Automatic Transmission problems of the 2006 Ford Explorer - part 1

No events leading up to failure. Regular vehicle usage. After 4 or 5 years, the transmission began clunking and hesitating to shift. When shifting into reverse or drive, the transmission jolts violently. The check engine light is on. The failure has not yet been corrected but I am complaining now because so many similar reports have also been filed across the internet.

I own a 2006 Ford Explorer with 64000 miles. Yesterday without any warning the transmission went out while in heavy traffic, I had the vehical towed to a dealer where they say the transmission would need replaced. I checked online and found this to be a very common problem with this year and make. And everyone had exact symtoms. Ford acts like this isnt common and plays dumb to the fact. I still owe $15000 on a vehical and cannot afford $3000 to repair. Someone please look into this issue and stop Ford from taking advantage of citizens. Thank you.

Bought and own a 2006 Ford Explorer, eddie bauer purchased as used in 2008 with 19,000 miles on it. At 60,000 the transmission lurches, and slips. . . . Feels like someone is rear ending you. Slow to respond when accelerating, makes clunking sound when putting into park or reverse. Researched on the internet and there are thousands of complaints regarding the 2006 Ford exlporer transmissions and aparently Ford has issued no recall and offers no repair solution (unless you shell out $2500 for a new transmission). It is unbelieveble that a SUV with 60,000 miles needs a new transmission!! I still owe just under $10,000 for this truck, where is the justice in buying american?? I would appreciate your comment to this on-going Ford problem. Please Ford. . . . . . Do something!! thank you!.

Ford Explorer transmission lunges, jerks, will only drive in 3rd gear, no warning, wrench light came on, now check engine light is on. Over $2500 they say to repair it. Hundreds of people having the same problem. Ford should investigate.

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that he was unable to shift out of park. The contact had to take apart the steering column. The failure occurred whenever the vehicle was operated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where it was repaired. The failure continued so the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was informed that the gear shift needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000 and the current mileage was approximately 42,000. Updated 03/31/lj.

2006 Ford Explorer eddie bauer addition blue w/beige trim. Without warning wrench light then transmission light came on. Cars rpms were stuck at 3. . 3. 5 yet car was not accelerating. After driving 18. 7 miles other than feeling & hearing cluck as car shifted gears. Has appended several times (4). In heavy traffic slow acceleration can lead be rear end collision, I have been lucky so far. Rapid and hard cluck when moving from park causes vehicle to lurch which is potentially dangerous in tight parking spaces such has garage. The dealer has worked on the car twice for a total of 8 days. I will be taking back again Nov 19th 2010.

My 2006 Explorer at 58,000 miles the transmission had to be overhauled as there was slipping when shifting. Ever since the power train light keeps coming on and off. When the light comes on there is a jerking that occurs. Ever since I purchased the vehicle I have had nothing but troubles with the power tran. Ford needs to perform a recall. About ever 38 miles the power train light comes on then off again.

At 65,000 miles, my 2006 Ford Explorer limited automatic transmission needed to be replaced. The car suddenly started to buck and it wouldn't change gears. The mechanic was told by Ford that there has been 17 adjustments on my transmission since it went out. I had to pay $2600. For a new rebuilt . Transmission!!! the vehicle was well maintained and I have proof of the service history. This should not happen at 65,000 miles! also my radiator has been leaking for last couple of years. I have been holding out on replacing it, but I understand that's another popular problem with this vehicle.

I have a 2006 Ford Explorer and it has almost 60,000 miles. The car has been jerking very hard while shifting between gears. This has been going on for the past month. We took it to our local Ford dealer who we have had service our cars for many years. Upon diagnosis, they told us that we needed a new transmission. To repair the broken parts, they stated it would cost more to repair it versus getting a whole new transmission. Both the car dealer and we were very surprised a car this new and with low miles needed a whole new transmission. We research the internet to see if others have had the same issues. We found this seems to be a very common repair for the 2006 Explorer. Here is one of the websites that discusses this specific repair. . . . Read more...

2006 Ford Explorer place the vehicle in reverse a very hard jerk is felt. Today driving to work and felt as if I lost power and then just as suddenly regained power and the warning light came on for powertrain issue.

