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

INITIAL ISSUES WAS AN ISSUES ACCELERATING. WHEN ACCELERATING TO 3000 RPM, THE RPMS WOULD SUDDENLY DROP BACK TO 2 AND THE CAR WOULD LURCH. STARTED EXPERIENCING ISSUES WHEN SLOWLY DECELERATING LIKE GEARS WOULD NOT ENGAGE CORRECTLY. WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WITH A GRIND AND THE WRENCH DASH LIGHT CAME ON.

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STEERING STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. INTERMITTENT SEVERE PULLING TO THE LEFT OR TURNING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. HAPPENS AT LOW OR HIGH SPEED. STARTED ABOUT 58K MILES. CAR IS UNSAFE AND UN-DRIVABLE IN THIS CONDITION. ADVISED THE RACK AND PINION IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT APPROX $2000.

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STARTED DRIVING AND RECEIVED A WARNING ON THE SCREEN SAYING "STEERING FAULT SERVICE NOW". LOTS POWER STEERING CONTROL. THANKFULLY WAS AT A LOW SPEED AND COULD STOP SAFELY BEFORE LEAVING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, POWERED OFF, POWERED BACK ON, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. VEHICLE HAS 56K MILES ON IT.

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WHILE MAKING TURNS EITHER AT SLOW SPEEDS OR AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE STEERING MAKES POPPING SOUNDS. STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKS FOR HALF A SECOND. TOOK VEHICLE TO A SHOP AND WAS ADVISED IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION ON THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE AREA. THE VEHICLE IS A 2016 AND HAS 41K MILES. THIS ISSUE BEGAN MANIFESTING APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS PRIOR. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS $2500. ACCORDING TO VEHICLE FORUMS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL.

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE STEERING QUIT. IT WAS PULLING FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND SHE ALMOST LOST CONTROL. STEERING FAILURE ALARMS WERE CONTINUING TO GO OFF. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND AVOID A CRASH.

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NOT LONG AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM A DEALERSHIP I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY WHEN THE DRIVER WINDSHIELD PILLAR MOLD FLYS OFF MY VEHICLE AND INTO TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. A FEW WEEKS OR SO LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE FOR PARTS AND NOTICED MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

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THE ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS CORROSION AND RUSTED COMPLETELY OUT. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. IT SHOULD NOT BE RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. THIS ENTIRE SYSTEM IS VERY COSTLY. THERE IS A LEAK AT THE REAR EVAPORATOR HOUSING CONNECTION.

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POWER STEERING WENT ON A 2016 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 57001 MILES ON IT. CHARGED FOR STEERING RACK/BOX REPLACEMENT PLUS OTHER ASTRONOMICAL FEES ASSOCIATED WITH IT OUT OF POCKET. THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FAMILY CAR. IT IS UNSAFE AND HASN'T BEEN THE SAME SINCE. CAR JUST GAVE OUT ON HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN IN CAR. THE CAR STARTED TO ACTIVELY SWAY ALL OVER THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING. NO CONTROL. HAD TO PULL OVER. CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE AND THAN RESTARTED THE CAR TO HAVE NO POWER STEERING WHAT SO EVER. IT WAS WORSE THAN TRYING TO DRIVE A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. AS A FEMALE, I COULD NOT EVEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. NO CODES CAME UP PRIOR; UNTIL THE RESTART OF THE CAR. ???? DEALER TOOK WEEK TO GET IT IN PLUS A DAY FOR PART AND THOUSANDS OUT OF MY POCKET DURING A WORLD WIDE PANDEMIC. WITH MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED? THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.

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THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A STATE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FOLLOWING WARNING MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED, HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE, SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC, TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT. AT THIS POINT I HAD COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY AND HAD TO HAVE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER IN MY TOWN WHICH IS WAS 2 HOURS AWAY. FORD DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE.WHICH IS INTEGRAL WITH THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. COST OF REPAIR IS 2400.00 OF COURSE I HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON MOST PARTS INCLUDING FUEL PUMP, ENGINE ,TRANSMISSION BUT RACK AND PINION NOT CONSIDERED UNDER THIS WARRANTY. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER EQUIP WITH HANKOOK VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2; TIRE SIZE: 255/50R20-108H AND THE DOT NUMBER: 5MNC 1A H0118. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE TIRES, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRES HAD EXPERIENCED CRACKING AND GUDGES ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE TIRES. THE FAILURE WAS PRESENT ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER AUTONATION FORD LOCATED AT 7700 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244 WHO REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH THE SAME BRAND SIZE AND MODEL TIRES BUT APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES LATER THE SAME FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE FAILURE TIRE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM DROPPING MY DAUGHTER OFF AT DAYCARE AND I LOST THE POWER STEERING ON MY VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND I WAS DRIVING A STEADY SPEED DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD. MY DAUGHTER WAS NO LONGER IN THE CAR WITH ME AS THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT BUT THANKFULLY SHE WAS NOT AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WITH A LOT OF EFFORT INVOLVED. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE FORD SHOP AND I HAD TO HAVE MY POWER STEERING CORE CHANGED. $2500. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES AND IS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. QUITE FRUSTRATING, DISAPPOINTING AND EXPENSIVE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO.

