford Explorer are powertrain / transmission (301), engine & cooling (165), engine (58), electrical system (39). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2006 Ford Explorer have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2006 Ford Explorer, including 05V520000 (visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer / motor) and 06E049000 (exterior lighting). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2006 Ford Explorer compare with the 2005 and 2007 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2005 has 568 complaints and 3 recalls (better year); the 2007 has 208 complaints and 3 recalls (better year). The 2006 has 635 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2006 Ford Explorer?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Explorer research
Other Ford Explorer model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2006 Explorer, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.