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

MOVING DOWN A HIGHWAY WHEN WITH A SUDDEN SHUTTER AND THEN A LOUD BANG THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER WITH BLINDING SMOKE IN AND AROUND THE CAR. MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD FIRE LAPPING UP THE DRIVERS SIDE ROCKER PANEL FROM UNDER THE CAR. TRANSFER CASE EXPLODED WITH SUCH FORCE IT DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. OCCURRED AT 41,000 MILES ON A THREE YEAR OLD VECHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11233816

I STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND, AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I PRESS THE GAS GAS TO CROSS INTERSECTION AND CAR WOULD ONLY GO 3 MILES AN HOUR, I MANAGED TO TURN INTO SIDE STREET, AND TURNED CAR OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED CAR AND I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION, WHEN I STOPPED AT ANOTHER RED LIGHT IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I THEN TURNED OFF CAR AND RESTATED TO FIND ALL WARNING LIGHTS OFF. I THEN DROVE TO AUTO NATION FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOSED WITH A THROTTLE PROBLEM. WHEN CHECKING THE INTERNET I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, IT COULD HAVE BEE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THIS HAPPENED ST AN INTERSECTION.

NHTSA ODI 11228267

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT ABOUT 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. THE PEDALS WERE NOT IN THE RIGHT LOCATIONS SO I DECIDED TO ADJUST THEM TO A HIGHER POSITION WITH THE BUTTON ON THE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN I DID THE ADJUSTMENT, THE ENGINE WENT INTO A FULL THROTTLE MODE AND WOULD NOT LET UP. I PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKES HARD AND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY WENT FULL THROTTLE AGAIN AND THEN BACK DOWN AGAIN WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN HARD. THIS CYCLE CONTINUED EVEN THOUGH I SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND TRIED PUTTING THE SHIFTER IN NEUTRAL. I WAS FINAL ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK NORMALLY. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY EVENT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE OR HAVE MY WIFE DRIVE IT. I REPORTED IT TO FORD BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11210510

ON 3/21/19 I WAS DRIVING WHEN A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT THEM. MY AIRBAG WENT OFF AND WAS SMOKING BLACK SMOKE. THERE WAS ALSO A FIRE, ABOUT 1.5 FT TALL THAT APPEARED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD. I SAT IN SHOCK UNTIL SOMEONE TOLD ME TO GET OUT. I GOT OUT AND GRABBED MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. SHE WAS IN A CAR SEAT AND STILL SECURED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THANKFULLY WE WERE NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. WE SAT WATCHING MY CAR QUICKLY ENGULF IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME THE CAR WAS PRETTY MUCH ALL BURNED. I LOST A LOT OF VALUABLE AND SENTIMENTAL PERSONAL BELONGINGS IN MY CAR WHICH INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER THE COST OF. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE TO GO THROUGH FOR MY DAUGHTER AND I. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A MINOR ACCIDENT SHOULD CAUSE A FIRE LIKE THIS. I HAVE REACHED OUT FOR FORD MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY WILL NOT INVESTIGATE WHICH I FIND EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING. I WOULD LIKE TO PREVENT THIS HORRIBLE THING HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE. ALTHOUGH WE WERE NOT INJURED IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE, AND EVEN DEADLY.

