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

THIS CAR HAS EXTREMELY BAD SWAY IN THE REAR END, IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN OVER 40 MPH OR YOU WILL LOSE TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI 11344099

49000 MILES, ELECTRONIC STEERING IS STARTING TO GO OUT. WHEN DRIVING MODERATE SPEEDS CAR MAKES LOUD AUDIBLE NOISES ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. RACK AND PINION WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. FORD TOLD ME IT WAS 100% SAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SAID THE EXACT OPPOSITE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BEFORE IT GOES OUT HEAVEN FORBID AT HIGH SPEEDS.FAMILY OF 4 YOUNG KIDS, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFE, FAMILY CAR. FORD IS PUTTING A LOT OF FAMILIES AT RISK NOT RECALLING THIS. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 49K MILES. THEY ARE LOSING LOTS OF RETURN CUSTOMERS BY NOT HANDLING A SAFETY ISSUE PROPERLY. I HOPE NO DEATHS HAVE TO HAPPEN TO BRING MORE SEVERITY TO THIS PRESSING ISSUE. IF YOU HEAR A CLICK WHEN STEERING, GET THE CAR INSPECTED ASAP! CLICKING OCCURS WHEN STATIONARY AND IS MORE INTENSE WHEN DRIVING. IT COULD GO OUT AT ANY MOMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11343987

OUR 2016 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 50K MILES STARTED TO HAVE VERY STICKY STEERING AND IT WOULD MAKE SOME CLUNKING NOISES WHEN TURNING. THIS PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE WHILE MY PREGNANT WIFE USED THE SUV AS A DAILY DRIVE UNTIL ONE DAY SHE SAID SHE NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE FORD AND HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO HAROLD ZEIGLER FORD IN LOWELL, MI AND THEY SAID THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR HAD GONE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THAT MEANS REPLACING THE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY WHICH IS A $2,200+ REPAIR. THAT IS WAY TO SERIOUS OF A REPAIR TO HAPPEN SO OFTEN AND THIS EARLY. BASED ON THE MANY SIMILAR ISSUES I HAVE READ ABOUT REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND THE FACT THAT FORD ALREADY HAD A SIMILAR RECALL FOR EARLIER YEARS OF THE EXPLORER, THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. SOMEONE WILL GET HURT AND FORD IS JUST TRYING TO SAVE MONEY BY NOT ADDRESSING IT. THE WORST PART IS THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN 50K MORE MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11343722

EXHAUST IS GETTING INTO THE CAB OF VEHICLE WHEN UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION TO PASS VEHICLES AND WHEN THE WINDOW OR WINDOWS ARE OPEN IT IS EVEN WORSE.

NHTSA ODI 11343765

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, THE WHEEL JERKED AND I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD. THEN THE STEERING MADE GRINDING NOISES. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $1500 FOR THE PART AND JUST AS MUCH OR MORE FOR THE LABOR, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 77000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11343409

THE RACK & PINION MOTOR FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER ONLY APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. IN THIS INSTANCE IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE MOTORS ARE FAILING AT A RELATIVELY HIGH RATE AND STEERING COULD LOCK UP IN THESE VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11342957

THIS TRUCK HAS HAD ISSUES SINCE I BOUGHT IT LIKE 5 MONTHS AGO FROM CARMAX WITHIN THAT TIME I REALLY ONLY HAD IT A MONTH REST OF TIME IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP I BOUGHT WITH 26K MILES FROM CARMAX ALREADY HAD REBUILT ENGINE BREAKS ROADERS STILL HAVE ENGINE ISSUES NOW TODAY BELT BROKE AND NEEDS TO BE TOWED I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE DO MANY ISSUES WITH A NEW TRUCK NOT MENTION IF YOU DO NOT SHUT THE TRUNK HARD IT WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY SINCE IT KEEPS THE LIGHTS ON IN THE TRUCK ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE DAY ONE AND SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD I FEEL THIS TRUCK IS NOT RELIABLE AND UNSAFE AT TIMES. NOT WORTH THE 26000 I PAID FOR IT. PLUS THE SENSORS GO OFF FOR NO REASON AND NOTHING IS AROUND.

NHTSA ODI 11342731

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP OR WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOZARD FORD LINCOLN (540 OUTLET MALL BLVD, ST. AUGUSTINE, FL 32084, (904) 824-1641) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE STRUT TOWER AND STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 78,105.

