YearToAvoid

2006 Ford Expedition Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

70/100

#7 most-complained of 21 Expedition years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Ford Expedition has 299 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 70 out of 100 — #7 highest of 21 Expedition model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (180 complaints, 60% of the total). Complaints report 19 crashes, 6 fires, 24 injuries, and 3 deaths.

Complaints
299
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
19 / 6
Injuries / deaths
24 / 3
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
14
12 city / 16.5 hwy

Top 2006 Ford Expedition problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine180 (60%)
  2. Electrical System32 (11%)
  3. Fuel System24 (8%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain22 (7%)
  5. Other21 (7%)
  6. Structure & Body21 (7%)
  7. Brakes20 (7%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires18 (6%)
  9. Airbags16 (5%)
  10. Steering14 (5%)
2006 Ford Expedition complaints: complaints filed per quarter162005 Q42007 Q42009 Q42011 Q42013 Q42015 Q42018 Q12022 Q4
377 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q4 to 2024 Q1; peak 2011 Q2 (16).

2006 Ford Expedition recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 05V520000Nov 9, 2005Visibility & Wipers199,942 vehicles

    Visibility: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.

    Risk: 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.

    Remedy: 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. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673 or lincoln/mercury at 1-800-521-4140.

  2. NHTSA 05V310000Jul 6, 2005Suspension, Wheels & Tires10,061 vehicles

    Tires:tread/belt

    On certain sport utility vehicles, the front and rear tires on the driver's side of affected vehicles may have been damaged at the center tread during production.

    Risk: Over time, the damage may be sufficient to allow belt corrosion ultimately leading to a tread separation, which could result in a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect all four tires (to ensure inspection of the left hand side tires that may have been rotated to the other side of the vehicle) for tire tread damage and, if necessary, replace the damaged tire. The recall began on july 13, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.

2006 Ford Expedition fuel economy and fuel cost

City
12 MPG
Highway
16.5 MPG
Combined
14 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other Expedition years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Caution60315014
2006Caution70299214
2007Good30215215
2008Caution55146314

All Ford Expedition years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Ford Expedition a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Ford Expedition ranks #7 of 21 among Expedition model years (Complaint Index 70/100, verdict: Caution). It has 299 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Ford Expedition?
The most reported problem areas are engine (180 complaints), electrical system (32 complaints), and fuel system (24 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 80,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Ford Expedition have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2006 Ford Expedition, most recently reported 2005, covering visibility & wipers and suspension, wheels & tires.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Ford Expedition?
EPA rates the 2006 Ford Expedition at 14 MPG combined (12 city / 16.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,650. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.