Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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 have now had 2 problems with this dealership, and personally I believe everyone deserves second chances, the first vehicle the seller sold me had major issues with gas tank had a hole in it and exposed wires right next to it so that truck was a ticking time bomb, now I have a 2006 Ford Explorer with more issues but again the seller makes its seem like a pretty reliable car and lies about the issues, covers up the stories and thank god my buddy is a mechanic and I take everything I buy to him, when I first received the car, (as many people not many people know anything as soon as they hear a weird noise) I took it to him and he rides with me and notices some major issues, I took it for a drive and the back suspension was going out (got that replaced) then the transmission slipping , like not only was lied to but now having to pay 2000$ just to keep the car running, not suitable for me …
Relates to design: many vehicles I have driven and never in one that I could put my shoe on both gas and brake pedal at the same time, and I am a very modest size man, not a large shoe size. I have experienced braking and the engine racing and found that my foot was on both pedals or stepping on gas and something holding back and realizing I was also on brake. I recently did a large amount of damage to three other vehicles and mine when braking to stop, my shoe was hitting both pedals. I attempted to slam on the brake and realize now I was also on the gas. While looking where I was going did not have time to realize this, get off the gas before hitting a parked vehicle with my foot down on the gas. I pushed a car into another car and pushed those two over to seriously damage a third. I can't imagine if a person had been there or people in the cars. …
Eddie bauer v8 2006 Explorer 107000 miles the ABS and srv lights came off. The car was stuck to the ground and would not speed at all. Got a mechanic to check and many different codes showed up. In the past when the same lights came up I took the car to a Ford dealer and they found nothing.they recommended to change the front tires but they couldn't find any problems. For what I know it seems the Ford Explorer has a lot of problems and Ford refuses to do a recall to fix it.
Driving down the hwy the powertrain malfunction indicator came on. I lost all use of the fuel pedal and brake. Had to get to the side of the hwy with out dying. If I turn the car off and back on the indicator is gone and works just fine. This situation has happened at least 5 times in the last 3 months. Nothing shows up when I plug in a code reader.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Explorer. While attempting to release the emergency brake, it fractured. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the emergency brake assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,000.
Took this vehicle to my Ford dealer where I bought it and they put on a new master braking cyclinder and the brake pedal still goes to the floor. Ford dealer does not know where the problem is to be able to fix it and Ford motors is aware of this problem and doing nothing about it at all.
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. …
I had just left the gym when my 2006 Explorer almost caused an accident. During acceleration while making a right hand turn from a stop light, the car stopped abruptly as if I were slamming on the brakes. I was not applying the brakes at all, I was actually trying to accelerate. The brakes were stopping the vehicle rapidly without my input. I was very close to being rear ended. I decided to pull the car to a safe spot and while I was trying to turn into a parking lot, the car decided to stop itself, almost getting me rear ended again. I had the Explorer towed to the nearest dealer where repairs were performed at the tune of $423.78. The ABS tone ring had cracked, causing the system to stop the car. I still have the old broken tone ring. I am almost nervous driving the thing at higher speeds for fear of what might happen if it brakes again. …
At random times and not often, when I put the SUV in park, and turn off the truck and remove my foot from the brake, the truck will continue to roll. It is as though the SUV is in neutral, put it is in park. The SUV will roll until something stops it like a curb or applying the brake. To fix the problem, I have to place the shift gear to from park to another gear and back to park. At that time, the truck will catch. Over the past year or so, it has occurred 6 or 7 times. I took the truck in for service and they checked the transmission and gear box and found no issue. The problem occurred again last week. Since the dealer cannot see the problem, they say there is no problem. However, it is a matter of time of when it occurs and I am not aware of it not locking and it rolls when there is nobody to stop it or a curb. …
We bought this used from a used car dealership. The very next day I noticed while driving the engine just shut off. Couple months later the same thing happened and has continued to happen often. Last week I was driving 45 MPH on a highway in the rain and lost all control of the vehicle. The brakes didn't work, the steering didn't work, the entire car shut down, I had a panic attack because I was in traffic and almost caused a huge accident with other vehicles. I put on the hazards and finally was able to drift into a the middle of the road called the turning lane. I called the dealership many times and have only been told "we are sorry". I tried calling a lemon law lawyer but was told, sorry, if the truck was a 2007 then I would have a case. So, now what do I do? I have a 10,000 car loan for a vehicle that I am frightened to drive anywhere. Please help me.
Brake complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2006 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the brakes of the 2006 Ford Explorer, 7% of the model year's 630 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Ford Explorer brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes 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 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to brakes 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.