158 complaints reported

2006 Ford Explorer Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
158
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2010

I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORE AND AT 45,000 THE RADIATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS TRUCK FROM THE DAY I GOT THIS TRUCK. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2010
Feb 2010

RADIATOR HAS FAILED AT 51,000 MILE. FROM GOOGLE SEARCHES AND RESULTS AT HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2006/COOLING_SYSTEM/RADIATOR_LEAK.SHTML THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. FORD WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2010
Jan 2010

2006 FORD EXPLORER HAS COOLING SYSTEMS PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND GAUGE WOULD SUDDENLY RISE. THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND THE HEAT WOULD BLOW COLD AIR. IN JULY 2009 I HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED AND WAS TOLD BY A FORD DEALER THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SEVEN MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEMS HAVE STARTED AGAIN. ENGINE SUDDENLY OVERHEATS, THEN SUDDENLY DROPS, COLD AIR FROM THE HEATING SYSTEM. I AM TAKING THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAYS THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE RADIATORS, FANS, ETC., BECAUSE OF THE STEADY PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING WITH THEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2006
Jan 2010

NOTICED A 6 INCH PUDDLE UNDER MY 2006 EDDIE BAUER. HAD IT TESTED AND THE TUBES AT THE BOTTOM WERE LEAKING. BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT RADIATOR FOR 220.00. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2010
Jan 2010

2006 FORD EXPLORER RADIATOR LEAKS WITH ONLY 33K MILES CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. RADIATOR BEING REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2010
Jan 2010

NOVEMBER 2009 AT 50,000 MILES HAD RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY DEALER. MARCH 2010 A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION PCM CARD WAS INSTALLED. HAD TO NOTIFY DEALER THREE TIMES THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT FUNCTIONING WELL, DEALER REBUILT TRANSMISSION. JULY 2010, 67000 MILES THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING SEPARATED AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK OUT WITH NO TEMPERATURE WARNING RESULTING IN A BLOWN ENGINE. REPLACED ENGINE AND WE ARE NOW GETTING INTERMITTENT THROTTLE FAULT LIGHTS ALONG WITH ENGINE SPEED INPUT CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION CODE P0320. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2010
Jan 2010

MODEL YEAR - 2006 MAKE - FORD MODEL - EXPLORER V6 COMPONENT* - CRACKED RADIATOR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2010
Dec 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER . HE NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER UNDER THE ENGINE. HE ASSUMED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS DRIPPING WATER. AS THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE HE SPECULATED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 53,000. UPDATED 2/17/10 *CN UPDATED 02/22/10.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2009
Dec 2009

FORD EXPLORER 2006- RADIATOR LEAKS . PROBLEM STARTS AT AROUND 40K. THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES IN MOST CASES TO REPLACE RADIATOR. REPLACEMENT COST ARE APPROX. $450.00. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2009
Dec 2009

I AM CURRENTLY HAVING TO PUT MY SECOND ALL NEW RADIATOR IN MY 06 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER. THIS IS THE SECOND IN 13 MONTHS. I FEEL THAT THESE RADIATORS ARE DEFECTIVE AS I KNOW OTHERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2009
Nov 2009

I HAVE A 2006 EXPLORER WITH 42000 MILES. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW OFF THE LOT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES. IT BEGAN 2 YEARS AGO WITH FLUID LEAKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO FORD AND I HAD "CRACKED HOSES." I THEN CALLED THIS PAST SUMMER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT CONCERNING LEAKING FLUID AND MY ENGINE FAN CONSTANTLY COMING ON AND OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NORMAL IN THE SUMMER. NOW A FEW MONTHS LATER...MY RADIATOR IS BAD AND ALSO NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. HAD I LISTENED TO MYSELF IN THE SUMMER AND FORCED THE ISSUE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY THEN. THERE ARE A LOT IF ISSUES WITH 2006 EXPLORER RADIATOR FAILURES WHICH I HAVE COME ACROSS IN THE INTERNET. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2007
Nov 2009

