What 2,429 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Explorer

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, WINDSHIELD TRIM ON DRIVERS SIDE BROKE OFF. ONCE STATIONARY, INSPECTED WHERE THE TRIM WAS AND IT'S COMPLETELY GONE & APPEARS THAT THE CLIPS HOLDING IT THERE ARE BROKEN AND SOME GONE. PASSENGERS SIDE TRIM IS WARPED AND APPEARS LOOSE. ALSO, DRIVERS DOORS TRIM IS NOW PARTLY DETACHED FROM DOOR

NHTSA ODI 11407271

I TOUCHED THE STEERING WHEEL BOTTOMS FOR AND WHEN I TRUN THE STEERING WHEEL I HERE A POPING SOUND. I'M SACAR IT MAY LOCK AND THEN CRASH. WHILE IN MENTION. CITY AND HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA ODI 11407042

MY EXPLORER STARTED HAVING POPPING NOISES WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS BAD ENOUGH TO GIVE SIGNIFICANT FEEDBACK IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND VIBRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE FRONT PASSENGER AREA. WHEN I JACK UP THE FRONT END UNLOADING THE WHEELS, THERE IS NO NOISE OR POPPING. WITH FULL WEIGHT ON THE WHEELS, WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED SLIGHTLY LEFT AND RIGHT AND GET SIGNIFICANT POPPING AND CRACKING FEEDBACK VIA THE TIE RODS, THE NOISE HAS PROGRESSED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL FREEZING IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR IS A MAJOR LIFE SAFETY ISSUE IF NOT ADDRESSED THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE MAJOR INJURIES OR DEATH. IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE ISSUES AND I FIND COUNTLESS ONLINE INSTANCES OF THIS MECHANICAL DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11406972

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT INDEPENDENTLY ADJUSTED, TRAPPING THE CONTACT UP AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WALKER FORD (17556 US HWY 19 N, CLEARWATER, FL 33764, (727) 265-3992) BUT WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS STILL AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER INADVERTENTLY CHANGED THE SEAT SETTINGS. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE AND DENIED CHANGING THE SETTINGS.

NHTSA ODI 11406703

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT WALDORF FORD (2440 CRAIN HWY, WALDORF, MD 20601, (888) 709-3528) THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A FEW DAYS LATER A BYSTANDER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS WATER IN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE LAMP AND THAT THE BRAKE LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V605000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11405324

THE CAR LOOSE THE POWER AND DON'T GO OVER 20 MILES AN HOUR . RPM GOES OVER 5000 CAR SPEED DON'T CHANGE MAKE NOISE YOU CAN'T GO UP THE HAVE THE POWER TO GO ONLY 20 MILES TO 23 MILES AN HOUR

NHTSA ODI 11404463

I WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT AND STARTED THE VEHICLE TO FIND MESSAGES STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED, HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE, SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC, AND TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT ALL DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS INCREDIBLY HARD TO TURN. IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE I NOTICED ON A FEW OCCASIONS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT CENTER AFTER EXITING A 90 DEGREE TURN AND I WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE INPUT TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING RACK HAS FAILED AND THERE ARE NOT EVEN ANY PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS, NOR DOES IT APPEAR FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM..

NHTSA ODI 11403522

WENT TO THE BEACH THIS PAST SATURDAY AND AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE TURNING LANE FOR THE STATE PARK AND ALARM WENT OFF SAYING DRIVE ASSIST CONTROL FAILURE, AND NUMEROUS THINGS THAT NO LONGER WORK, SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN NO POWER STEERING AND IT WAS A MIRACLE WE GOT IT HOME WHICH WAS AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY, HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE GOING FASTER THEN I COULD OF LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN IT ALARMED. THE PICTURES SHOW WAS ALERTS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED NOW. THIS MORNING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE SO MY GIRLFRIEND WHO DRIVES THE EXPLORER HAS TO USE THE BACK UP CAR THAT CAN'T HOLD ALL OF OUR KIDS.

NHTSA ODI 11402985

I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE IN OCTOBER 2020 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER20S62 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER20V675. WHEN ATTEMPTING THE SCHEDULE WITH KOONS FORD ANNAPOLIS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PARTS ARE STILL ON BACK ORDER. THIS IS NOW MONTH 5 AND THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.

