2006 FORD EXPLORER, PURCHASE NEW. RADIATOR REPLACED AS DEFECTIVE JAN 2008. RADIATOR REPLACE AS DEFECTIVE NOVEMBER 2008, JAN 2009 RADIATOR DEFECTIVE AGAIN. FORD REFUSE TO FIX DUE TO OUT OF WARRANTY. GENE EVENS FORD IN UNION CITY GEORGIA SERVICE MANAGER WAYNE SAID HE HAS A LOT OF FORD EXPLORERS WITH SAME PROBLEM HE SAID "IT SEEMS THAT A CHEMICAL IN THE ENGINE IS WHAT IS CAUSING THE RADIATOR TO MALFUNCTION". THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BUT FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
2006 Ford Explorer complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2006 record →
2006 FORD EXPLORER, EDDIE BAUER 4WD V6. RADIATOR FAILED AT 45000 MILES. LEAKING FROM CRACKS ALONG INSIDE TOP SEAM. IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT CAUSED BY POOR DESIGN. BOUGHT THE NEW UNIT FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF. $303.00 FOR THE NEW RADIATOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE YEAR AND MODEL REFERENCED. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND ASSIST THE OWNERS OF THESE FORDS. *TR
SHIFT HANDLE FREQUENTLY "STICKS" IN THE PARK POSITION. MANUAL DISABLING OF THE SHIFT INTERLOCK MECHANISM WAS REQUIRED TO ALLOW ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE INTERLOCK DISABLING PROCESS WAS PERFORMED SUCCESSFULLY IN EACH INSTANCE (AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL). IN EACH CASE, THE DRIVER WHO EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTE THE PROCESS AND REQUIRED THE ASSISTANCE OF ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER WHO WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. *TR
I AM CURRENTLY HAVING TO PUT MY SECOND ALL NEW RADIATOR IN MY 06 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER. THIS IS THE SECOND IN 13 MONTHS. I FEEL THAT THESE RADIATORS ARE DEFECTIVE AS I KNOW OTHERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
ON JAN 6 2009, I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE EXPLORER IS EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0L V6 ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AS IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY SAID THAT THE RADIATOR HAD CRACKED. I HAD IT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AND AFTERWARDS I DID SOME SEARCHING THROUGH THE WARRANTY HISTORY THAT WAS PROVIDED TO ME WHEN I HAD BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE RADIATOR HAD BEEN REPLACED ON FEB 18 2008 ALSO. THIS MEANS THAT TWO NEW RADIATORS HAVE GONE INTO THIS VEHICLE IN THE LAST YEAR. I SPOKE TO THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE FIRST THEY HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, WITH NO PLANS FOR A RECALL IN THE FUTURE. THIS SEEMED STRANGE TO ME AS I KNOW OF AT LEAST 10 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD RADIATORS REPLACED, SOMETIMES THREE TIMES, IN THEIR 2006 EXPLORERS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES TO HAVE THE RADIATORS REPLACED WITH A BETTER DESIGNED PART. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR HAD THE VEHICLE NOT BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. I APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO. *TR
THE SHIFT HANDLE FREQUENTLY IS "STUCK" WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO GEAR FROM THE PARK POSITION. *TR
ENGINE WAS RACING, TOOK IT TO DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS PROGRAMMABLE TRANSMISSION,COST $100 TO DIAGNOSE AND RESET PROGRAM. OK FOR A WHILE, STARTED RACING AGAIN. TOOK BACK TO DEALER, SAID IT IS LEAKY RADIATOR, IT WAS BONE DRY AND IT WAS THE ENGINE FAN RACING NOT THE MOTOR. JUST PAST WARRANTY, NEVER RECEIVED EXTENDED WARRANT INFORMATION UNTIL JUST LAST WEEK,AFTER THE FACT. TAKING IT TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR GUY, ENGINE COULD HAVE OVERHEATED AND LOCKED UP! *TR
