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

DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS LIKE IT IS LOOSE

NHTSA ODI 11319394

THE STEERING MAKES POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. ALSO AT TIMES THE STEERING IS HARD, THERE IS RESISTANCE . I HAVE TO USE TWO HANDS FORCE-ABLY TO TURN. AT FIST I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INDECENT BUT REALIZE ITS GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. WAS ROUGHLY AROUND 65,000 MILES WHEN I FIRST NOTICED POPPING NOISE.THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 80,165 MILES ON IT. THE MAJORITY IS HIGHWAY MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11319202

WHEN SITTING IDLE AND STATIONARY, A STRONG ODOR OF ROTTEN EGGS/EXHAUST ENTER THE CABIN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE A STRONG ODOR AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. THE ODOR WAS SO STRONG OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT WE HAD TO PARK IT FAR AWAY FROM THE HOUSE BECAUSE THE SMELL WAS COMING INTO THE HOUSE THROUGH THE GARAGE. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEM TELLING US IT WAS FIXED, I TRUSTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE AND TOOK MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO THE GROCERY STORE. IMMEDIATELY AT THE FIRST STOP LIGHT AND SITTING IN IDLE, THE ODOR WAS RELEASED INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR- NO DIFFERENT THAN PRIOR TO BEING "FIXED." WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD US WE HAD TO DRIVE THE SMELL OFF AND PUSH IT THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE SMELL CONTINUED WITHOUT RELIEF AND I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME (15 MINUTE DRIVE) WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN DURING AN OHIO WINTER OF 34 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT FOR MY HUSBAND TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON ARRIVING HOME, EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN I HAD A HEADACHE AND FELT NAUSEOUS. I WOULD HATE TO KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP'S ADVICE. OUR VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO US A SECOND TIME AND THE ISSUE WAS STILL UNRESOLVED. AT THIS MOMENT, OUR VEHICLE IS AT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WITH WHAT SEEMS LIKE NO END IN SIGHT. FORD HAS PUT US BACK INTO A FAULTY AND DANGEROUS VEHICLE TWICE NOW AND WE HAVE LITTLE TRUST OR FAITH THAT OUR FORD EXPLORER WILL BE RETURNED TO US AS A SAFE FAMILY CAR. ALSO TO NOTE, WE DID HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR RECALL RELATED TO CARBON MONOXIDE.

NHTSA ODI 11318514

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST AND THE STEERING BECAME FIRM. NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AFTER THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH SEVERAL ADDITIONAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO MOUNTAINEER FORD LOCATED AT (615 EISENHOWER DR, BECKLEY, WV 25801) AND AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI 11317347

ON FEBRUARY 4, 2020, MY WIFE'S 2016 FORD EXPLORER (VIN# [XXX]) HAD AN ODOMETER READING OF 29,265 MILES WHEN SHE BEGAN TO NOTICE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS AFTER THE STEERING SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED WHILE TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS, DRIVEWAYS AND PARKING LOTS. DURING ONE INCIDENT, THE STEERING SYSTEM TEMPORARILY LOCKED UP AND MAKE A DISTINCT CLUNKING SOUND; IT ALMOST CAUSED MY WIFE TO HIT ANOTHER CAR DURING A LEFT HAND TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. SHE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE 99% OF THE TIME TO TRANSPORT OUR GRANDCHILDREN WHILE THE REMAINING 1% HAS INVOLVED MY COMMUTE TO WORK. OUR REYNOLDS FORD OF NORMAN DEALERSHIP FAILED TO DUPLICATE THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONS WE EXPERIENCED. THEY ALSO MADE IT KNOWN THAT OUR EXTENDED FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER ANY REPAIRS RELATED TO THE STEERING SYSTEM. ON MARCH 6, 2020, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HTTPS://WWW.NHTSA.GOV/VEHICLE/2016/FORD/EXPLORER/SUV/FWD, THERE WERE SEVEN RECALLS, ONE INVESTIGATION AND 918 COMPLAINTS ON THE 2016 FORD EXPLORER. OF THOSE 918 COMPLAINTS, 189 WERE RELATED TO THE SAME SAFETY RELATED STEERING PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY OUR VEHICLE. MANY OF THOSE 189 COMPLAINTS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE OWNERS HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET AT A COST OF $2,200 TO $2,500 DOLLARS FOR A PREMATURE FAILURE OF STEERING SYSTEM COMPONENTS. FORD NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBLE AND OWN UP TO THEIR PREMATURE/DEFECTIVE STEERING PROBLEMS TO PREVENT DEATHS OR SERIOUS INJURIES. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVE/PREMATURE STEERING COMPONENTS. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE ZERO QUALITY AND SAFETY CONFIDENCE WITH MY CURRENT STEERING SYSTEM AND REPLACEMENT PARTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11316587