NHTSA ODI 11342318

I HAVE A 2016 FORD EXPLORER PLATINUM AND I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WITH AROUND 40-45,000 MILES BC THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD CAME ON. TURNS OUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE FIX BC ITS NOT A RECALL EVEN WITH IT BEING STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AS I HAVE LOOKED MORE AND MORE INTO THIS IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE ONE. BECAUSE ITS OUT NOW, ALL MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF SOMETHING WAS TO HAPPEN I HAVE 3 KIDS (NIGHTMARE TO THINK IF SOMETHING DID). I HAVE SEEN 100'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ITS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE SUES FORD WITH THIS MANY COMPLAINTS ON JUST THIS ALONE. WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT GETTING A FORD I TURN THEM AWAY AND SHOW THEM HOW MUCH I HAVE SPENT ON REPAIRS AND ETC. AND THEY ALL END UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED.!!

NHTSA ODI 11342021

PLASTIC ROOF RACK TOP CAPS ARE POORLY AFFIXED AND CAME LOOSE ON HIGHWAY AND BLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS PRESENTS HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS FOR DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THIS GENERATION OF FORD EXPLORER.

NHTSA ODI 11341876

OUR 2016 FORD EXPLORER WITH 44K MILES IS MAKING KNOCKING SOUNDS WHILE TURNING. THE SOUND WAS INTERMITTENT AT TIMES SO NOT ALL TURNS MADE THE KNOCKING SOUND.WE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE RACK AND PINION STEERING IS GOING OUT. HE EXPLAINED IN MORE DETAIL, BUT THE GIST OF IT IS A REPAIR COST OF $2K ON A VEHICLE THAT'S NOT PAID OFF AND EXTREME HAZARD TO DRIVE. THIS IS A CRITICAL CONCERN FOR MANY FORD EXPLORER OWNERS THAT HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ODI 11341889

STEERING FAULT LIGHT CAME ON TWICE IN TWO DAYS, BOTH INSTANCES HAPPENED AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A STOPLIGHT. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY READ THE CODES AND IT CAME BACK THE STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS FAILING. THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THE STEERING COULD GO OUT ANY MINUTE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 57K MILES ON IT BUT OF COURSE ISN'T COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. AFTER GOOGLING THE ISSUE, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIP CONVENIENTLY HAD THE A STEERING ASSEMBLY IN STOCK. NOT SURE WHAT THE HOLD UP IS FOR FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL! THIS COULD KILL SOMEONE.

NHTSA ODI 11340405

WE OWN A 2016 FORD EXPLORER, AND HAVING MAJOR ISSUE WITH STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED. WHICH MEANS NEW RACK SYSTEM AT $2,100 +. I'VE READ SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM, AND EVEN WITH PAST EXPLORERS WITH RECALLS. WHY HAS FORD NOT RECALLED THIS PROBLEM AS THEY DID WITH PAST EXPLORERS?? IT'S A DEATH TRAP, AND YOU WILL LIKELY WRECK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I'M THE LUCKY ONE THIS TIME..

NHTSA ODI 11339311

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. FORD DEALERSHIP (SOUND FORD RENTON,WA) PERFORMED $150 DIAGNOSTIC WHICH PRODUCE CODE STORED IN RCM "B141B" FOR 2ND ROW DRIVER SIDE INFLATABLE SEAT BELT DEPLOYMENT CONTROL USING OASIS THE DEALER FOUND TSB 16--0001. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN REPLACES THE CONNECTORS FOR THE LEFT AND RIGHT SECOND ROW SEATING AIRBAG CONTROL AND RE-ROUTES HARNESS. VEHICLE HAS 45,319 MILES (BELOW THE 5YR/60,000 SRS WARRANTY) HOWEVER DEALER CLAIMS REPAIR IS OUT OF POCKET. DEALER ALSO STATED WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON NO AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11338517

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WE NOTICED OVERTIME A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AS WE DROVE DOWN THE ROAD MAKING TURNS AND BACKING UP OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. WE HAVE READ ABOUT INSTANCES OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM DRIVING AND TRYING TO STEER THE CAR AND IT LOCKING PREVENTING STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED TEMPORARILY TO US SO I AM REPORTING IT AS IT CAN BE WORSE DOWN THE ROAD AS A SAFETY HAZARD TO US AND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES AND SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING THESE TYPES OF ISSUES SO EARLY AND OWNERSHIP. WE DRIVE THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 10000 MILES PER YEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11338308

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT MULTIPLE WARNING SENSORS WENT OFF AND WE LOST ALL POWER STEERING ONCE WE STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS 53K MILES ON IT. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD, IT WOULD HAVE PUT ALL OF US IN EXTREME DANGER. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNINGS, IT JUST WENT.