NHTSA ODI 11402554

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR COMING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE CONTACT AND HER HUSBAND TO BECOME LIGHTHEADED. WHEN THE CONTACT RETURNED TO HER RESIDENCE SHE CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SMELLED AN ABNORMALLY STRONG ODOR COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THE ODOR SMELLED LIKE SULFUR AND ROTTEN EGGS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER BALISE FORD (1979 BOSTON RD, WILBRAHAM, MA 01095) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI 11399324

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELT FAILED TO LATCH CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH BREDEMANN FORD (2038 WAUKEGAN RD, GLENVIEW, IL 60025, (847) 510-5585) WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE AND FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,778.

NHTSA ODI 11399077

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE PRIOR TO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT STATED A TIRE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BANNER FORD OF MONROE (6300 FRONTAGE RD, MONROE, LA 71202) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE RACK AND PINION NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,509.

NHTSA ODI 11398978

AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING SHE HEARD A POP NOISE, THEN SHE WENT TURN AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHICH FORCED HER TO STAY IN HEAD ON TRAFFIC. AFTER FORCING THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH SHE WAS ABLE TO GET STEERING BACK AND TOOK THE SUV TO A LOCAL SHOP. IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING GEAR WAS BAD. THIS HAPPENED WHEN OUR VEHICLE ONLY HAD ROUGHLY 60,000 MILES. THANKFULLY NO ONE HIT HER HEAD ON. THE STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11398742

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP LEAKED FLUID WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO STEVENS FORD OF MILFORD (717 BRIDGEPORT AVE, MILFORD, CT 06460) WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WATER PUMP. THE CONTACT DECLINED THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SHE HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 11398521

THIS VEHICLE ALMOST TOOK MY LIFE THE OTHER DAY. ALMOST JUST AS SCARY IS THE FACT THAT THIS ISSUE IS WIDELY REPORTED ON THESE VEHICLES FROM 2011 ON AND FORD HAS ZERO RECALL FOR IT. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY THE OTHER DAY GOING ABOUT 70MPH WHEN INSIDE OF 10 SECONDS (WHILE ON A BEND IN THE ROAD) MY DASH LIT UP AND MY STEERING LOCKED!!! AT 70 MPH!!! I ALMOST HIT 3 CARS WHILE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN AS I COULD ONLY GO STRAIGHT. WHEN I SAY LOCKED, I MEAN AS IF IT WAS CEMENTED IN PLACE. THE DASH READS 'STEERING LOSS STOP SAFELY', 'SERVICE ADVANCETRAC', 'HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE'. THIS COULD HAVE LIKED NOT ONLY ME BUT OTHER MOTORISTS THIS DAY. ON TOP OF THE INCREDIBLE CONCERN OF SAFETY, THE 'HEAD IN THE SAND' MENTALITY THAT FORD HAS ON THIS ISSUE IS DISGUSTING, AS THEY'RE ALSO LEAVING OWNERS WITH $5000-$10000 REPAIR BILLS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THIS WAS THE LAST STRAW WITH FORD, AFTER 20 YEARS, I'M DONE.

NHTSA ODI 11398251

VEHICLE STARTED TO MISFIRE AS I WAS DRIVING. IT WOULD GET WORSE EVERY TIME I WAS IDLE AT STOP LIGHTS. HAD TO PULL OVER TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AND I SHORTLY SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH A FORD DEALERSHIP. FORD TECHS SAID IT WAS THE SPARK PLUGS AND COILS. HAD ALL 6 SPARK PLUGS & COILS REPLACED BUT THE ISSUE CONTINUED. STILL NO RESOLUTION AS OF TODAY. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 47K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11397896

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON MAKING A SHARP TURN FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, AN ABNORMAL CLANKING SOUND WOULD EMIT FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO BALISE FORD OF CAPE COD (90 HIGH SCHOOL RD EXT, HYANNIS, MA 02601) WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN SHOCK. THE SECOND TIME, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE NEEDED A FULL STEERING RACK REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11397925

THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTING ALONG THE FRONT EDGE. IT STARTED WITH A SMALL AREA AT FIRST A YEAR AGO BY BUBBLING UP FROM UNDERNEATH. NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL VISIBLE AREAS ALONG THE FRONT EDGE OF THE HOOD DOING THE SAME. IT'S A MATTER OF TIME TIL THE RUST BREAKS THRU THE PAINT. 5 YEARS OLD AND I LIVE IN MD. MILD WINTERS. SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11397268

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD PILLAR MOLDING DEPARTED THE VEHICLE. WHILE RESEARCHING PART NUMBERS AND REPAIRS ONLINE I HAVE NOTICED THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR EXPLORERS FROM 2011- 2018. ALSO SEEMS SOMEWHAT RELATED TO THE CURRENT RECALL FOR EXPLORER ROOF RACKS THAT USE SOME OF THE SAME MOUNTING HARDWARE. PARTS SEPARATING FROM VEHICLES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CREATES HIGH RISK OF INCIDENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11397294

I'M EXPERIENCING LIMP MODE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE TRUCK LOSES POWER AND CUTS BACK ALMOST LIKE I PUT IT IN PARK WHILE DRIVING. THE WRENCH AND ENGINE LIGHTS ARE ON.

NHTSA ODI 11397414

94000 MILES THE TRANSFER CASE BURST AND WHEN 70000 MILES CHARGING CYCLE DOES NOT WORK , THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPS.

NHTSA ODI 11397473

EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CABIN. STATED SLOWLY AND PROGRESSIVE GOT WORSE. HEAVY FUMES AND NOT SAFELY DRIVABLE, FORD REPAIR SAID IT WAS THE PTU UNIT LEAKING ALLOWING EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CABIN THROUGH THE AIR FLOW SYSTEM. FORD SAID THE PTU WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED- $2,400. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 58,740 MILES. DEFINITELY A SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARD. THIS HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND AFTER RUNNING AND PARKED IN GARAGE FILLS GARAGE WITH NOXIOUS ODOR OF EXHAUST SMELL.

NHTSA ODI 11397228

WIFE WAS SHOPPING IN ANOTHER CITY AND STEERING LOCKED UP WHEN SHE STARTED IT AFTER BEING PARKED IN A LOT ,WARNING SIGNALS CAME ON . TURNED EXPLORER OFF AND RESTARTED CAR AND DROVE FINE AND DROVE HOME 50 MILES . WENT TO HOCKEY GAME AT AN ARENA , CAME OUT AND STARTED CAR AND STEERING WAS HARD TO STEER ( NO POWER STEERING ) BUT MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME 2 MILES AND PUT IN GARAGE . LOOKED FOR POWER STEERING RESEVOUR AND THERE WAS NONE UNDER HOOD THINKING LOW ON FLUID . LOOKED IN OWNERS MANUAL AND SAW -- ALL ELECTRONIC ! DROVE IT TO DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY ( WEEKEND ) AND PARKED IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS HARD TO STEER . GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND SAW ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT OTHERS HAD WITH THIS STEERING GEAR ! WENT TO DEALER MONDAY MORNING AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND CALLED ME TO TELL ME IT WAS THE STEERING RACK THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $ 2500 AND PART HAD TO COME OUT OF DETROIT AND WOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS TO GET HERE AND THEN REPAIR IT . CALLED ME YESTERDAY AND CAR WAS DONE ( $ 2395.91 ) WHY NO RECALLS ???

NHTSA ODI 11396934

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LATCH SECURELY. THE CONTACT CALLED TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD (7800 E LLOYD EXPY, EVANSVILLE, IN 47715) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILLAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 11396641

FORD DESIGNED THE HEADLIGHTS IN THE 2016 FORD EXPLORER SO THAT THE LED LOW BEAM IS BUILT INTO THE HOUSING. SO YOU EITHER HAVE TO REPLACE THE VERY EXPENSIVE HOUSING (1,000) WHEN YOUR LOW BEAM GOES OUT OR DRIVE WITH LESS VISIBILITY. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE $1,000 JUST LAYING AROUND.

NHTSA ODI 11395706