2006 Ford Explorer complaints

OUR 2006 4.6, V8 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION EXPLORER HAS BEEN IN FIVE TIME FOR REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION STARTING AT JUST OVER 900 MILE TO NOW WITH 2400 MILES. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SERIOUS SHIFTING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THESE HAVE RANGED FROM DELAYED 1-2 AND OR 2-3 SHIFT, HIGH REV, DELAYED SHIFT WITH HARD DOWN SHIFT AND SEVERE JERKING. THIS RESULTED IN THREE DAYS OF BACK PAIN. THEY HAVE REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION, REPLACED THE VALVE ASSEMBLY AND THE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION AND WE ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. *JB

THE HEAD REST ON THE REAR SEATS OF THE 2006 FOR EXPLORER POSE A SERIOUS VISION OBSTRUCTION. YOU CANNOT SEE WHEN BACKING UP OR CHANGING LANES. IF YOU HAVE A CAR SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT YOU CANNOT LET THE HEAD REST DOWN. YOU ALSO CANNOT MOVE THE HEAD REST UP OR DOWN, ONLY TILT THE HEAD REST FORWARD. *JB

ALWAYS- THROTTLE HESITATION AT STOP TO ACCELERATE. THERE IS A MOMENTARY HESITATION WHICH IS DANGEROUS IN STARTING OUT. IF THE SUV WERE TO KILL DUE TO THE STALL, THERE COULD EASILY BE AN ACCIDENT. I'M CONTACTING MY DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I SHOULD HAVE DONE IT SOONER. THIS IS A PROBLEM.

ENGINE HESITATES/STUMBLES WHEN PULLING OUT FROM STOP POSITION OR INTO TRAFFIC. FORD MOTOR SAYS THEY CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. SUV IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THIS CONDITION. IT IS ALMOST A YEAR OLD(2006) AND HAS 2535 MILES ON IT. FORD WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS AND HAVE HAD IT TO DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES WITH PROBLEM. *JB

UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT, THERE IS SURFACE RUST ON THE METAL FRAME AND COMPONENTS. RUST IS NOT LIKELY SERIOUS, BUT CAN STAIN ANYTHING IT TOUCHES, AND MAY PROGRESS TO MORE SERIOUS RUST, CAUSING PARTS TO BREAK DOWN, OR MALFUNCTION. DEALER I BOUGHT VEHICLE FROM CALLED FORD SERVICE CENTER, AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND AS THEY DEEM IT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" IT IS NOT COVERED BY ANY SORT OF WARRANTY. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR??? RUST INSIDE A NEW VEHICLE??? CHECKED OTHER EXPLORERS ON THE LOT AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

AT SHARP TURNS EITHER TO THE LEFT OF THE THE RIGHT, THE AUTO 4X4 ENAGAGES AND YOU FEEL A LARGE SHUTTER. I WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER(THEY REPROGRAMED THE 4X4 PERMITERS) 4 MONTHS LATER IF HAS CAME BACK. NOTHING HAS SEEMED TO FIX IT, MANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS LIKE MINE ON THE INTERNET

THE HEADREST ON THE REAR SEATS OF THE 2006 FOR EXPLORER POSE A SERIOUS VISION OBSTRUCTION. YOU CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FOR PASSING OR CHANGING LANES. IF YOU HAVE A CAR SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT YOU CANNOT LET THE HEADREST DOWN. YOU ALSO CANNOT MOVE THE HEADREST UP OR DOWN, ONLY TILT THE HEADREST FORWARD. *NM

HARD DOWNSHIFT TO 1ST GEAR. NO NOISE BUT AFTER STOPPING TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO 1ST CAUSING SEVER JERKING AND IT WILL JUMP FORWARD. THERE IS A TSB BUT NO FIX FOR IT TERRIBLE FOR A 40000.00 VEHICLE. *JB

I FEEL MY 2006 4.6,V8, XLT EXPLORER IS UNSAFE BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. YOU TRY TO JUDGE DISTANCE TO PULL OUT ON A STREET AND WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS IT DOESN'T GO! IT HAS A PAUSE AND THEN GOES. THE DEALER HAS 'RECALIBRATED' THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION RESPONSE THREE TIMES NOW! THE DATE INCLUDED IS THE LAST TIME IT WAS DONE. *JB

THIS IS A NEW 2006 V8 6 SPEED FORD EXPLORER WHICH HAS HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE I PURCHASED IT ON DEC 10, 2005. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER SHEEHY FORD OF GAITHERSBURG MD FIVE TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS PAST FRIDAY AT AN INTERSECTION I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE SO I PRESSED HARDER AND IT WAS IF IT SKIPPED A GEAR AND THEN THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AT A HIGHER THEN NORMAL SPEED AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

