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

YOU CAN SMELL EXHAUST IN THE CABIN. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE THE HIGHER THE HEATER IS TURNED UP. IT IS IRRITATING TO THE EYES. FORD DENIES THIS BEING A PROBLEM BASED ON OUR VIN.

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I LOST MY STEERING COMPLETELY AND HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE INTO A SHOP. THE RACK AND PINION FOR THE STEERING OF MY VEHICLE HAS GONE OUT COMPLETELY AT ONLY 80,000 MILES. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE, AS IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH. WHILE STATIONARY OR MOVING SLOWLY, THE WHEEL IS HARDER TO TURN AND MAKES A LOUD SLIDING/GRINDING SOUND. AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL GETS "STUCK" AND IS VERY HARD TO GET OUT OF A CERTAIN POSITION. THIS ISSUE CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HIT ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AS COMMON AS THIS ISSUE IS AT AN AVERAGE OF 52,000 MILES ON THESE EXPLORERS, IT SHOULD BE A RECALL! THE REPAIR IS AT AN ESTIMATED $3,000 TO FIX. NOW I AM OUT OF A VEHICLE UNTIL I CAN COME UP WITH THAT KIND OF FUNDING, WHILE STILL OWING TONS OF MONEY ON IT. NOT ONLY IS THIS A HUGE FINANCIAL NIGHTMARE, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KOONS FORD OF ANNAPOLIS (2540 RIVA ROAD, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401, (410-224-2100) TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAGS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT OF MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS NUMBER: 16-0001 AND PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN I BEGAN TO TURN OFF THE EXIT I BEGAN HEARING A LOUD GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN. IT WAS ALSO EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. IAM GRATEFUL THAT MY YOUNG CHILDREN WERE NOT WITH ME AT THE TIME BECAUSE THE GRINDING WAS SUPER LOUND AND I WAS ABOSULTELY TERRIFIED THAT I WAS GOING TO CRASH. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE HE SAID THAT I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING THR TRUCK AT ALL BECAUSE I COULD DEFINITELY CRASH AN KILL MYSELF OR ANY OTHERS AROUND ME. ALSO THAT IT IS GOING TO COST $2500.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I JUST PURCHASE THIS TRUCK FROM AUTOFAIR FORD IN JULY 2020 FOR 20K AND 6 MONTHS LATER AM FORCED TO DUMP 2.5K INTO IT WHEN MONEY IS TIGHT AND MY FAMILY IS STRUGGLING AS IT IS...I AM EXTREMELY UPSET THAT THIS HAPPENED AND TO LEARN THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, YET THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. AOMETHING SHOULD BE DONT TO HELP ME AND MY FAMILY BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO BE GOING BROKE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND THE CAR IS JUST 5 YEARS OLD.

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PAINT BUBBLING AND PEELING AROUND FRONT EDGE OF HOOD SHOWING RUST UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT AND CLEANED REGULARLY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR GLASS EXPLODED WITHOUT AN IMPACT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

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2016 FORD EXPLORER SMELLS LIKE CARBON MONOXIDE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING ,UNABLE TO DRIVE DUE TO BEING OVERCOME WITH CARBON MONOXIDE.

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MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON MY DASH I HAVE PLUGGED IN AND UNPLUGGED ALL OF THE SEATBELTS RESET THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND IT STAYS OFF FOR A WHILE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE I UNDERSTAND IT IS EITHER A SENSOR OR THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN A RECALL. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WARMER/COOLER DOES NOT WORK, NOT SURE IF THAT ISSUE IS PART OF THE AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM.

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WE ARE DRIVING BACK FROM ZION NATIONAL PARK THEN IN THE FREEWAY SUDDENLY I LOST POWER LUCKILY IT WAS ON A DOWN HILL. I WENT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THEN THEN COUPLE I STARTED RIGHT BACK. NOW AM AFRAID DRIVING IT FAR AWAY. FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN UPHILL IT JERK A BIT AND IT FEELS LIKE LOOSING POWER.

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TOOK A QUICK LOOK UP TOP AND MY SUNROOF WAS CLOSED CORRECTLY. I OPENED THE SUNROOF AND POURED SOME WATER INTO THE CHANNEL AND WATER SEEMS TO DRAIN DOWN THE HOLES CORRECTLY. I ALSO CLOSED THE ROOF ALL THE WAY AND SPRAYED IT WITH A GARDEN HOSE, AND DIDNT SEE ANY LEAKING. I CANT SEE WHERE AND WHY WATER WOULD BE LEAKING OUT OF THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE. DID A QUICK SEARCH ON YOUTUBE AND FOUND SOMEONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM, BUT COULDNT FIND A SOLUTION

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DURING ACCELERATION CAR SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS ALL WINDOWS NEED TO BE OPEN TO VENT CAR AND ALL PASSENGERS GET NAUSEOUS. DEALER TRIED TWICE TO FIX PROBLEM BUT WITH NO SUCCESS.ITS GETTING IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ON HIGHWAY.FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ASAP.

