2006 Ford Explorer Ford Explorer 2006

We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

2006 Ford Explorer repairs by problem area

Engine (36%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (17%)

Brakes and Traction Control (3%)

Suspension and Steering (16%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (19%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (4%)

Other (4%)

Chart based on 202 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2006 Ford Explorer.

2006 Ford Explorer engine repair cost distribution

$2500+ (5%)

$1000 - $2499 (8%)

$500 - $999 (20%)

$100 - $499 (32%)

< $100 (36%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 66 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2006 Ford Explorer

Engine not specified

Return to top

2006 Ford Explorer 4dr SUV

292-horsepower 4.6L V8 6-speed automatic RWD

50000 mi

US $100
Performed TSB for known transmission issue when shifting from 2nd to 1st. 
161000 mi

US $450
Engine overheating due to leaking tee coupler from radiator to heater core. Ford will no sell just the tee, you have to buy the complete hose assmebly. 
171000 mi

US $475
Bad Fuel Mileage and lack of power. Oiled Changed, Fuel Filter Changed and Spark Plugs Changed. (First time the plugs were changed) RUNS OK NOW. 
178000 mi

US $2300
Spark Plugs Replaced 
102000 mi

US $6
Radiator was leaking. Flushed it and refilled, then added some Bar's Leaks Pelletized Stop Leak, and it fixed the leak. 
140000 mi

US $215
Fan clutch was slipping - replaced (easy). Radiator was leaking - replaced with an aftermarket radiator. 
144200 mi

US $9
Had to replace the thermostat. 
35000 mi

US $18
Found radiator having a slow leak. Inserted Bars Leak Stop tablets into radiator and filled overflow reservoir with new coolant. Leak is now stopped but most likely this is a temporary fix. 
50000 mi

US $4
Slow leak on radiator. Added Bars radiator stop leak and it stopped the leak. 
53000 mi

US $100
Coolant leak from radiator top left corner. (Previous fix by leak stop products were no longer able to fix it.) Radiator replaced. 

Return to top

2006 Ford Explorer 4dr SUV

292-horsepower 4.6L V8 6-speed automatic 4WD w/low range

14000 mi Rough downshift into 1st, either while stopping, or while accelerating. 
28000 mi Reflash ECM and TCM and problem is solved for now. 
123000 mi

US $977
left exhaust manifold replaced. 
164000 mi

US $600
replaced eng. cooling system thermostat 
165200 mi Replaced heater hose assmby 6L2Z 18C553 C. $342 parts. plus labor. 
172000 mi

US $400
replaced water pump 
125000 mi

US $120
Y pipe replacement due to leak 
210 mi lifter stuck in engine when bought new and not discovered by dealer until brought back in 
744 mi Shifting problem from 2nd to 3rd and downshift from 3rd o 2nd, also 2nd to 1st downshift - was very harsh. 
83080 mi

C $101
Bad misfire in Cyl 8, coil and plug removed, coil boot badly cracked and corroded, plug badly fouled. 
45000 mi

US $50
Car was leaking (minor) in the driveway. Appeared to be radiator fluid. CarMax stated the radiator was leaking and new radiator needed. Replaced for $650, but with extended warranty I only paid $50. Not fixed satisfactorily. Car continued to leak radiator fluid. Took back to CarMax, and they tightened all fittings, stated they thought is was transmission fluid, as that circulates through the radiator also. Ran the car in the shop for 1/2 hour, but still leaks 
46300 mi

US $50
Coolant leak was finally tracked to a valve/fitting under the car (around the location of the front passenger seat), whereby coolant leaked onto my driveway. After having the car into CarMax twice before, it is now fixed. 
79000 mi

US $350
Check engine light came on. Was a leaking gasket on the fuel system (around the gas tank), which was allowing gas vapor to escape. New gasket needed. 
94000 mi

US $900
Exhaust manifold cracked and needed replacement. 
77400 mi

US $980
Replaced spark plugs 
92000 mi

US $220
Thermostat was sticking 
25000 mi Engine would idle rough. Ford replaced throttle body and motor assembly. Slow leak from radiator. Service shop found leak from hose under radiator.  
36000 mi Hard shifts when cold - reflash of transmission cured it. 
65000 mi

US $100
Noticed coolant leak in parking lot after vehicle was parked about an hour. Took to dealer who diagnosed as bad radiator, replaced same plus trans cooler line broken in radiator removal process. 
79700 mi

US $85
Check Engine light on. Engine running rough. Code was P0303. Replaced #3 coil on plug assy. Problem solved. 
93700 mi

US $150
Car would miss and buck during acceleration. Dealer diagnosed 2 bad coil on plugs and replaced them. 
110500 mi

US $70
Check engine light on repl coil on plug assy 
113000 mi

US $65
Check engine light on. repl coil on plug for cyl. 7. 