I OWN A 2006 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER WITH 3000 MILES ON IT. HERE IS THE PROBLEM, JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN OR WHATEVER, THE ENGINE REVS TO 1200-1500 RPMS FOR JUST A BRIEF SECOND. I AM NOT GIVING THE CAR ANY GAS TO INDUCE THIS OCCURRENCE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE CAR IS DOING THIS AND NEITHER DOES MY LOCAL DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CAR IS IN FACT DOING WHAT I DESCRIBED ABOVE, BUT COULD NOT OFFER A FIX. I TESTED ANOTHER 2006 V6 EXPLORER WITH 3 MILES ON IT, TO MINE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SURPRISE; IT DID THE EXACT SAME THING AS MY TRUCK. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO THE SITUATION AND CALL SOME OF HIS ENGINEER BUDDIES TO SEE IF THEY COULD GIVE HIM ANY INFORMATION. I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM HIM. I AM ALSO BEGINNING TO NOTICE THAT I ACTUALLY HAVE TO BREAK HARDER TO GET THE TRUCK TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS CAN NOT BE NORMAL, YET MY FORD DEALER IS INSINUATING NOTHING IS ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE CAR. LONGER THAN NECESSARY STOPPING DISTANCES AND WILL LEAD TO UNNECESSARY COLLISIONS. BECAUSE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH 2006 V6 EXPLORERS MY DEALER WILL PROBABLY DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. I COMPLAINED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NEVER EVEN RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION THAT THEY RECEIVED MY EMAIL. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A RECALL SITUATION. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ALL 2006 V6 EXPLORERS EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ADMITTEDLY NOT BY ANY STRETCH A POWERFUL SUDDEN ACC

2006 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED DRIVER SEAT WOULD NOT RETAIN MEMORY ON #2 SETTING. WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE THE SEAT WONT GLIDE BACK UNTIL THE #2 BUTTON IS PUSHED. TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *KB THE DEALER HAD TO REPROGRAM THE SEAT MEMORY MODULE AND REPROGRAM BOTH REMOTES. THE DEALER RESET THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS. *NM

PROBLEM WITH SHIFTING GEARS FROM PARK, CAN TAKE UP TO ONE MINUTE IN CASES. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. I TOOK VEHICLE TO AL LONG FORD, THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR THREE WEEKS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM. AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK, THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTED. *JB

THIS TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS A HARD SHIFT AT NEAR 0 MPH WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES TO SLOW TO A STOP, TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT AND COULD IF YOU ARE NOT HARD ON THE BRAKE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF STRIKING CLOSE OBJECTS, OTHER VEHICLES OR PERSONS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT IS UNPREDICTABLE, REPEATABLE AND VERY FRIGHTENING. FORDS RESPONSE IS THAT THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM AND HAVE NO FIX FOR THESE SYMPTOMS. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 4000 MILES AND IT HAS BECOME WORSE WITH TIME. *JB

2006 FORD EXPLORER LTD. MEMORY SEAT NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT WOULD PLACE HIM UP AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL, OTHER TIMES IT WOULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD A FEW INCHES AND OTHER TIMES AFTER REMOVING THE KEY AND TRYING MORE THAN ONCE THE SEAT WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. *JB

SUV HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING. DEALER SAYS CAN'T BE REPAIRED. 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH 1909 MILES. SENT E-MAIL TO YOU ON 08/05/06 CONFIRMATION #10164629 AS OF THIS DATE NO REPLY FROM YOU. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SMELLING GASOLINE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A FUEL RAIL LEAK CAUSING GASOLINE TO SPILL OUT ONTO THE ENGINE.

NEW 2006 FORD EXPLORE VIBRATION AT 45 & 60 MPH SHAKES SUV. DURING TEST DRIVE DEALER THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS A FLAT SPOT ON A TIRE FROM SITTING ON THE LOT. AFTER DRIVING THE SUV FOR SEVERAL DAYS THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. RETURNED TO DEALER FOR CORRECTION. SUV RECEIVED NEW DRIVE SHAFT, AND TWO REAR 1/2 SHAFTS. PROBLEM SILL EXIST. AFTER TESTING COUPLE OTHER EXPLORER ON LOT WAS DETERMINED THAT THEY ALL HAD THIS SAME VIBRATION. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DESCRIBES IT AT NORMAL. I HATE TO TELL THEM THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THE SUV HAS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VIBRATION AND IF YOU LET OFF THE GAS THEN REAPPLY AS IF YOU HAD TO BREAK QUICK THEN ACCELERATE THE SUV STRUGGLES TO REGAIN POWER AND HAS A MORE SEVER VIBRATION. IF I HAD KNOW THAT THIS WAS TYPICAL WITH THIS UNIT I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT SPOT ON THE TIRE AS THE SALESMAN THOUGHT. A VERY CONCERNED AND UNHAPPY FORD CUSTOMER. *NM

