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.
7.7
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$720
Average Mileage:
64,100 miles
Total Complaints:
238 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replace radiator (176 reports)
not sure (34 reports)
replace with ford certified radiator and parts (12 reports)
replace bad seal (7 reports)
replace with aftermarket radiator and parts (5 reports)
contact national highway safety administration 1-888-327-423 (1 reports)
California Lemon Law Specialists - If you have repeated problems with your 2006 Ford Explorer, you may be able to get your vehicle replace or your money back under the California Lemon Laws.
My 2006 Explorer V-8 overheated, I took it to the dealership, they said the radiator hade a leak and needed to be replaced at my cost of $900.00. It is a really nice SUV with only 48,000 miles, it sure seems expensive for a radiator...
I too suffered from the 2006 Ford Explorer radiator failure issue. At 3 years and 49K miles, my radiator failed and replaced it for $1200 at my expense. My mechanic knocked 10% off for being a regular customer but Ford Motor would not do anything to help saying that I was out of warranty and there was no recall or "customer satisfaction" program for this issue. I feel like we're all on the hook for flawed engineering of this radiator and cooling system and would love to join in any effort you're aware of to file suit or escalate this issue.
I cannot believe a radiator would fail on a vehicle after just 3 years and feel very thankful for the low number of issues I have with my 2003 Honda Civic with over 150K miles on it. Before this issue I was a huge Ford Explorer fan but now I'm pretty riled up and unless Ford takes some responsibility have a hard time imagining every buying another.
I brought my truck in many times with the same symptoms....they kept tellin g me there was no antifreeze in it. I told them they had serviced it! When the radiator went, I was 2000 miles and 7 days beyond the warranty coverage and they wouldn't honor it. Then, I had to wait for a radiator to be shipped because there was a national backorder for this part!!! Then, the hose let go because the wrong clamps were used. No one will accept responsibility because now it is an after market part. Can you believe this crap? I am so done with Ford....
2006 Ford Explorer XLS V6 - One day while driving to work the engine went into fail-safe mode, speed 45 mph mileage and 37k miles (It had barely gone out of warranty), I took it to Ford Dealership to get it checked. They charged $90 for diagnostic and came back telling that the coolant level was low that caused the engine to overheat and go into fails-safe mode. They indicated the root cause as radiator having a leak. To fix the problem it needs to be replaced. The ford radiator replacement + labor cost around $1000. Since its unsafe to drive with this kind of leak, I got it fixed with an aftermarket radiator for $540 with 1 year warranty and raised a complaint with Ford.
Does anyone happen to know if ford does make a recall on these radiators .. will they reimburse the cost of diagnostics and aftermarket radiator ?
i don't really know how this happened but while i was driving from PA to Boston, MA, my car seemed to have been running funny. i drove it all the way there with no problems except that it seemed as though the engine was overworked or something (i do drive alot)... Drove it around Boston for two days, then drove back to PA. All the while, it ran the same way as described above.
I called my personal friend and mechanic, he suggested i pull over and have it looked at since i still had a ways to go on the drive, just to be safe. too late, it was after 5 on a friday, everything was closed. so i kept driving. mind you, there were no lights on in my car whatsoever!!
monday morning, i dropped off my car at the dealership again (only 3 weeks after the original time it was just in the shop). turns out, my radiator was overheating. i told that technician, i don't understand how. i've been in cars that have overheated before. i am a woman, yes, i don't know alot about cars, but i'm not stupid. i know there's some sort of light that comes on when something of that nature happens, and i know it smokes from the engine (area) and i know it smells!! he told me it was on the verge. i think he talked to me as if i were stupid and i think i got played. but when i picked up my car, it was running smoothly and we're going on almost 3 weeks without a problem now.
thank god for their extended warranty program!! next time you buy a car - buy the extended warranty.... it's worth it. mine cost me over $500 and after 2x in the shop in less then a month, all i had to put out was a $100 deductible and the insurance covered the rest.... it was paid almost 3x over!!
- Tara T.,
Emmaus, PA, US
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I bought what I thought was my dream car. I love the explorer look and love to drive it. Been wanting one for years. I bought it certified with warrenty and purchased extended warranty on top. I was told bumper to bumper under warrenty. Bull! I noticed puddle under car and had it checked out by Oil Can Henry's where I get all the little things done. They said it was leaking out of the top. Took it to ford dealership and they said i needed new radiator, but $600.00 for the radiator and another 300 to have it insalled. Ouch! then I found out that the raidiator is not covered under my so called bumper to bumper warrenty.
Come on Ford you need to make this right. I Bought a new radiator and husband is putting it in but running into trouble. It sounds like Ford has Explorers with this problem everywhere in the 2006 model. I have always had fords and never had this much trouble. I will fix it once, after that I will get rid of it. Not worth the hassle to drive an undependable rig. Chevy and Toyota are looking really nice now. I will check out a model before I buy and use Auto beef from now on. Wish I would had done it sooner. Could have saved myself 30 grand and all this crap to boot.
purchased 06 explr in 107- in 10/07 radiator was leaking and took to dealer and they replaced radiator.. in 3/2009 radiator leaking again only had traveled 15,000 miles dealer replaced radiator at my cost of 500.00(aftermarket radiator) COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL AND FORD AND DEALER- NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE . IN 10/2009 RADIATOR LEAKING AGAIN - TOOK VEHICLE TO PLACE WHERE THE RADIATOR WAS PURCHASED FROM IN 3/2009 AND THEY HAD STATED THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN 2006 EXPLORERS AND RADIATORS FAIL ALL THE TIME - BUT THE DEALER HAD AGREED TO REPALCE IT AT THERE COST BECUSE IT HADN'T BEEN 12 MNTHS OR 12,000.. SO IT WAS REPALCED FOR THE THIRD TIME .
