2006 Ford Explorer Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 296 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2006 Ford Explorer, 47% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 60,460 miles. The words owners use most often: “rear ended” (9% of reports).
- 296power train complaints
- 60,460median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $2,400typical repair cost reported by owners
- 15%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Rear ended: mentioned in 28 of 296 complaints (9%)
- Feels like: mentioned in 26 of 296 complaints (9%)
- Eddie bauer: mentioned in 16 of 296 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2006 Ford Explorer at $2,400, and half of them between $1,250 and $3,700.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2019), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 251 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 296 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 3 an injury.
Ford Explorer power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Explorer | 3 | 7% | — |
| 2025 Explorer | 15 | 15% | 8,967 |
| 2024 Explorer | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2023 Explorer | 12 | 11% | 10,600 |
| 2022 Explorer | 61 | 23% | 22,000 |
| 2021 Explorer | 126 | 29% | 46,000 |
| 2020 Explorer | 495 | 40% | 42,000 |
| 2019 Explorer | 35 | 12% | 82,500 |
| 2018 Explorer | 50 | 7% | 86,000 |
| 2017 Explorer | 123 | 7% | 55,425 |
| 2016 Explorer | 215 | 9% | 47,075 |
| 2015 Explorer | 86 | 5% | 50,000 |
| 2014 Explorer | 79 | 5% | 75,207 |
| 2013 Explorer | 119 | 5% | 60,000 |
| 2012 Explorer | 55 | 7% | 46,740 |
| 2011 Explorer | 64 | 5% | 50,500 |
| 2010 Explorer | 28 | 24% | 80,500 |
| 2009 Explorer | 3 | 9% | 78,000 |
| 2008 Explorer | 36 | 24% | 84,325 |
| 2007 Explorer | 57 | 27% | 69,000 |
| 2006 Explorer | 296 | 47% | 60,460 |
| 2005 Explorer | 99 | 20% | 75,000 |
| 2004 Explorer | 460 | 35% | 50,000 |
| 2003 Explorer | 335 | 30% | 77,000 |
| 2002 Explorer | 1,502 | 46% | 80,173 |
| 2001 Explorer | 42 | 11% | 108,700 |
| 2000 Explorer | 133 | 14% | 77,500 |
| 1999 Explorer | 115 | 9% | 91,000 |
| 1998 Explorer | 103 | 5% | 102,157 |
| 1997 Explorer | 104 | 6% | 95,594 |
| 1996 Explorer | 120 | 8% | 138,579 |
| 1995 Explorer | 119 | 14% | 103,310 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the 2006 Ford Explorer. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Hi, I purchased my 2006 ford explorer in 2019 from a mechanic lot. Since then Iâve changed the muffler, all 4 of the o2 sensors. Recently, after changing parts like the cylinder, spark plugs and wires as well as another set of o2 sensors and the EGR Valve, Mass Air flow sensor and the EGR…
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!!
Complete failure of the powertrain electrical harness. Heat degradation to wire insulation has exposed all conductors. Several other owner operators have experienced the same issue wherein the Dealer has attempted repair of existing trouble codes, by replacing sensors, modules and components…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2006 Ford Explorers have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 296 owner complaints about power train for the 2006 Ford Explorer (47% of the 630 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2006 Ford Explorer power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 60,460 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2006 Ford Explorer?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,400 (half paid between $1,250 and $3,700), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2006 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “rear ended”, in 28 of 296 complaints, followed by “feels like” (26).
Other 2006 Ford Explorer problems
See all 2006 Ford Explorer problems or power train problems across all Explorer years.