YearToAvoid

2006 Ford Explorer Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 296 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2006 Ford Explorer, 47% of all 630 complaints for this model year. That is #2 highest transmission complaint count among 21 Explorer model years. These complaints report 5 crashes, 2 fires, and 4 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 60,460 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
296
47% of 630
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
60,460 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2006 Ford Explorer transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 14, 2006, latest May 27, 2025.

2006 Ford Explorer transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter152006 Q12008 Q12009 Q42011 Q32013 Q22015 Q12016 Q42019 Q3
296 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2006 Q1 to 2025 Q2; peak 2013 Q3 (15).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2006 Ford Explorer

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Explorer model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200599 (20%)
  2. 2006296 (47%)
  3. 200757 (27%)
  4. 200836 (24%)
  5. 20093 (9%)
  6. 201028 (24%)
  7. 201164 (5%)
  8. 201255 (7%)
  9. 2013119 (5%)
  10. 201479 (5%)
  11. 201586 (5%)
  12. 2016214 (9%)
  13. 2017123 (7%)
  14. 201850 (7%)
  15. 201935 (12%)
  16. 2020487 (40%)
  17. 2021121 (28%)
  18. 202261 (23%)
  19. 202312 (11%)
  20. 20241 (5%)
  21. 202515 (15%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Ford Explorer have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 296 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2006 Ford Explorer, 47% of all complaints for this model year, including 5 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 60,460 miles.
Which Ford Explorer year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2020 Ford Explorer has the most transmission complaints (487), compared with 296 for the 2006.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2006 Ford Explorer?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2006 Ford Explorer is classified under transmission & powertrain. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

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.