7.7
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $720
- Average Mileage:
- 64,100 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 238 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace radiator (176 reports)
- not sure (34 reports)
- replace with ford certified radiator and parts (12 reports)
- replace bad seal (7 reports)
- replace with aftermarket radiator and parts (5 reports)
- contact national highway safety administration 1-888-327-423 (1 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I will NEVER purchase another ford!!!! I purchased this car new and this is my second radiator. 1st replacement was in 2008 & second replacement was yesterday 2/27/2012. Called Ford to complain and of course there isn't a replacement or reimbursement program for my vehicle (especially since warranty expired). So I explained to them that I would YELL IT TO THE MOUNTAIN TOPS - NEVER PURCHASE A FORD - UNLESS YOU WANT TO SPEND RIDICULOUS MONEY ON RADIATORS FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE!!!! HOW RIDICULOUS IS THIS???? Worse part is that it is almost paid off and I am not looking forward to purchasing another radiator within the next 2 to 4 years AGAIN!!!
- alethia, Burlington Township, NJ, US
before buying explorer 2006 I read the comments and I never thought could happen, but now the first change the radiator did the 45k and now the second in the 63k and I say if you read this comment do not buy because you regret explorer 2006
- tigre, White Lake, NY, US
I use this vehicle for my 120 mile mail route and was having to stop every hour or so to add water, this added almost an hour to my already 5 hour delivery. I then lost 2 days of work to have it fixed.
- djunicorn, Cottondale, AL, US
I purchase the 2006 explorer in 2007, since then the cooling system has been terrible. I have replaced 3 radiators,thermostats and the head gaskets. Now the head gaskets has went bad again and this is a recurring problem in all the 2006 explorers. It cost $1800-2000 to repair this problem. I don't have $2000 laying around, I am school teacher trying to make ends meet.This is our only family vehicle we can't afford to put a down payment on another car this is ridiculous. I know you can say "why don't you have a warranty?" but it is expensive for monthly warranty when your spouse is laid off, your job have pay cuts and trying to prevent foreclosure of your home. This vehicle needs to be recalled for repair, Ford should pay for all repairs. I am not the only who had a problem with this model. I have looked at several blogs about this vehicle and it is consistent with the same problems that I am having. I really thought sending my complaint to the Better Business Bureau or a government representative.
- Tracy T., Stone Mountain, GA, US
First of all this is not the first Ford that I have had this problem with, I owned a Mustang before the explorer and had nothing but problems with radiator leaks and the cooling system, thinking I may have owned a lemon, I went on to purchase my Ford Explorer, and yet here the Radiator leaks and cooling system problems begin AGAIN.
I will definately NEVER purchase another Ford again. I have had a seal failure problem a year ago and now the radiator, which I feel is only the beggining of more problems again in Ford's lovely cooling system failure. This is the start to nothing but problems, as I said before I owned a Mustang and it was always overheating and always problems with the cooling system and now my Explorer is starting to do the Exact same thing. I am so disgusted that there has not been a fix to this ongoing problem and that Ford would do it's customers like that.
- jenniferin, Highland, IN, US
under 27,000 miles and the radiator had to be replaced
- Susan K., Akeley, MN, US
I recently had to replace the radiator on my 2006 Explorer with 4.0L V6. At the time I discovered the original Ford part (and also after market radiator) has a plastic tank at the top and bottom into which the aluminum core fins are crimped. While I'm not a mechanic, I do have a degree in Nuclear Engineering and know something about Heat Transfer, Fluid Flow, and Thermodynamics none of which plastic is highly rated for. What really pisses me off is that the after market radiator manufactured by Performance Radiator of Denver, CO failed. Now I have a radiator full of Transmission fluid. Yes there's a transmission cooler and of course since the tranny fluid is at a higher pressure than the radiator that's where the fluid likes to go and cross contaminate both systems. I will not bad mouth Henry Ford because I'm sure he would never have designed this system. I will bad mouth the current Ford corporation which has not yet come across with any fix to their obvious design problem or come up with a recall. Guess they have finally lost this 30 year loyal customer to another Asian company so we can continue to lose more marketing to overseas corporations. Go on the internet and look at current pictures of Hiroshima and Detroit 68 years after WWll. It will show you that we're actually the ones who lost that war as well ....
- Brooks T., Evergreen, CO, US
need to replace the radiator for the 2nd time, only 56,623 miles and I replaced it at 26,926 miles also
- Susan K., Akeley, MN, US
This is the 2nd time that my radiator has gone out in less than two years. I take care of my vehicle and get it serviced as needed. Ford has made an Explorer that causes the radiator to leak. This is a common problem with many 2006 Explorer owners. There should be a recall on the radiators and there should be a recall on the engines. Ford needs to step up and do something about this huge problem. This is very dangerous and something should be done before someone gets seriously injured.
- sportydiva, Alpharetta, GA, US
This radiator needed replacement after 50,000 miles in may 2010. now in November it has happened again at 72,000 miles. Ford has a better idea my a$$!!!
- redsox1986, Holyoke, MA, US
Does this sound familiar or what. Yep at 54,000 miles the radiator is leaking. Sounds like I have nothing to look forward to but problems with this car. What has happened to you Ford Motor Company. Figuring the only way to make vast amounts of money is to rip off your loyal customers. First with outrageous car payments, and then with outrageous repair costs. Sounds like bad business
- Cheri D., Lewisburg, WV, US
A five year old $35000 car with only 20500 miles should not have a leaky radiator let alone have to have it replaced and now the vehicle sounds loud perhaps it is the fan. I had a Dodge Avenger for 16 years and never had a major problem. Now that it is 5 years old and payed for it is falling apart.
