There are 19 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2006 Ford Explorerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ON MY 2006 EXPLORER I AM UNABLE TO FILL THE TANK WITH GASOLINE. IT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BACKS UP THE FILL TUBE AND TURNS THE FUEL PUMP OFF. IT'S BEEN TO MANY MECHANICS WHO HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE FUEL TANK ITSELF. THEY HAVE SAID THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON FORD'S PART LONG AGO. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM I WILL BE UNABLE TO PASS EMISSIONS TEST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS SENSING A FUEL VAPOR LEAK. ALSO I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET FAR AND WIDE AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAVE BROUGHT THEIR VEHICLES SPECIFICALLY TO FORD DEALERSHIPS WHO HAVE CHARGED THEM MONEY TO REPLACE PARTS THAT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE WHAT SO EVER. PLEASE LOOK FURTHER INTO THIS PROBLEM. ON BEHALF OF MANY OTHERS AND MYSELF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!
DEAR SIR FIRST OF ALL , I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT I AM NOT A US CITIZEN , BUT , I'M A FAMILY MAN & I FEEL FOR OTHERS , I OWN A FORD EXPLORER 06 , AND RECENTLY I'VE BEEN NOTICING THAT THE TRANS HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN , SHIFTING WRONGLY , JOLTING INTO GEAR IS NOT ENJOYABLE OR SAFE, THE OTHER DAY I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE TRANS REFUSED TO SHIFT WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO ESCAPE A SITUATION OF HITTING A CAR NEXT TO ME , I'VE LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET & FOUND THAT EVERYBODY IS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUES , YOU CAN GO FOR THE BELOW SITE & CHECK HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2006/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_LUNGES_HARD_JOLT_WHEN_SHIFTING.SHTML THE PROBLEM IS THAT FORD WON'T ADMIT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION , PUTTING PEOPLES LIFE IN DANGER FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE PLEASE FIX THIS AS IT'S VERY CRITICAL & DANGEROUS AT THE SAME TIME [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ISSUE. HARD JERKS/CLUNKS WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND THEM FORWARD. ALSO FEELS AS IF YOUR ARE BEING HIT IN BUMPER AS YOU ARE STOPPING WHILE TRANSMISSION IS DOWN SHIFTING. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH SO MANY 2006 EXPLORERS, PLEASE LOOK INTO A RECALL AS THIS A DEFECT WITH THE FORD MODEL. ALSO WAY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR PARTS AND LABOR! FAILURE AT MILEAGE OF 81,800. TOO EARLY TO DIE WITH THIS MILEAGE! *TR
THEE HAVE BEEN ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM DATING BACK TO 2009 FUEL SYSTEM SOLENOID AND VENT. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR TIMES FOR THE EXACT SAME REPAIR AND THE SAME PARTS EVERY TIME. THE FUEL SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW THE GAS TANK TO BE FILLED AT A NORMAL RATE. IT TAKES AS LONG AS 45 SECONDS SOMETIMES TO PUT ONE (1) GALLON OF GAS IN THE TANK. IT CAN TAKE WELL OVER 10 MINUTES TO FILL THE GAS TANK SOMETIMES. I HAVE TRIED TO DEAL WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AT FORD AND THEY HAVE BEEN OF NO ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER. *TR
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ADD GASOLINE TO THE TANK, GAS SHOOTS OUT OF THE TANK AT THE NOZZLE AREA AS IF THE TANK IS FULL. GAS MUST BE ADDED AT AN EXTREMELY SLOW RATE IN ORDER TO FILL THE TANK. EVEN WHEN ADDING GAS TO THE TANK AT THE EXTREMELY SLOW RATE THE PUMP WILL CONTINUE TO KICK OFF EVERY FEW SECONDS. *TR
MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER IS RANDOMLY ACCELERATING AND STALLING. I AM ON THE ROAD ALOT AND IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED A FEW ACCIDENTS. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON BUT RESETS ITSELF. IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY AND I WAS INFRONT OF AN AUTO ZONE. I STOPPED IN AND LEFT THE CAR RUNNING. I HAD THE ASSOCIATE COME OUT TO TEST IT AND THE CAR WAS STALLED. HE TESTED IT AND IT HAD 5 CODES ALL OF THEM RELATING TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. SO I GOT HOME LOOKED ONLINE AND LOW AND BEHOLD THERE ARE A WHOLE SLEW OF COMPLAINTS ON THE NET ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I WILL HAVE IT FIXED NOW THAT I NARROWED DOWN THE PROBLEM BUT THIS WILL KILL SOMEONE. SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES BEFORE ANYONE CARES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE REFUELING, FUEL BEGAN TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE AS GASOLINE OVERFLOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, SENSORS AND TUBES. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND LATER RECURRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 8/19/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS BEEN TWO SEVERAL DEALERS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. UPDATED 09/05/13
I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCE A FAILURE ON THE FUEL FILL SYSTEM IN 2008. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT MORE THAN A GALLON OF GAS IN AT A TIME, WAIT FOR AWHILE, ADD ANOTHER GALLON, ETC AS THE FUEL FILL WOULD ACT AS THOUGH THE TANK WAS FULL. TOOK TO A DEALER AND HAD IT REPLACED BASED ON TSB#07253. EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AGAIN NOW IN 2011 AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD SINCE IT WAS MORE THAN 12 MONTHS SINCE THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT I HAD TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE AGAIN TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. *TR
VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCEPT FUEL WHEN FILLING UP AT PUMP. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF A DIRTY EMISSION CANISTER. THE CANISTER WAS REPLACED 03/18/2011 AND THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED 03/19/2011. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A FORD PROBLEM AND NOT MINE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT GOT DIRTY BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY SNOW WE RECEIVED THIS PAST WINTER. I'M CURIOUS, DON'T THEY SELL THESE CARS UP NORTH WHERE IT SNOWS HEAVY EVERY YEAR? HOPEFULLY THIS ISSUE WILL BE LOOKED INTO SOON.
FUEL BACKS OUT WHEN FILLING,CAN ONLY GET 2 OR 3 GALLONS BEFORE FUEL SPRAYS OUT ALL OVER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. *TR
BOUGHT 2006 EXPLORER NEW. AROUND 14,000 MILES ENGINE PROBLEMS STARTED, HAVE TAKEN CAR IN TO FORD DEALER WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED ABOUT 7 TIMES FOR BASICALLY SAME PROBLEM ~ ENGINE LIGHT / CAR ENGINE LUNGING . MECHANICS DID DIFFERENT THINGS; REPLACED ONE DEFECTED PART WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, RESET COMPUTER, BUT PROBLEM ALWAYS CAME BACK. SOMETIMES HAPPENING BEFORE I MADE IT HOME. SOME TIMES MONTHS LATER. NOW THEY THINK MAYBE IT COULD BE THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR
FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT FUEL TANK FILLING ISSUES SINCE THEY ISSUED AN INTERNAL TSB IN 2007. PROBLEM CAUSES FUEL TANK TO FILL WITH PRESSURE, AND NOT ACCEPT FUEL. AS A RESULT, FUEL IS SPRAYED ALL OVER VEHICLE AND THE PERSON FUELING VEHICLE. WE HAD VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS NUMEROUS TIMES, AND STILL HAVING FUEL TANK ISSUES. THERE ARE "UNCOUNTABLE" NUMBERS OF FORD EXPLORER OWNERS THAT I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET, THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY DO NOT KNOW THAT FORD KNOWS THE REASON FOR THIS FAILURE. FORD SHOULD HAVE ISSUES A RECALL NOTICE TO PROTECT DANGER OF FUEL SPRAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPEW GAS BACK OUT OF THE FILLER TUBE, AND THEN DRAIN BACK INTO THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT FELT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RISK HIS SAFETY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 53,000.
