What 2,428 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Explorer Gas

I have already filed a complaint about the transmission issues of my vehicle a few months ago. Ford will not take credit and help me so we had to keep driving it. Hard shifting, slipping, losing reverse, losing power and jerking into gear. Now not only has it nearly killed us twice when we went to pull into traffic, it has jerked into gear and locked up throwing the car into a guardrail and causing an accident while my fiancée was driving it. I reported it was unsafe and no one did anything, now I have a wreck vehicle, fighting with insurance about the safety of it and it’s sitting at a body shop. We are all afraid to drive it. It nearly killed my family and no one cared to help us. Plus we have no vehicle to drive now. Thank you FORD for nearly killing my family and making us feel unimportant in every way possible. Plus NHTSA did nothing when I filed my first complaint!

NHTSA ODI 11651547

Ptu burnt out less than 53k miles. Molding on passenger side broke off while driving 60mph struck another vehicle causing to other vehicle to leave road. Thank God no one was injured. This thing could have killed a motorcycle driver. Checked online and there are thousands of reports of same molding breaking off while driving.ford tn# does not recognize and disconnects call.

NHTSA ODI 11644808

Water pump failed at 80,000 miles and cause the car to stall mid intersection putting out life at risk. This is a known issue that should be recalled . Not to mention the repair is $4,000-$6,000 mostly labor to fix. Whole motor has to be taken out to replace the water pump.

NHTSA ODI 11499220

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a clicking sound coming from the vehicle and then there was an explosion. There was smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the PTU, transfer case and differential had exploded. The mechanic informed the contact that the PTU, transfer case and differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The manufacturer informed the contact that the warranty had expired and to research the lemon law. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11462282

I was driving along in town and heard a real loud pop sound and the car jerked. The front started smoking heavily. I get off to the nearest parking lot and fluids had spewed underneath and there was a small fire from this that went out. I had two children both in child restraints that had to be removed from the vehicle, thankfully my husband was with me. It was towed to two repair shops whom both stated the PTU had exploded and broke the transmission as well. I tried to get assistance through Ford and have hit a dead end. It is at the local dealership where they claim the ptu exploded, broke transmission and cracked the engine block resulting in close to $14,000 dollars needed in repairs. This vehicle was running completely fine, no lights had been displaying on the dash. Consumer stated dealer is blaming the defects on a tread pattern on 1 tire(not size).

NHTSA ODI 11459428

The Power transfer unit is leaking fluid onto the exhaust and it caught on fire as I pulled into my driveway. I was able to extinguish the fire before any damage was done. There is also a nauseous odor in the cabin of the vehicle that makes me sick, burns my eyes every time I drive my vehicle. I was told by a mechanic that this was the fluid from the PTU burning Did some research and discovered this is a common problem with these PTU's leaking fluid. Very concerned now that it will catch on fire again and cause damage or even a wreak if it locks up. I fear that this could harm me or someone else if this problem is not fixed ASAP. I have no other vehicle and not sure how to even get it fixed. The dealership said it would cost around $2000 to have it fixed. I would like someone to look at this issue, Ford advised that is not there problem and its not covered by any recalls. There is no way of knowing if it catches on fire going down the road until its actually on fire.

NHTSA ODI 11446083

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND LOST DRIVE POWER AND THE UNDERNEATH OF THE SUV WAS ON FIRE, MY HUSBAND PULLED OVER AD CALLED 911. THE DEALER STATED THE PTU CRACKED FROM PRESSURE LEAKING ALL THE OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST. ALSO STATED ALL OF MY TIRES WERE GOOD .. SO WE ARE UNSURE WHERE THE PRESSURE CAME FROM>

NHTSA ODI 11415784

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED, ROLLED BACKWARDS, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOO MOTORS (391 3 MILE RD, SAULT STE. MARIE, MI 49783, (906) 632-2278) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH HILL BRAKING ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. *TT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ODI 11080610

ON 6/28/2016 THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL ACCIDENT DUE TO DRIVER BECOMING UNCONSCIOUS. THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS BECAME UNCONSCIOUS NEARLY SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE ORIGINAL ASSUMPTION WAS THAT THE DRIVER FELL ASLEEP, ALTHOUGH SHE DID NOT REMEMBER FEELING DROWSY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON I-85, MP 18 NORTH OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA. SINCE SEEING THE REPORT TODAY ABOUT POSSIBLE CO LEAKAGE INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN ON THE FORD EXPLORER VEHICLES, I WOULD NOW SUSPECT THIS AS A POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT...UPDATED 08/07/17 *BF *CN

NHTSA ODI 11011835

BOUGHT VEHICLE 4 MONTHS AGO. TODAY WHEN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY I STOPPED AND PLACED MY CAR IN PARK. MY CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL DESPITE GEARSHIFT BEING IN PARK. IT STRUCK THE STONE ASPECT OF MY HOUSE LEAVING EXTENSIVE SCRATCHES AND SCRAPES OVER THE RIGHT FRONT END.

NHTSA ODI 10895019