2006 Ford Explorer recalls and problems

The 2006 Ford Explorer has 1 recall and 630 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is power train.

2006 Ford Explorer
Photo: 2006 Ford Explorer by IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2006 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Average complaint count among 27 Explorer model years — 14th most.

1recalls
630complaints
13crashes
7fires
12injuries
55,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
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1 recall

Visibility

Nov 9, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V520000 · 199,942 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Ford recall no. 05S40. Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2005: 1 complaints20052006: 31 complaints2007: 50 complaints20072008: 42 complaints2009: 79 complaints20092010: 99 complaints992011: 71 complaints20112012: 54 complaints2013: 54 complaints20132014: 47 complaints2015: 31 complaints20152016: 31 complaints2017: 14 complaints20172018: 12 complaints2019: 2 complaints20192020: 5 complaints2021: 2 complaints20212022: 1 complaints2023: 2 complaints20232024: 1 complaints2025: 1 complaints20251

2006 vs. other Ford Explorer years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2006. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2006 Ford Explorer have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the 2006 Ford Explorer, the latest from Nov 9, 2005 (visibility). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Ford Explorer?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention power train (296), engine (221), electrical system (39). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.