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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, WHEN SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND "TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK" WARNING MESSAGE WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MADISON FORD LOCATED AT 2895 S. SEMINOLE TRAIL, MADISON, VA 22727, (540) 948-6806, WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

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I STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING IN THE FRONT END AND THE STEERING WAS VERY LOOSE, WHEN I TURNED RIGHT AT FIRST AND ON OCCASION TO THE LEFT MECHANIC SAID IF I HAD GONE MUCH FURTHER IT WOULD HAVE BROKEN ALL THE WAY AND I WOULD HAVE LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE SUV. *TR

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I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY FORD EXPERIENCE WITH MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED EDITION THAT WAS BOUGHT FROM HIGLEY FORD. AT 64,000 MILES... YES 4,000 OVER MY WARRANTY MY COMPUTER MODULE FRIED AND I HAD TO REPLACE THAT... $1500 OUT OF MY POCKET... THEN LAST SUMMER MY AC QUIT WORKING FOLLOWED BY MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER AND MIRROR ON MY VISOR... THEN HERE RECENTLY I COULD SMELL SOMETHING LIKE BURNT RUBBER AND FOUND OUT SOME SEAL POPPED OFF SO OIL WAS LEAKING.... WHICH IS IN A SPOT THAT YOU CAN'T GET TO UNLESS YOU TAKE THINGS APART...THEN NOW JUST FOUND OUT MY RACK AND PINION WENT OUT... THE STEERING (PART ALONE COSTS $1500)!!! I WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT WAS ALL I GOT. REALLY!!!!!!! ESPECIALLY THE RACK AND PINION! HOW THE HELL DOES THAT GO OUT...I'M A NIGHT NURSE THAT DRIVES TO WORK AND BACK AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL! I'VE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, IN THE DITCH AND I DON'T TEAR AROUND IN MY CAR. I CAN UNDERSTAND MAYBE A COMPUTER THING HAPPENING BECAUSE WELL... COMPUTERS ARE COMPUTERS... BUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS GOING WRONG WITH 1 VEHICLE! AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A NICE VEHICLE!!! LET ME JUST SAY... I FEEL VERY SCREWED. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAGS WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME MECHANIC TIGHTENED THE CONNECTORS SECOND TIME THE HARNESS WAS REPLACED AND THE THIRD TIME MECHANIC SAYS HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER NEEDS TO FOOT THE BILL EVEN THOUGH IT IS WITHIN WARRANTY PERIOD.*JB

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER ON MY LAST LEFT TURN TO MY HOUSE THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED UP I WASN'T ABLE TO STEER MY VEHICLE I HAD TO PUSH THE SUV BACK TO THE HOUSE.THERE WAS 3 LIGHTS CAME ON COME ON THE DASH BOARD WITH THESE MESSAGES.. 1 HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE..(I DON'T THINK THAT ITS EQUIPPED WITH THIS FUTURE) PRESS THE OK BOTTOM.SECOND LIGHT.. SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK THIRD LIGHT..STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED.CANT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY MORE. NOW THERE ARE 203 COMPLAINS JUST ON STEERING MOST ARE ALL ABOUT STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP.THIS IS SOMETHING WAY SERIOUS MOST OF THIS SUV'S ARE THE WIFE CAR ALWAYS PACK WITH CHILDREN. THE NHTSA AND FORD SHOULD REALLY LOOK N TO THIS JUST BEFORE ONE OF OUR LOVE ONES IS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 75 MPH AND IT LOCKS ON THEM IT WOULD BE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.NOW IF THE NHTSA AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST AND OR DAMAGE THAT MY OCCUR.IF THIS WAS SOMETHING SMALL AND CHEAP TO FIX THE OWNERS OF THIS SUV WOULD PROBABLY FIX IT BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT $2300-$3000 DOLLARS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 4 YEAR OLD SUV WITH THIS KIND OF A PROBLEM ITS A $18000 SUV.. ITS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD WITH NO HESITATION SHOULD BE FIXING....PEOPLE PLEASE UPLOAD YOUR PROBLEMS LET THEM KNOW WE ARE THE CONSUMER THEY ARE WHO THEY ARE BECAUSE WE BUY FROM THEM THEY SHOULD BE MORE RESPONSIBLE. *TR

