Used 2006 Ford Explorer Consumer Reviews
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Transmission beyond hope
fdfinance, 03/03/2014
2006 Ford Explorer XLS 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
14 of 16 people found this review helpful
I bought the Explorer new and had a thermostat failure that blew coolant all over the engine warping engine parts resulting in $2500 repair. At 70,000 miles started having transmission issues starting with slipping and high revs between gears. Transmission locked up and was replaced. Since then the same slipping issues has caused multiple returns to the shop without resolution. My wife and I like the Explorer design but the engine / transmissions issues make it a nightmare that I would not wish on anyone. This is my last Ford.
2006 traded for a 2004 Tahoe thats better
chevylover229, 04/02/2011
2006 Ford Explorer XLS 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
we have 7 kids (4 at the time we bought it in(2006) it looked OK, were we ever wrong. The only good thing about it was it broke down under warranty(16,320 miles) it was used with 15,000 miles on it we barley owned it. every thing under the hood needed to be fixed, Everything. and ford wouldn't fix it. and it was under warranty.
2006 Ford Explorer for sale near you
3 of 84 listings
- XLS 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,99588 mi away
- Eddie Bauer 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,699136 mi away
- Eddie Bauer 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,500169 mi away
See all 84 listings
oh boy
Marquis Greene, 03/26/2015
2006 Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I've purchase a ford explore and had to change out 3 radiators and 2 thermostats
The car from transmission and radiator hell
Rebecca Lawsen, 10/02/2016
2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
So.... to start off my story. I want to say that we have never purchased an explorer new. They have all been used. The first 2002 eddie baur explorer we got had 20,000 and the 2006 one im reviewing had 80,000. So the 2002 explorer we owned had 4 transmissions, and 2 engines. Now, that was not terrible, overall we replaced it because it was getting old. We put 490,000 miles on it. Thats a pretty decent vehicle. However, this 2006 one is getting traded in for something different in late october. We got this car aprox. 2 years ago. Its already had 2 transmission problems, the engine runs hot daily, and the radiator is for $#@&. I am actually scared when I find out that I have to drive out of state for a meeting. Please, I beg of you, do not buy a 2006 explorer. Better yet, don't even buy an explorer. We've had one all my childrens lives and the amount of money we have had to soak into both of them could have gotten me a range rover I could have still had to this day. Also logic wise, the rear climate control is in the front of the car.... I shouldnt have to have my kids tell me when to adjust their air. It should have been placed in the back like every other SUV ever made. My radio lights all went out, dont really know why. Basically to the point, transmissions need to either be lying around in your garage with some radiators or this car just isn't for you.
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Great Family Car
Helpful Ford Owner, 09/08/2015
2006 Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
11 of 13 people found this review helpful
Bought this car used with 14,000 miles on it back in 2008. I have the "Advance Trac" version with the 4.0ltr V6, they were the really base model and I don't see many of them around. They also didn't have the gobs of chrome the other models came with, which means mine has aged pretty gracefully and looks a lot like the more recent Expeditions. It's been garaged kept and I have given it regular recommended maintenance. I have managed to put over 90,000 miles on it since I purchased it, aside from a leaky thermostat housing which I replaced myself at 50,000 miles for about $80 total, it's been a good truck. First I'll start with the negatives. At very low speeds the transmission feels like there is a guy in there with a sledge hammer shifting gears. The back seat is not really that comfortable for adults, it's really sad, I think my 01 2dr Explorer sport had a more comfortable and roomy back seat than my 06 4dr. The motor has a lot of low end torque at low city speeds which is great, but at highway speed the V6 struggles when it comes to passing. I am a pretty easy driver but I can barely coax over 16mpg out of it with a mix of highway and city driving. My car is pretty bare bones and I like it that way, not much to go wrong. AC works great, so does the heat power windows are nice and so is cruise control. Front seat is very comfortable for me and I like the commanding view. Its very torquey on the low end so it does well around town. I've never towed anything but I bet it would do ok at low speeds, I'd hate to take anything heavy on the highway though. For the last 5 years it has been the commuter vehicle for my family, fits two children in the back comfortably and 3 in a pinch. LOTS of room in the trunk for stuff, and believe me I have needed every inch. I don't have the fold flat 3rd row of seats, but I do get some pretty nifty storage compartments under the deck instead. I'm very happy with my Explorer, it's been pretty dependable. I had an 01 Explorer Sport which had over 170,000 miles on it when I got rid of it (still ran well too) so I hope that this one will last as long.
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