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I PURCHASED A 2016 EXPLORER LIMITED FROM A FORD DEALER AND NOTICED IT WAS LOW ON COOLANT, WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE FILLED AND OF COURSE IT WASN'T, I FILLED IT MYSELF. A WEEK LATER IT WAS LOW AGAIN, TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE WATER PUMP IS LEAKING. I CONTACTED THE SELLING DEALER AND LEFT A VOICEMAIL AND NO ONE RETURNED MY CALL. I CALLED BACK A COUPLE WEEKS LATER AND WAS TOLD IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER THEIR 30 DAY/1000 MILE WARRANTY. I CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, SHOULD THAT MATTER WITH 69500 MILES??? I WAS TOLD TO CALL A LOCAL DEALER MAYBE THEY CAN HELP ME. THE WATER PUMP ON THIS VEHICLE IS MOUNTED INTERNALLY AND DRIVEN BY THE TIMING CHAIN AND COST ABOUT 1500.00 TO REPLACE. SO FAR AFTER A USED PURCHASE I'LL HAVE $25,000 INTO A VEHICLE THEY MAY TURN INTO A BRICK. I HAVE BOUGHT AND LEASED SEVERAL NEW FORD VEHICLES AND THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT CUSTOMERS, INCLUDING HAVING RETIRED FAMILY MEMBERS.

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BROKEN CLOCK SPRING CAUSING DISABLING OF AIRBAG PROTECTION. COST TO REPAIR $541.10

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DRIVING 45MPH SUDDENLY LOST STEERING CONTROL, WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE AND GET OFF THE ROAD, THEN SLOWLY GET HOME. AFTER THIS IT SEEMED TO WORK FINE. HOWEVER, EVERY DAY, A LOUD POPPING CREAKING SOUND THAT YOU CAN EVEN FEEL IS COMING FROM THE ELECTRIC POWER-ASSIST STEERING. ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN PULLING IN OR OUT OF A PARKING LOT/DRIVEWAY/GARAGE. LOCAL SHOP SAYS IT WILL COST ABOUT $2500 TO REPLACE THE ELECTRIC POWER-ASSIST STEERING RACK AND PINION, AND IT MUST THEN BE PROGRAMMED TO THE VEHICLE. THIS EXPLORER HAS 78,000 MILES ON IT. THANKS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE AND SMELT AN DISTINCT ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR WAS STRONG THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS A CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

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AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR OVER 1 YEAR. DIAGNOSTIC TEST DETERMINED THERE IS A FAULTY CONNECTION TO THE 2ND ROW INFLATABLE SEATBELT SENSOR. FORD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS PIG TAIL CONNECTION. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED DUE TO THIS FAULTY CONNECTION, ALL OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE ARE DEACTIVATED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND MY FAMILY HAS BEEN DRIVING THE CAR IN THIS CONDITION FOR OVER A YEAR. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, NUMEROUS CASES EXIST REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

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DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND NOW IT WONT GO OFF. IT STAYS ON 24/7. THIS IS AN ISSUE IN MANY 2016 FORD EXPLORERS AND IT HAS YET TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

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I TOOK MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER XLT ON DEC 29TH 2020 TO GET A OIL CHANGE ETC. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE ALL DAY EVEN THOUGH I TOOK IT IN AT 7AM. I PICK IT UP A 4:45 PM THEN DRIVE IT HOME BECAUSE I WORK FROM HOME I DID NOT DRIVE IT AGAIN UNTIL SATURDAY JAN 9TH 2021, WHILE DRIVING IT THAT MORNING I REALIZED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO STEER AND THE TRUCK WOULD MAKE NOISES WHEN I TURN THE STEERING IN EITHER DIRECTION. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT MORNING AND ASKED THE SERVICE CONSULTANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. HE TOLD ME WHILE MY FATHER WAS ON THE PHONE THAT HE BELIEVES IT THE RACK AND PINION AND HE CAN'T TAKE IT BECAUSE THEY ARE BUSY AND IT'S OKAY FOR ME TO DRIVE IT. I ALSO TOLD HIM AT THAT TIME I AM SUPPOSED TO DRIVE OUT OF TOWN AND I WON'T BE BACK FOR AWHILE SO IF THERE IS A PROBLEM I RATHER LEAVE IT SO IT CAN BE FIXED. I HAVE DAMAGED ON MY C5 VERTEBRAE SO I CAN FEEL THE HARDNESS IN THE STEERING. HE ASSURED OR DISMISSED ME BUT HE SAID IT'S FINE. A FEW HOURS LATER THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED UP AND THE DASHBOARD STARTED MAKING NOISE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES STARTED TO DISPLAYING. IT ALMOST KILLED BOTH MY MOTHER AND I ON THE HIGHWAY. IF YOU KNOW NYC HIGHWAY YOU KNOW THERE IS NO SHOULDERS. WHEN I PULLED OF THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT MOVE IT. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE TRUCK TO BE TOWED AND A UBER FOR MYSELF BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN PAID FOR ME TO GET HOME. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO PAY $2719.81 FOR THE RACK AND PINION REPAIR AND THE ALSO PAY FOR THE STRUT BEARING TO BE REPAIRED WHICH THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN ME THE PRICE FOR IT BECAUSE "IT WAS TOO MUCH TO GIVE ME BOTH PRICE AT ONCE." OH BY THE WAY, THIS IS THE SAME SERVICE CONSULTANT THAT TOLD ME IT WAS FINE FOR ME TO DRIVE AND ALMOST KILLED 2 GENERATION OF MY FAMILY AT THE SAME TIME. I AM PISSED!! NOW I SEE OTHER CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ON THERE SUV!!