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THE 2016 EXPLORER EXPERIENCED A CLUCKING SOUND AND THE STEERING WOULD HITCH WHILE TURNING AT APPROX 50K MILES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER BUT DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE. AT 60K MILES THERE WAS A CONSTANT CLUNKING AND STEERING STICKING WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOR REVIEW, DEALER CONFIRMED THE RACK AND PINION WAS FAILING AND WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. DEALER ALSO CONFIRMED THEY HAVE TO REPLACE MANY RACK AND PINIONS FOR EXPLORERS AND IT IS A PROBLEM BUT HEY CAN ONLY DO WHAT FORD INSTRUCTS. AFTER REVIEW ON THE NHTSA.GOV SITE, THERE ARE OVER 200 COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM THAT OCCURS FROM 30K TO 60K MILES. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING DEALT WITH BY THE MANUFACTURER AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SINCE MOST OF THESE VEHICLES ARE NOW HITTING THIS MILEAGE RANGE. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MITCHELL SELIG FORD (801 BLOOMFIELD AVE, WINDSOR, CT 06095, (860)688-3651), WHERE THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE FOR $2,200. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.*DT*JB

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VERY SOON AFTER ACCELERATING ANYWHERE NEAR FULL THROTTLE WE SMELL A BURNING TYPE EMISSIONS SMELL WITHIN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN THE BACKSEATS BUT IS ALARMING ENOUGH TO WHERE WE NEED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS EVERY TIME WE NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY. *TR

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AT ABOUT 60,000 THE STEERING STARTED CATCHING. AT ANY SPEED THIS HAPPENED. IT WOULD FEEL LIKE THE TIRES WERE IN A RUT, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD BREAK FREE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SWERVE OVER ABOUT A FOOT. IT HAS GONE ON TO A GRINDING NOISE. VERY UNNERVING TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEED! FORD TELLS ME THE STEERING RACK IS BAD, AND SINCE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY WILL NOT COVER REPAIRS. I'VE OWNED QUITE A FEW NON-FORD VEHICLES WITH OVER 150,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD A STEERING ISSUE WITH THEM. *TR

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/EMPLOYEE STARTED THE CAR TO WARM IT UP AND THE BACK WINDOW EXPLODED. HAD TO HAVE BACK WINDOW REPLACED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT IN HIS DRIVEWAY. *TR

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EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. HE HAD WARMED UP HIS CAR BEFORE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MINUTES. ALL OF A SUDDEN HIS BACK WINDOW EXPLODED. WEATHER WAS COLDER. FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FORD'S WINDOWS HAVING ISSUES WITH WINDOWS GETTING TOO HOT AND THEN POPPING WHEN THE COLD AIR SURROUNDED IT.. *TR

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STEERING BECOMES STUCK WHILE MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. THIS HAPPENED ON A STOP LIGHT WHILE TURNING. IT ALSO HAS A SLIDING/GRINDING FEEL WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE IN IDLE. ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL SYSTEM. *TR

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I WENT TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND MY VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER MY VEHICLE. I MANAGED TO AT LEAST BACK IT STRAIGHT BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY TO BE OUT OF THE ROAD, AND CALLED THE CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP TO ME. I HAD 3 LIGHTS COME ON MY DASH WITH THESE MESSAGES; HILLSTART ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE, SERVICE ADVANCETRAC, AND STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED. MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING HAS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH THE REPAIR COSTS $2300 TO FIX. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN MOVING AT A FASTER SPEED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE STORY, BECAUSE WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP YOU COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD DIRECTLY, AND THEY HAVE SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, BUT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND A LOT OF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLE. BUT YET THEY REFUSE TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS. *TR

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THE RACK & PINION STEERING BROKE AND FORD IS REFUSING TO INCLUDE IT IN THE RECALL THEY HAVE ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

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2016 EXPLORER XLT WITH 70K MILES AND THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO FAIL REQUIRING THE STEERING RACK AND PINION TO BE REPLACED. SYMPTOM INCLUDED STICKING AND UNPREDICTABLE STEERING WHILE STOPPED AND AT ALL DRIVING SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325139