ROARING SOUND, RUSHING WATER, LEAKING UNDER DRIVERS SIDE. DEALER SAID RADIATOR DEFECTIVE, SEAM SPLIT, CANNOT REPAIR. 2006 EXPLORER, 48,000 MILES. SERVICE REP SCOLDED ME FOR NOT GETTING EXTENDED WARRANTY; RADIATOR WARRANTY IS 3 YR/36K MI. ALSO SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDS FLUSHING. TOLD HIM TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN FLUSHED 3 MONTHS AGO. HE TOLD ME I COULD TALK WITH FORD, BUT "GIVEN THEIR CURRENT SITUATION," THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BE COOPERATIVE. I PLAN TO CALL FORD. A 2.5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE A FAILED RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION. *TR
APPARENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM LEAD TO DISCOVERY OF BLOWN RADIATOR. *TR
I HAVE MY THIRD RADIATOR IN MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH THE V6 ENGINE. *TR
LEAKING RADIATOR IN 2006 FORD EXPLORER AT 40,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP MADE MY BUY A NEW RADIATOR. *TR
2006 FORD EXPLORER EB RADIATOR LEAK @ 35,600 MILES. I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM DUE TO PUDDLE ON THE GROUND AND DURING INSPECTION I FOUND THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW TANK EMPTY. THE I TOOK IT TO FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THE RADIATOR CORE WAS CRACKED. VEHICLE NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY AFTER WARRANTY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR. AFTER CHECKING WITH A COUPLE AUTO PARTS STORES, I WAS TOLD THE 06 EXPLORER HAS A DEFECT WITH THE RADIATOR THAT CAUSES IT TO CRACK. NAPA FOR ONE, WOULD ONLY OFFER ME A THREE MONTH WARRANTY ON A NEW RADIATOR DUE TO THE DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR DESIGN FOR THAT VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD AND THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE EITHER AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR DESIGN ON THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER. QUOTE FROM FORD DEALER TO REPLACE RADIATOR WAS $690.00. *TR
I NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE RADIATOR AT AROUND 37,800 MILES. DEALER INITIALLY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE HOSE AND "REPAIRED" FOR $75 (9/30/08). LEAK CONTINUED. RETURNED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED (10/12/08). I HAVE DONE SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER. FORD SHOULD PUT A RECALL ON THE RADIATOR SO THAT IF THE RADIATOR EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS, THE REPAIRS ARE COVERED. DEALER QUOTED $630 TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. CONTACTED FORD AND CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATED THEY WOULD ARRANGE A "DISCOUNT" FOR THE REPAIRS AT MY LOCAL DEALER. THIS PLACES THE BURDEN ON THE DEALER, WHO IS INDEPENDENT OF FORD. FORD SHOULD FURNISH THIS PART TO THE DEALER FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THEM FOR THE LABOR IN ORDER TO TAKE THE BURDEN OF A FAULTY PART OFF OF THEIR DEALERS AND THE CONSUMER. A RADIATOR SHOULD NOT CRACK WITH 37,800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE (1,800 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY!). THIS IS WHEN I "NOTICED" THE PROBLEM. IT WAS PROBABLY HAPPENING PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2006 FORD EXPLORER USED IN DEC. OF 2006 ABOUT A YEAR LATER I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS TOOK IT IN AND NEEDED A NEW WATER PUMP IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IN JUNE OF 2008 THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD STICK WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF PARK ALSO THE ENGINE WOULD RACE AND NOT SHIFT GEARS IT WAS ALSO MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. TOOK IT IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TO HAVE ALL PROBLEMS LOOKED AT THEY SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS AND IT WAS A GLITCH IN THE COMPUTER "ITS JUST NOT RESETTING ITSELF" THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED ON NOV.08 AGAIN WENT IN FOR OIL CHANGE THEY SAID COOLANT WAS LOW AND TOP IT OFF DIDN'T SEE ANY LEAKS IN HOSES OR RADIATOR. AND 9 DAYS LATER MY ENGINE BLOW NOW I GOT TO PAY 5,500. TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY IS NOW EXPIRED. I WAS TOLD THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO MY OIL TANK AND EXHAUST WHICH WHEN OIL CHANGES WERE DONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DETECTED. *TR
