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CarComplaints.com Notes: The previous generation of Explorer was so awful that the redesign in 2006 was greeted with much optimism. That didn't last long.

The transmission continues to be the Explorer's worst reliability problem. Owners report shifting hard & lunging, typically starting as low as 40k miles with a $1,600 average repair bill. On top of that, the radiator is prone to failure around 60k miles. Repairs for the radiator run $500 to $1,000 & many owners report they've had to replace the radiator multiple times for leaks, indicating a possible design defect in the OEM replacement parts.

Ford did make some significant changes to improve handling and safety. Electronic stability control was added in addition to side impact air bags, but beyond that this is a vehicle that should be avoided at all costs.

2.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,500 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Ford Explorer transmission problems

transmission problem

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2006 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #2

Mar 122011

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Explorer. The contact was driving approximately 40 mph when the engine stalled without prior warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they informed the contact that the PCM wire harness was defective. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #1

Sep 152007

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Ford Explorer. While approaching a stop at 5 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle lunged forward. The dealer stated that the PCM failed. The current mileage was 16,000 and failure mileage was 15,000.

- Aroda, VA, USA

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