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON - WHEN LIGHT IS ON AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. TOOK TO DEALER TOLD WIRING HARNESS UNDER BACK SEATS NEED REPLACED, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MORE THAN JUST MY VEHICLE. THERE IS A FIX AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD HANKOOK TIRES WHEN HE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. THE TIRE LINE, TIRE SIZE AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE TIRES WERE BALD BY THE TIME THE VEHICLE HAD 11,000 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR ISSUE AND TO CALL THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER DECIDED TO AWARD THE CONTACT WITH A 20% CREDIT TO BUY SOME NEW TIRES. THE NEW TIRES WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY WERE ALMOST BALD AT 34,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO RECALL THE DEALER COGSWELL FORD LOCATED AT 1900 E MAIN ST, RUSSELLVILLE, AR 72801 479-968-2665. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN RECONTACTED YET. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE ISSUE HAD OCCURRED IN MANY FORD EXPLORERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING ASSIST, HILL ASSIST AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN AUDIBLE SOUND IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT DROVE SLOWLY TO THE RESIDENCE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED STEERING WHEEL WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT TURN AT ALL.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11323341

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITH AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. FREEDOM FORD (3941 ADMIRAL PEARY HWY, EBENSBERG, PA 15931, (800)215-0042 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

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AFTER GETTING MY AIRBAG RECALL TAKEN CARE OF I NOTICED THE STEERING STARTED GETTING TIGHT MORE AND MORE AFTER 2 DAYS IT WAS REALLY TIGHT UNTIL IT RAINED AND IT GOT LOOSE AGAIN BUT THE STREET LINE SENSORS AND THE RUMBLE STOPPED WORKING. ONE DAY AFTER THE RAIN DRIED THE WHEEL TIGHTEN UP AGAIN WHERE I CAN BARELY TURN IT. I ASK FORD ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID I HAD TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC FOR $179 TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG. ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSIONS PASSING BECAUSE THE AIR FILTER SENSOR IS NOT WORKING. TRYING TO GET AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC . FORD IS A RIPOFF.

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I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL WHEN THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND THEN LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO JUST MAKE IT TO THE TOP OF THE HILL. I PULLED OVER PUT IT PARK AND THEN PUT IT IN DRIVE AND WAS ABLE DRIVE HOME. HOWEVER, NOW THE CAR HAS NO REVERSE. A TRANSMISSION REBUILD/REPLACEMENT NEEDED.

NHTSA ODI 11321524

STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT FOR TURNING AND REVERSING IN TO MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY AND ABLE TO FORTUNATELY GET OFF AND RETURN HOME. BUT WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR A FEW DAYS LATER TO TAKE IT TO AUTOSHOP, THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT MOVE AT ALL AND SO HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED

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I GOT INTO MY CAR ONE MORNING AND THE CAR MADE A TERRIBLE SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT. THE STEERING ALSO WANTS TO STICK WHEN GOING AROUND A TURN. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SAID THE RACK AND PINION WAS GOING BAD AND IS COMMON IN MY YEAR OF CAR AND MILEAGE. THEY SAID AT ANY POINT MY CAR STEERING COULD COMPLETELY BE LOST. HOW DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING WITH A TODDLER?!?!

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MY FAMILY AND I WERE AT A A GAS STATION ABOUT TO GET ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY FORD EXPLORER STARTED TO STALL. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON. THIS ACTION SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM; HOWEVER, AFTER THAT DAY (4 MONTHS AGO) THE FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN STALLING EVERY TIME I START IT AND START TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY. IT WILL LOSE SPEED WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE AND WILL STALL FOR THE FIRST MINUTE OR SO BEFORE RESUMING BACK TO NORMALS I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH MY FAMILY AS IT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE AT ALL. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER STALLING I WILL GET THE WRENCH SYMBOL ON MY DASH.

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STEERING MAKES A POPPING SOUND WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL AT SLOWER SPEEDS. THIS IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE STEERING SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING. THE EXPLORER HAS 53000 MILES ON IT. OUT OF POCKET AT A COST OF $2,200 TO $2,500 DOLLARS FOR A PREMATURE FAILURE OF STEERING SYSTEM COMPONENTS. THESE PREMATURE/DEFECTIVE STEERING PROBLEMS CAN LEAD TO DEATHS OR SERIOUS INJURIES WHILE DRIVING.

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