FAILURE #1--GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE FROM PARK; DEALER SAID FORD REDESIGNED, BUT NOT COVERED BY THEM. FAILURE #2--LEAK IN SEAM OF RADIATOR (BETWEEN PLASTIC & ALUMINUM). AGAIN, NOT COVERED BY FORD OR BY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
AROUND THE BEGINNING OF OCT I NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAKING. ON NOV7 2006 I HAD TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED. MY EXPLORER HAD 47,227 MILES ON IT BUT THE LEAK WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE THE MILEAGE GOT TO 47,000. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. WE HAVE 2 OTHER EXPLORERS WITH ABOUT 120,000 AND A 130,000 MILES AND NEVER HAVE A BIT OF TROUBLE. THE YEARS ON THOSE ARE 1998 AND 1999. MINE IS A 2006. I AM GLAD THIS WAS CAUGHT EARLY. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER RADIATORS LEAKING ON EXPLORERS OF THE SAME YEAR. IT COST ME ALMOST $400 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I FEEL THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND LEAKING FLUID. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT IS AFFECTING ALL THE FORD EXPLORER VEHICLES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 47,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING. THE VEHICLE PLUNGED INTO THE WATER AT THE BEACH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE WATER AND THE POLICE HAD IT TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE INSURANCE COMPANY RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE SALT IN THE WATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT ACCIDENTS HAPPEN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,000. UPDATED 11-19-08 *BF THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. UPDATED 11/20/08. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH 10,000 MILES. WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, THERE IS A KICK IN THE TRANSMISSION AS IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR REPAIR. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER FOR THE TIMING IN THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER BLAMED THE CONTACT'S DRIVING AS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WORSENS IN COLD WEATHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
2006 FORD EXPLORER BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE PLUNGED INTO THE WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. *JB
ON OUR 2006 FORD POLICE EXPLORES, THERE HAVE BEEN 7 TO 10 WHEEL SEPARATIONS ON OUR VEHICLES, HAS THERE BEEN AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE. AND DOES FORD USE THE RECALL WHEELS OFF OF THE CROWN VIC'S AND CROSS OVER TO THE EXPLORERS? THANK YOU MARK ORENDORFF *TR
MY SUV STALLS ANY TIME THE CAR SLOWS DOWN OR IT WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN UP TO 60MPH SO THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. TONIGHT THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND TOOK 5 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. WHEN IT DID RESTART IT ACCELERATED SO RAPIDLY ANOTHER ACCIDENT ALMOST OCCURRED. I HAVE TAKEN THE SUV TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES OVER THREE YEARS AND THE SAY THAT IT IS DOING NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE FOUND WEBSITES THAT OTHER CONSUMERS ARE DRIVING IN THE SAME HAZARDOUS VEHICLES WITH NO RECOURSE FROM FORD. I AM RENTING A CAR NOW BECAUSE I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MINE. *TR
WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM A ROUTINE SHOPPING TRIP WITH MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE DIED COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD WENT DARK, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING AND AS USUAL WHEN THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING THE STEERING AND BRAKES TYPICALLY DON'T WORK TOO WELL. LUCKILY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WORKED LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED SINCE WE WERE GOING DOWN HILL AT THE TIME. I COULDN'T EVEN TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS (WHAT'S THE POINT OF THOSE WHEN YOU CAN'T USE THEM TO LET OTHERS KNOW YOU'VE NOW BECOME A HAZARD)? I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO HAD LAPSED AND PROCEEDED TO MOVE ONWARD TO OUR DESTINATION. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM 2ND GEAR TO 1ST GEAR AND GOING AT A SLOW SPEED ONLY 20MPH. HAD THIS HAPPENED WITH MY WIFE DRIVING I'M POSITIVE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT! THIS IS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER BOUGHT BRAND NEW OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR AND ONLY HAS 10,356 MILES ON IT. PRACTICALLY STILL BRAND NEW! I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS ISN'T AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE. I'VE ALSO FOUND A FEW PLACES THAT MENTION THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE AS A THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION. I'M LOOKING TO FIND IF REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY RESOLVES THE ISSUE. IF THE ISSUE IS THIS COMMON WHY HASN'T FORD BEEN PROACTIVE AND REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS? OUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS CAR IS NOW GONE AND WE'RE AFRAID TO TAKE OUR CHILDREN ANYWHERE IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR
MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER JERKS AND JOLTS EXTREMELY HARD WHILE COMING TO A STOP. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR THE WARRANTY REPAIR THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER WHICH SEEMED TO HELP FOR A FEW MONTHS. TODAY I RETURNED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY IT IS THREE TIMES AS BAD AS BEFORE. THEY TOLD ME AT FIRST IT WAS THE DRIVERS FAULT. THEN THEY CAME BACK AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION. MY NECK IS VERY SORE FROM ALL THE JERKING AND JOLTING IT HAS RECEIVED FROM THIS CAR. IN FACT MY NECK IS BURNING RIGHT NOW FROM PAIN. *TR
AC PROBLEM- I BOUGHT MY 06 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER WITH A LITTLE OVER 5000 MILES. THE AC WAS MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE THEN. TOOK MY SUV BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, THEY STATED THEY RAN THE AC FOR 15-20 MINS. AND DID NOT HEAR THE NOISE. NOW ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE SHOP WHERE MY SUV HAS BEEN FOR 3 WEEKS, MY AC (COMPRESSOR) COMPLETELY FELL APART. NOT ONLY THAT, THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. I HARDLY EVER USE MY AC. IF I DID, I GUESS IT WOULD OF FELL APART SOONER. ANYHOW, MY SUV IS ONLY A 2006 AND AS I SAID I HARDLY EVER USE THE AC. NOT ONLY THAT, THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. WHICH MEANS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER WILL JUST SHUT OFF WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING 55-60 MPH. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN USUALLY AFTER IT RAINS. MY ALARM GOES OFF PERIODICALLY WHEN NOBODY IS AROUND IT. FORD CANNOT SEEM TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR
MY 06 EXPLORER HAS BEEN LURCHING EXTREMELY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND VICE VERSA. IT'S TO THE POINT THAT WHEN STOPPING, I AM COMING LITERALLY WITHIN AN INCH OF HITTING ANOTHER CAR. THE SUV STOPS AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WHILE DRIVING MY SUV. THE WEBSITE CARCOMPLAINTS.COM SHOWS THERE ARE 73 OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 EXPLORER MODELS. FORD IS NOT TAKING ANY PROCEDURES INTO GETTING THE VEHICLES RECALLED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY TRUCK; I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. THE TRUCKS ARE STILL CONSIDERED VERY NEW AND YET THEY ARE LURCHING AND HAVING A HUGE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE FORD DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM, EVERYTHING IS WAS FINE! SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE TO GET THESE TRUCKS OFF THE ROAD. WE ARE DRIVING HAZARDS JUST WAITING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT!! I FEEL THAT IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER INCIDENT (LIKE THE FIRESTONE TIRE ONE) BEFORE FORD WILL COME OUT AND DO SOMETHING!!! MY TRUCK IS JOLTING WORSE THAN EVER AND I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED. *TR
ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO RESTART WITHOUT DEALER. ANTI LOCK BRAKE INDICATOR COMES ON ALONG WITH ENGINE LIGHT, SKID CONTROL LIGHT, DOORS UNLOCK AND LOCK WHILE DRIVING. BRAKES LOCK UP AND SPIN THE CAR OUT OF CONTROL WHEN DRIVING; POWER STEERING BECOMES MANUAL AT TIMES ALONG WITH THE POWER BRAKES NOT HAVING POWER AS WELL. TWO DEALERS HAVE HAD 4 DIFFERENT ADVISORS LOOK AT MY VEHICLE AND THEY SIMPLY STATE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION JERKED AND STAYED IN 4TH GEAR REVVING MOTOR VERY HIGH WHILE DRIVING. RECENTLY AC IS INTERMITTENTLY WORKING AND JUST LAST SUNDAY AGAIN WAS UNABLE TO START CAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED FOUR TIMES TO THE FORD DEALERS FOR REPAIR ON THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS REPAIR SHOP MORE THAN ELEVEN TIMES FOR THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. MY SERVICE WRITER WARNED ME THE LAST TIME I PICKED IT UP "PARKER, DO NOT DRIVE YOU CAR AS IT IS DANGEROUS AND A HAZARD TO EVERYONE ON THE ROAD." THE DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AS FAR AS TAKING IT BACK AND PUTTING ME INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THESE PROBLEMS WERE EVIDENT THROUGH THE OASIS REPORT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO ME AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE WAS A WARNING THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE WORKED ON BEFORE IT WAS SOLD. IT WAS NOT! THE DEALER OR FORD MOTOR COMPLAINT 800 NUMBER STATES IT IS MY VEHICLE AND TO DEAL WITH IT. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE CONTINUALLY OCCURRED THREATENING THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY. I PUR
I OWN A 2006 FORD FREESTYLE . ON 7/7/08, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR (REVERSE) TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I DROVE IT A COUPLE OF BLOCKS WHILE KEEPING ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE OTHER ON THE ACCELERATOR. AT THAT POINT, I CALLED FOR A TOW TO A FORD DEALER. ON 7/8/08, THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST OR THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER. OBVIOUSLY, THIS PART IS IN GREAT DEMAND OR IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE PRIOR TO THAT ANTICIPATED DATE. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED, IT COULD HAVE A TRAGIC ENDING. HOW MANY OTHER FREESTYLES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM? HOW MANY WRECKS HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE OF A PART? MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES, AND IT WAS PURCHASED 8/06. I AM REQUESTING FORD PROVIDE ME WITH A VEHICLE (AT NO EXPENSE TO ME) TO DRIVE UNTIL MY CAR IS REPAIRED. THE REPAIR IS GOING TO COST ME $650. IN THE MEANTIME, I AM STILL HAVING TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THE CAR. FORD HAS OFFERED ME 10 DAYS OF RENTAL WITH THEM PAYING ONLY $27 PER DAY. IT IS ONLY FAIR THEY PROVIDE ME WITH A COMPARABLE CAR RENT FREE. OBVIOUSLY THIS PART IS IN GREAT DEMAND--BUT I PERCEIVE THAT TO BE FORD'S ISSUE--NOT MINE. *TR
MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE IT TO LUNGE FORWARD WHEN STOPPING WHICH FORD SAYS THEY ARE AWARE OF BUT CANNOT SEEM TO FIND THE PROPPER REMEDY FOR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION THAT COULD CAUSE ME TO RUN INTO OTHER STOPPED VEHICLES. I HAVE BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN THREE TIMES TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED WITH NO IMPROVEMENT WITH THE CONDITION.
