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

POWER STEERING LOCKED UP , WELL ITS ELECTRIC STEERING .AND THE WARRING LIGHTS CAME ON TERRAIN ASSIST AND HILL ASSIST DISABLED, SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC ,STEERING LOSS , I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 70 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THIS HAPPED I ALMOST LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE . THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORE STEERING ISSUSE .

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WHILE MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A WEIRD CLUNK/POP NOISE AND FEELS A BIT LOOSE. SO THIS IS CONCERNING 66,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. ALSO THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS VERY ROUGH AND I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS BUT STATED IT WAS SAFE

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WHILE DRIVING 52MPH, CRUISE CONTROL SET, CLEAR WEATHER, RURAL ROAD, TRAVELING STRAIGHT - NO INCLINE OR DOWNHILL...THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND OR 1ST GEAR - THUS DECELERATING RAPIDLY. AFTER A MOMENT, IT WENT BACK TO BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND MAINTAIN NORMALLY. 2016 EXPLORER SPORT WITH 44K MILES...I'VE HAD IT FOR ABOUT A MONTH.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE HIS GARAGE WHEN HE STARTED TO SMELL A HEAVY EXHAUST ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DORSCH FORD LINCOLN KIA (2641 EATON RD, GREEN BAY, WI 54311, (920) 469-3000) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED COST ME $3,000 TO FIX BY CONSUMER'S MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000.*DT*JB

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WHILE I WAS DRIVING I STARTED TO GET A STRONG SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS/SULFUR THAT FILLED THE CABIN. IT GOT SO STRONG THAT I HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO AIR IT OUT AND IT STARTED TO GIVE ME A HEADACHE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING BACK TO MY HOME THAT SAME DAY. THE SMELL GOT SO STRONG IT STARTED TO MAKE ME DIZZY, NAUSEOUS AND GAVE ME A HEADACHE.

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AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON VEHICLE. CHECKED ALL WIRES UNDER THE SEAT AND NONE ARE LOOSE OR DAMAGED. SEARCHED TOPIC ONLINE AND APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE. FORD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE REPAIRS BUT WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY OR ISSUE RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED.

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THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IN THE CAR. WE TURNED LEFT INTO THE GROCERY STORE AND THEN BACK RIGHT TO ENTER A PARKING SPOT AND THE STEERING LOCKED AND WE ALMOST RAN INTO A PARKED CAR. LUCKILY WE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WE HAD TO CRANK THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT TO ALLOW IT TO "RELEASE" AND GIVE US SOME STEERING BACK...BUT AFTER THAT THE STEERING NOW CLICKS WHILE YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT BADLY. WE TOOK IT INTO OUR DEALER...THEY SAID IT IS THE STEERING GEAR MOTOR. THE CAR WAS IN THE SAME DEALERSHIP 1 WEEK PRIOR TO THIS GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AND NO SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION OR WEAR/TEAR...WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON US...VERY FRIGHTENING...OUR CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 16,000 MILES ON IT. AND THEY CANNOT EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHY IT HAPPENED. SO I AM UNSURE OF IF/WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND-ROW MIDDLE SEAT FAILED TO UNLATCH AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS CHILD WAS CONFINED IN THE SEAT WHILE STRAPPED INTO THE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VAN DRUNEN FORD (3233 183RD ST, HOMEWOOD, IL 60430) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,600.

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SOUNDED LIKE A POPPING OR CLUNK TYPE NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT FOR A WHILE THEN IT STARTED TO MAKE NOISE WHEN TURN THE WHEEL EITHER WAY. LOSING CONTROL DRIVING. READ ON THE NEWS, 1.2 MILLION EXPLORER RECALLED FOR THE STEERING ASSEMBLY RECALLED FOR SAME ISSUE BUT WHEN I CALL FORD THEY SAID THIS VIN WAS NOT PART OF RECALL. VERY DISAPPOINTED.

