2006 Ford Explorer: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2006 Ford Explorer: 1 recall, 630 owner complaints and up to 16 mpg combined.
Recalls
1 vehicle recall from the manufacturer, plus 3 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #05V520000 · 2005 · 199,942 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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. Inoperative wipers under inclement weather conditions could cause a crash due to impaired visibility.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the wiper motor for the presence of grease and grease the wiper motor gears if necessary. The recall began on November 22, 2005.
3 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Exterior lights Equipment recall #06E049000 · 2006 · 27,176 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
Why it matters: Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The fix: Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2006.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Equipment recall #07E104000 · 2007 · 1,657 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 Safety Standard no. 205, "glazing materials."
Why it matters: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(s) May be seriously injured by shattered glass.
The fix: Safelite will notify its retail customers and replace the glass free of charge. Retail customers can contact safelite toll free at 1-888-843-2906. Safelite will notify its wholesale customers and reimburse wholesale customers for current inventory and at a specified rate for replacing their…
Equipment Equipment recall #10E043000 · 2010 · 294 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An improperly deployed airbag could result in serious injury.
The fix: Marathon will notify owners of record and replace the seat cover free of charge. The safety recall began on September 14, 2010.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 7 mention a fire, 12 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (296): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (195), noise or vibration (37), stalls / loses power (24).
- Engine & cooling (164): the most common themes are leaks (79), stalls / loses power (31), overheating (22).
- Engine (58): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (17), leaks (11).
- Electrical (39): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (10), electrical failure (9).
The 2006 Ford Explorer has 630 owner complaints, ranking #22 of 38 Explorer model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 909). Complaints peaked in 2010 (99 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 55,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2005 (497 complaints, 0 recalls), 2007 (208 complaints, 1 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Regular |
| 4.6 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 19 | 15 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 19 | 15 | Regular |
| 4.6 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2006 Ford Explorer.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2006 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall for the 2006 Ford Explorer, plus 3 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2006 Ford Explorer problems?
Owners have filed 630 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (296), engine & cooling (164), engine (58).
What gas mileage does the 2006 Ford Explorer get?
EPA ratings run up to 16 mpg combined (4.0 L, Automatic 5-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2006 Ford Explorer repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.