RELATES TO DESIGN: MANY VEHICLES I HAVE DRIVEN AND NEVER IN ONE THAT I COULD PUT MY SHOE ON BOTH GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME, AND I AM A VERY MODEST SIZE MAN, NOT A LARGE SHOE SIZE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING AND THE ENGINE RACING AND FOUND THAT MY FOOT WAS ON BOTH PEDALS OR STEPPING ON GAS AND SOMETHING HOLDING BACK AND REALIZING I WAS ALSO ON BRAKE. I RECENTLY DID A LARGE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THREE OTHER VEHICLES AND MINE WHEN BRAKING TO STOP, MY SHOE WAS HITTING BOTH PEDALS. I ATTEMPTED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE AND REALIZE NOW I WAS ALSO ON THE GAS. WHILE LOOKING WHERE I WAS GOING DID NOT HAVE TIME TO REALIZE THIS, GET OFF THE GAS BEFORE HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE WITH MY FOOT DOWN ON THE GAS. I PUSHED A CAR INTO ANOTHER CAR AND PUSHED THOSE TWO OVER TO SERIOUSLY DAMAGE A THIRD. I CAN'T IMAGINE IF A PERSON HAD BEEN THERE OR PEOPLE IN THE CARS. EVEN KNOWING THIS I FEEL NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THIS EXPLORER WHEN BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE TURNED HER HEAT ON IN THE VEHICLE IT WENT FROM HOT AIR TO COLD. SHE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO TURN IT ON AND OFF HOPING TO RESET IT, BUT ONLY COLD AIR WOULD COME THROUGH THE VENTS. ONCE THE CAR WAS PARKED SHE NOTICED A LEAK FROM UNDER THE CAR. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A RADIATOR LEAK. SHE THEN CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIPS AND INFORMED THEM OF THE PROBLEM, THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND IF SHE REPAIRED IT AT ANY LOCAL MECHANIC IT WOULD VOID THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER ADVISED HER NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR, IT IS PARKED AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
VEHICLE ACCIDENT TWO OCCUPANTS BOTH HAD SEATBELTS ON, BOTH HAD AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND BOTH STILL STRUCK WINDSHIELD. ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER AND AS OF MAY ONE OCCUPANT IS STILL REMOVING GLASS FROM ARMS AND LEGS. FORD WILL NOT RESPOND TO E-MAILS REQUESTING WHY SEATBELT AND AIRBAGS DID NOT PREVENT OCCUPANTS FROM STRIKING WINDSHIELD. *TR
MY DAUGHTER GOT TANGLED IN THE SEATBELT. NORMALLY THAT WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM BUT SHE HAD PULLED THE SEAT BELT ALL THE WAY OUT AND ACTIVATED THE LOCKING MECHANISM. IT WAS VERY TIGHT AROUND HER WAIST AND I COULD NOT GET HER FREE FROM THE SEAT BELT. I HAD TO CUT IT IN ORDER TO FREE HER. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE HER TO THE DOCTOR BECAUSE OF SOME INJURY TO HER. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF RELEASE ON THE SEATBELT LOCK. I AM SO THANKFUL SHE WAS NOT HURT ANY WORSE THAN SHE WAS. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT IS GOING TO COST ME SO MUCH TO REPLACE A SEAT BELT THAT I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO CUT. I HOPE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT SEATBELTS SO NO ONE HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE TOOK PLACE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE TOOK APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MINUTES TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND NO ERROR CODES WERE FOUND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,090 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,794.
