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

IT JOLTS, LUNGES, TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE AND SLAMS INTO GEAR HARD IT MAKES YOU FEEL YOU GOT REAR ENDED WITH A BIG BANK. SLOW TO ACCELERATE AND WHEN IT FINALLY DOES IT LUNGES

NHTSA ODI 11093175

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

WHEN DRIVING ESPECIALLY ON FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTS TO STALL AND TAKES TIME TO FIND THE SPEED. IT'S COME CLOSE TO ACCIDENTS AS I'VE TRIED TO GET OVER IN TIME WHEN MERGING. HAS HAPPENED SO FAR MORE THAN 5 TIMES. SOMETIME IT HAPPENS AS SOON AS YOU ENTER THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11062080

TRAVELLING AT 70 MPH MY VEHICLE'S RPMS DROPPED TO 500 - 1000, THE ACCELERATOR BECAME UNRESPONSIVE, AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN SPEAKING WITH THE MECHANICS AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP, THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE WAS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY (ETB). MY CAR WAS JUST OVER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, AND ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BULLETIN ISSUED, MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. THERE IS ALSO AN ACTIVE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THE SAME ISSUE IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS, NOT INCLUDING 2016. I SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH FORD VIA A PHONE CALL, WHO APOLOGIZED AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE EXPENSE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER. IN MY OPINION, FORD IS NOT BACKING THEIR PRODUCTS FOR WHAT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11011962

WHILE DRIVING @ 50MPH ON A MULTI LANE ROAD, ENGINE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO IDLE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS INOPERATIVE. LOST ALL POWER AND VEHICLE CAME TO A COASTING STOP. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS AN EXIT NEARBY AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE MAIN ROAD. TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT NO EFFECT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN DURING RUSH HOUR AS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS APPEARS TO BE A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM WITH FORD. JUST WANTED TO GO ON RECORD THAT I ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS 11K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10980238

WHILE DRIVING WITH CHILDREN PRESENT THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND MY WIFE COULD NOT ACCELERATE. SHE HAD TO DRIFT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE "WRENCH" LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR AND RESTARTING SHE WAS ABLE TO GET HOME BUT THE CAR HAS ALMOST NO ACCELERATION AND KEPT SHUDDERING. FORTUNATELY THE ROADS WERE QUITE AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR INJURY. IF SHE WAS ON A BUSY ROAD OR HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. CAR HAS AROUND 7000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10918436

VEHICLE WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 5-10 MPH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. ENGINE, WRENCH AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. SHUT ENGINE OFF AND LET SIT AND RESTARTED. VEHICLE DROVE NORMAL BUT STILL HAD ENGINE LIGHT ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAITING ON DIAGNOSTIC. COULD OF BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 10916203

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200.

NHTSA ODI 10915709

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500.

NHTSA ODI 10915710

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE RPM'S DROPPED BELOW 1,000 AND I LOST ALL THROTTLE CONTROLS. I HAD TO SHIFT INTO N AND COAST INTO THE MEDIAN. ONCE STOPPED, I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON AGAIN BUT STILL HAD NO THROTTLE CONTROLS. VEHICLE HAS 6,700 MILES AND THE DEALER SAYS THE PROBLEM WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT AND WERE GOING TO FIX AT MY 7,000 MILE SERVICE. I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IF FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS GLITCH IT SHOULD BE FIXED RIGHT AWAY!

NHTSA ODI 10911278

I WAS DRIVING ON 675 IN DAYTON OHIO AT 65-70 MILES AN HOUR WHEN MY FORD EXPLORER XLT LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND I WAS FORCED TO COAST TO A STOP ON THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT, AND DRIVE IT HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE AN ANSWER TOMORROW. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2016 XLT WITH JUST OVER 8,000 MILES. I NO LONGER TRUST THIS VEHICLE AND WILL BE RESEARCHING MORE RELIABLE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 10910666

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. ...UPDATED 12/14/16 *BF

NHTSA ODI 10908504

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 45 MPH AND THE WRENCH SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,700.

NHTSA ODI 10904307

WHILE DRIVING BELOW 30 MPH ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND FELT A JOLT,ENGINE CUT OFF,"WRENCH" LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON (LAST ONE PROBABLY WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF).HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE,RE-STARTED ENGINE AND IT STARTED SHAKING,RPMS KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 1-2000.TURNED OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES.STARTED ENGINE AGAIN AND IT WAS RUNNING NORMAL EXCEPT CHECK ENGINE WAS ON.WENT TO LOCAL FORD DEALER (WE WERE ON VACATION) WHO COULDN'T TAKE US IN FOR AT LEAST 6 HRS AND WANTED US TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC (NEW CAR,JUST HAD FIRST OIL CHANGE).WENT TO AUTO ZONE AND THEY READ CODE P2112 -THROTTLE BODY FAILURE AND ARMED WITH THAT SCHEDULED SERVICE AT MY LOCAL DEALER.ON THE WAY BACK ISSUE REPEATED ITSELF TWO MORE TIMES.ALL ON LOWER SPEEDS (CITY DRIVING).CURRENT MILES 6200.

NHTSA ODI 10899006

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE FROM 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,400.