IT IS NOW MAY OF 2010 AND THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED ONCE AGAIN- IT ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES AND THIS IS THE 5 TH RADIATOR THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ... COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AGAIN WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL - I AM FILING LEMON ... FORD SAYS THEY WILL DO NOTHING AND THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM - DEALER WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE VEHICLE OR SPEAK TO ME ... AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME RADIATOR REPAIR SHOP STATES THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME ....
Ford dealer found problem and suggested I have it fixed for $900.00. I told them no way. After I left they called and added insult to injury by offering to do it for $600.00, I went to a trusted radiator shop and had it done for $210.00
This is a 2006 Ford Explorer and this is the 4th Radiator and now it is leaking . They all leak on the passenger side so there is some kind of Ford engineering problem . The first was under warranty but the next two are after market . Now the 4th one is leaking and it is less that a year old . It will be covered under warranty by the company that installed it but a radiator a year is too much . Does Ford have a recall?
Ford Explorer Radiator Leak apparently a very common occurrence. Problem is, the dealerships are minting money fixing it ! Dealers want to charge upwards of 900 - 1200 to replace a radiator !! Apparently b/c they're made with lesser materials, they are meant to be "completely replaced" and not "sealed" like in the old days.
My dealer told me it would have to be replaced (after charging me another $100 for "Diagnostics"... They said it was a puncture from a "fast moving object" perhaps.
WRONG !
Refused to pay $1200 so went to my trusty neighborhood guy. HE said "nope - fairly common - leak due to some engineering defect"..
Ford - you claim your technicians are "certified and better trained than anyone else to fix YOUR OWN vehicles".. Is that a false statement? In my experience yes.. could be.
Anyway, I'm quite upset that this is a common problem and I URGE you to NOT get it fixed at the Ford dealership if you have to..
Quality of Ford cars should be better, but they should DEFINITELY have better staff at the dealership repair center.. but DONT...
Bought used with 52K miles & immediately noticed a puddle of antifreeze. Called the local Ford dealer & they insisted it was not a common problem & wanted $1200 for a new radiator installed. I called Ford to register my complaint & informed them of this website with over 60 complaints. Again they insisted it was not a known problem. I bought an aftermarket radiator on ebay for $75 & had my local gas station install it for $325. It involved having to recharge the AC too. Grrrrrrr.
Anybody a lawyer so we can start a class action lawsuit?
I have had many Fords in the past & have been mostly happy with them...I wish they would do the right thing this time.
Add me to the list of Explorers with a radiator that had to be replaced. Fortunately, my extended warranty covered the cost of replacement this time. Radiator is cheap plastic and aluminum model.
i bought a used ford explorer with 68,000 kilometers after noting the reservoir was empty had the dealer install a new radiator,,only 13 months and 18,000 kilometers later need anew radiator installed again!!!!!!after contacting ford Canada i was told that there is nothing ford is willing to do to help me,,,,,,maybe we all need to file a online complaint to ford Canada to get something done
Took it to dealer for diagnosis. They wanted over $1100 to replace. Asked service advisor if he'd heard of failure with so few miles; he said he'd seen it before, but it wasn't common.
In looking on the web, I see that it is indeed happening frequently. Maybe the Ford service advisors should look on the web and be truthful with customers. Won't be going back there for service...
2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer, V6 Automatic. Radiator has been leaking since about 55000 miles. Must be replaced. Apparently a big problem with these. Local guy said module must be reset by someone qualified to reset fan or possible heating problems may occur. Researching that now. I think Ford should recall.
This is the 3rd radiator, replaced the first was replaced under warranty at 32K and the 2nd was replaced at 67K at dealers expense. 3rd was replaced at 98K. same deal the repair techs all indicate that radiator leaks/failures are quite common, just like brakes/rotors/wheel bearing. Someday Ford will get it right only positive thing is that this is a company vehicle and the cost is covered by the company.
As many others, I have a Ford Explorer with a leaking radiator. I am putting off the repair in the hopes of a recall or service campaign. I have been lobbying my local dealer for an after warranty adjustment, but have not been successful. I currently have to add about a gallon of coolant per 1000 miles, but the leak seems to be getting worse. I am just as aware of the environmental impact of my procrastination as the cost of the radiator ($600!!!-OEM).
I payed $22.000 for my ford explorer, thinking it would be a dependable vehicle, Only to find out ford can't even make a radiator last 4 years, Now I have to replace the radiator at a cost of $650.00 Because ford engineers got a pat on back for designing a cheap radiator.
Noticed the sweet smell of anti- freez one day and decided to look under the hood to discover a green crusty leak originating from thr center and the top of the radiator. originally i suspected a stone or some other FOB impacted the radiator, but after i replaced the radiator i noticed that it was a crack. i have replaced it, but now i have started to smell it again, looked under the hood and found that the radiator is leaking again from the same area..WTF Ford???? The only saving grace, i know how to replace it and not have some ford tech get paid $98/Hr to change the part.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My 2006 Explorer V-8 overheated, I took it to the dealership, they said the radiator hade a leak and needed to be replaced at my cost of $900.00. It is a really nice SUV with only 48,000 miles, it sure seems expensive for a radiator...
- Jesse P., West Chester, OH, US