- diannaiowa, Muscatine, IA, US
Bought this used, owned is for 6 months and put less than 8k miles on it. Radiator cracked and had to replace thermostat housing
- unhappywithford, Sacramento, CA, US
So I'm on my fourth radiator now. They keep leaking coolant and now it is leaking transmission fluid at the oiler cooler connector on the bottom of the radiator. I'm so tired of this. I don't think I'd get another Ford even if I was paid to take it. I have an extended warranty but it doesn't cover the radiator. Nonetheless, even if it did, I'd still be extremely tired of the time spent driving to/from the dealer to get it fixed. Avoid this vehicle at all costs.
- Josh V., Allendale, MI, US
Here's to another radiator on the 2006 Exploder! Keeps leaking coolant. The dealer says it is a pin hole leak. No one knows why this continues to happen.
- Josh V., Allendale, MI, US
Brought Explorer in for routine oil change and they say it has a radiator leak and it will cost $939 to replace.Vehicle is 5 years old with 70,000 miles.
After questioning, service manager admitted not a real leak, but some wet spots. Also back-peddled and said if I got an estimate elsewhere they could match it, and likely come way down in the cost.
???? - I have ZERO faith now in the Ford Service guys, and don't trust a thing they say.
- Wolf B., Vero Beach, FL, US
Fix Or Repair Daily...... Thank goodness for family friends, or else ford would have loved to charge me 800 dollars to fix this problem. what a bunch of bull S*. a high performance radiator is cheaper than fords. they want 550 just for the radiator. i called them and they told me they feel very highly in their radiators and that is why they are so expensive. So why is the 2006 having such a big problem? Radiator.com told me about this big issue and that it is a on going problem with the 2006 explorer + mountaineer and that if your vehicle is under warranty then they will replace it at no cost. too bad i found out about the leak after my mothers cat disappeared and died in the bushes. shortly after my thermostat housing went out as well. probably due to lack of f* coolant in the radiator. not to include my warranty had just expired. how many more animals have to die due to this S. ford told me they had never heard of this problem being re- occuring. Was so pissed off after i got off the phone that i wanted to look into this issue and now i have realized i will never buy a ford after this. getting a performance radiator put in on tuesday for 463 dollars everything included with a warranty. F* ford. and their bull sh*t. Plastic thermostat housing? are you kidding me.
- Garrett M., Seattle, WA, US
Having the same problem as everyone else. Took my 2006 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer with 32000 miles to the mechanic today to find out I need my radiator replaced. I have owned this car brand new since 2006 and barely drive it. It is going to cost me ~$900 to get the radiator replaced. I called ford and they want me to send the car to a dealer instead of an independent mechanic before they can let me know if there is anything they can do to help. Based on all the complaints I am reading here and possibly other people complaining on other sites, my guess is, ford is absolutely doing nothing to help customers with this problem. I plan on holding on to my receipt just in case something changes.
Has anyone had success with ford on this problem?
- Toni A., Staten Island, NY, US
This my second ford explorer the first one we bought was a 2002 and the transmission went out with about 80,000 miles. Now my 2006 raidiator needs to be replaced which will cost me around 1000 dollars which i just do not have.So the dame car just sits until I can afford to fix it.Which with 500 dollar car payment a month its too hard.I will never ever buy a ford again.
- Holley C., Albuquerque, NM, US
click to see larger images
I bought the car new. The problem started under the warranty after I had the car almost two years, but they told me that radiators weren't covered /. They tried to tell me it was full of dirt and hay...huh? I don't live on a ranch, then said they would find a "way around it"....then it went bad exactly one month over the radiator warranty. Ford decided that I should have to pay for the second one since the radiator wasn't under warranty anymore. So I took it to a local mechanic, since their price was half the price. That radiator lasted less than a year and I've been replacing them ever since. Just two days ago I replaced RADIATOR #6!!!!!!! This time I was stuck on the interstate and had to rent a car to get home with my six year old son. It was just he and I on the side of the road, 150 miles from home. It was late and they had to order it. I'm so upset now I could scream. Unfortunately I can't find the original radiator repair order, although I have the radiator in my garage.
My local Ford dealer has just washed their hands of me, basically telling me that had I had the other 5 replaced with them, then they might work with me. I told him I couldn't afford them. I asked the manager if he thought 6 radiators in 6 years was normal. They must train these guys in how to duck and dodge. Shame on Ford for not recalling their 2006 Ford Explorer radiators. After a search online, I am one of thousands. I cannot afford to pay for another car, but I may be forced to.
Here is a link to the full story of my last experience: http://www.youandmekid.net/blog/?p=1018
I hope someone gets this resolved. I will help. If people can tweet the Ford Motor Company or something! Put public pressure on the company to recall it. There is a Service Bulletin released in 2009. Ford was to replace a radiator brought in "under their discretion" as the service manager explained to me. It says it's for 2006 Explorers manufactured before August of 2006. I don't know why when I called them that they didn't offer to do this, instead told me my previous warranty ran out. It seems if the first job was done under warranty for the very same thing, that it should have still been covered...
- myfordbites, Porterville, CA, US