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

THE STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES WHEN EVEN MAKING A SLIGHT TURN POPS BACK AND SHAKES. RESTRICTING THE TURN THE WIPERS HAVE NOW MULTIPLE TIMES IN RAIN STOPPED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITIONS CAUSING A GRAVE DRIVING HAZARD

NHTSA ODI 11385683

I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM LAST WINTER, WHEN WE WOULD DRIVE OUR EXPLORER IN THE SNOW THE CAR WOULD PULL IN RANDOM DIRECTIONS, IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR IN FEET I WOULD BE PULLED INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG OTHER THAN MY REAR SHOCKS WERE BAD, SO I REPLACED THEM. THEN OVER THE SUMMER I NOTICED WHEN I TURN GOING AT SLOW SPEEDS THE CAR WOULD MAKE A LOUD POP AND SOMETIMES THE STEERING WOULD GET STUCK WHEN IT POPED, SO I DID SOME RESEARCH A THOUGH MAYBE IT WAS MY TOE LINKS. SO I JUST REPLACED THEM AND THIS CAR IS STILL TERRIFYING TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW. I HAVE SEEN THAT A CONCERNING NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE AND THEY END UP REPLACING THEIR RACK AND PINION AND IT COSTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

NHTSA ODI 11385713

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TURNING ON A HIGHWAY. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 11384930

POWER STEERING BEGAN TO GO WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, MAKING ME FEEL LIKE I WAS LOSING CONTROL. WAS ABLE TO GET CAR HOME AND ENDED UP COMPLETELY LOCKING UP NEEDING TO BE TOWED FROM MY DRIVEWAY. I NEED TO HAVE STEERING RACK REPLACED FOR OVER $1800 JUST FOR THE PART ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11384557

WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS THE ADVANCETRAC LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, AND NO STEERING ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON. BEFORE I COULD GET OFF THE INTERSTATE I LOST MOST OF MY STEERING. LUCKILY IT WAS AT NIGHT AND NOT TO MANY ON THE INTERSTATE. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. VERY LUCKY WE DIDN'T GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT WAS WORSE THAN LOOSING POWER STEERING WITH A HYDRAULIC POWER SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO CONTROL AVAILABLE WHILE TRYING TO GET OVER.

NHTSA ODI 11384234

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY CAR MADE A SCREECHY SOUND ONCE I GOT ON THE HIGHWAY AND WENT 45 OR OVER THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE. IN A WAY IT FELT THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE PART THAT HOLDS THE FRONT TIRES WAS LOOSE. IT FELT LIKE IF I WENT ANY FASTER I'D LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11384088

THERE IS AN SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD THAT USED TO INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAY. NOW IT IS ON CONSISTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. IT IS DUE TO A CIRCUIT FAILURE OR A BROKEN CORD LEADING TO THE DRIVER SIDE MIDDLE ROW SEATBELT AIRBAG. DIRECTLY FROM SITE: HTTPS://FORD.OEMDTC.COM/1203/AIR-BAG-WARNING-LIGHT-ILLUMINATED-WITH-DTC-B141B-B141C-2014-2016-FORD-EXPLORER TSB 16-0001 AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) B141B AND/OR B141C THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT A SAFETY ITEM DESIGN BY FORD THAT HAS FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. FORD DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NOT WARRANTY FAILURE. BUT SOUNDS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL AND SAFETY ISSUE TO ME...WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE TRUTH TO THE MATTER IS...FORD DOES NOT CARE THAT A POTENTIALLY HIGH RISK PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A FAILURE ON THE COMPANY'S END BUT THEY DON'T CARE ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WELL..OTHER THAN CHARGE THE CUSTOMER CLOSE TO $1000 OUT OF POCKET TO FIX FOR A POOR DESIGN ON FORD'S END. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT KNOW HOW THIS SAFETY FEATURE BROKE. IF WE WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE THE AIRBAG IS IN THIS STATE, IT WOULD NOT DEPLOY AND THE LIVES OF ALL PASSENGERS IN JEOPARDY!

NHTSA ODI 11384122

WHENEVER PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE THERE WILL BE A LOUD POP AND WILL SLAM INTO GEAR. SIMILARLY WILL HAPPEN WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THEN WHEN CHANGING GEARS FROM SECOND TO THIRD THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE SWITCHING GEARS AND THE RPM WILL GO INTO THE 5000 RPM. WILL HAPPEN USUALLY WHEN SHIFTING AGAIN INTO A HIGHER GEAR. USUALLY CAN DRIVE AROUND FIVE TO TEN MILES AND WILL SORT ITSELF OUT. HOWEVER IF YOU ARE ENTERING TRAFFIC ESPECIALLY A BUSY ROAD SYSTEM THIS MAY NOT ALLOW YOU TO ACCELERATE TO A SAFE SPEED SINCE THE GEARS NOT SHIFTING WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND NOT ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ODI 11383699

