2006 FORD EXPLORER Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
23 complaints about Service Brakes, Hydraulic
High Severity Issue
This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.
This Problem Across All Years
All Service Brakes, Hydraulic Complaints (23)
WITH ONLY 86,000 MILES OUR FORD EXPLORERS TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ONCE AGAIN. WHEN WE HAD 23,000 MILES ON OUR VEHICLE WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING RATHER HARD AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AT 58,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT WAS SO ROUGH THAT WE HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED. SINCE THE WARRANTY IS ONLY UP TO 36,000 WE DECIDED OUR BEST BET IS TO NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. WE HAD THE VALVE BODY REPAIRED AND IT RAN FINE UP UNTIL NOW. 86,000 MILES AND THIS VEHICLE IS ONCE AGAIN AT A REPAIR SHOP HAVING THE TRANSMISSION FULLY REBUILT. IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE PAID OVER $7,000 TO KEEP IT RUNNING WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE, TIRES, RADIATOR REPAIR, BRAKES AND NOW THE THIRD TRANSMISSION. *TR
Mileage: 86,000
WHEN I WAS DRIVING, 3 DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON: THE WRENCH, THE ABS LIGHT, AND THE LOW TRACTION. WHEN I TURNED LEFT, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL GRABBED AND MADE A GRINDING SOUND. THERE WAS ALSO A HIGHER PITCHED NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE METAL STRIKING METAL. THE MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT THE TONE RING BROKE ON THE RIGHT REAR DRIVE AXLE, AND THIS IS A COMMON FORD PROBLEM. WHEN IT BROKE, IT DAMAGED THE BRAKE UNIT ON MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL AS WELL. THE REPAIR ISN'T CHEAP - I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. *TR
Mileage: 91,000
THE WRENCH, THE ABS, AND THE ANTI-SWAY ICONS STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2006 EXPLORER. THEY WOULD RESET IMMEDIATELY USING THE RESET BUTTON. THE DEALER REPLACED A WHEEL-SPEED SENSOR AND STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS DAMAGED WHEN THE "TONE" WHEEL CRACKED. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT UNLESS THE TONE WHEEL WAS REPLACED, THE ABS WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. THEY CHARGE ABOUT 200.00 FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
Mileage: 126,888
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND APPLYING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. GRINDING NOISE CAME FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING MY WIFE AND NEWBORN HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL. AFTER TAKING IT TO A SHOP, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE TONE RING OR ABS RING WAS CRACKED. THIS MUST BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO HAVE FUNCTIONAL BRAKES. THE SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE ABS RING HAD A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER AND THE MATERIAL WAS MUCH THICKER THAN THE OLD RING. *TR
Mileage: 65,450
ENGINE STALLS. WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT, HOT OR COLD, SLOWING DOWN TO STOP, TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, ON THE STREET ROADS AND FREEWAYS. STARTS AND GO AGAIN AFTER 5/10 MINUTES BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I PAID SO MUCH MONEY AND TIME FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND PARTS ALREADY AND YESTERDAY WAS THE WORST. MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. DATE: NOV 1, 2011, TIME:1550, AND MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, WHEN SHE'S NOT HAPPY, NOBODY'S HAPPY....SHE ALMOST GOT RAN OVER AS SHE OPEN HER DOOR, SHE COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE BUT WAIT FOR TIME TO EITHER COOL OFF OR RESET ON THE ENGINE. *TR
Mileage: 97,500
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. THERE IS NO PATTERN SINCE IT HAS OCCURRED AT WORK, GROCERY STORE, HOME, ETC. *TR
Mileage: 39,750
THE WRENCH, THE ABS, AND THE ANTI-SWAY ICONS STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2006 EXPLORER. THEY WOULD RESET IMMEDIATELY USING THE RESET BUTTON. THE DEALER REPLACED A WHEEL-SPEED SENSOR AND STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS DAMAGED WHEN THE "TONE" WHEEL CRACKED. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT UNLESS THE TONE WHEEL WAS REPLACED, THE ABS WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN; IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE ABS, BUT DON'T THE DRIVER IS SET UP FOR THE BIG FALL! FORD IS AWARE OF THIS CRACKING PROBLEM: WHY NO RECALL? *TR
Mileage: 66,720
ABS BRAKE LIGHT AND INTERMITTENT LOCKING UP BRAKES WITH STABILITY CONTROL ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT AS YOU LOSE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Mileage: 86,000
