CarComplaints.com Notes: The previous generation of Explorer was so awful that the redesign in 2006 was greeted with much optimism. That didn't last long.
The transmission continues to be the Explorer's worst reliability problem. Owners report shifting hard & lunging, typically starting as low as 40k miles with a $1,600 average repair bill. On top of that, the radiator is prone to failure around 60k miles. Repairs for the radiator run $500 to $1,000 & many owners report they've had to replace the radiator multiple times for leaks, indicating a possible design defect in the OEM replacement parts.
Ford did make some significant changes to improve handling and safety. Electronic stability control was added in addition to side impact air bags, but beyond that this is a vehicle that should be avoided at all costs.
I am so dissatisfied and unhappy with Ford, I cant find right words to describe my pain. First of all this is my second Ford explorer, My first one was 1999 model and I had many different problems with it, I don't even wanna talk about it... I am so angry to myself that I picked another explorer with a thought that they must have progressed and fixed their problems... But apparently this far from being truth... I bought my 2nd explorer in 2008 as used but under dealer warranty... First I got this sun roof problem, it start running by itself, while I was driving the car, start opening and closing itself and turned off, I took to dealer they said it is not covered, I have to pay almost $3000 to replace the electric motor, I asked to just to remove it and close my sun roof so rain doesn't come in, then they said it gonna cost me $300... I took it regular mechanic to get this one done for $80
Anyway, just a week later I realized this sound, as if raving engine or little plane, I thought it was transmission problem, I took it to dealer again, after they charge me around $100 they said transmission is good, you have no problem... but I on and off I was keep hearing this raving sound, took to dealer again, they said this time your radiator has a hole and leaking coolant, I cant remember well but I paid like $800 to change the radiator, of course problem didn't go away, than winter came and problem went away by itself, then summer comes here we go again, this sound, I always being said it is normal that cooling fan is kicking in when whether is hot (over 90), But I know that this cant be true, right now summer is almost over, I am still having this annoying fan sound some time to time, I am really tired of this problem and spending tons of money for something that I believe manufacturing problem.... I will never and ever buy Ford again...
Ford needs to be ashamed of themselves and their products. I can't believe what I'm going through with the 2006 Ford Explorer. Late last year, I began hear what sounded like a loud airplane sound, but it wasn't overheating. I took it into the dealership, into several auto shops and they would only say that this was normal. Shortly after the new year, I discovered that my radiator had a leak and needed to be replaced. Really??? This repair along with a flippen thermostat only cost me a whopping $817. The problem persisted, so I took it back to the dealership, only for them to charge me $89 to reprogram the PCM, which still never corrected the problem. Less than a month after reprogramming the PCM, the vehicle began overheating every time. I would drive for less than 5 minutes, but then return to normal. I went back to the dealer and I then was told the fan clutch needed to be replaced, which I proceeded to do and that cost me another $450, still didn't fix the problem. I went back to the repair shop that put the radiator in and they charged me for a radiator cap and some other crap that still didn't fix my problem. My car has been at the dealership for 3 days and they are telling me that they nor the folks at Ford know what is causing the problem and they will have to do a process of elimination because I've replaced all of the external parts. BOLOGNA!!! It may be a process of elimination for you, but it is a process of addition for me - this will cost me big time and I'm still not guaranteed that my problem will be resolved. Get the HELL out of here! I will not pay another dime. If the car isn't smoking or stopping on me, then I'll keep driving it. This is absolutely unacceptable for a manufacturer not to know how to fix their product. I think Ford should have a Class Action Lawsuit against them for their radiators, transmissions and their cooling systems, because there are tons of people with this year model that has experienced problems and paid thousands, only to not have the problem corrected. I'll NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN IN LIFE OR AFTER-LIFE!!!
2006 Ford Explorer XLT- Absolute Lemon. Starting having transmission problems so they replaced sensor for $700.00. After that now my cooling fan comes on constantly and sounds like an airplane engine. They had for 5 days and can not fix problem. Now I havr to go back again, they tried to tell me it is normal... They replaced radiator, fan, and hoses because they thought radiator was leaking bad which was causing an air bubble to set fan off. Well no good it still doesn't work right. I am so pissed and i love Ford, I have AN f250 which is great, but I am stuck with a Lemon Explorer. They fix they wanna try is to hook up a Black Box to car and i will push button everytime it happens. WHAT A PAIN IN THE ASS THAT IS. I sincerely think they have no clue what is wrong and cant fix it. There should be a class action suit against Ford. This is a disgrace. ONLY 60000 Miles and its shot.
- Wyatt T.,
New Windsor, NY, US
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I am so dissatisfied and unhappy with Ford, I cant find right words to describe my pain. First of all this is my second Ford explorer, My first one was 1999 model and I had many different problems with it, I don't even wanna talk about it... I am so angry to myself that I picked another explorer with a thought that they must have progressed and fixed their problems... But apparently this far from being truth... I bought my 2nd explorer in 2008 as used but under dealer warranty... First I got this sun roof problem, it start running by itself, while I was driving the car, start opening and closing itself and turned off, I took to dealer they said it is not covered, I have to pay almost $3000 to replace the electric motor, I asked to just to remove it and close my sun roof so rain doesn't come in, then they said it gonna cost me $300... I took it regular mechanic to get this one done for $80
Anyway, just a week later I realized this sound, as if raving engine or little plane, I thought it was transmission problem, I took it to dealer again, after they charge me around $100 they said transmission is good, you have no problem... but I on and off I was keep hearing this raving sound, took to dealer again, they said this time your radiator has a hole and leaking coolant, I cant remember well but I paid like $800 to change the radiator, of course problem didn't go away, than winter came and problem went away by itself, then summer comes here we go again, this sound, I always being said it is normal that cooling fan is kicking in when whether is hot (over 90), But I know that this cant be true, right now summer is almost over, I am still having this annoying fan sound some time to time, I am really tired of this problem and spending tons of money for something that I believe manufacturing problem.... I will never and ever buy Ford again...
- Kemal B., West Orange, NJ, US