WHEN THE CAR STOPS, STARTS OR DRIVES SLOW... IT JERKS WHEN CHANGING GEARS FROM 1ST THROUGH 3RD, BOTH UP- AND DOWN SHIFTING. IT HAS ALSO STARTED TO SLOW (FOR NO APPARENT REASON) WHEN DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY (GOING AROUND 65-70 MILES AN HOUR), I HAVE HAD MULLINAX FORD LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION 5 TIMES NOW, AND IT IS STILL THERE. CURRENTLY I AM INVOLVED IN A LEMON LAW CASE TRYING TO GET FORD TO BUY MY CAR BACK. THEY ARE STATING THAT THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND AT THE SAME TIME SAYING THAT IT IS DUE TO ABUSE OR NEGLECT ON MY PART ???? I CAN ONLY SUGGEST THAT OTHERS TAKE THE SAME ROUTE - THE MORE THE BETTER TO GET THE ATTENTION OF FORD TO COMPLETELY FIX THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE HAD MY COMPASS WORKED ON (DID NOT SHOW ANYTHING OR JUST TWO LINES) , THE GEAR SHIFTER REPLACED (WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF 'P'), THE REAR WINDOW REPLACED (DUE TO WATER LEAK) AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM REPLACED AS THERE WAS SOMETHING BEND ???. I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT WHEN WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THE CAR THE BREAKS WORKED DIFFERENTLY AFTERWARDS. IN MY OPINION THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER IS A LEMON. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY STALLED AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THEY ALSO DID NOT FIND ANY ERROR CODES WHEN A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS AND SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE PURCHASE DATE, TRANSMISSION TYPE, POWERTRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TYPE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
I HAVE HAD A SLOW LEAK IN MY EXPLORER FOR A WEEK, WE CHANGED THE OVER FLOW TANK AND THEN THE LEAK BECAME A MORE SERIOUS ONE. MY DAD LOOKED AT IT AND MY RADIATOR IS LEAKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT PLACES. IT IS GOING COST ME ABOUT $300.00 TO GET A NEW OR IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED THE PRICE OF IT. A OWNER OF A SHOP HAS INFORMED ME THAT HE HAS HAD TO REPAIR SEVERAL RADIATORS WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE AS MINE. IF THIS IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL YET. *TR
MY 06 EXPLORER HAS BEEN LURCHING EXTREMELY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND VICE VERSA. ITS TO THE POINT THAT WHEN STOPPING I AM COMING LITERALLY WITHIN AN INCH OF HITTING ANOTHER CAR B/C THE CAR STOPS AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. MY CAR IS ALSO REVVING UP FOR NO REASON AT AROUND 3000-4000 RPM WHEN I DON'T EVEN PUSH ON THE GAS, OR BARELY TAP IT! I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WHILE DRIVING MY SUV. I CAME ACROSS THIS WEBSITE TODAY: CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE 66 OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 EXPLORER MODELS. FORD IS NOT TAKING ANY PROCEDURES INTO GETTING THE VEHICLES RECALLED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY TRUCK, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. THE TRUCKS ARE STILL CONSIDERED VERY NEW AND YET THEY ARE LURCHING AND HAVING A HUGE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE FORD DEALER IN MIAMI, FL THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM AND REPLACED MY BRAKES, YET WHEN I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED! THAT WAS IN NOV 2007. I AM NOW STATIONED IN ANCHORAGE ALASKA AT ELMENDORF AFB AND HAVE MADE AN APPT WITH THE FORD DEALER HERE ON MONDAY. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THERE IS NO PERMANENT FIX OUT THERE FOR THIS PROBLEM, EVERYTHING IS TEMPORARY. SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE TO GET THESE TRUCKS OFF THE ROAD. OBVIOUSLY WE ARE ALL DRIVING HAZARDS WAITING TO HAPPEN!! MY TRUCK IS JOLTING WORSE THAN EVER AND I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED. *TR
RADIATOR FAILED CAR NEVER RAN HOT CAUSED ENGINE TO BLOW HEAD GASKETS. CAR WAS SERVICED 9 DAYS PRIOR AND RADIATOR WAS FULL. CAR STOPPED ON FREEWAY LATE AT NIGHT AND HAVE TO PAY 6,700.00 TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *TR