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CAR WENT IN FOR RECALL NHTSA #20V675 AND DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND INFORMED US, IT HAS FAILED INSPECTION AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THEY HAVE PARTS QUOTED AT 4-6 WEEKS OUT AND WE ASKED ABOUT A RENTAL VEHICLE AND WERE INFORMED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. WE ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND THEY WILL NOT STATE IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE, SO THEREFORE WE CANNOT DRIVE IT. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WERE INFORMED OUR RENTAL REQUEST WAS DENIED AND THEY WILL NOT SAY THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. WE CANNOT BE WITHOUT A CAR FOR 6 WEEKS AND CANNOT AFFORD A RENTAL FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME. FORD SHOULD COVER RENTAL WHEN PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

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2016 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED AS A RESULT OF THE CONTINUOUS FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN. *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V675000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CONTACTED BEAU TOWNSEND FORD (1020 W. NATIONAL RD, VANDALIA, OH 45377, (937) 898-5841) TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND THE DEALER CONTACTED THE CONTACT BACK TO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE TAKEN LOCAL DEALER KEVIN'S ROYAL FORD OF COOPERSTOWN (5069 NY-28, COOPERSTOWN, NY 13326:(607) 547-9924) AND HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE'S TOE LINK DETACHED AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL AND DROVE INTO A DITCH. ALL 5 AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES OR SEEK ANY MEDICATION ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNKYARD. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V675000(SUSPENSION) ON NOVEMBER OF 2020 AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,300. *JS

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WENT TO VISIT FAMILY ON CHRISTMAS MORNING AND WHILE DRIVING POWER ASSIST WENT OUT AND POPPED UP THE DISPLAY WARNINGS. DROVE IT ANOTHER 8 MILES TO DESTINATION. VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS IN THE DRIVEWAY. 30 DEGREE WEATHER. WENT TO LEAVE AND AS I PULLED ONTO THE MAIN ROAD THE STEERING LOCKED AND WARNING MESSAGE LOSS OF STEERING BRAKE SAFELY. I COULD JERK THE WHEEL HARD TO GET IT TO SLIGHTLY MOVE ENOUGH TO GET BACK IN THE DRIVEWAY. JUST HIT 100K MILES. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK HOME.

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MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER XLT TURBO 4WD IS HAVING POWER STEERING PROBLEMS, THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES AND IT'S HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL AND IT MAKES A GRINDING RUBBING SOUND WHEN TURN THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. IT MAKES THAT NOISE WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED.

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USING A PEDAL COMMANDER PC18 BLUETOOTH "THROTTLE ENHANCER" IN AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A VHF MOBILE TWO-WAY RADIO. THE RADIO TRANSMITS AT 50W AND IS INSTALLED BY A PROFESSIONAL EMERGENCY VEHICLE UPFITTER PER MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS. WHEN TRANSMITTING IN THE 156MHZ RANGE THE PEDAL COMMAND CONSISTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN ACCELERATING WHEN IN DRIVE, AND INCREASING THE RPM OF THE ENGINE IN PARK. THE ACCELERATION CONTINUES AS LONG AS THE USER IS TRANSMITTING ON THE TWO-WAY RADIO. AS SOON AS THE TRANSMISSING ENDS THE VEHICLE GOES BACK TO IDLE OR RPMS CONSISTENT WITH THE PEDAL POSITION. THESE SYMPTOMS GO AWAY AS SOON AS THE PC18 IS REMOVED. THIS ISSUE WAS ALSO EXPERIENCED BY OTHER USERS WITH PC18 AND RADIOS THAT TRANSMIT IN THE MID 150MHZ RANGE.

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