Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford explorer. While at a stop sign, the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,600.
2006 Ford Explorer cruise control problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 17 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 Ford Explorer, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2006 Explorer has documented problems with unintended acceleration when stopping, engine stalling at highway speeds, and throttle response failures—all serious safety issues that dealers sometimes cannot reproduce or fix, even after multiple visits and component replacements. If you're shopping used, test-drive one thoroughly through stop-and-go traffic and check for service records of these specific complaints.
Owners of 2006 Explorers report severe throttle and acceleration control problems. The most common complaint is a hard forward lunge or jerk when coming to a stop—described as feeling like being rear-ended. This happens from the first 1,000 miles onward and occurs repeatedly for some owners on nearly every stop. One incident escalated to uncontrolled acceleration through a concrete parking barrier, picnic table, and grill. Another owner lost brake control approaching a stop, plunging the vehicle into water.
Engine stalling while driving at highway speeds is another documented failure. The engine shuts down or loses power mid-drive, forcing owners to restart. This has occurred at 40–45 mph and in traffic, sometimes without warning and sometimes with intermittent check-engine codes. One owner replaced the throttle body twice for this issue.
Throttle hesitation during acceleration from stops rounds out the problem set—a momentary delay that owners call dangerous in traffic. Cruise control also reportedly fails catastrophically: one owner's engine died while cruising on rolling hills at highway speed, eliminating power to both brakes and steering.
Dealers have replaced throttle bodies, transmission modules, electronic throttle control units, and computers—sometimes multiple times on the same vehicle—without permanently fixing these failures. Ford has told owners there is no recall for the Explorer, despite issuing recalls for other Ford models of that year for similar issues.
Same Ford Explorer cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Forward lunge or unintended acceleration when stopping
Vehicle lurches forward or accelerates on its own when coming to a stop, often with enough force to feel like being rear-ended. Owners report this as the most frequent complaint. One incident involved uncontrolled acceleration through a concrete barrier, picnic table, and grill in a parking area. Another involved brake failure approaching a stop, causing the vehicle to plunge into water. Some owners experience this nearly every time they drive.
When: At stops, stop signs, stop lights, and while applying brakes; occurs from low mileage (1,000 miles) to higher mileage (63,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Hard forward jerk at stops; Vehicle accelerates despite foot on brake; Feels like being rear-ended; Occurs intermittently or nearly every stop
Repairs/costs cited: Ford dealer reportedly reset computer for $111 with no lasting fix; one dealer suggested it was 'smart driver' feature. Transmission module changed at another dealer without resolving issue.
Engine stalling or loss of power while driving
Engine shuts down or loses electrical power to the engine while driving at highway speeds or in traffic. Vehicle can be coasted to shoulder and will restart. Occurs intermittently and mechanics cannot always reproduce it. One owner replaced throttle body twice for this issue. Another dealer diagnosed electronic throttle control failure.
When: At highway speeds (40-45 mph, 35 mph) and in traffic at lights; mileage range 16,000 to 63,000
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown; Loss of power; engine running but no drive power; Engine stalls; No restart immediately after shutdown; Rough idle; Check engine light may appear intermittently
Codes mentioned: P2104, P2111
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement (performed twice on one vehicle); electronic throttle control replaced; computer reset; dealer unable to reproduce on multiple visits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner contacted Ford regarding stalling issue; Ford stated no recall exists for Explorer despite recalls for other Ford vehicles of that year.
Throttle hesitation or unresponsive accelerator
Vehicle hesitates or fails to respond when accelerator is depressed, particularly during acceleration from a stop. Described as momentary hesitation that can be dangerous when pulling into traffic. Accompanied by jerking when brakes are applied. Dealers unable to duplicate failure on multiple service visits.
When: During acceleration from stops and low-speed driving (35-40 mph); failure occurs from 29,000 miles onward
Symptoms owners cite: Slight hesitation before acceleration; Delayed throttle response; Abnormal jerking when braking; Momentary hesitation when accelerating from stop
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement recommended but not performed by one owner; other repairs not detailed as symptoms could not be reproduced
Speed control (cruise control) engine shutdown
Engine shuts off while cruise control is engaged and vehicle is traveling on rolling hills at 40–45 mph. Results in complete loss of power including brakes and steering, leaving driver without control.
When: While operating cruise control on rolling terrain at 40-45 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Engine turns off with no warning; Loss of power for brakes and steering; Complete loss of vehicle control
Instrument cluster and electrical gremlins
Dashboard instrument lights and cluster malfunction intermittently. When active, speedometer fails to display correct speed. Associated with electrical instability causing restart difficulty. One owner's cluster, anti-theft module, and computer were all replaced by dealer on multiple visits without resolving the problem.
When: Can occur at any time of day; failure began at low mileage (1,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard lights turn on at random; Speedometer reads incorrectly when lights activate; Difficulty restarting vehicle; Multiple restart attempts needed
Repairs/costs cited: Instrument cluster replaced; anti-theft module replaced; computer replaced; all wires under hood unplugged and re-seated; issue persisted across eight dealer visits
Brake and accelerator pedal interference
Driver's foot catches accelerator pedal while applying brakes in reverse, causing unintended acceleration. Owner believed pedals are positioned too close together.
When: At low speed in reverse (10 mph); occurred five times over vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Foot hits accelerator when braking; Unintended acceleration during braking
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 Ford Explorer?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2006 Ford Explorer?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 8,000 and 64,500 miles, with the median around 29,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,000; a quarter make it past 64,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Ford/Explorer.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.