Representative model. Photo: Oleg Yunakov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2006 Ford Explorer recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2006 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 4
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 635
Latest campaign: Sep 3, 2010

Recall summary by component4

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Visibility	2	Dec 11, 2007	07E104000 05V520000
Equipment	1	Sep 3, 2010	10E043000
Exterior lighting	1	May 24, 2006	06E049000

Safety recalls4

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Sep 3, 2010Latest campaign


Sep 3, 201010E043000	Equipment AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. DetailsHide details for campaign 10E043000 What's wrong MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. Risk AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. Remedy MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769. Campaign NHTSA 10E043000 · Sep 3, 2010
Dec 11, 200707E104000	Visibility: glass, side/rear IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS. DetailsHide details for campaign 07E104000 What's wrong CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS." Risk IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS. Remedy SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008. Campaign NHTSA 07E104000 · Dec 11, 2007
May 24, 200606E049000	Exterior lighting WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. DetailsHide details for campaign 06E049000 What's wrong CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. Risk WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Remedy CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211. Campaign NHTSA 06E049000 · May 24, 2006
Nov 9, 200505V520000	Visibility: windshield wiper/washer motor 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… DetailsHide details for campaign 05V520000 What's wrong 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. Remedy 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. Campaign NHTSA 05V520000 · Nov 9, 2005

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component635

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

635Complaints filed

13Involving a crash

7Involving a fire

12Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Power train	301	47	5	2	4
Engine and engine cooling	165	26	0	2	1
Engine	58	9	0	1	0
Electrical system	39	6	0	2	0
Service brakes	39	6	2	0	1
Vehicle speed control	28	4	2	0	0
Hydraulic	23	4	2	0	1
Unknown or other	22	3	1	1	0
Fuel system	19	3	0	0	0
Gasoline	18	3	0	0	0
Visibility	15	2	1	0	2
Equipment	15	2	0	0	0
Seats	11	2	0	0	1
Structure	11	2	2	0	2
Electronic stability control (ESC)	10	2	0	0	0

16 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Power train
“Hi, I purchased my 2006 ford explorer in 2019 from a mechanic lot. Since then I’ve changed the muffler, all 4 of the o2 sensors.”
Filed 05/27/2025 · ODI 11663104
Engine
“The contact owns a 2006 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road.”
Filed 11/05/2024 · ODI 11623728
Power train
“This transmission should be recalled!!!! The reverse band breaks and is a known issue for this transmission!! No warning just went to reverse and nothing! Upon research this has been a known issue since day one!!”
Filed 07/26/2023 · ODI 11534558

Other Ford Explorer model years

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2006 Ford Explorer recall questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns for the 2006 Ford Explorer. The most recent, 10E043000 (reported September 3, 2010), concerns equipment. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2006 Ford Explorer recalls for?

The largest group is visibility, with 2 campaigns. Others: equipment (1), exterior lighting (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2006 Ford Explorer?

Power train is the most-reported component, named in 301 complaints out of 635 filed with NHTSA (47%). Across all complaints, owners reported 13 crashs and 7 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2006 Ford Explorer?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Ford dealer.

Check a specific Ford by VIN

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