Return to top

2006 Ford Explorer 4dr SUV

210-horsepower 4.0L V6 5-speed automatic RWD

95800 mi

US $550
Vehicle gave a loud "WHOOSHING" noise when gas pedal pressed and had no working heat. Noticed coolant tank was empty and radiator fluid low. When refilled, the radiator began leaking slowly then profusely. Radiator was replaced. 
73000 mi

US $600
Thermostat housing cracked causing leaks 
92300 mi

US $1500
Radiator failure, barely made it a mile to the garage. Radiator replaced. This is the 2nd radiator I have had to have replaced. 
109000 mi

US $1100
Thermostat housing cracked (2nd time) 
138000 mi

US $650
Jet Engine Noise, coolant smell, losing coolant - Thermostat housing replaced 
124000 mi

US $150
wet spark plugs 
16000 mi Factory Warranty repair-issue not resolved. Gear shift lock will not release when brake depressed. 2 visits to same dealership; problem not yet resolved. Escalating issue through warranty company. 
136000 mi

US $350
Replaced Spark plugs, spark plug wires. 
125700 mi

US $90
The EGR valve went bad, car would turn off or sputter. I replaced the EGR valve. 
137600 mi

US $500
Oil leak, replaced seal and gasket. 
64000 mi Engine cooling system (radiator, water pump, thermostat, heater core, etc.), repair 
75000 mi

US $235
connection parts on radiator needed to be replaced, they were leaking. 
94000 mi

US $1000
Crack in piece where you put oil in the engine causing oil to leak. Thermostat needed to be replaced. 
121000 mi leaking coolant. 
124000 mi Leaking coolant 

Return to top

2006 Ford Explorer 4dr SUV

210-horsepower 4.0L V6 5-speed automatic 4WD w/low range

102100 mi

US $200
3 weeks later took it to local repair. Found 3 bad plugs on left side. Fixed. Runs great now. 
40000 mi

US $580
Radiator leak at 40000 miles. waited for radiator because Ford didn't have any and neither did radiator shop. Ford was out, this tells you they have a problem w/ radiators. there should be a recall. 
152000 mi Quick disconnect for trans cooler lines at radiator leaking. Shop had to engineer parts for repair, so a new $1000 radiator would not have to be done. Milled the connector and added 3/8npt fitting with trans hose jumper. No mare leaks seen. 
12400 mi

¤500
While going off road, broke the hose of the tranny cooler and thus leaking tranny fluid. Had to replace the whole of the radiator/tranny cooler. Disappointed with the positioning of the hoses of the tranny. Tranny cooler should have been a sep unit 
35960 mi A drop in coolant level was noticed and duly informed to the service center. After troubleshooting, a leak in th radiator was found. There is a TSB regarding this and the radiator was replaced free of charge. 
110000 mi

US $2900
New radiator, fuel line repair. 
80000 mi

US $1000
Replaced Radiator 
40000 mi

US $300
broken radiator 
40000 mi

US $100
ignition coil malfunction faulty EVAP solenoid and canister; car sold with this unrepaired 
72980 mi

C $750
Thermestat housing crack causing coolant to leak. Issue found before any other damage could occur to engine, no overheating occurred. 
112840 mi

C $150
Replaced egr valve 
108200 mi

US $95
Thermostat housing split again... second one within 2 months 
131000 mi

US $3700
jumped timing, blew engine 
35000 mi Radiator was replaced due to small leak. Radiator was replaced under warranty due to a leak 
84500 mi

US $800
Radiator was leaking and had to be replaced, 2nd time this issue has occurred. 
93000 mi

US $400
Thermostat housing cracked, needed to be replaced. 
98000 mi

US $270
Reflashed ecu to make the engine run cooler 
105000 mi

US $4900
Engine had no compression in cylinder #4 due to broken time chain tensioner, replaced with remanufactured engine. 

Return to top

See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs
See TrueDelta's information for all Ford models.

2006 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2006 Ford Explorer problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.