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THE FIRST TIME MY STEERING GOT STIFF ON 09/13/2019 WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A CITY STREET. IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE LEFT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF, AND THE STEERING FAULT HILL START AND TRAC LIGHT WENT ON. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSE ME TO GET UP ONTO THE SIDE WALK AND ALMOST HITTING A TREE. I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BREAKS IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. MY KIDS BODY JERK BACK AND FORTH REALLY HARD. I TURN MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS WAS NO LONGER STIFF AND WORKING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE SECOND TIME STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF WAS ON 10/05/2019. WHILE ON THE CURVE OF A RAMP TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY THE STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF AGAIN AND THE STEERING FAULT, HILL START AND TRAC LIGHTS WENT ON AS WELL. ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS IN OR. I DER TO AVOID HITTING THE RAILS, AS I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. I TRY TURNING MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN TO SEE IF MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD WORK AGAIN, BUT IT STILL DID NOT WORK. I HAD TO CALL MY HUSBAND TO COME PICK ME UP. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY H.AD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE POWER STEERING EQUIPMENT WHICH COST ME A TOTAL OF $2350.39

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TWO SEPARATE FAILURE WITHIN A FOUR DAY TIME SPAN. COMPANY SOLD ME THE VEHIXAL SAID IT WAS A TIE ROD AND FIXED THE RIGHT PASSENGER REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICAL WAS REAL EASED TO ME TODAY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS FULLY REPAIRED. I HAD A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT AFTER THE LEFT REAR TIR ROD BROKE AT A SPEED OF 80 MPH. DUE TO THE SUSPENSION BREAKAGE, THE CAR WENT OFF THE INTERSTATE AT HIGH SPEED. THE REAR END SUSPENSION HAD COMPLETE FAILURE AND THE AUTO DEALERSHIP RELEASED THE VEHICLE TO ME WITH THE FULL WITH ASSURANCE THE ISSUE WAS FIXED. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS INCIDENT WITH A POTENTIAL DEADLY OUTCOME.

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POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY ON MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER WHILE DRIVING. DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH A STEERING ASSIST FAULT, AND THEN HILL ASSIST FAULT. STEERING THE VEHICLE TO SAFETY WAS VERY CHALLEGING. I WAS TURNING AT A LEFT TURN LIGHT AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH NO REPSONSE OR RECALL FROM FORD.

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WHILE DRIVING THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS COME ON. SYSTEM HAS STABILITY CONTROL WARNING. WHILE DRIVING THIS CAUSES BRAKES TO LOCK UP. MY WIFE ALMOST CRASHED DUE TO THE BRAKES LOCKING. ONCE YOU TURN OFF THE CAR IT WILL RESET AND EVERYTHING APPEARS NORMAL UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. UNFORTUNATELY THIS INCIDENT DOES NOT STORE ANY CODES IN THE SYSTEM. WE HAVE HAD THE 2016 EXPOLORER IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE. BECAUSE THERE ARE NO CODES THEY ARE DOING NOTHING. THEY DO NOT RESEARCH THE ISSUE NOR HAVE THEY TRIED TO FIX ANYTHING. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND A PROCEDURE NEEDS TO BE ESTABLISHED TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. MY WIFE WILL NO LONGER DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE FEEL UNSAFE.

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MY TIRE VALVE CORRODED AFTER 3 YEARS WITH THE CAR. WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TIRE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR. THE POWER STEERING WENT AT 67000 MILES. IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, EXTREMELY SCARY. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS. $2400 FIX ON A 4 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 67000 MILES AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SURGED BETWEEN GEARS AND DECELERATED BEFORE OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE REVERSED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE NOTICED DURING A TEST DRIVE PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN AT THE GRIECO FORD OF RAYNHAM LOCATED AT 1651 NEW STATE HWY, RAYNHAM, MA, 02767, INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.

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I HAD THE REAR TOE LINKS REPLACED DUE TO A SAFETY RECALL DECEMBER 2, 2019. ON 09/27/20, I WAS RETURNING HOME AFTER DROPPING MY KIDS OFF TRAVELING 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, WHEN THE RECAL PART I HAD REPLACED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO BREAK. THIS CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I NOTIFIED FORD OF THIS 09/28/20 AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECAL WAS COMPLETED, NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I INFORMED THEM THE PART BROKE AT THE WELD WHICH IS A DEFECTIVE PART. AGAIN, I WAS TOLD OT THEIR PROBLEM. THIS HAS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO TO BE TOWED , DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND MYSELF BUYING A NEW PART OUT OF POCKET TO GET VEHICLE ON ROAD AGAIN TO GO TO WORK. THIS IS ALSO ANY OTHER PROBLEMS THAT IT MAY HAVE CAUSED DUE TO STRESS ON VEHICLE, LIKE OTHER TOE LINK, TIRES, BRAKES, OTHER SUSPENSION PARTS. ENCLOSED IS PART AND PART NUMBER THAT WAS THE RECAL PART REPLACED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP AND DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. I WAS LUCKY I DID NOT HIT THE OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME, HIT HEAD ON WITH CENTER DIVIDER OR GUARDRAIL, ROLL THE VEHICLE OR HAVE SERIOUS INJURY.