ISSUE WITH THE RADIATOR. REPLACED THE RADIATOR 7 MONTHS AGO AND NOW REPLACING IT AGAIN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2009
Nov 2009

2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER - HAD LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR -- TOOK TO A MECHANIC, HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE SEAM OF THE RADIATOR AND WE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE IT AT OUR COST OF $650.00 BECAUSE FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THE EQUIPMENT BUT IS MORE THAN AWARE THERE IS AN ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2009
Oct 2009

I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH THE 4.0 V6. I HAVE THE FAMOUS RADIATOR PROBLEM THAT IT SEEMS 90% OF 2006 OWNERS HAVE. FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB, BUT NO RECALL. I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH RADIATORS EVERY 5,000 MILES. MINE DIDN'T FAIL UNTIL ABOUT 75000 MILES, BUT IT STILL FAILED, SPEWING ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY, AND CAUSING A LOT OF HOURS OF LABOR FOR ME. THE PART WAS ABOUT $300, BUT I SPENT OVER 6 HOURS INSTALLING IT, SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER $1,000 TO DO SO. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ON THE ROAD WHEN IT FAILS. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HADTHIS PROBLEM, AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL BY NOW. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2009
Oct 2009

2006 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 LITER. RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING AT 42,000 MILES AND JUST SHORT OF 4 YEARS OLD. LEAKING FROM THE LOWER TANK SEAL. MUST BE REPLACED, CAN'T BE REPAIRED. FORD WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT. THIS FAILURE ISN'T DUE TO CORROSION, IT IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT. MANY EXPLORER OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS KNOWN DEFECT AND CAN ONLY GET HELP IF THEY ARE FORTUNATE TO STILL BE WITHIN THE 36K MILE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2009
Sep 2009

2006 EXPLORER RADIATOR LEAK. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2009
Sep 2009

ON JAN 6 2009, I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE EXPLORER IS EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0L V6 ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AS IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY SAID THAT THE RADIATOR HAD CRACKED. I HAD IT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AND AFTERWARDS I DID SOME SEARCHING THROUGH THE WARRANTY HISTORY THAT WAS PROVIDED TO ME WHEN I HAD BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE RADIATOR HAD BEEN REPLACED ON FEB 18 2008 ALSO. THIS MEANS THAT TWO NEW RADIATORS HAVE GONE INTO THIS VEHICLE IN THE LAST YEAR. I SPOKE TO THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE FIRST THEY HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, WITH NO PLANS FOR A RECALL IN THE FUTURE. THIS SEEMED STRANGE TO ME AS I KNOW OF AT LEAST 10 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD RADIATORS REPLACED, SOMETIMES THREE TIMES, IN THEIR 2006 EXPLORERS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES TO HAVE THE RADIATORS REPLACED WITH A BETTER DESIGNED PART. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR HAD THE VEHICLE NOT BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. I APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2008
Jul 2009

I AM CURRENTLY HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE THE RADIATOR IS LEAKING, AND I HAVE TO CHECK THE WATER LEVEL IN THE VEHICLE EVERY TWO DAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT I DO NOT COMPLETELY RUN THE VEHICLE HOT AND TAKE THE CHANCES NOT HAVING A VEHICLE BY MESSING THE MOTOR UP. THIS PROBLEM STARTED JUST BEFORE I MADE MY FIRST PAYMENT ON THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER (MAY 25TH) THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKING A LOUD NOISE LIKE A FAN CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING WHENEVER I WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND START MOVING AGAIN. THEN ONE DAY THE AIR CONDITIONER JUST STOP BLOWING COLD AIR AND THE TEMPERATURE GAGE STARTED TO RISE TO HOT MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE RADIATOR AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED WATER BAD. WE HAVE NOTICED WATER UNDER THE TRUCK BUT WE THOUGHT THAT IT FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER THE WATER UNDER THE TRUCK IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE RADIATOR HAS A LEAK. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY ON THE CAR AS WELL THIS COST $79.00 THIS HAD ME LATE FOR WORK AS I DID NOT FIND OUT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD UNTIL I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ONE MORNING. I HAVE CHECK TO SEE JUST HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST ME TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED AND IT IS IN THE BALL PARK OF $400 -600. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2009
Jul 2009

