What 2,423 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Explorer

The at the engine is built the coolest is leaking into it. This causes the engine to seize while driving and is very dangerous. If you catch it early it’s an expensive fix if you catch it late it’s a new engine you’ll need/ there is no warning signs for it.

NHTSA ODI 11580620

Driving on [XXX] when the engine began smoking (fogging) and I was unable to see. I stopped and could not go any further. Two cars nearly hit me. It took 10 minutes or longer for the car to cool down and the computer to allow me to move the vehicle 20' to get off the busiest street in Alabama. The car has 106,000 miles on it and the Ecoboost engine is blown. Ford refuses to do anything about it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11580743

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the water pump. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred 4 years later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11573111

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the contact became aware that antifreeze leaking from the vehicle. The temperature gauge light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to antifreeze leaking into the engine. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided the contact with a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

NHTSA ODI 11566446

Water pump leaking and needs to be replaced. Can cause engine failure and lead to being stranded on highway. Multiple forums have people with the same issue. No warning lights have come on. I took the vehicle in for another issue and they pointed out the leak to me.

NHTSA ODI 11559601

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle was not accelerating as needed with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated, then flashed several times and then turned off. The contact stated that the loss of motive power failure was intermittent but had reoccurred. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the water pump and timing belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.

NHTSA ODI 11556410

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that there was an unknown fluid leaking from the engine compartment. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty water pump. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 68,480.

NHTSA ODI 11552020

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, coolant leaked into the engine. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty water pump that needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired due to parts not being available. The contact stated that the dealer had the vehicle for a month because of the part being on back order. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that parts were on back order. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11550453

Water pump failure, engine coolant leakage from water pump

NHTSA ODI 11549893

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while starting the vehicle and depressing the brake pedal, the engine revved while the vehicle was idling. The contact stated that the failure recurred while at a complete stop at a traffic light, and the vehicle shuddered. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion in the engine, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

NHTSA ODI 11544257

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the high engine temperature warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the A/C unit started to blow out hot air only. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the water pump and timing kit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 76,000.

NHTSA ODI 11541090

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for maintenance, the mechanic discovered that the water pump was faulty and causing water to leak from the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact also stated that on one occasion while the vehicle was idling, the message" Engine Overheating" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.

NHTSA ODI 11538958

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle decelerated independently without warning. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road and examine the vehicle. The contact became aware that oil was leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was experiencing the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V925000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. On another occasion while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started overheating with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over on the side of the road. The contact examined under the hood and saw smoke coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided some assistance with the repair cost and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V183000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11538609

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated there was an unknown fluid leaking underneath the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the internal water pump was leaking and that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 11536097

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while cold starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle seemed to be operating normally; however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that after a week with the check engine light remaining illuminated, the vehicle was driven to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the long block needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to manufacturer Customer Satisfaction Program Number: 21N12 - Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 11533678

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, fluid was discovered dripping from the subframe. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that engine coolant had leaked from the vehicle due to a faulty water pump. The contact was advised that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 142,000.

NHTSA ODI 11528056

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 15-20 MPH and then attempting to park the vehicle, the high engine temperature message was displayed. The contact parked the vehicle, and her husband inspected the vehicle and became aware that the coolant level was low. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the failure was due to the water pump not operating as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

NHTSA ODI 11526734

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle started jerking while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was later informed that the water pump was defective, and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 58,900.

NHTSA ODI 11526232

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for a routine oil change, the mechanic discovered that fluid was leaking from the water pump. No further information was available. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11522304

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65-70 mph, there was an abnormal exhaust odor entering the vehicle. When the accelerator pedal was released, the odor dissipated. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The driver and passenger sustained a headache due to the odor but medical attention was not provided. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the seal was broken. Additionally, the mechanic informed her to use premium or Chevron fuel. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case, and referred her to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

NHTSA ODI 11520907

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the temperature gauge indicated that the engine had overheated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who replaced the thermostat, but the failure recurred, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was later examined by the mechanic who diagnosed that the water pump and coolant fan had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,000.

NHTSA ODI 11520458

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that coolant was leaking from the vehicle. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and left her stranded on the highway. The engine overheating message was displayed. The contact removed the coolant cap and noticed that the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact added more coolant and a stop leak solution. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to locate the leak. While driving and watching the temperature gauge, she heard an abnormal screeching sound. The contact was able to stop and noticed that the engine overheating message was displayed. The contact added coolant which leaked out. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed her that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 111,040.

NHTSA ODI 11510042

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a routine oil change, he was made aware that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, and that the water pump, head gasket, and timing belt needed to be replaced. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was advised to have the repairs completed at a local dealer. The contact made a local dealer aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11508720

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, a loud noise was heard coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle then lost motive power while coming to a stop at a stop signal. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure reoccurred shortly afterwards, and the vehicle was unable to be restarted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the part to do the repair was on backorder. The vehicle remained with the independent mechanic awaiting the parts for the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.

NHTSA ODI 11508545

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact used an ODB scanner and retrieved a fault code for a misfire in cylinder #1. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinder. The mechanic stated that either the engine or gasket needed to be replaced, and the contact was advised to have further diagnosis and repairs completed at a local dealer. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11508573