NHTSA ODI 11203090

ONE MORNING, I BEGAN TO SMELL A SULFUR OR GAS-LIKE SMELL INSIDE THE CAR. I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT BUT IT PERSISTED FROM 5:00 A.M. -9:00 A.M. MY 7 YEAR OLD SON EVEN SMELLED IT WHEN ENTERING THE CAR. AFTER DROPPING HIM OFF AT SCHOOL I DROVE TO DEALERSHIP TO GET IT INSPECTED. DURING THAT DRIVE, WITH THE WINDOWS CRACKED, I BEGAN TO FEEL A DULL HEADACHE, DIZZINESS AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS. ONCE I DROPPED MY CAR OFF FOR INSPECTION AND WAS OUT OF THE CAR I DIDN'T FEEL ANY BETTER AND MY HEADACHE AND WEAKNESS GOT WORSE. MY WIFE TOOK ME TO THE ER OUT OF PRECAUTION AND AFTER BLOODWORK WAS TAKEN, I WAS CONFIRMED TO HAVE HAD CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. I AM A NON-SMOKER AND MY COHB LEVELS WERE TWICE THAT OF A NON-SMOKER : 3.8% IT WAS RAINING OUT SO I COULD NOT UNROLLI WINDOWS AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO. I WAS NOT DRIVING WITH THE A/C ON, WAS NOT SITTING IDLE. MINIMUM SPEED WAS 5-10 MPH AND MAX SPEED WAS 70 MPH FORD IDENTIFIED THE SMELL AS A FAILING PTU BUT CLAIMED THERE WAS NO CO PRESENT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH A CO SENSOR INSIDE THE CAB. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 32 MONTHS WITH NO ISSUE BUT I CANNOT IGNORE THAT I DID IN FACT HAVE CARBON MONOXIDE EXPOSURE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE EXISTENCE OF THE STRONG SULFUR SMELL SHOWING UP. I AM NOT CONVINCED CARBON MONOXIDE GETTING INSIDE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11196870

9/29/18: REMOTE START STOPPED WORKING AND CAR SPUTTERED WHEN STARTING. 10/14/18: AFTER MANUALLY STARTING WITH PUSH-BUTTON, WHITE SMOKE FILLED MY GARAGE AND CAR WITH 3 CHILDREN. EXPLORER TOWED TO BRANDON FORD DEALERSHIP THAT DAY WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A SUNDAY. AS OF TODAY, I STILL DON'T HAVE MY EXPLORER BACK. I WAS INFORMED THAT FLUID GOT INTO THE CYLINDER AND THE CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS A BACKLOG ON THIS PARTICULAR PART. AS I APPROACH THE 5TH WEEK WITH THIS LOANER VEHICLE, I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS MORE TO THE PROBLEM OR IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT ANYONE CAN DO TO HELP ME GET RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ODI 11150795

2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE THERE IS A LOUD THUD THEN WHEN PUTTING IT IN DRIVE ANOTHER LOUD THUD THAT ACTUALLY SOUNDS LIKE I HIT SOMETHING. THEN WHEN TRYING TO GIVE IT GAS IT WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THE GAS IS PRESSED BUT WON'T GO AND ENGINE WILL JUST REV. THEN IT WILL START CUTTING OUT AS IF IT IS GOING TO DIE. I CAN ONLY GET UP TO ABOUT 30 MPH DURING THIS TIME. AFTER DRIVING FOR A SHORT TIME IT'S LIKE IT WARMS UP AND WILL QUIT. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND I CAN GO A WEEK OR TWO WITHOUT IT HAPPENING AT ALL. AND WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN IN THE MORNING AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING ALL NIGHT. I STARTED PRESSING ON THE GAS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STARTING (PUSH BUTTON) AND THEN BEFORE PUTTING IN GEAR WILL PRESS ON THE GAS SEVERAL TIMES AND REV THE ENGINE AND THE CUTTING OUT SYMPTOMS WILL NOT HAPPEN HOWEVER THE THUD NOISE HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY STILL.

NHTSA ODI 11142626

I BEGAN TO NOTICE A STRONG GAS FUME SMELL IN THE CAB WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE 'RECALL' REPAIR FOR CO CONCERNS DID NOTHING. I CURRENTLY STILL HAVE THE STRONG SMELL INSIDE CAB.