2006 Explorer automatic transmission shifts hard into gear, has difficulty shifting between gears. This has been a periodic problem for several months.

Vehicle transmission stays stuck in park. After having the shifter assembly replaced twice on warranty, the problem has come back yet again. Now not only do we have to wrestle with the shifter to get it into gear, it now lunges violently when shifting into reverse or drive. The dealership refused to repair under customer satisfaction program #09b11 saying our VIN was not part of that recall.

My 2006 Ford Explorer v8 has a hard jolt when it downshifts coming to a stop. This happens every time and feels like I have just been rear ended. After reading about many complaints online about this same issue with other 2006 Ford Explorers I replaced the throttle position sensor. This did not correct the problem and my mechanic says to try an computer update for the transmission's will give that a try next but I feel that this should be a Ford recall as there are many complaints about this problem online for the 2006 model that drop way down for the 2007 model. My mechanic says he has seen many problems with this model year also. It appears Ford fixed the problem for the 2007 model year and they should fix the problem for the owners that had already purchased the 2006 model.

A tone ring sensor in my 2006 Ford Explorer abs/traction control system broke. It caused the traction control and brakes to go haywire. They began to grab and lock my brakes when I was moving causing erratic driving. When I went to stop, my brakes did not work properly. The traction control lights, abs, and system lights all came on.

I bought a 2006 Explorer and have had numerous issues. The first major issue was when my car would occasionally stall or die out. I brought the car in and was told they couldn't find anything wrong. I brought it back again because it stalled on the hwy while I was doing 65 mph and the car died. I was unable to pull off to the side because the car would not steer. I got the car to the dealer and was told it was my radiator. They fixed this but I explained a month later that the car was still stalling along with accelerating on its own and the volume on the radio would go up also on its own. They were unable to find a resolution. I tried to trade the car in and was told no. I cried and explained my safety concerns for my children but they do not care. Finally the car was not any better but started to stall more often and even began to lurch forward almost causing me numerous accidents. The last time it stalled was on the railroad tracks which was so devastating to me and my children. I brought the car in and was told after an 1 hour and a half they couldn't find anything wrong. I refused to leave and suggested they keep looking because the car is not safe. The came back after another hour and told me that they called Ford and they suggested a part to replace but couldn't guarantee it because they are not sure that would work. I said not to keep looking. After 3 hours at the dealer they had to bring me home and drive my car around with a computer attached. They called and said after driving the car for 57 miles it died on them and they could barely get it back to the dealer. They said it was the throttle body and it would cost est 448 and charged me 100 dollars for them looking at it. Why should I pay for something that could have been fixed under warranty if they would have listened to my concerns? Ford is now putting my children at risk of possibly getting injured in an accident. I can no longer drive the car because it now stalls every two minutes ever since the dealer.

Vehicle was purchased in February 2010. When placing the transmission in reverse, the vehicle lunges backward very violently. The problem occurs intermittently and without warning. The vehicle was taken to a transmission shop 4/10/2010 and there are pieces of the clutches sitting on the bottom of the transmission pan. The transmission now requires a complete rebuild. The previous owner told us that the vehicle had just gone to a Ford dealer for a recall repair on the shift lever and there was nothing said about the lunging.

Have a 2006 Ford Explorer limited v8. When in stop & go traffic car lunges sometimes lunging so hard felt as though I was rear ended. Bought the car in Dec 2008 had only 16,000 miles and was certified pre-owned (although don't think the dealer did anything to the vehicle). About 1 month after purchasing vehicle had to bring it in because change oil light went on. The person I called said they couldn't find the record in the computer. Only when I went in and let them know it was cpo & oil was suppose to have been changed and I didn't think it was done. The service person left the front desk for about 15 min and came back only to find the records in their system. At that time I complained about the lunging & jerking and was told it was because I was not used to the 4 wheel drive that kicks in automatically. Once spring came had the same problem and called the service dept at the dealer I purchased the car from I was told unless it does this all the time it would be a waste of my money to bring it in for service. As of today's date it is still doing the same thing and I have become aware of so many other people with the exact same problem, why is Ford not fixing the problem. This is a safety issue. More than once I have almost rear ended the vehicle in front of me luckily I had my foot on the brake. Hopefully Ford will do the right thing and do a recall. I am sure they are aware of the problem !.