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NOTICED PROBLEM WITH STEERING. WHEN I CHANGED LANES THE VEHICLE CONTINUED IN THAT DIRECTION UNTIL I CORRECTED IT. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK SO I WENT STRAIGHT TO MATT BOWERS FORD IN METAIRIE. I WAS TOLD THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE MODULE REPROGRAMMED AND AN ALIGNMENT. I'VE SEEN QUITE A FEW RECALLS CONCERNING THIS BUT WAS NOT TOLD THAT MY VHEICLE VIN WAS NOT AFFECTED. I NOW SEE MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT CAREFULLY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

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THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A STATE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FOLLOWING WARNING MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED, HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE, SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC, TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT. AT THIS POINT I HAD COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY AND HAD TO HAVE TOWED. LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE.WHICH IS INTEGRAL WITH THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY.

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I WAS TURNING INTO A GAS STATION AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNINGS OR ISSUES.

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BROKEN TOE LINK. FORD REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE IT AS A FAILURE UNDER FORD RECALL 19S17. THEY SAY IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER FORD RECALL 17S11. REAR DRIVER SIDE TOE LINK BROKE 7/25/20 WHEN GOING OVER A RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING. OEM REPLACEMENT PART PURCHASED FROM FORD DEALER BROKE 8/24/20 TURNING GENTLY TO THE LEFT. ATTACHED PICTURE IS THE ORIGINAL LINK THAT BROKE 7/25/20. REPLACEMENT PART BOUGHT THROUGH FORD DEALER BROKE IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AREA.

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LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING. NEARLY CAUSED A 4 CAR COLLISION. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING 57 MPH. WAS BARELY ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OFF TO THE SIDE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, HOWEVER AFTER THIS LAST TIME, THE STEERING WHEEL IS PERMANENTLY LOCKED. STEERING LOSS LIGHT CAME ON AFTERWARDS.

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WHILE DRIVING ON TRIPS OVER 30 MINUTES I EXPERIENCE HEADACHES, NAUSEOUS AND FATIGUE. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH FORD DEALER ON AUGUST 27, 2020

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I OWN A 2016 FORD EXPLORER WHICH HAS 78,146 MILES AND WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD TO PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM EVERETT FORD IN BENTON, ARKANSAS LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND HAVE HAD NORMAL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE COMPLETED ACCORDING THE THE OWNERS MANUAL. AFTER HAVING A MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK IT IS A RESULT OF A FAULTY WATER PUMP IN WHICH I WAS QUOTED $2500-$3500 FOR A REPLACEMENT IN ADDITION THE ENGINE WOULD BE SEVERAL THOUSAND. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE WATER PUMP IS INSIDE THE ENGINE AND SO WHEN THE WATER PUMP FAILS IT DESTROYS THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING BY MIXING THE COOLANT WITH THE ENGINE OIL. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS FURTHER THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE AWARE OF THIS MECHANICAL DEFECT AND THE THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS THAT WERE AFFECTED BUT CONTINUE TO ADVERTISE 'BUILT FORD TOUGH'TO DRIVE SALES AND DID NOT WARN CUSTOMERS OR MAKE THEM AWARE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ALL OWNERS OF THE FORD DURATEC V6 ENGINE AND THERE SHOULD BE A FORCED RECALL BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. DO NOT WAIT FOR THERE TO BE DEATHS FROM THIS MECHANICAL DEFECT BEFORE TAKING ACTION. FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I AM A LOYAL CUSTOMER OF FORD BUT WILL BE GETTING RID OF MY VEHICLE AND MAKING SURE ALL FORD OWNERS ARE AWARE AND YOU CANNOT TRUST FORD WHEN THEY ARE AWARE OF A SAFETY RELATED MECHANICAL FAILURE AND THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY OR EVEN NOTIFYING ITS LOYAL CUSTOMERS!