RADIATOR FAILURE AT 46,000 MILES. MECHANIC SAID NO REASON WHY FAILURE OCCURRED, JUST STARTED LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID. DROVE THROUGH ROCKY MOUNTAINS, FAILURE MAY CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATING. *TR POOR MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2009
May 2009

I HAVE A RADIATOR FAILURE ON MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER, 4.0 L V6. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND RADIATOR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. I HAVE DONE ALOT OF RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE COME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF BLOGS AND FORUMS WITH PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM. IF SO MANY OF US ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO PAY ALOT OF MONEY OVER AND OVER FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2009
Apr 2009

HAD TO REPLACE LEAKING RADIATOR. WAS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2009
Mar 2009

AS VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, ENGINE DIED. NO LIGHTS ON DASH TO INDICATE PROBLEM. NO SMOKE FROM ENGINE AT THAT TIME. VEHICLE PULLED OVER, HOOD OPENED, LOTS OF SMOKE POURED OUT. HAD TOWED TO CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. BOTH HEAD GASKETS BLOWN, HEADS WARPED, ONE PISTON BROKE. NEEDS ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE - ESTIMATED COST $6000. BOUGHT VEHICLE USED WITH LIMITED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. PER FORD A CLAMP ON A HOSE TO THE THERMOSTAT MISSING CAUSED BREAKDOWN AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. DID RESEARCH, THERE WAS A TSB ABOUT CLAMPS TO RADIATOR HOSES (SHOULD INCLUDE THERMOSTAT) FOR REPLACEMENT DUE TO FAULTY COATING WHICH COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. HAD MY VEHICLE HISTORY RESEARCHED AND DOES NOT APPEAR THAT MINE WERE EVER REPLACED. NEITHER FORD NOR THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED ARE DOING ANYTHING TO FIX PROBLEM. ALSO DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW POWERTRAIN WARRANTY CAN COVER THE THERMOSTAT BUT NOT THE HOSES AND CLAMPS THAT ARE PART OF IT. ALSO BELIEVE THAT SINCE NO LIGHTS ON DASH TO INDICATE PROBLEM THAT COULD ALSO HAVE PREVENTED THIS FROM HAPPENING IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INSPECTED PROPERLY PRIOR TO SALE TO ME BY DEALERSHIP. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2009
Mar 2009

I HAVE A 2006 FORD EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER WITH 47K MILES ON IT. I JUST HAD TO HAVE MY SECOND RADIATOR PUT IN. MY FIRST WENT AROUND 20K MILES AND LUCKILY WAS UNDER WARRANTY. TODAY, I HAD TO SPEND OVER $600 TO REPLACE THIS. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I SEE AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN MY SITUATION, THERE IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM WITH THESE RADIATORS. EVEN MY MECHANIC WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE PRIOR TO LOOKING AT MY CAR. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ASAP! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2009
Feb 2009

MY WIFE NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF LIQUID UNDER THE FRONT OF OUR 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LEAKING RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $611.69. I QUESTIONED SURVIVE ADVISOR AS TO WHY A RADIATOR WOULD FAIL WITH APPROXIMATELY 46K MILES. I ASKED IF THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE. HE SAID NO. BY THE WAY, MY COMPREHENSIVE EXTENDED FORD WARRANTY EXPIRED TWO MONTHS AGO. IRONIC ISN'T IT? I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON 2/27/09. I ASKED TO BE REIMBURSED THE $611.69 I SPENT TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. BASED ON THAT CONVERSATION WITH KEVIN I DIDN'T GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE CONTACTED AND I SHOULD HEAR FROM SOMEONE WITHIN FOUR BUSINESS DAYS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2009
Feb 2009

RADIATOR FAILED ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS. FORD DEALER CLAIMS NO ABNORMALITIES FOUND. NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY RADIATOR IS FAILING PREMATURELY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2007

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2006 Ford Explorer has 158 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.