I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH A 4.0 V6. RECENTLY I WAS FILLING UP WITH GAS AND IT BEGAN CLICKING OFF EVERY 1/2 GALLON. I EVENTUALLY FILLED UP AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES. I TRIED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, THINKING IT WAS THE PUMP, SAME PROBLEM. ENDED UP TAKING APART THE WHOLE FUEL LINE SYSTEM LOOKING FOR A CLOG. NO SUCH LUCK. FINALLY DECIDED IT MUST BE THE EVAP/CHARCOAL CANISTER. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE, SO FORD OBVIOUSLY KNOWS ABOUT IT. BUT I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE PART TO COME IN, AND HAD NO OTHER VEHICLE TO DRIVE, SO I JUST CONTINUED FILLING UP FOR 30 MINUTES JUST TO GET A FULL TANK. THE WORST PART WAS THAT YOU COULD HEAR THE BUBBLING DOWN THE LINE, SINCE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WOULD NOT PROPERLY RELEASE PRESSURE FROM THE TANK. SOMETIMES THE GAS WOULD EVEN COME BACK OUT THE FILL HOLE AND SPRAY ME WITH GAS (A REAL SAFETY ISSUE). I ENDED UP GETTING THE PART VERY CHEAP OFF OF AN JUNKED EXPLORER. BUT THE PART FROM A DEALER WAS OVER $400. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU. *TR
THE FILLING OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE- THE GAS SHUTS OFF EVERY 2-3 GALLONS THEN SPITS GAS BACK OUT ALL OVER THE PERSON TRYING TO FILL IT. RESULTING IN GAS BEING SPILLED OUT EVERYWHERE ON THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER, THE GROUND. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING EVERY FEW TIMES GETTING GAS AND NOW IT IS EVERYTIME. I LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE TO FIND A TSB 07-25-3 PROBLEM ACCOMPANIED BY DTC P0451 SAYING THIS HAPPENS ALOT ON FORD EXPLORERS BUILT BEFORE 11/27/07. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY SAID THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. THAT THE EVAP CANISTER AND VAPOR LINE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? IT'S NOT SAFE TO HAVE GAS SPRAYED ON YOU AND THE CAR AND GROUND EVERYTIME YOU TRY TO GET GAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ADD GASOLINE TO THE FUEL TANK, HE NOTICED THAT THE PUMP WOULD SHUT OFF AT TEN CENT INTERVALS WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO ADD FUEL IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME HE ADDED FUEL TO THE VEHICLE. THE CANISTER AND HOSE WERE REPAIRED BY A MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. IN DECEMBER OF 2008, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL, BUT THE FUEL WOULD COME BACK OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES TO PLACE FIVE GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL THE SAME DAY, HE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRESH AIR HOSE, WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO THE FUEL HOUSING UNIT, WAS NOT ALLOWING THE FUEL SYSTEM TO VENT PROPERLY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RESERVOIR EVAP CANISTER AND THE FUEL VAPOR HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,787 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 03-09-09 *BF UPDATED 03/13/09. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SMELLING GASOLINE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A FUEL RAIL LEAK CAUSING GASOLINE TO SPILL OUT ONTO THE ENGINE.
PURCHASED A 2006 FORD EXPLORER ON 5/6/06 AND TOOK A ROAD TRIP TO ALABAMA AND ON THE WAY BACK AROUND OCALA,FL, WE STARTED SMELLING GAS SMELL AS WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WALKED AROUND IT. WE WERE ALWAYS STOPPED AT CONVENIENT STORES, WHICH HAVE GAS PUMPS AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. WE DID LOOK UNDER VEHICLE AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. WE KEPT DRIVING SOUTH TO COME HOME AND AROUND TAMPA,FL.. THE SMELL GOT A LITTLE MORE STRONG. LUCKILY WE MADE IT HOME W/OUT BLOWING UP. ONCE WE PULLED IN OUR DRIVEWAY, THE SMELL WAS REALLY BAD. MY HUSBAND GOT HIS FLASHLIGHT AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND GAS WAS DRIPPING OUT PRETTY STEADY. IT WAS MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY AND WE NEW THAT THE FORD DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED AT THAT TIME, SO WE WENT TO BED AND FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING, WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN THE TOWING TRUCK. THEY TOLD US TO GET FIRE DEPT OUT HERE TO DRAIN GAS . THE FIRE DEPT CAME AND USED PUTTY TO STOP LEAK SO WE COULD HAVE TRUCK TOWED. WE HAD TRUCK TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED AND ONCE THEY LOOKED AT IT, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS OUR FAULT AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID WE RAN OVER SOMETHING. WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN IF WE RAN OVER SOMETHING AND IF WE HIT ROCKS OR PEBBLES WHILE GOING DOWN INTERSTATE AND IT CAUSED THAT, THEN FORD HAS SOME SERIOUS FUEL TANK ISSUES. WE ENDED UP TURNING OVER TO OUR INSURANCE CO AND PAID TO GET TRUCK FIXED, WHICH IS FINE. WHEN OUR INSURANCE ADJUSTER LOOKED AT TRUCKS FUEL TANK, HE MADE US AWARE THAT THERE WAS NEVER A SKID PLATE PUT ON TO PROTECT FUEL TANK. PER DEALERSHIP, THIS IS OPTIONAL AND WE WERE NEVER TOLD ABOUT IT. SUPPOSEDLY, THE FUEL TANKS ARE BUILT NOW WHERE THEY DO NOT REQUIRE A SKID PLATE UNLESS IT IS A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. MY FAMILIES SAFETY WAS PUT AT RISK AND NOBODY AT FORD THAT WE TALKED TO SEEMED TO CARE AND I THINK THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED A LITTLE FURTHER, WHICH IS WHY I AM WRITING THIS AND LETTING YOU ALL KNOW. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026