VEHICLE HAS 1978 MILES, 2006 FORD EXPLORER, HAS MAJOR HESITATION IN THROTTLE, AFTER 3 TRIPS TO DEALER, THEY SAY VEHICLE CANNOT BE REPAIRED". THIS SUV IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE HESITATION IN THE THROTTLE, CANNOT PULL INTO TRAFFIC, FROM STOP SIGN, OR FROM STOPPED POSITION. *JB

I WAS ON VACATION IN SMOKY MOUNTAINS IN GATLINBURG, TN AND WENT TO A PICNIC AREA WITHIN THE PARK. I HAD TO MAKE A 45-DEGREE TURN TO GET INTO THE PARKING SPACE, SO AT THAT ANGLE ONE WOULD ALMOST HAVE TO STOP. I GOT INTO THE PARKING SPACE FINE, GOT STRAIGHTENED UP FINE, HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THEN MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, RPMS REVVING FASTER AND FASTER. MY COUSIN TOLD ME TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND I TOLD HER I WAS BUT IT JUST KEPT REVVING. MY FORD EXPLORER STOPPED AFTER PLOWING OUT OF THE GROUND A METAL CHARCOAL GRILL SET IN AT LEAST 1 FOOT OF CONCRETE, A PICNIC TABLE, AND A CONCRETE PARKING BARRIER. MY FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AND I HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE BACK OF THE EXPLORER, AND THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER GOT OUT HER DOOR ON A MAN'S SHOULDERS. I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY EXPLORER BACK, SO I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT IT YET. *JB

1. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN 2. WHEN TRYING TO SLOW FOR A LEFT TURN, THE CAR BARELY SLOWED DOWN AND I COULD NOT GET IT TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TURN. I WENT BEYOND THE TURN AND HAD TO BACK UP. DURING MY ATTEMPT TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, IT MADE A NOISE LIKE A LOUD FAN OR A RACING ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED ON DRY PAVEMENT WITH NO STONES. 3. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED BUT THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO REACT LIKE IT DID FOR ME AND THEIR COMPUTER COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. I MADE THEM PUT ON THE REPAIR PAPER THAT THEY LOOKED AT BOTH A BRAKING PROBLEM AND AN ENGINE PROBLEM AND FOUND NO DEFECTS. I THEN LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, DROVE DOWN THE ROAD, HAD THE CAR WASHED AND THEN STARTED FOR HOME ONLY TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME STOPPING PROBLEM AS I DESCRIBED ABOVE. I MADE THEM TAKE IT BACK AND THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR GOING ON 4 WEEKS AND STILL CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. EVERYONE IN THE PLACE, SERVICE MANAGER, MECHANIC AND ANOTHER SERVICE PERSON, HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR WITH NO RESULTS. THEY HAD ME DRIVE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AFTER TAKING IT BACK THE SECOND TIME AND HE PUT THE CAR INTO A SLIDE ON GRAVEL TO HAVE ME EXPERIENCE THE ABS IN ACTION TO SEE IF THAT WAS WHAT I EXPERIENCED, BUT IT WASN'T THE SAME. IT DID NOT MAKE THE NOISE THAT I EXPERIENCED EACH TIME IT FAILED TO STOP. WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALER. THE CAR ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 3,700 MILES WHEN THEY FIRST GOT IT. IF I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN TRAFFIC, I WOULD CERTAINLY HIT