I STARTED HEARING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE IN EITHER DIRECTION IN REVERSE LAST WEEK. I TOOK A LITTLE TRIP ON DEC. 5 2020, GOING UP TO THE MOUNTAINS. IT GOT WORSE WHILE STEERING MY VEHICLE ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT ON DECEMBER 7 TO THE LOCAL DEALER. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH WHEN THE STEERING STARTED TO LOCK UP AND ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION.THAT'S WHEN WE DECIDED IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE SO WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ASAP AND WAS HANDED A REPAIR COST OF 2620.00 TO REPAIR STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY . THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 47,700 MILES ON MY 2016 FORD EXPLORE XLT. IT IS NOW AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ON DECEMBER 9, 2020 AWAITING COMPLETION OF REPAIR AS VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVE-ABLE UNTIL REPAIRED. MY WIFE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING WHEN SHE ENCOUNTERED ERRATIC BEHAVIOR FROM THE STEERING WHEEL GOING 50MPH. MY PARTS TOTAL FOR REPAIR IS 1,840.44 WITH LABOR TOTAL IS 2,620.00 WITH PARTS.

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I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD ON THURSDAY. EVERYTIME I CALL TO MAKE A SERVICE APPOINT, I TOLD RECALL COMPUTERS ARE DOWN.

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I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN AIRBAG LIGHT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WIRE ASSEMBLY LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT WAS DAMAGED/FAULTY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE (SEE LINKS BELOW) THAT REQUIRED ME TO REPLACE THE WIRING AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT IS A SAFETY ITEM THAT IS WELL DOCUMENTED BY OTHERS IN ONLINE FORUMS. HTTPS://FORD.OEMDTC.COM/1203/AIR-BAG-WARNING-LIGHT-ILLUMINATED-WITH-DTC-B141B-B141C-2014-2016-FORD-EXPLORER?FBCLID=IWAR1IAMT7GHXQIAJF_Q3ETH7XLFE011S14V7P3JBMQQF1BY4XP1GP55U5F-E HTTPS://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/AIR-BAG-LIGHT-ON-PROBLEMS.PHP?FBCLID=IWAR32W-NNT2R2ESUV-5JM3H5ULS1FW4OQUHGPXWVRW5DLBBVOTZ4ED5OR69M

NHTSA ODI 11378293

THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING , JUST SHUTS OFF. EVEN WHILE GOING 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. IF YOUR LUCKY, YOU CAN COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE YOU ARE HIT . FORD REFUSED TO FIX EVEN THOUGH UNDER WARRANTY. SO I HAD TO SELL IT SO I WOULDN'T BE KILLED. HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ODI 11377948

48K MILES PLATINUM EDITION , STEERING WHEEL BEGAN STICKING. RECENTLY STARTED PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT AT TIMES. HAD IT LOOKED AT AND IT LOOKS LIKE AS WITH MANY MANY OTHERS LIKE IT, THE THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO REPLACED. FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THE CARS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN IS THE NHTSA GOING TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING? AFTER PEOPLE START DYING?

NHTSA ODI 11377706

UPON STARTING MY CAR FOR THE THIRD TIME THAT DAY MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND DOES NOT GO OFF. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT OCCASIONALLY NOT REGISTERING MY DRIVERS SEATBELT AS BUCKLED OR UNBUCKLED.

NHTSA ODI 11377383

S AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, CHECK AND ADVISE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAVE A TSB FOR THE ISSUE BUT ARE NOT COVERING UNDER VEHICLE WARRANTY OR RECALL. INSTEAD THEY ARE CHARGING FOR TROUBLE SHOOTING TO LOOK UP THE CODE AND THEN OFFERING TO LOOK INTO REPLACING PARTS TO GET THE SYSTEM WORKING AGAIN UNDER THE ALREADY ISSUED TSB FOR THE FAULTY SAFETY SYSTEM. THIS IS THE DESCRIPTION PROVIDED: VERIFIED CONCERN. RAN EEC TEST, FOUND B141C STORED IN RCM, SECOND ROW INFLATOR CONTROL SEAT BELTS. RAN OASIS, TSB 16-0001 APPLIES HOWEVER NOT COVERED UNDER ACTIVE CONTRACTS CPO POWERTRAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11377041

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN I GO TO START THE VEHICLE I GET A MESSAGE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH CLUSTER THAT SAYS " STEERING ASSIST FAULT FAILURE, SEEK SERVICE." THE VEHICLE WON'T START. AFTER I KEEP PRESSING THE START BUTTON IF WILL START. I CARRIED IT TO THE DEALER ( PARADISE FORD IN COCOA, FL) AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO CODES IN THE SYSTEM BUT DID SAY THERE WERE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING FAILURE ON THAT MODEL AND WOULD COST AROUND $2,500.00 TO REPAIR OUT OF MY POCKET. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 5,000 MILES ON IT AS OF 11/29/20.

NHTSA ODI 11376948

MY AIRBAGS LIGHT IS ON AND NONE WILL DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND IS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY. UNACCEPTABLE AND VERY DANGEROUS MANY OWNERS ARE REPORTING THIS ISSUE. HTTPS://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/VEHICLECOMPLAINT/

NHTSA ODI 11376436

WHEN ACCELERATING AN ODOR LIKE BURNT HAIR OR ELECTRICAL ENTERS THE CABIN. FORD DID PERFORM RECALL WORK BUT THE ODOR STILL ENTERS THE CABIN.