NHTSA ODI 10898447

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY AT 65+ MPH. ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH (SOUNDED LIKE A TRACTOR) AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO AN EXIT RAMP WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. MILEAGE WAS JUST OVER 7,000. IT IS SAD THAT I HAD TO RESCUE MY FAMILY (WIFE, 4 MONTH OLD BABY, 3 YEAR OLD AND 6 YEAR OLD) OFF A BUSY HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID HE GETS ABOUT 3 OR 4 OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH NEW EXPLORERS A WEEK. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A RECALL? NOW WE WILL DRIVE IN FEAR OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING AGAIN SINCE, FROM WHAT THE DEALER SAID, THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED WITH THE EXACT SAME PART. I GUESS WE JUST WON'T TAKE ANY LONG TRIPS WHEN WE ARE AROUND 7,000 MILES ON THIS THROTTLE BODY...? UNBELIEVABLE FORD. WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK!

NHTSA ODI 10898559

WHILE MY EXPLORER WAS IN MOTION WHILE DRIVING HOME ON A CITY STREET, THE CAR SEEMED TO SLIP GEAR AND SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION. PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING AND THE CAR WOULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD UP TO 5 MPH. I RECEIVED A NOTICE ON THE DASHBOARD SAYING "CHECK OWNERS MANUAL" AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE, WRENCH AND AIRBAG LIGHT BEING LIT. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME SINCE I WAS RIGHT DOWN THE BLOCK. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IT DROVE NORMALLY BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHICH STATED THAT I NEEDED A NEW THROTTLE BODY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY RECALL. MY EXPLORER WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2015 AND HAS ROUGHLY 7,900 MILES DRIVEN. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 10897926

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ODI 10896855

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-295 WITH A SPEED OF 65MPH WHEN I SAW A WRENCH ICON ON THE DASH BOARD LIGHT UP AND I LOST CONTROL ON ACCELERATION. NO POWER EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE STEPPING ON THE GAS YOU SLOWLY DECELERATE LIKE YOU PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL.THE NEXT DAY I CALLED UP THE SERVICE DEPT OF MY DEALER. EXPLAINED TO THE TECH WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WITHOUT HESITATION HE REPLIED "YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE THROTTLE BODY, IT'S DEFECTIVE ."

NHTSA ODI 10896180

VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPS ACCELERATING. WAS DRIVING AND HAD GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT VEHICLE KEPT SLOWING DOWN THEN SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD. DRIVING DOWNHILL WHILE BRAKING AND RPM GAUGE SURGING FOR NO REASON.

NHTSA ODI 10892644

2016 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER, AIRBAG, CHECK ENGINE AND POWERTRAIN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AT VARIOUS TIMES AND ACCELERATOR MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD, HE HEARD A LOUD THUD ACCOMPANIED BY AN IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY LOST SPEED AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS IDLING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE SAFELY OUT OF TRAFFIC AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THERE WAS A RECURRING ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT HE EXPERIENCED IN JANUARY 2016 WITH THE FIRST MONTH OF DELIVERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS DUE TO DEAD BATTERIES. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10891403

I RENTED A 2016 FORD EXPLORER FROM AVIS AT THE PORTLAND (ME) AIRPORT (AVIS VEHICLE #40933351). ON FRIDAY, JULY 15TH, THE UNIT STALLED AS I PULLED INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE ACCELERATOR WAS NON-RESPONSIVE AND THE CAR MOVED AT A VERY REDUCED RATE OF SPEED. SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP - CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG, AND A NOTE CAME UP TO CHECK THE OWNER'S MANUAL. I WAS ABLE TO FINISH CROSSING THE INTERSECTION AT THE SLOWER SPEED AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND IT OPERATED PROPERLY FOR A WHILE. LATER THAT NIGHT, I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN. ONCE AGAIN, THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AND THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED AVIS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE PERSON ON THE LINE TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH FORD EXPLORERS AND THAT I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF, STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR, THEN PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND RESTART THE CAR TO CLEAR THE FAULT BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL BACK ONTO THE ROAD AT FULL SPEED. APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE DOWN THE ROAD I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. ONCE AGAIN, I BEGAN TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AND THE DASHBOARD LIT UP. I PULLED OVER AND RESET THE CAR AS I HAD DONE BEFORE AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AWAY. A FEW HUNDRED FEET AWAY, THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AGAIN AND THE DASHBOARD LIT UP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, RESET THE CAR AND DRIVE AWAY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. THE ACCELERATOR STOPS WORKING WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CAR ONLY TRAVELS AT A VERY SLOW SPEED THAT IS NOT CONTROLLED BY THE ACCELERATOR. 3 OUT OF 4 TIMES IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. IF THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT.

NHTSA ODI 10888548

CAR JERKED AND THEN THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. COULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 5 MPH, HAS GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, JUST OVER 7000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10887992

DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND EXPLORER STARTED LOSING POWER, CUTTING OUT AND ENGINE ALMOST DIED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TOOL LIGHT CAME ON DISPLAY. I WAS BARELY A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM MY HOUSE, SO I SLOWLY MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE TO MY DRIVEWAY. MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE EXPLORER IN SUBDIVISION AGAIN AND EXPLORER AGAIN STARTED MISFIRING AND ENGINE DIED. TURNED AIR CONDITIONER OFF AND IT RESTARTED AND APPEARED TO SHAKE EXPLORER AS ENGINE MISFIRED AND WE BARELY GOT IT BACK IN OUR DRIVEWAY. IT ONLY HAS 7,740 MILES ON IT!! I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT TOWED TO THERE TODAY.

NHTSA ODI 10887994

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, LOSS OF ACCELERATION, LIMPED TO SIDE OF ROAD. WAS ON VACATION, BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER, NEEDED THROTTLE BODY AND WAS TOLD FORD HAD A 23 DAY BACK ORDER ON PART SO THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COMMON, DANGEROUS PROBLEM. FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR COMPARABLE RENTAL CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10887776