THE RECALLED TOE LINK ON THE REAR SUSPENSION BROKE 3 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS REPLACED AND CAUSE A CRASH WHILE DIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, SLOWING FOR A SPEED ZONE FOR A TOWN. INVOLVING BODY DAMAGE. AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND 1 WEEK AFTER GETTING IT BACK FROM THE DEALER THE LINK BROKE FOR A SECOND TIME, WHILE ON A CURVE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY BOTH TIMES.WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 6 WEEKS TOTAL AND HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE FOR 2 OF THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11315894

ADVANCETRAC AND STEERING FAULT WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. STEERING LOCKED UP AND BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SAFELY STEER OFF ROADWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11315527

I BOUGHT MY CERTIFIED PREOWNED 2016 FORD EXPLORER ON OCTOBER 22 2019. I HAVE HAD IT FOR 4 MONTHS. YESTERDAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED WHEN SLIGHTLY VEERING TO THE RIGHT THAT THE WHEEL PULLS HARD TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND IT IT HARD TO PULL THE WHEEL BACK TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION. I TESTED THIS ON THE LEFT SIDE AND IT DOES THE SAME JUST NOT AS HARD TO PULL.

NHTSA ODI 11315709

ANOTHER 2016 EXPLORER WITH AN AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. OBDII CHECK IS NOT SHOWING ANY FAULTS. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT TO DEALER YET, BUT I AM ASSUMING IT'S THE SAME OR SIMILAR FAULT TO WHAT OTHERS ARE SEEING ON HERE AND ELSEWHERE.

NHTSA ODI 11315442

HELLO TODAY AFTER DRIVING MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER ONLY DOWN THE STREET TO THE STORE IT WAS FINE I PULLED BACK UP AT MY HOUSE AND IT WAS FINE I UNLOADED MY TODDLER AND TOOK HIM INSIDE AND THEN WENT BACK AND TURNED MY SUV BACK ON TO BACK IT INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND IT MADE A REALLY LOUD HUMMING SOUND LIKE A VACUUM OR A HIGH SPEED FAN IT DIDN'T SLOW IT DIDN'T STOP IT ONLY STAYED LOUD I THEN LEFT IT PARKED ON THE STREET AND IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE SOUND ITS BEEN 2 HOURS AND ITS STILL GOING STRONG NO KEY IN THE IGNITION OR NOTHING AND ITS STILL NO MY HUSBAND IS PULLING FUSES OUT TRYING TO GET IT TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11315348

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR WEEKS AT A TIME AND THEN COMES OFF. THIS TENDS TO HAPPEN WHEN IT RAINS.

NHTSA ODI 11312173

RUTTEN EGGS SULFUR STRONG SMELL COMING INTO CAB DURING ACCELERATION MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BREATHE IN THE CAR. WENT TO DEALER FEW TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL THERE. WHEN FORD GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?

