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.
Thermostate Housing & Transmission Slipping - Great site with hands on experience in trying to fix problems that even stump Ford mechanics. Saved me from an expensive transmission overhaul.
I bought this piece of junk new, When we went to pick it up from the ford dealer the inside was covered with majic marker, greesey foot prints on seats, greasy foot prints on head liner? ( cant understand that one on a brand new vehicle) Dealer told us we had to take it that way and make an appointment to bring back for detail work!!! when we brought it back they wanted to charge us for the detail work!!! With in one week of picking up this junk it started having serious problems, water leaking from thermostat housing, the dealer had the car for 4 days to fix this?? 6 months later it started to leak again, fixed again?? the housing keep leaking, Once the factory warranty ran out the tried to fix this problem 2 more times at my expense. The dam thing still leakes about a quart of anti freeze a week. It is cheaper to keep adding antifreeze then to have it not fixed again at my expense. This is only one of several problems with this Explorer. I will never buy another one.
2006 Explorer story continues...now we are in August 2012, 10 months later and we are back in the shop AGAIN for another Coolant leak...was informed that the Thermostat housing is leaking and would not be covered under the extended warranty...they only want $700 to repair this little problem...NOT!
Stay tuned for the conclusion of my story (they wanted each problem documented separately...sorry)
- flip73,
Fort Collins, CO, US
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I bought this piece of junk new, When we went to pick it up from the ford dealer the inside was covered with majic marker, greesey foot prints on seats, greasy foot prints on head liner? ( cant understand that one on a brand new vehicle) Dealer told us we had to take it that way and make an appointment to bring back for detail work!!! when we brought it back they wanted to charge us for the detail work!!! With in one week of picking up this junk it started having serious problems, water leaking from thermostat housing, the dealer had the car for 4 days to fix this?? 6 months later it started to leak again, fixed again?? the housing keep leaking, Once the factory warranty ran out the tried to fix this problem 2 more times at my expense. The dam thing still leakes about a quart of anti freeze a week. It is cheaper to keep adding antifreeze then to have it not fixed again at my expense. This is only one of several problems with this Explorer. I will never buy another one.
- vancuran, Sardinia, NY, US