I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 64,000 MILES AND THE TONE RINGS ON THE ABS BRAKES HAVE BOTH CRACKED, NOT COSTING ME OVER $1000 IN REPAIR BILLS. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT SHOULD NOT CRACK WITH ONLY 64K MILES OF USE. *TR
Mileage: 64,500
WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY, AND SOMETIMES AT OTHER TIMES, MY FOOT STRIKES THE GAS PEDAL TOO CAUSING THE MOTOR TO REV UP AND NOT STOP TIMELY WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON AT 3 OCCASIONS. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AND FORD MOTOR CO SAYS THEY HAVE HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT AND IT CAUSES ME GREAT SAFETY CONCERNS. ONCE A SEMI TRUCK PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME ON A HIGHWAY AND I BARELY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT AS THE FORCE OF THE MOTOR WOULD NOT LET THE BRAKES HAVE FULL EFFECT. *TR
Mileage: 55,000
2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WOULDN'T START DEALERSHIP REPLACED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COST $544.00. STILL HESITATES TO START (TURN KEY NOTHING... NO CLICKING TAKES A FEW ATTEMPTS) TOOK BACK DEALERSHIP SAYS STARTER IS BAD. NOW ABS+TRACTION LIGHT +WRENCH LIGHT ON. TAKING BACK TOMORROW. HOW CAN ALL THESE PROBLEMS SURFACE AT ONCE AND NOT BE RELATED???? *TR
Mileage: 69,000
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. WOULD THE SUV ROLL OR CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED SO VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT? *TR
Mileage: 49,932
ABS FAILURE IN 2006 FORD EXPLORER. DEALER REPAIR SHOP IDENTIFIED BROKEN SENSOR RING ON LEFT-REAR WHEEL. REQUIRED EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT OF AXLE. CAR HAS ONLY 36,000 MILES AND A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS OLD. *TR
Mileage: 36,100
THE PROBLEM IS WITH A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. EVERYTIME I START THE CAR OR GET READY TO PULL OUT THE MOTOR REVS UP. THANKFULLY I HAVE HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD HAVE WENT OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. SO FAR I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BUT IF EVER I DO NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THERE IS A GREAT CHANCE THERE WILL BE. THIS IS ONLY ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I AM FACING WITH MY EXPLORER. *TR
Mileage: 50,743
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. IN MARCH OF 2006, THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AT LEAST 8 OR MORE TIMES BETWEEN MARCH OF 2006 AND OCTOBER OF 2006. IN OCTOBER OF 2006, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 25 MPH. SHE WOKE UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM DUE TO INJURIES SHE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS DOCUMENTATION THAT SHE WILL MAIL IN PERTAINING TO THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TRAC CONTROL, ABS, CHECK ENGINES LIGHTS ON. RATTLE ON LEFT REAR AXLE, ABS RING LOOSE FORM AXLE, NEED TO REPLACE RING AND AXLE. *TR
Mileage: 36,402
2006 FORD EXPLORER BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE PLUNGED INTO THE WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. *JB
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. EVEN KNOWING THIS I FEEL NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THIS EXPLORER WHEN BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP. *TR
Mileage: 15,000
I BOUGHT MY 06 EXPLORER WITH 12K MILES. SOON AFTER PURCHASE, I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND SEEMED TO REQUIRE A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE THAN MY OLD EXPLORER. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE BRAKE PEDAL THEN FELT SLIGHTLY BETTER, BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE FOR A TURN BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO TURN, DESPITE HAVING THE BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. MOST RECENTLY, WHEN DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, WHEN THE ABS KICKS IN, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE PEDAL CANNOT BE PUSHED DOWN AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP, CAUSING ME TO SLIDE THROUGH A RED LIGHT, DESPITE GOING SLOW AND BRAKING A LONG DISTANCE BEFORE THE LIGHT. THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE EXPLORER DOES NOT FEEL SAFE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! *TR
Mileage: 31,900
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE AND ANTI-ROLL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR AXLE FAILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THAT COMPONENT. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Mileage: 40,000
