Three problems related to battery have been reported for the 2006 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2006 Ford Explorer based on all problems reported for the 2006 Explorer.
Ford special message #15773 my 2006 Explorer has twice tried to start itself, running the battery down so low that a vehicle charge was not sufficient. Ford dealer stated they were completely unaware of the problem, until I showed them the special message no. They still are not willing to fix the vehicle as noted in the message.
(1) I have owned my 2006 Ford Explorer for one year and four months. There are approximately 21,000 miles currently on it. It has had a lunging problem starting weeks after I purchased it. I have taken it into two separate Ford dealers in attempts to have it fixed for a total of six times. They have attempted to update the computer on two separate occasions. Each time it is fixed for a couple of weeks up to a couple of months, however, the clunking and jerking once again show. I believe that they unplug the battery each time it is taken in, allowing the computer to "forget" its adaptive learning. (2) when I take off from a stop it hesitates and then slams into gear causing the vehicle to accelerate unpredictably. Furthermore, when stopping it feels like it is freewheeling in between first and second gear with an abrupt stop and a jerk that causes a violent jerking of the vehicle. The feeling it provides is one of being rearended. (3) the only thing that has been done is to reprogram the computer and unhooking the battery so the computer forgets its adaptive learning. This is a quick fix for Ford and does not solve the problem.
On 12/10/05, I purchased a new 2006 Ford Explorer. Yesterday, for the fifth time, the vehicle has not been able to start. I brought it in to Ford on 01/11/06, they replaced the battery and told me it would not happen again. It happened again last night.