NHTSA ODI 11121947

WHEN DONE PUMPING FUEL, FUEL LEAKS OUT OF THE FILLER DOOR AND GAS COLLECTS AROUND THE HOLE AND RUNS DOWN THE OUTSIDE PANEL OF THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI 11104167

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER THE CONTACT'S WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS, AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS DETECTED COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE BECAME ILL AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS WIFE HAD CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING AT FOUR TIMES THE NORMAL LIMIT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MEDICAL DOCTOR THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

NHTSA ODI 11102344

BOUGHT A 2016 FORD EXPLORER SPORT IN NOV.2016 USED WITH 20K MILES. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME I NOTICED A HORRIBLE SMELL AND THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SOMETHING IN THE AREA NEVER DREAMING IT WAS THE CAR! I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FOUND THE CAR HAD A RECALL ON IT. THE SMELL IS HORRIBLE, SO BAD WE HAVE TO RIDE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. IM NOT SURE WHY THE DEALERSHIP WAS EVEN ALLOWED TO SELL THE CAR TO ME WITH DISCLOSING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM FORD. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO BUY THE CAR BACK FROM ME.I AM DRIVING A 2003 CAR NOW WITH 150K MILES BECAUSE I CANNOT DRIVE MY NEW CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11072488

2016 FORD EXPLORER ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF DEALERSHIP SINCE 12/26/17. I AM CURRENTLY IN A LOANER VEHICLE. RECEIVE UPDATE FIRST WEEK OF FEB 2018 THAT THE TRANSMISSION DEPT WAS BEHIND AND THAT THEY WILL LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11072766

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THAT CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUEL EMITTING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A UNKNOWN LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT AGAIN WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE A WEEK LATER, AND SMELLED A FUEL ODOR AGAIN INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY LOCATED AT 1 AMERICAN ROAD , DEARBORN, MI 48126 (313)322-3000, AND WAS ADVISED TO DROP OFF THE VEHICLE FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING FROM A CRACK IN THE PUMP. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED OR NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11064550

I BOUGHT THE 2016 FORD EXPLORER XLT LAST WEEK FROM A FORD DEALER, I DROVE IT HOME WHICH IS 35-40 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAD SEVERE HEADACHE. THERE WAS AN ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN WHICH WAS CAUSING THE HEADACHE/NAUSEA. WE COULDNT EXPLAIN WHY THE ODOR WAS THERE AND WHEN WE RESEARCHED ONLINE, WE WERE SHOCKED TO FIND THAT THE FORD EXPLORER HAD THE CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK ISSUE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE OUR CAR FOR MORE THAN 15-20 MINUTES WITHOUT GETTING A HEADACHE.

NHTSA ODI 11063902

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER ---- CONTACT HAS BEEN SMELLING GAS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR-- VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP TWICE FOR GAS SMELL --- CONTACT BROUGHT VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP -- FORD STATED THERE IS A RECALL ON ENGINE PARTS --- CONTACT STATED SHE NO LONGER WANTS VEHICLE WANTS TO SELL VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO GET MONEY BACK AND GET A DIFFERENT VEHICLE ---- 1RECALLSASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN NOV 29,2017 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER17S40 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER17V767 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE, REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE SUMMARYAFFECTED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SUSPECT POWER DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. FORD TEAM REVIEWED SUPPLIER PROCESS, MAINTENANCE AND WARRANTY RECORDS TO DETERMINE THE POPULATION OF AFFECTED PARTS. THE FORD PROCESS IS CAPABLE OF TRACING FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER PRODUCTION TO THE VEHICLE IN WHICH THE FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER IS INSTALLED. SAFETY RISKA FRONT SEAT CUSHION WITH A MISSING UPPER LEFT-HAND PIVOT BOLT MAY EXPERIENCE INCREASED SEAT DEFLECTION IN A CRASH AND NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN OCCUPANTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY. REMEDYOWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY MAIL AND INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A FORD OR LINCOLN DEALER TO MEASURE THE TORQUE OF THE POWER SEAT TRACK UPPER PIVOT LINK BOLT. IF THE BOLT PASSES THE TORQUE INSPECTION, DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND CLEAN THE BOLT, APPLY NEW THREADLOCK, AND REINSTALL THE BOLT TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. THIS REPAIR WILL COMPLETE THE FSA. IF THE BOLT FAILS THE TORQUE INSPECTION, THREADLOCK WILL BE ADDED AND THE BOLT WILL BE REINSTALLED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR FOR SOLD UNITS UNTIL THE FINAL REPAIR IS AVAILABLE. UNSOLD UNITS WILL BE HELD UNTIL THE FINAL REPAIR IS COMPLETE. THE FINAL REPAIR WILL INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF THE LIFT LINK WITH NEW BUSHINGS