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AT 25 - 30 MPH, SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP IMMEDIATELY AND COULD CAUSE A COLLISION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS DOES NOT OCCUR OFTEN; HOWEVER IT HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS SINCE DECEMBER 5, 2006 ALL RESULTING IN AN UNSUCCESSFUL REPAIR. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER HAS CHANGED THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THE INCIDENT CONTINUES TO OCCUR. THE INCIDENT ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER DROVE THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT DIDN'T OCCUR DURING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. *NM
I OWN A 2006 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER WITH 3000 MILES ON IT. HERE IS THE PROBLEM, JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN OR WHATEVER, THE ENGINE REVS TO 1200-1500 RPMS FOR JUST A BRIEF SECOND. I AM NOT GIVING THE CAR ANY GAS TO INDUCE THIS OCCURRENCE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE CAR IS DOING THIS AND NEITHER DOES MY LOCAL DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CAR IS IN FACT DOING WHAT I DESCRIBED ABOVE, BUT COULD NOT OFFER A FIX. I TESTED ANOTHER 2006 V6 EXPLORER WITH 3 MILES ON IT, TO MINE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SURPRISE; IT DID THE EXACT SAME THING AS MY TRUCK. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO THE SITUATION AND CALL SOME OF HIS ENGINEER BUDDIES TO SEE IF THEY COULD GIVE HIM ANY INFORMATION. I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM HIM. I AM ALSO BEGINNING TO NOTICE THAT I ACTUALLY HAVE TO BREAK HARDER TO GET THE TRUCK TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS CAN NOT BE NORMAL, YET MY FORD DEALER IS INSINUATING NOTHING IS ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE CAR. LONGER THAN NECESSARY STOPPING DISTANCES AND WILL LEAD TO UNNECESSARY COLLISIONS. BECAUSE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH 2006 V6 EXPLORERS MY DEALER WILL PROBABLY DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. I COMPLAINED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NEVER EVEN RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION THAT THEY RECEIVED MY EMAIL. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A RECALL SITUATION. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ALL 2006 V6 EXPLORERS EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ADMITTEDLY NOT BY ANY STRETCH A POWERFUL SUDDEN ACCELERATION BUT STILL IT IS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I AM CONFIDENT IN MY ASSESSMENT BECAUSE I HAVE PERSONALLY DRIVEN 2 EXPLORERS AND DIFFERENT SERVICE REP CLAIMED HE DROVE YET ANOTHER 06 EXPLORER THAT DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF FORD HAS A DESIGN FLAW IN ONE OF THERE CARS THEY SHOULD DESIGN A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AND THEN REPAIR THE AFFECTED CARS. *NM
Mileage: 1
1. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN 2. WHEN TRYING TO SLOW FOR A LEFT TURN, THE CAR BARELY SLOWED DOWN AND I COULD NOT GET IT TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TURN. I WENT BEYOND THE TURN AND HAD TO BACK UP. DURING MY ATTEMPT TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, IT MADE A NOISE LIKE A LOUD FAN OR A RACING ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED ON DRY PAVEMENT WITH NO STONES. 3. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED BUT THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO REACT LIKE IT DID FOR ME AND THEIR COMPUTER COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. I MADE THEM PUT ON THE REPAIR PAPER THAT THEY LOOKED AT BOTH A BRAKING PROBLEM AND AN ENGINE PROBLEM AND FOUND NO DEFECTS. I THEN LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, DROVE DOWN THE ROAD, HAD THE CAR WASHED AND THEN STARTED FOR HOME ONLY TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME STOPPING PROBLEM AS I DESCRIBED ABOVE. I MADE THEM TAKE IT BACK AND THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR GOING ON 4 WEEKS AND STILL CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. EVERYONE IN THE PLACE, SERVICE MANAGER, MECHANIC AND ANOTHER SERVICE PERSON, HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR WITH NO RESULTS. THEY HAD ME DRIVE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AFTER TAKING IT BACK THE SECOND TIME AND HE PUT THE CAR INTO A SLIDE ON GRAVEL TO HAVE ME EXPERIENCE THE ABS IN ACTION TO SEE IF THAT WAS WHAT I EXPERIENCED, BUT IT WASN'T THE SAME. IT DID NOT MAKE THE NOISE THAT I EXPERIENCED EACH TIME IT FAILED TO STOP. WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALER. THE CAR ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 3,700 MILES WHEN THEY FIRST GOT IT. IF I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN TRAFFIC, I WOULD CERTAINLY HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW MUCH PRESSURE I APPLY TO THE BRAKES, IT WON'T STOP IN A TIMELY MANNER. ONCE I HAVE TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, IT WILL WORK AGAIN, PROPERLY. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN NO SOLUTION GIVEN TO ME. THEY JUST KEEP TELLING ME THAT IT ISN'T DOING ANYTHING WHEN THEY DRIVE IT. *JB
Mileage: 3,720