Used 2006 Ford Explorer Consumer Reviews
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Another Radiator Issue
spanora, 10/08/2013
2006 Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
I purchased this vehicle at 35k miles. At 40k miles (4 months later) the radiator, thermostat and thermostat housing went bad. $1300 later I was on my way. At 55k miles, after owning the car for 16 months, the enginge had a blown head gasket. At 85k miles, the radiator, thermostat and thermostat housing are bad again. Definitely not something that should go bad again so soon. We'll see how long radiator #3 lasts!
Bad Radiator
Nate, 09/27/2010
2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4dr SUV 4WD (4.6L 8cyl 6A)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
*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 haven't already contacted them, do it!
2006 Ford Explorer for sale near you
3 of 84 listings
- Eddie Bauer 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,99973 mi away
- Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,350190 mi away
- XLT 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,990216 mi away
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On it's way out After 150,000-had major repairs
mhs48128, 04/05/2015
updated 10/12/2018
2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
Never towed a thing with it and that's probably why I have no trany issues. Also, garaged in winter. Always had a slightly rough truck "ride". Very comfortable front buckets. 2nd seat o.k. but 3rd seat is a "pop-up" rumble seat! Only two complaints: A "glass chin" front grille with no real bumper--not front "crashworthy". Stupid orange dashboard idiot messages. Currently lit: tire pressure sensor and gas cap leak & engine light (for same reason), and no way to turn them off permanently. (Must use reset button.) Both useless "errors" and not major. AC still works. Over $2000 in radiator, trans hoses and water pump failure in 2016, after a long hot Summer trip to Northern UP Michigan. (1200 miles round trip) Still cheaper than buyer a new one ? Other major repairs have included both front bearings (at different times). Several sets of brakes, a new battery, and tires (twice). Averages about $500 a year for maintenance, usually normal TBA issues. Original exhaust. It goes thru brakes every 3 years or so. 15 MPG in the city, it continues to be a "gas hog". I plan to sell or trade it n 2019-20. I would not recommend it as a used car, at this point. No leaks but starting to use oil. Rear Wiper blade motor just quit. 2018 update: It continues to need expensive repairs. In the past 3 years the radiator failed twice and trany cooling hoses burned up. New water pump. Fan blower motor, serpentine belt, alternator. Over $ 2000 in the last 3 years, a bit at a time. No radio and time dashboard lights. Should have been traded in 3 years ago to avoid these major repairs. The anti-skid control remains "touchy" and it locked up which caused the vehicle to slide off the wide driveway into a ditch. Questionable traction in Winter and new tires didn't help much. I am tired of it.
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The Achilles Heel of the 2006 explorer (Radiator & Transmission)
sr_engineer42, 01/03/2012
2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
I purchased my 2006 explorer in 2007 with 19k miles... It looks sharp and performs very well in traffic and on the interstate. Has a sport car feel imo.. however, the radiator started to leak,, then stopped for some time (seems to leak more in the colder months, not at all in the summer months) this happed at about 100k miles. I have also replace both front (wheel hubs), and the CD player. you can purchase an aftermarket radiator on-line for about $125.. much cheaper than the ford one for about 500.. The other design flaw is the Transmission.. I noticed that now 3rd gear was very shaky.. in the shift... hense the tranny is going .. .. at that point I traded the Ford for a GMC.
06 Explorer radiator and tranny
bllowns, 04/09/2013
2006 Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
I bought my 06 Explorer (my third one) with only 11,000 miles which now has 82,000 miles. So far I've replaced the radiator twice at a cost of $469.00 a pop. At 65,000 miles the transmission started slamming into reverse. When I put it in reverse now, if it dose not go in gear immediatly, I will shift it into neutral and back into reverse and hope it will gently go into reverse as it should. This helps but I shouldn't have to do this! Now it's hitting hard when it downshifts while stopping. I've owned many Fords over the years and so far I've had to replace seven or eight transmissions. No more transmissions or Fords for me! My son has a 98 Tacoma with 210,000 miles. So long Ford!