NHTSA ODI 11063005

CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKS FROM THE EXHAUST INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE A/C RECIRCULATE IS ON

NHTSA ODI 11062768

CAR SMELLS STRONGLY LIKE NATURAL GAS INSIDE CABIN WHEN DRIVING, AND WHEN SITTING STILL - EYES BURN, THROAT SORE, HEADACHE AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 5 MINS OR MORE.

NHTSA ODI 11055125

OUR FORD EXPLORER HAS AN EXHAUST LEAK THAT ENTERS THROUGH THE DASH VENTS WHEN DRIVING, OR WHEN PARKED WITH MOTOR RUNNING. WHEN I PARK IN GARAGE. I HAVE TO OPEN BACK AND FRONT GARAGE DOORS TO ALLOW AIR TO "CLEAR " IR FROM GARAGE, SO IT DOES NOT ENTER HOME. OUR FORD DEALER SAID THERE IS NO RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11041305

THE TAILPIPE OCCASIONALLY EMITS BLUE-GRAY SMOKE, AS IF IT IS BURNING OIL. I HAVE WITNESSED THIS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OCCASIONALLY SMELLS LIKE SMOKE. THE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR TEND TO NOTICE IT FIRST, AND THEN THE PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT CAN SMELL IT. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN ACCELERATING AT A HIGH RATE, SUCH AS WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY FROM AN ON-RAMP.

NHTSA ODI 11035089

STRONG EMISSIONS SMELL THAT IS CAUSING DIZZINESS AND MAJOR HEADACHES WHEN WE DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ODI 11034387

ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT YET RECD. ANY LETTERS FROM FORD ON REPAIRING MY EXPLORER, MY SON OFTEN COMPLAINTS OF UNEASINESS AND NAUSEA WHEN SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT OF MY CAR. I DON'T PARTICULARLY NOTICE ANY SMELL BUT I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE OTHER NEWS AROUND FUMES AND CO ENTERING THE CABIN. THIS HAPPENS SPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING AND A/C IS ON WITH A/C WINDOWS CLOSED. I NOTICED THIS ONLY DURING OUR SUMMER BREAK THIS TIME WHEN MY SON SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE CAR AS OPPOSED TO SCHOOL NIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI 11033890

ROTTEN EGG AND FUEL SMELL IN CABIN.

NHTSA ODI 11033272

WHEN I FILL UP THE TANK THE MILES VARIES EVERY TIME. ALSO, THERE IS A SMELL IN THE CAR WHEN I DRIVE. I HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO GET RID OF THE SMELL.

NHTSA ODI 11031994

WHEN ACCELERATING OR GOING UP INCLINE CAR STARTS TO SMELL LIKE CARBON MONOXIDE (LIKE THE HEATER IS ON). CIRCULATION IS WITHIN CAR. IN ORDER TO GET OUT MUST PUT ON OUTSIDE CIRCULATION AND ROLL DOWN WINDOWS.

NHTSA ODI 11025358

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL EXHAUST ODOR THROUGH THE A/C VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO APPLE FORD LINCOLN LOCATED AT 8800 STANFORD BLVD, COLUMBIA. MD WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN EXHAUST FUME LEAK IN THE VEHICLE AND A TSB NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.

NHTSA ODI 11021400