PURCHASED A 2006 FORD EXPLORER ON 5/6/06 AND TOOK A ROAD TRIP TO ALABAMA AND ON THE WAY BACK AROUND OCALA,FL, WE STARTED SMELLING GAS SMELL AS WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WALKED AROUND IT. WE WERE ALWAYS STOPPED AT CONVENIENT STORES, WHICH HAVE GAS PUMPS AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. WE DID LOOK UNDER VEHICLE AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. WE KEPT DRIVING SOUTH TO COME HOME AND AROUND TAMPA,FL.. THE SMELL GOT A LITTLE MORE STRONG. LUCKILY WE MADE IT HOME W/OUT BLOWING UP. ONCE WE PULLED IN OUR DRIVEWAY, THE SMELL WAS REALLY BAD. MY HUSBAND GOT HIS FLASHLIGHT AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND GAS WAS DRIPPING OUT PRETTY STEADY. IT WAS MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY AND WE NEW THAT THE FORD DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED AT THAT TIME, SO WE WENT TO BED AND FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING, WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN THE TOWING TRUCK. THEY TOLD US TO GET FIRE DEPT OUT HERE TO DRAIN GAS . THE FIRE DEPT CAME AND USED PUTTY TO STOP LEAK SO WE COULD HAVE TRUCK TOWED. WE HAD TRUCK TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED AND ONCE THEY LOOKED AT IT, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS OUR FAULT AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID WE RAN OVER SOMETHING. WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN IF WE RAN OVER SOMETHING AND IF WE HIT ROCKS OR PEBBLES WHILE GOING DOWN INTERSTATE AND IT CAUSED THAT, THEN FORD HAS SOME SERIOUS FUEL TANK ISSUES. WE ENDED UP TURNING OVER TO OUR INSURANCE CO AND PAID TO GET TRUCK FIXED, WHICH IS FINE. WHEN OUR INSURANCE ADJUSTER LOOKED AT TRUCKS FUEL TANK, HE MADE US AWARE THAT THERE WAS NEVER A SKID PLATE

WHEN TRYING TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO ANY GEAR AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME; THE GEAR SHIFT SAFETY LEVER WILL NOT ENGAGE ALLOWING ME TO CHANGE GEARS. *NM

NEW FORD EXPLORER STALLS IN TRAFFIC WHICH IS DANGEROUS, DEALER HAS FOUND NOTHING WRONG AT THIS TIME, BUT HAS NOW HAD THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 10 DAYS. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE 2 DAYS THE FIRST TIME AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *NM

(1) DRIVER'S SEAT BACK LATCH BROKEN (2) COULD NOT ENTER, OR EXIT FROM, BACK SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE (3) NOT REPAIRED AS YET. *NM

FUEL LEVEL AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGES ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ IN DAYLIGHT, REQUIRING A DRIVER TO TAKE HIS/HER EYES FROM THE ROAD FOR AN EXCESSIVE PERIOD OF TIME. THIS CREATES A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A SEVERE WINDSHIELD GLARE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. UPDATED 5/10/2006 - THE DASHBOARD REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND COVERED ABOUT 70% OF THE WINDSHIELD. *NM

UPON RELEASING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE CAR ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND OVER MY LEGS. *JB

ON 12/10/05, I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 FORD EXPLORER. YESTERDAY, FOR THE FIFTH TIME, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO START. I BROUGHT IT IN TO FORD ON 01/11/06, THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND TOLD ME IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN LAST NIGHT. *JB

MY FORD EXPLORER XLT 2006 HAD A DELAYED DELIVERY DATE TO ME FOR 2 DAYS DUE TO A "BAD CLUSTER" ON START UP. THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED AND I PICKED IT UP ON NOVEMBER 1, 2005. THIS VEHICLE IS LEASED. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH I HAD REPAIRED ON DECEMBER 8, 2005. ON DECEMBER 9, 2005 WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE TRUCK I PULLED OUT OF A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO FEEL VERY TIGHT AND IT WAS GRINDING WHEN STEERING SLIGHTLY LEFT OR RIGHT OF THE CENTER AND THEN IT WOULD FREE UP AGAIN MAKING THE TRUCK EASY TO OVERSTEER. AS I DROVE THE TIGHTNESS WOULD GO AWAY UNTIL I SLOWED DOWN AND THEN IT WOULD GET TIGHT AGAIN. ALSO THE GRINDING ON TURNS EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT REMAINED. I GOT TO A SAFE PLACE AND CALLED MY PURCHASING DEALER BURNS FORD 359 WEST JERICHO TPKE, HUNTINGTON, NY 11743. THEY ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AND CALL FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. I DID AND THEY TOWED THE TRUCK TO BURNS FORD. THEY CALLED ME LATER IN THE DAY TO TELL ME THAT FORD ADVISED THEM THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK AND PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE 1ST QUARTER OF 2006. THE FOLLOWING IS THE NOTICE: 18962 2006 EXPLORER 4DR /MERCURY MOUNTAINEER-INTERMEDIATE (1) SHAFT POP/CLUNK NOISE. SOME 2006 EXPLORER 4DR AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CREAK/POP HEARD AND FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, USUALLY NOTICED AT STATIONARY OF LOW-SPEED TURNS WHILE ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. IF DIAGNOSIS FINDS THAT THIS MAY BE DUE TO INTERMED