The Lemon Index2006 Ford Explorer.
The 2006 Ford Explorer is worse than average by owner complaints: 203 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 149, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 15 to 16 mpg combined. The best Ford Explorer year is 2008.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 630 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Ford Explorer year. 2006 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 35K to 83K miles on the car (546 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 36K–89K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 37K–67K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 26K–107K miles
Recalls 4
- equipment 2010
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.
- visibility 2007
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 BRE…
- lights 2006
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
Show all 4 recalls
- visibility 2005
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 40 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Harsh or delayed 1-2, 2-1 and/or 3-2 shift
- Calibration update 4.0l - various symptoms - surge, hesitation, torque converter cycling, no…
- Oil separation from the internal lube found in the unitized cartridge seal
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $4000–4300 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 4.0L 6-cyl, 4.6L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
The shift handle frequently is "stuck" when attempting to shift into gear from the park position.
2006 Ford Explorer owner · NHTSA complaint 10253655
More owner reports
Purchased 2006 Ford Explorer. Feels like my transmission is going to fall out of the car when I put the car in gear to take off or even when I come to a stop at a red light. Horrible!
NHTSA complaint 10285304
Ford Explorer 2006- radiator leaks . Problem starts at around 40k. There are numerous postings on the internet with the same problem. Ford refuses in most cases to replace radiator. Replacement cost are approx. $450.00.
NHTSA complaint 10291962
Quick answers
Is the 2006 Ford Explorer reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 149; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Explorer year by this measure since 2010 is 2024.
What are the most common 2006 Ford Explorer problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (44%), engine (30%) and electrical (7%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2006 Ford Explorer have?
4 safety recalls (latest: equipment). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Ford Explorer get?
15 to 16 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2006 Ford Explorer problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 35,000 and 83,000 miles. The middle report was at 55,000 miles, from 546 complaints.
Does the 2006 Ford Explorer have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 44% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2006 Ford Explorer cost in fuel a year?
About $4000 to $4300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2006 Ford Explorer have?
4.0L 6-cyl, 4.6L 8-cyl.
What Ford Explorer year is better than the 2006?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2018 and 2010.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works