NHTSA ODI 11310500

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. RIGHT NOW IT IS AT THE DEALERSHIP, HOPEFULLY TO BE FIXED

NHTSA ODI 11309762

SEAT HEAT UNDER DRIVER SEAT KEEPS GOING BAD. ONLY THE SEAT BOTTOM, NOT THE TOP. I NOTICED AS THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IT HAS BEEN IN FOR THIS, THAT WHEN I HAVE THE SEAT IN THE FARTHEST BACK POSITION IT WORKS, BUT WHEN THE SEAT IS MOVED FURTHER IT PULLS ON THE WIRES. I WONDER IF THIS COULD BE CAUSING A SHORT IN THE WIRING, WHICH POTENTIAL COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI 11309763

VEHICLE EMITS A STRONG EXHAUST / SULFUR SMELL WHEN ACCELERATING OR PLACING A LOAD ON THE ENGINE SUCH AS USING A/C OR DRIVING UPHILL.

NHTSA ODI 11309801

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED WITH THE REMOTE HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC, POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON WHICH FAILED TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BOMMARITO FORD LOCATED AT (675 DUNN RD, HAZELWOOD, MO 63042, (314) 895-0600 WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.

NHTSA ODI 11309183

THE STEERING MAKES POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AT A TRUSTED GARAGE I USE, THEY SAID THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS SHOT. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 53165 MILES ON IT. THE MAJORITY IS HIGHWAY MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11308744

WHILE GOING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I'M IN REVERSE AND MOVING AND GO TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT IS LOCKED AND I GET A "HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE, SERVICE ADVANCETRAC" NOW MINE YOU THIS CAR IS ONLY 4YRS OLD WITH 25K MILES ON IT. ACCORDING TO ALL THE OTHER COMPLAI TS I'VE READ I'VE GOTTEN OFF EASY IN THE FACT I WAS IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY AND NOT DRIVING ANYWAYS WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR, WHICH IS THE MAIN VEHICLE THEY WOULD BE IN. HAD TOWED TO LOCAL FORD DEALER AND TOLD ITS THE PINION IN THE STEERING COLUMN NOT COVERED UNDER MY 5YR, 60,000 MILES WARRANTY AND WILL COST $2,247 PKUS TAX TO FIX. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. 4 YEARS OLD BARELY DRIVEN AT 25K MILES TO HAVE THIS CRAZY EXPENSIVE FIX THAT I CANNOT AFFORD! WHERE IS THE RECALL ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM? ARE WE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE? IS THAT WHAT IT TAKES? IF IT HAPPENED WHILE TAKING NY KIDS TO SCHOOL WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING.

NHTSA ODI 11308502

FOR A FEW MONTHS WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE FROM A RED LIGHT OR SITTING STILL THE SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS WOULD COME INTO MY VEHICLE. WITH ME HAVING KIDS I FIGURED IT WAS JUST THEM PASSING GAS, HOWEVER REPEATEDLY IT STARTED HAPPENING & IF THE A/C OR HEATER WAS ON IT WAS WORSE. I TOOK IT TO WORLD FORD IN PENSACOLA ON TUESDAY 02/04/2020, THEY DID NOT GET TO IT UNTIL 02/05/2020 AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD A DIAGNOSIS & THE WAY MY VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THE AERODYNAMICS WERE ALLOWING THE EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN. I AM ABSOLUTELY UPSET AT THIS BEING AS THOUGH NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT MY KIDS, OTHER PASSENGERS, AND THEIR KIDS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO CARBON MONOXIDE IN A CLOSED IN AREA. FORD MAKES IT SOUND ACCEPTABLE BY SAYING IT'S COVERED UNDER WARRANTY HOWEVER A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED IMMEDIATELY, THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL TO MYSELF, MY FAMILY, AND MY FRIENDS.

NHTSA ODI 11307428

PLASTIC MOLDINGS ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT OF THE WINDSHIELD FLY OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE WEATHERSTRIPPING SPLITS AND BANGS AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD

NHTSA ODI 11307349

MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 10/21/19. I RECEIVED VERY SERIOUS MULTIPLE BRAIN BLEEDS, FACIAL LAC, FACIAL & HEAD FX'S & A SEVERE TBI. MY MOM REC A CONCUSSION, FACIAL LAC CONCUSSION & A FX CLAVICLE. WE STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN & MOVED TO THE CENTER BETWEEN THE 4 LANES & STOPPED AGAIN & WE WERE HIT BY A LARGE ROLL ON ROLL OFF ROCK CARRYING DUMP TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANES. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED & I WAS IN A COMA & AIRLIFTED TO A TRAUMA CTR APPROX 40 MINS AWAY, BUT I WAS IN RESP ARREST & NOT EXPECTED TO LIVE. IT IS UNKNOWN EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS, HOWEVER I NEVER CROSS STRAIGHT ACROSS THE TRAFFIC & WE HAD BEEN ON A VERY VERY BUMPY INTERSECTION THE FRI BEFORE THE ACC ON MONDAY & THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THAT 5 HR TRIP OF EXTREMELY BUMPY ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS ON INTERSTATE 95 COMING THROUGH PART OF NC, ALL OF SC & PART OF GA.

NHTSA ODI 11307049

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTUP, THE ENGINE RUMBLED AND VIBRATED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE TAIL PIPE ALSO EMITTED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SMOKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF AN HEAD GASKET LEAK, A ND ALSO THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ODI 11306779

OBEYING SPEED LIMIT DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON N127 TOWARDS JACKSON MICHIGAN, GOING PAST AN ON RAMP AND MY PASSENGERS WINDSHIELDS OUTER PILLAR COVER FLEW OFF OUT OF NO WHERE, NO REASON, VERY UNEXPECTED. ALMOST HIT A CAR THAT WAS COMING ONTO THE HIGHWAY ON A ON RAMP. I HAVE FOUND 5 OTHER REPORTS OF EXACTLY SAME THING. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 37K MILES ON IT, HAVE ONLY DROVE IT BARELY 3 MONTHS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED OR BE HAPPENING TO VEHICLES. OTHER COMPLAINTS I FOUND VEHICLES WERE AT 40K MILES OR 41K MILES. TIMING OF ALL 6 INCIDENTS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. ALL 2016 FORD EXPLORERS ALL WITHIN LAST 6 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11306603

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2019, WITH ABOUT 31K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT WAS A RETURNED LEASE. IN JANUARY OF 2020, AT JUST OVER 41K MILES, THE STEERING GEAR FAILED AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. I HAD NO PROBLEM TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT, BUT AS SOON AS I TURNED THE WHEEL EVEN SLIGHTLY RIGHT, THERE WAS AN AWFUL CLICKING NOISE, ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING WAS GRINDING IN THE WHEEL WELL. I LIMPED IT OVER TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP A MILE AWAY AND THEY TOLD ME THE STEERING GEAR HAD FAILED. I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE 3 YR/36000 MI WARRANTY, AND APPARENTLY THE 5 YR/60000 MI POWERTRAIN WARRANTY ONLY COVERS THE STEERING HOUSING, NOT THE GEAR ITSELF, SO I WAS ON THE HOOK FOR THE ENTIRE FIX - $2200 AT THIS POINT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT FORD SAID IT WASN'T DUE TO ANY NEGLECT OR "OUTSIDE INFLUENCE" - IT JUST FAILED AND THERE'S NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT IT. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING SO CATASTROPHIC AND EXPENSIVE SHOULD BE FAILING AT 4 YRS/41K MI. FORD CAN'T ACTUALLY EXPECT PEOPLE TO REPLACE A $2200 PART EVERY 4 YRS/41K MI, RIGHT?! LUCKILY I WAS DOING ABOUT 5 MPH WHEN THE GEAR FAILED - OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THIS ISSUE IS SURELY GOING TO INJURE AND/OR KILL PEOPLE, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. FORD NEEDS TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE!!

NHTSA ODI 11302789

MY VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE GAS IN THE INSIDE. IT'S LIKE CARBON MONOXIDE COMING INTO THE CABIN AND IT'S MAKING MY FAMILY LIGHTED HEADED. DEALER CAN'T LOOK AT VEHICLE FOR A WEEK OR LONGER. I'M AFRAID I'LL PASS OUT DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND THE DEALER IS OVERLOADED WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT SUDDENLY IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI

NHTSA ODI 11302826