NHTSA ODI 11375849

WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNING SLOWLY THERE IS A POPING NOISE AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP MULTIPLE TIMES. BEFORE THIS I SPENT 1000 BUCKS TO GET THE WIRING HARNESS FOR AIR BAGS REPLACED. NONE OF THEM WORK FORD WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A RECALL.

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WHEN I GO TO TURN, IT CONTINUES TO POP. THE TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH RACK AND PINION BUT YOU COULD BE STOPPED AND APPLYING BRAKE AND TURN WHEEL AND IT POPS.

NHTSA ODI 11374993

MY WATER PUMP HAS GONE OUT AND APPARENTLY THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE ONLY ONE.

NHTSA ODI 11374950

ON AUGUST 20, 2020, MY VEHICLE HAD LAST BEEN DRIVEN AROUND 12 NOON. IT SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH ALL OF US HOME. MY SON WENT TO GET IN THE VEHICLE AROUND 6:30 PM. SMOKE POURED OUT, THE SEAT WAS SMOLDERING AND FLAMES CAME UP. WE COULDN'T PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH EXTINGUISHER. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT HOSE ON SEAT. FIREMEN STATED THEY SEE THIS OFTEN WITH HEATED/AIRCONDITIONED SEATS THAT MALFUNCTION AND BURN UP OR CAUSE FIRE. FIREMEN STATED THEY COULD TELL THE WAY IT LOOKED "LIKE ALL THE OTHER HEATED /AIR CONDITIONED SEATS THAT IGNITE THAT THEY SEE OFTEN". INSURANCE COMPANY SAYS CAR IS TOTALED SINCE HOSE WAS PUT ON IT. FORD WILL NOT WORK WITH ME. NO ONE LEFT ANYTHING BURNING IN THE SEAT OR SMOKED IN THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE CAR HEATED/AIR CONDITIONED SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND FORD SHOULD HELP. I HAD PURCHASED BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY FROM DEALERSHIP. WARRANTY COMPANY SAYS IF A CAR CATCHES FIRE, WARRANTY IS VOIDED, EVEN IF CAR MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE FIRE. INSURANCE COMPANY IS TRYING TO PAY AS LEAST AMOUNT AS POSSIBLE. THIS WAS A WELL CARED FOR, VERY NICE CAR. I BELIEVE IT MALFUNCTIONED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SENT ME A LETTER SAYING THEY HAD THE DEALERSHIP TAKE PICTURES, AND THEY FEEL IT HAD SOMETHING LEFT BURNING ON THE SEAT. NO ONE LEFT ANYTHING BURNING ON THE SEAT. IN THE LETTER FORD MOTOR COMPANY SENT ME BY EMAIL, THEY STATE THEY INSPECTED THE CAR. THEY NEVER CAME TO SEE THE CAR IN PERSON. THEY ONLY HAD THE SERVICE STAFF TAKE PICTURES. THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY ALL AFTERNOON. I ALSO BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IN MY SUBARU AT 5:00 PM AND DID NOT SMELL OR SEE SMOKE AS I LEFT.. THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT IGNITED ITSELF HAD A STACK OF BUSINESS PAPERS AND SOME SOCCER GEAR THAT COULD HAVE OVERHEATED IF THE SEAT WAS MALFUNCTIONING TOO. THE SEAT IGNITED BY ITSELF. AS A CONSUMER I DESERVE TO BE ASSISTED. I WOULD LIKE THE CAR REPAIRED OR REPLACED W/SIMILAR CAR.*DT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND SETTLEMENT WAS OFFERED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK TIRES, TIRE LINE: VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2, TIRE SIZE: 255/50/R20, DOT NUMBER: 5MNC 1A H 0716. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF TREAD SEPARATION ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MORE SEVERE ON THE TWO FRONT TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TIRES FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,132.

NHTSA ODI 11373795

RANDOMLY ONE OF THE CAPTAIN CHAIRS SEAT BELTS NO LONGER BUCKLES. IT'S A AIRBAG SEATBELT WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF LATCH. WE HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE TYPE OF BUCKLES SINCE WE BOUGH THE VEHICLE. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HOUSING UNIT ON THE OTHER SIDE WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS BECAUSE IT JUST FELL APART.

NHTSA ODI 11373608

WITHIN 10 DAYS OF BUYING IT BRAND NEW I'VE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. REPLACED BACK UP SCREEN WITHIN THOSE 10 DAYS EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. STILL CONTINUES. MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE POWER TRAIN. NOW I'VE BEEN OUT OF A CAR FOR 2 WEEKS BECAUSE I MIGHT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT 65,000 NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. HOW CAN I PAY $38,000 AND IT GOES BAD INSTANTLY? NO HELP FROM FORD OR DEALER. MY GEARS ARE STALLING AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY OR PICKING UP SPEED. I DRIVE LIKE AN OLD LADY AND TAKE CARE OF THIS CAR LIKE IT'S BRAND NEW. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN AND WILL TELL ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN NOT TO DO THE SAME.

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