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 71 through 80 of 179.00

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  Please buy it back - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By exploder - March 5 - 7:18 pm

  Short list of problems on the day of delivery lenses were full of water radio did not work in the past two years air con quit seat quit working right rear half shaft broke.Rear door filed with water,complete new muffler system,rear lense filled with water,rear sensing system failed door closed sensor as failed wiper motor drowns out radio.Passenger seat air sensor failed .Battery dead after two years Transmission continues to bang but they tell me this is normal.I have ask my dealer service dept to work some magic and turn it into a toyota i could go on and on but I would not want to put anyone of buying one LOL

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  Wont buy another Ford - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By B - February 7 - 10:54 pm

  We are a Ford family...have 4 of them. My next vehicle will not be a Ford. I have had nothing but one problem after another with my Explorer from day one it seems. Blinkers and tail lights have gone out repeatedly and had to be replaced, dealership would have done it at no charge if I wanted to leave it all day to have a bulb replaced. Gear shift locks up, take it in and they arent sure how to fix it even though its a known issue with Explorers. Now my radiator is leaking. Glad its under warranty, thinking I ought to just trade it in before that changes or it will cost me a fortune.

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  Waste of money - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By afk - January 23 - 12:53 pm

  I think this vehicle sums up why Amrican auto industry is going down. I have 2008 BMW 335i convertible. I bought this Explorer for cold/snowy winter days. What a mistake! Interior is nothing but dollar store hard plastic which starts peeling after a while. Handling is a nigthmare. Original tires are a joke. This type of handling from $38000 vehicle is unacceptable. After I replaced the tires with Michelins and added 1 inch wheel spacers to front and rear, handling got little better. But nothing drives me more crazy than the wind noise at highway speeds. Once you are over 70mph, it is impossible to have normal conversation. New tires eliminated the road noise but wind noise is redicilious

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  Great family vehicle! - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By Papa - January 5 - 7:49 pm

  I bought this truck at just under 19,000 miles in April 2008. We had upgraded from a Toyota Corolla because our family was growing. We love everything about this truck! Its stylish, roomy (7 passengers), handles extremely well (Overdrive kicks in great when needed). Everyone has nothing but good things to say about it. Its perfect for my family of 5 with lots of room for babys XL stroller and the kids bags. I hope the next few years are good to me since this is my first major vehicle purchase. So far so good!

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  A great vehicle for what it is - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By Jim C - January 4 - 11:04 am

  I sought out this vehicle mainly because reading about all of the problems with the V8/6spd auto combo problems. I bought this for my wife and I drive a BMW 3-series. If you need a utility that is a little of everything, this is your vehicle. I read reviews criticizing this vehicle because it is no hot rod. It is a box on wheels! The acceleration with the V6 is more than adequate, unless you are towing (which will do not). The limited trim as all the goodies and a ton of cargo space. The main reason we bought this vehicle is that it has adjustable pedals, adjustable seat belts, a tilt wheel and power seat, which is wonderful for my wife who is 5 feet tall. This vehicle is terrific!

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  So Far So Good - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By Rokgod1 - December 18 - 10:23 am

  Had issues right after I drove it off the lot, but the dealer fixed everything. No problems since, other than a rear window not operating. Thats minor to me. I cant believe a closeable outside air vent is an upgrade on a $35k + vehicle. Didnt know that nugget until after I bought the car. I have asthma and love other cars exhaust and pollen streaming into the car at all times. As a result of outside air at all times, the defroster, heating, and AC take more time to get up/down to temperature. Front defrosters are horrible. External audio/video inputs in the ceiling mount DVD is annoying, especially with cables dangling.

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  Blind Spots - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By S. Jonsson - November 19 - 6:53 am

  Nice smooth ride compared to the 2000 Explorer Eddie Bauer I traded off. This is my third Explorer and they keep getting better.Very sharp body style. Interior dash is laid out nice. Interior door handle is in a awkward spot to get at. The upgraded 18" wheels look sharp but the chrome painted caps are cheap.

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  Great so far, but - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By old grunt - November 16 - 6:00 pm

  A great SUV, best of the three Explorers Ive owned. The one flaw Ive found in the short time that Ive owned it is the placement of the fuel gauge. Its pretty well hidden in the lower left side of the instrumentation group. Pretty difficult to see in the lower recesses of the tach.

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  Back to the "Good ole days" - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By pnewby - October 23 - 11:20 pm

  While I liked our 02 Eddie Bauer OK, I thought the styling had gone to the "plain" side compared to the 96 we used to have. Our new 06 has the best of both - a better ride, better handling and more power than either, and a return to the looks that caused us to buy an Explorer in the first place. Just completed a 3800 mile round trip through the Southeast, and could not have been more pleased. Mileage was around 19, which we expected for the V8, performance was superb in all weather conditions, and comfort was fantastic. For the folks not buying an Explorer because of the mileage, figure out your cost per year for miles driven in each type, then decide if the difference is worth it. (YES).

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  Why am I driving a Ford? - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By T in Miami - October 5 - 10:27 pm

  Honeymoon period was over too quickly. Although I love driving it--great pick- up at start up and highway--the problems soon began. Electrical malfunctions: Windows, power seats get stuck when adjusting, a/c sometimes dose not turn on, etc. But the worst-- the transmission. The transmission rises to 2 revolutions and revs there all by itself. It gets stuck in 2nd, and I often (more often lately)have to pull over. Car also turned off (at 25 mph) while driving and all functions were stuck--very scarey when steering and brakes dont work! Technicians finally reparied after three weeks-- say it can happen with any car. I dont buy that.