Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was on vacation in smoky mountains in gatlinburg, tn and went to a picnic area within the park. I had to make a 45-degree turn to get into the parking space, so at that angle one would almost have to stop. I got into the parking space fine, got straightened up fine, had my foot on the brake, then my car accelerated on its own, rpms revving faster and faster. My cousin told me to put my foot on the brake, and I told her I was but it just kept revving. My Ford Explorer stopped after plowing out of the ground a metal charcoal grill set in at least 1 foot of concrete, a picnic table, and a concrete parking barrier. My front seat passenger and I had to crawl out the back of the Explorer, and the back seat passenger got out her door on a man's shoulders. I still do not have my Explorer back, so I do not know what has been done to correct it yet.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH in reverse and applying the brakes, his foot hit the accelerator pedal. The vehicle hit a mailbox as a result but there were no damages or injuries. The failure occurred five times total when he was applying the brakes. The contact believed that the two pedals were too close to one another. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000 and the current mileage was approximately 46,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that various warning indicators flashed and the vehicle stalled several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the fly by wire pedal and the throttle body were replaced, but the failure continued. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Driving on speed limit I stopped at a light, car engine went dead. I turned key off and waited a few minutes, turned key on, car started as nothing was wrong. It has happened 3 times in the past year. Battery and alternator are pretty new. Decided to take to an authorized mechanic dealer, couldn't find anything wrong with the engine. Really? What if I was driving in a highway? Certainly I wouldn't be alive to report it!
While driving the ABS / check engine / rsc warning lights came on. The truck was able to be driven for a couple of miles, but then it started making a noise from the rear of the vehicle. The truck was not able to be driven to a safe location and was left on the side of a road in a high traffic area and was towed to the dealer. The dealer found out the rear right toothed ring known as an "exciter ring" was loose on the axle. They reported the whole axle part needs to be replaced because of how it's made at a cost of $630 installed. They indicated they had no requirement to report this problem and I believe this is a major defect with unforeseen safety problems that is being under reported. My truck only had 50K miles and I have researched many other individuals reporting the problem on car and truck forums. …
Just recently noticed my 06 Ford Explorer having unexpected engine surges. Went to stop at an intersection and it felt like the vehicle was fighting me to stop. When the light turned green I gave it a little gas however the vehicle begin to maintain that speed like I had the cruise control on. I purposely did not give the vehicle any gas and saw that it just kept accelerating. Finally after breaking out I began to brake and again felt the vehicle accelerating. Since no one was in front of me I wanted to see what the vehicle did if I gave it a little gas in which it made a popping sound and did not respond when I gave it more gas but the engine still was running. I pulled over and put the vehicle in park. I tried to rev the engine but it did not respond. A wrench light came on during this process. I turned the vehicle off then on again in which it seemed there was nothing wrong. …
While attempting to shift Explorer from park to reverse the transmission did not engage for 5 to 10 seconds when it finally did engage there was a loud noise that sounded as if the transmission fell out of the vehicle and the vehicle lunged with great force. The has occurred on many occasions and is posses a danger to myself and family and any one who May be parked or standing to close. I have had this vehicle in to my local Ford service center and they have been unable to resolve the problem. The vehicle was taken in twice while under warranty: first time they stated they could not find anything and the second time they replaced the shifting mechanism. In November of 2012 the engine would not engage at all and had to be towed to my local Ford dealer and they stated that is was the gear shifter again, this time I paid $500 to have it repaired. …
2006 Ford Explorer v-8. Purchased brand new. Issue is when I come to a gradual stop. Vehicle lunges forward at end of stopping and almost feels like you are rear-ended. Brought back to Ford, charged $111.00 for them to re-set the computer (or something like that). I believe we could have accomplished the same thing by disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it. In any event, I can already tell the car is still doing it just on the brief ride home (just picked up the vehicle yesterday). They are saying it's part of the "Smart driver" feature the vehicle has that understands driving patterns from multiple drivers. What kind of feature would lunge forward at a stop? No driver does this! I want this corrected once and for all. Does Ford just not know what the problem is? Does Ford not want to acknowledge this is a real flaw? And lastly, when will Ford do something to address this? …
While driving 2006 Ford Explorer shuts down several time at different occasion sometimes a little wrench appears and gas pedal becomes unresponsive and cruise control can not be engage and vehicle idle very rough when come to a stop. Vehicle has loss acceleration while running on 6 lanes highway and require to be pull along the side to turn off and restart again, when vehicle shuts down it does not always restart right away. When I bring it for diagnostic Ford dealers are unable to do anything because the symptoms can not be duplicated and no fault are store. It happen again Sunday August 21 2011 while I was driven from nj to ny on I-80 and this time check engine light came on and took it to auto-zone and they read codes p2104 and p2111. By the time I went to the dealer and turn off the vehicle check engine light was gone the could not do anything.
The vehicle was driving at a speed of 40-45 MPH and stalled. This again happened on May 25, 2012 while leaving on our vacation. We parked the vehicle and rented one to drive the remaining distance. When taken to a mechanic it was found the throttle body was bad. We have replaced it and in the month of November the vehicle began doing it again. As you drive it will just completely shut off. As the mechanic told us there is no electricity going to the engine and you can coast to the shoulder and restart the vehicle. This will be the 2nd time correcting this problem if this is the true issue. It was read there is a recall on Ford vehicles for that year make but not for the Explorer model. I have contacted Ford and they also stated there is no recall. With the age and low mileage of the vehicle there is no reason this should be happening.
Acceleration complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2006 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2006 Ford Explorer, 4% of the model year's 630 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Ford Explorer acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2006 Ford Explorer, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Ford Explorer acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 36% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.