Overview & Reviews
Ford treats the Explorer to a number of significant improvements for 2006. Styling has been updated with a bolder grille treatment, a new tailgate and more attractive taillights. Interior furnishings get an upgrade, too, and additional sound insulation results in a supremely quiet cabin, while a stiffened frame and new shocks provide even better ride and handling characteristics than before. Ford tweaked the 4.0-liter V6 to cut smog-forming emissions by 74 percent and a new three-valve 4.6-liter V8 replaces last year's two-valve version. A six-speed automatic transmission is also new, and comes standard with the V8 engine. Trim levels are simplified, and front-seat side airbags, AdvanceTrac stability control and Roll Stability Control are now standard on all Explorers.
- Excellent ride and handling characteristics for a truck-based SUV, strong optional V8, comfortable and quiet interior with user-friendly layout, standard Roll Stability Control.
- Low resale value, lousy fuel economy.
User Reviews:
Showing 31 through 40 of 179.00-
Bad Radiator - 2006 Ford Explorer
By Nate - September 27 - 2:00 am*Contact Ford about your BAD RADIATOR! I have a 2006 Ford Explorer and I have had the same "bad radiator" experience that many other people have posted about. At 45,000 miles it started to leek and finally began to separate from the vehicle. I wrote a letter to Ford about the problem and they sent a letter back to me with a number to call. I called and spoke with a representative who took down all of my info, she told me if they get enough complaints they will post a recall and we can get a reimbursement for the repairs we had to pay for. If you havent already contacted them, do it!
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Bad radiator - 2006 Ford Explorer
By gn - September 3 - 12:04 pmIt will surge at slow speeds while going forward or reverse. Now at 41,000 miles the radiator has sprung a leak. The dealer says this is the first they have heard of explorers having radiator problems. A fun thing to do is when you see someone with a 2006 explorer ask them if they have replaced the radiator yet. You get a surprised look and an answer like "how did you know?"
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NoMoreFords - 2006 Ford Explorer
By NoMoreFords - July 23 - 7:05 pmThank God for the extended warranty. 3 radiators, 1 A/C, shifter column, back windshield motor, tire sensor, and 4 other problems later Im done with Ford. Several problems lurking too (transmission, 4 wheel drive). This vehicle is a piece of junk after 20,000 miles. Too bad cause I like the styling. Trading it in soon for a 4Runner. Resale value was surprising positive.
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Transmission - 2006 Ford Explorer
By AmandaP - July 20 - 9:40 pmI didnt have any problems with this car, in fact, I bragged to my husband all the time about how much I loved it. Then at 55,000 miles I was broke down on the side of the road an hour away from home because the transmission went out with no warning. Then it cost $2,200 to fix it.
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OMG - And I thought that it was just me - 2006 Ford Explorer
By Christina - July 15 - 6:32 pmI purchased my 06 Ford Explorer brand new off of the lot in Sept 06. Around 38K miles I had a radiator leak. I called Ford corporate and to no avail they would not negotiate with me on the radiator since it was out of the 30K warranty. Several months later while attempting to get out of my driveway, the gearshift was stuck in park. After an hour I was able to get it, but after that the transmission would shift horribly from Park into reverse. I took it to the dealer and told them that it had to be because of the sticking gearshift (that was recalled) only to be told that that transmission needed to be partially replaced. Im at 68K miles and I refuse to replace the transmission on a 3.5 year old car.
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Graetly Disappointed in FORD - 2006 Ford Explorer
By RYTYJAY - July 14 - 6:08 pmI purchased the truck brand new, I brought the truck in for Recall (shift Plate) very difficult to shift, I told them I was having a hard shift jolt when putting it in reverse like being rearended. They told me they couldnt find the problem, they put in a new PCM. (new computer) after the new PCM they stated there still was no answers for the transmission problem. I asked if it had anything to do with the recall they said no! I didnt understand how they could say that if they didnt know what the problem was? anyway they asked if they could pull the transmission for $600 and then they would call me and let me know what damage needed to be repaired. I declined to pay $600 for a diagnostic.
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Air Explorer - 2006 Ford Explorer
By Wolfs Den - July 10 - 11:16 pmI brought this vehicle used and I must say im very happy. No problems yet and praying that I dont. Brought it with a 36K service contract and have been driving it like a jet. 80 mph on the highway. GREAT TRUCK!
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Radiator broke again - 2006 Ford Explorer
By Adam - July 2 - 2:04 amI bought the explorer with about 17,000 miles 3 years ago. At approximately 34,000 miles the radiator sprung a leak. While the dealer was fixing the leak they broke 2 instrument clusters. Just this week the radiator started leaking again. The dealership stated it would be at least $1,000.00 to fix it. After complaining to the dealership they said they will help with some of the costs. Ford needs to step up and do something about this radiator problem. I am a huge Ford fan and I have owned numerous ford vehicles, but this is the most disappointed I have been with a Ford vehicle.
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Junk! - 2006 Ford Explorer
By sjoyl61 - July 1 - 6:19 pmPurchased Explorer new, started having trouble at 415 miles. 1. shifter wouldnt move. 2. jerks when stopping, feels like someone hit the back end. 3. shifts hard 4. cruise stuck 5. replaced radiator. 6. FORD WILL NOT FIX OR BACK THEIR PRODUCT! Dealership claims Ford Motor Co. said not to try and fix it. Have purchased Fords for 30 years, will never buy another. Cant even get rid of this overpriced piece of junk.
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Legit Ride - 2006 Ford Explorer
By Hunter - June 17 - 3:52 pmGreat all around car. Have a few complaints about the fuel economy, but its a SUV so what do you expect. Not too many problems, only a few weird sounds here and there. Im a 16 year old guy and it gets me and my friends here, there and then some. I love the room it has, and the stock sound system. The performance is great for big SUV with a V6. Looks great too. Everyone that rides in it loves it, and I do too. Great buy. Consider this instead of a car.
