YearToAvoid

2006 Ford Explorer Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

35/100

#14 most-complained of 21 Explorer years

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

The 2006 Ford Explorer has 630 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 35 out of 100 — #14 highest of 21 Explorer model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (296 complaints, 47% of the total). Complaints report 13 crashes, 7 fires, and 12 injuries.

Complaints
630
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
13 / 7
Injuries / deaths
12 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
13 city / 19 hwy

Top 2006 Ford Explorer problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain296 (47%)
  2. Engine242 (38%)
  3. Brakes47 (7%)
  4. Electrical System41 (7%)
  5. Other34 (5%)
  6. Fuel System27 (4%)
  7. Structure & Body22 (3%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires15 (2%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers14 (2%)
  10. Steering9 (1%)
2006 Ford Explorer complaints: complaints filed per quarter412005 Q42007 Q42009 Q42011 Q42013 Q42015 Q42018 Q12020 Q4
764 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q4 to 2025 Q2; peak 2010 Q1 (41).

2006 Ford Explorer recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign 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.

2006 Ford Explorer fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13 MPG
Highway
19 MPG
Combined
15 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,300
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 Explorer 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
2005Best20497015
2006Good35630115
2007Best15208115.5
2008Best10148115.5

All Ford Explorer years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Ford Explorer a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Ford Explorer ranks #14 of 21 among Explorer model years (Complaint Index 35/100, verdict: Good). It has 630 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Ford Explorer?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (296 complaints), engine (242 complaints), and brakes (47 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 55,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Ford Explorer, most recently reported 2005, covering visibility & wipers.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Ford Explorer?
EPA rates the 2006 Ford Explorer at 15 MPG combined (13 city / 19 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,300. 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.