I BEGAN TO NOTICE LEAKAGE UNDER MY CAR. IT APPEARED TO BE ANTIFREEZE SO I KEPT A CHECK ON IT. AFTER TWO WEEKS, THERE WAS A GUSH OF LIQUID. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THE RADIATOR WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPLORER NEW JUST 2 YEARS AGO. SHOULDN'T A RADIATOR LAST MORE THAN 2 YEARS? IT COST ME $80 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND $545 TO REPLACE IT. I HAVE THE OLD RADIATOR. IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER THERE IS CORROSION WHICH INDICATES THAT THERE HAD BEEN A MALFUNCTION OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. AFTERWARDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS FLASHED ONE TIME. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COAST TO A STOP AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NO FAILURES. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND AN ERROR CODE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,700. UPDATED 4/16/08 *CN UPDATED
DEFECTIVE RADIATORS IN 2006-2007 FORD EXPLORERS. HOLE IN RADIATOR FROM WEAR FROM LACK OF RADIATOR SUPPORT. ALSO GASKET SEAL BETWEEN PLASTIC IN RADIATOR AND ALUMINUM. I CAN'T GET A REPLACEMENT RADIATOR BECAUSE THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE-3/17/08. SO IT'S OBVIOUS THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10185415 IN FOLLOW-UP TO THE ABOVE CASE, I HAVE BEEN READING THE SUBSEQUENT COMPLAINTS AND READ WITH DISGUST THAT ALOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WRITING NOW BOUGHT THE 2006 EXPLORER AS USED. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE TURNED OURS IN UNDER THE LEMON LAW FOR ALL OF THE SAME REASONS LISTED IN THE OTHER COMPLAINTS BUT WITHIN A DAY OR TWO OF TURNING THE VEHICLE IN, THERE WAS A BIG COLORED PICTURE OF MY EXPLORER IN MATHEWS CURRIE FORD'S USED CAR AD. MY PROBLEMS WERE JUST BEING RESOLD TO SOME UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE GETTING A DEAL ON A GOOD LOW MILEAGE CAR. IT'S IS A SHAME THAT FORD IS STILL ALLOWED TO SELL THOSE EXPLORERS AND THEY TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELLING DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT ACCIDENTALLY STRUCK THE SAFETY VALVE SWITCH WITH HIS FOOT. THE SWITCH IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE FIREWALL NEAR THE GLOVE BOX. MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE COMPONENT. THE SWITCH IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO HIS FOOT, WHICH MAY CAUSE HIM TO ACCIDENTALLY STRIKE IT WITHOUT KNOWING. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
THIS APPLIES TO ALL OF THE NEWER CARS, TRUCKS ETC. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEW HEADLIGHTS ARE CALLED, BUT THEY ARE BRIGHT WHITE OR BLUISH IN TINT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY TIMES WHERE THE ONCOMING CARS WITH THESE LIGHT BLIND ME TO THE POINT I CAN'T SEE THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE SINCE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE THESE LIGHTS AND US THEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH FOG LIGHTS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, I CAN'T BE THE ONLY PERSON WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THANK YOU STANLEY PRZYBYLSKI *TR
HARD JOLTS WHEN STOPPING AND WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, FORD MOTOR CO. RECOMMENDS KEEP DRIVING IT. DEALERSHIP STATES THEY CAN'T FIX IT. *TR
WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE JOLTS AND LUNGES FORWARD. *TR
HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS STARTING WITH A LIFTER STUCK IN MOTOR AT 296 MILES, TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 15,700 MILES. BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED SINCE IT WAS NEW, OVERHEAD CONSOLE HAS FALLEN OFF TWICE, SATELLITE RADIO WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. DOOR RUBBED ON RUNNING BOARD, NOW GAS MILEAGE HAS DROPPED UNDER 10 MILES PER GALLON. 14 TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP SO FAR AND STILL NOT ALL IS FIXED. *TR
I BOUGHT MY 06 EXPLORER WITH 12K MILES. SOON AFTER PURCHASE, I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND SEEMED TO REQUIRE A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN MY OLD EXPLORER. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE BRAKE PEDAL THEN FELT SLIGHTLY BETTER, BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE FOR A TURN BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO TURN, DESPITE HAVING THE BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. MOST RECENTLY, WHEN DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, WHEN THE ABS KICKS IN, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE PEDAL CANNOT BE PUSHED DOWN AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP, CAUSING ME TO SLIDE THROUGH A RED LIGHT, DESPITE GOING SLOW AND BRAKING A LONG DISTANCE BEFORE THE LIGHT. THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE EXPLORER DOES NOT FEEL SAFE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! *TR
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2006 Ford Explorer → · Every Explorer year → · How the figures are calculated →