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THERE IS AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. IT IS DUE TO A CIRCUIT FAILURE OR A BROKEN CORD LEADING TO THE DRIVER SIDE MIDDLE ROW SEATBELT AIRBAG. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT A SAFETY ITEM DESIGN BY FORD THAT HAS FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. 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 PUT MY PASSENGERS LIFE IN MORE JEOPARDY.

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STEERING WAS GETTING DIFFICULT WHILE MAKING TURNS. TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE RACK & PINION NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2,560 AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FORD IS NOT COVERING THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A FAULTY PART ON THEIR END AND SHOULD BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE COOLANT OVER TEMPERATURE MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A FLUID LEAK WAS PRESENT BEHIND THE WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER MCGOVERN FORD LOCATED AT 1212 WESTFORD ST, LOWELL, MA 01851 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V183000 (ENGINE, ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 65 IN HAM LAKE, MN SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE LUNGED TO THE LEFT TOWARDS THE DITCH. I WAS ABLE TO FISHTAIL IT BACK ONTO THE ROAD, ALMOST ROLLED THE VEHICLE AND BARELY KEPT IT UNDER CONTROL. I GOT OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND CALL THE ANOKA COUNTY SHERIFF FOR ASSISTANCE. A DEPUTY ASSISTED BUT I DON'T BELIEVE A FORMAL POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THIS WAS SUNDAY JULY 19TH. WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT IT THE FOLLOW DAY AND DETERMINED THAT THE TOE CONTROL LINK HAD BROKEN. THEY REPAIRED IT WITH A NEW PART FROM THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED FINE. LAST NIGHT THE NEW PART THAT THEY INSTALLED BROKE AS WELL. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PART, THE TOE CONTROL LINK ON 2011-2017 FORD EXPLORERS. I CHECKED THE VIN ON THE NTSB WEBSITE BUT IT INDICATES THAT OUR CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WE HAD BROUGHT THE CAR INTO METROPOLITAN FORD IN EDEN PRAIRIE EARLIER IN THE YEAR FOR OTHER RECALL ISSUES. HAD THE RECALL BEEN COMPREHENSIVE, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT AND FIXED. AT 65 MPH, MY DAUGHTER AND I SHOULD HAVE BOTH BEEN KILLED IN THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT. IT HAD BEEN SEVERAL WEEKS SINCE THE (NEAR) ACCIDENT AND WE ARE STILL SHAKEN UP BY IT. FORTUNATELY, LAST NIGHT'S INCIDENT WAS AT MUCH SLOWER SPEED. I AM FEARFUL THAT THERE ARE OTHER FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES IN DANGER AS WELL. I HAVE A PHOTO THAT I TOOK OF THE CURRENT (SECOND) BREAK THAT OCCURRED THAT IS ATTACHED.

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I INITIALLY HAD 'STEERING FAULT' ALERT A FEW MONTHS AGO. JUST TODAY A 'TERRAIN MAINTENANCE FAULT' ALERT CAME UP WITH A FEW ALERTS ICONS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE STEERING FROZE TO THE POINT I COULD ONLY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AN INCH WHILE MUSCLING IT TO A STOP. APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE. THEY HAD ME RESTART THE SUV AND THAT TEMPORARILY SOLVED THE ISSUE, BUT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AT ANYTIME. THE DEALERSHIP SAID, IF THE ISSUE ISN'T OCCURRING WHEN I BRING THE SUV IN THEY CAN'T SPECIFICALLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BUT MORE THAN LIKELY THE STEERING GEAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACE FOR ~$2K. AS I AM READING OTHERS, THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT COULD PUT DRIVERS IN DANGER AND HAVE FOR OTHERS. I WAS IN MARSHFIELD, MA WHEN THIS HAPPENED, DRIVING 30 MPH APPROXIMATELY 2PM ON PLAIN STREET.

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PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD TRIM MOLDING FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER SIDE DOOR TRIM PANEL LOOSE.

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THE FLUIDITY OF THE STEERING IS DETERIORATING. WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT THERE IS A GRINDING SOUND OF METAL ON METAL. INTERMITTENTLY I HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH A TURN WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN I HAVE AS I TYPICALLY AM TRAVELING WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. THE PROBLEM HAS ARISEN IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS AND THE MECHANIC I UTILIZE, WHO DOES NOT REPAIR STEERING RACKS, REPORTED THAT THE COST OF ADDRESSING THE ISSUE COULD EXCEED $1000. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE ASSOCIATED WITH A 2016 MODEL THAT JUST WENT OVER 50,000 MILES AND IS NOT SUBJECTED TO ROUGH, EXTENDED DRIVING BUT RATHER MOST DAYS ARE A 28 MILE ROUND TRIP FOR WORK.

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