I was driving my 2006 v8 Explorer at 40mph using cruise control when the truck stalled. This happened once before in 2009, not sure if I was using cruise control at that time. Not sure what to do.

We bought a 2006 Ford Explorer new in 2006. After three years and 50,000 miles the transmission started shifting very hard from park to reverse to drive. Now, at 61,000 miles, the transmission is not responding when pressing the throttle while car is already in motion. If you let your foot off of the throttle and then press the throttle again the engine just revs up for several seconds before shifting into gear. Very dangerous when merging on or off the interstate. Ford dealership says it needs a new transmission.

Vehicle shifts hard and jerks when shifting from park to reverse/drive to drive. Multiple sites on the internet reveal the same or similar complaints from hundreds of owners driving the 2006 Ford Explorer. Dealer requested Ford assist with the repair of my Explorer and as in many other cases, Ford has refused. This model year Explorer obviously has multiple manufacturing defects. These defects need to be recalled and repaired at Ford's expense.

Last night the car was in drive but would keep kicking out of gear. . . I would push the gas, the engine would rev, but the car wouldn't go anywhere. I even rolled backwards down a hill on a highway and almost hit another car! I had to shut the car off, and restart it in order to get it to back in gear. This happened 10-15 times in a 20 minute drive! I was nervous to even drive it home! it is at the Ford dealership now. . . I will keep you posted. . . Will never buy an american car again! it is completely unsafe to drive!.

My 2006 Ford Explorer frequently lurches/lunges when coming to a stop and starting up from a stop. It feels like the car is being rear-ended. I have taken it in to be repaired and it seemed to work ok for a short time, but it has started doing the same thing again. It makes me wonder if it is safe to drive.

When I come to a stop the engine revs. . . . Almost feels like I am getting bumped from behind. Happens constantly and have been watching for a recall on this and have not seen one as of yet. I have seen alot of complaints about this issue.

2006 Ford Explorer hard or slow transmission shifting.

It has a shifting delay going from park to reverse. When it does shift, there is a jolt. Seems like the transmission is ready to fall out.

I have had problems since I have bought this vehicle earlier this year. . . When I come to a stop it feels like someone rear ended me. This happens very frequently and have been watching for a recall on this and have not seen one as of yet. I have seen alot of complaints about this issue.

Purchased 2006 Ford Explorer. Feels like my transmission is going to fall out of the car when I put the car in gear to take off or even when I come to a stop at a red light. Horrible!.

The contact owns a 2006 Ford Explorer. The contact took the vehicle to the manufacturer to have recall; number 09d11 (automatic transmission; operation) repaired; however, the remedy repair was insufficient and failed to address the gear shifter safety defect. The contact notified an authorized dealer regarding the malfunction and scheduled an appointment to have the vehicle repaired. The current and failure mileages were 54,877.

2006 Ford Explorer automatic transmission has a jolt when it downshift at stopping. It feels like one is being rear ended. This is a very common problem with these transmissions. Ford tried to reprogram the car, but it doesn't fix the problem. Problem occurs in about 1 out of 10 stops. The distraction is a safety issue as one stops to try to figure out why this happened. Ford needs a better solution to this common problem.

When coming to a stop, the car feels like I have slammed on the brakes or someone has rear-ended me. It happens about every mile or so. Dealer says they don't know what I am talking about, the brakes are fine.

When coming to a stop, transmission jerks and it feels like you are getting rear-ended. Lots of complaints about this on various websites. Started right after car was bought, Ford said they could not find anything wrong, so we have been dealing with it. . . But it is getting worse, and I'm afraid I will get stuck with a costly repair.

Car shifts hard from 2nd to 1st gear, a hard jolt like somebody has hit you in the rear end.

Transmission jerks when shifting into gear or while stopping. 2006 Ford Explorer. .

My 2006 Ford Explorer feels like its being rear ended. I didn't start feeling this until I drove off the dealership lot with my newly purchased vehicle. I've taken it back two times to dealership to be fixed .

I have a 2006 Ford Explorer. The transmission shifts very hard/jerks in reverse as well as when transmission should automatically go from 1st to 2nd gear. The jerk feels as if you have been rear ended and then car lunges forward.