NHTSA ODI 11337866

REAR AIRBAG SEATBELT FEATURE MALFUNCTIONS BY TRIGGERING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH BOARD. OBD DIAGNOSTIC PRODUCES NO ERROR CODES. WARNING LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT AND MOST COMMON AFTER REAR PASSENGERS USE SEAT BELTS.

NHTSA ODI 11337611

THIS IS A POLICE VEHICLE AND WHILE RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY CALL, THE STEERING FAULTED WITH A STEERING FAULT WARNING ON THE DASH. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITH VERY LITTLE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT DOWN AND RESTART THE VEHICLE AS I WAS ON A STRAIGHT AWAY! THIS RESET THE COMPUTER AND STEERING RETURNED. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN SINCE THIS OCCURRED, THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE!

NHTSA ODI 11337672

GETTING VERY HEAVY FUMES OF EXHAUST INSIDE THE CAB. SMELLS LIKE EXHAUST OR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. WHILE IN MOTION AND THEN WHEN GETTING BACK IN THE VEHICLE ANY TIME LATER. DOES NOT MATTER WHERE IT WAS DRIVEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11337411

THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED WITH A WEIRD NOISE, SLOW ACCELERATION DESPITE A RACING ENGINE AND THEN TOTAL FAILURE. THE EXPLORER ONLY HAS ABOUT 60,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11337414

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (65 MPH SPEED LIMIT) MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. AT THE HIGH SPEEDS I HAD VERY LITTLE CONTROL OF STEERING. I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF & THE POWER STEERING WOULD COME BACK, THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER WOULD GO OUT AGAIN UNTIL THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKED. HAD TO HAVE IT TAKEN TO THE GARAGE WHERE THEY SAID THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS OVER $2100 REPAIR ON A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE AND SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. THE GENTLEMAN AT THE GARAGE ALLUDED TO IT BEING A DEFECTIVE PART BUT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS 100% ON ME TO GET REPAIRED. IT WAS VERY SCARY & LUCKY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED WITH THE SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE GARAGE WAITING FOR THE PART TO BE SHIPPED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331669

OUR STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE TURNING IN AN INTERSECTION. THERE WAS ALSO A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN WE WOULD TURN THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING GEAR HAD GONE BAD AND WAS MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY A LEAK IN THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT OF POWER TRANSFER FLUID. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WE DID AS DRIVERS TO CAUSE THE PTU TO LEAK. WE HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS ABOUT THE STEERING GEAR PROBLEMS IN THE YEAR AND MODEL OF OUR VEHICLE. THE COST TO REPAIR THE STEERING GEAR AND THE LEAK WAS OVER $5000.00.

NHTSA ODI 11331639

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED WITH THE TRAC CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000.

NHTSA ODI 11331010

6/21/20 - STOPPED FOR GAS AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 150 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE. CRANKED CAR AND STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. DASH NOTICES: STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED; SERVICE ADVANCETRAC; HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE; TRACTION LIGHT SHOWING OFF. DROVE CAR HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING. CALLED SELLING DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD PROBABLY COST AROUND $2000 TO REPAIR. SEARCHED ON LINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS BUT NO RECALL FROM FORD. PURCHASED NEW AND NOW HAS ONLY 61K MILES. RIDICULOUS! *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330066

SATURDAY JUNE 20TH 2020 THE HILL ASSIST MESSAGE CAME ON AS DID THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AND BOTH AXLES ARE MAKING A CLICKING NOISE. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS THE RACK AND PINION ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM. EPAS UNIT HAS FAILED. LUCKILY IT WAS IN MY CUL DE SAC TURNING AROUND AND NOT ON THE FREEWAY. MY WIFE PREDOMINANTLY DRIVES THIS VEHICLE. THE STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT. IS THIS A PRIVATE RECALL? I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS THAT FORD "TOOK CARE OF IT" FOR THEM. I HAVE ORDERED THE PART, BUT IT WILL NOT BE THERE FOR A WEEK. THIS CAR IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND IS NORMALLY DRIVEN ON CITY STREETS AND OCCASIONALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330228