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STEERING WOULD LOCK UP AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO FORCE THE STEERING BACK TO DRIVE ABILITY. THE RACK AND PINION WAS WORN OUT, IN MY OPINION PREMATURELY. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS NOTICE WAS ON HIGHWAY DRIVING IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. THE STEERING WOULD CATCH WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VEHICLE.

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STEERING WHEEL IS STIFF AND MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNING.

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EVEN UNDER WARRANTY THERE WERE SPORADIC TIMES THE FRONT SUSPENSION/STEERING WOULD MAKE A LOAD THUMP NOISE. THIS USUALLY HAPPENED WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND SOMETIMES WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE DEALER COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THE NOISE SO THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. NOW AT 48K MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY THE SOUND HAPPENS MUCH MORE OFTEN. MY WIFE SAID ONCE THE STEERING APPEARED TO MOMENTARILY LOCK UP AND HAD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL PRETTY HARD TO FREE IT UP. I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER INTERNET SITES STATING THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM IS NEEDING REPLACED ON MANY EXPLORERS WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILES AT A COST TO THE OWNERS OF OVER $2000.

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POWER LOCKS GET STUCK ON EITHER LOCK OR UNLOCKED NOT ALLOWING ME TO EITHER LOCK OR UNLOCK THE CAR DOOR ON DRIVER AND BACK PASSENGER DOOR. PLASTIC STRIPPING PANELS ON FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS ARE COMING OFF AND THE PANELS CONNECTED TO THE WINDSHIELD ON BOTH SIDES. POWER SEATS DO NOT HOLD THE MEMORY OF WHERE IT WAS LEFT. THE SEAT GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN MEMORY BUTTONS ARE PRESSED OR IF THE KEYLESS CODE ON THE DOOR IS USED TO UNLOCKED THE CAR. KEYLESS ENTRY WILL UNLOCK WITHOUT TO CODE BEING TYPED IN CORRECTLY. USING THE FIRST THREE NUMBERS CAN UNLOCK THE DOOR. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN WILL THE CAR IS STATIONARY.

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WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT A SLOW SPEED, HEAVY KNOCKING/THUMPING NOISE AND STEERING WAS JERKY. VEHICLE HAS 33,400 MILES. HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY AND THEY REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION AT A COST OF $1800. SINCE I READ THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM I ASKED IF THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RECALLED AND WAS INFORMED IT WAS NOT.

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PER FORD WEBSITE, I WAS TOLD THAT MY SYNC SOFTWARE NEED AN UPGRADE WHEN I TYPED IN THE VIN, THEN I FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION ON WEBSITE BUT THE PROGRAM I DOWNLOADED MESSED UP MY APIM MODULE ON MY CAR AND RADIO, GPS, AND OTHER FUNCTION AE NOT WORKING. SO I TOOK MY SUV TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WILL COST ME $1050 TO FIX THE ISSUE.

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I HAVE A 2016 FORD EXPLORER WITH 94,000 MILES. WE NOTICED THAT THE AC WAS BLOWING HOT AIR SO WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A REPAIR ON 9/8/2020. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED US BACK TO INFORM US THAT THE WATER PUMP HAD FAILED WHICH CAUSED ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO AND ON THE AC COMPRESSOR CAUSING IT TO FAIL. WE WERE QUOTED A PRICE OF $2600.00 FOR THE REPAIR THE WATER PUMP. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MANY POLICE CRUISERS WITH THE SAME MOTOR ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. FORD RECOMMENDS THAT THE WATER PUMP BE REPLACED AT 150000 MILES' THE MILES ON THE SUV ARE HIGHWAY MILES.

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STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE STEERING AT 39,500 MILES. SOUNDED LIKE A POPPING OR CLUNK TYPE NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THE WHOLE STEERING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR WAS BUILT AT THE CHICAGO PLANT LIKE ALL THE OTHER EXPLORERS THAT NEEDED THE STEERING ASSEMBLY REPLACED. FORD INDICATED THIS VIN WAS NOT PART OF RECALL.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE DRIVER KEPT THE STEERING WHEEL UNDER CONTROL AND MOVE INTO THE SLOW LANE WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEWIS J C FORD (9505 ABERCORN STREET SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, 31406, (912)-210-5677) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE STEERING WHEEL RACK AND PINION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.*DT*JB

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