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

AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER ON THE HIGHWAY ON 08/01/2019 I EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE START TO STUTTER JUST BEFORE I WAS GOING ON TO THE ON RAMP MERGING ON THE HIGHWAY AND AFTER I WAS ON THE HIGH WAY THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE AND I COULD SMELL OIL BURNING AND PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW THE PILE OF OIL UNDERNEATH BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE ANY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR WARNINGS ONCE WE TOWED THE VEHICLE HOME I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASING WAS CRACKED PRETTY MUCH IN HALF I COULD ACTUALLY SEE THE GEARS INSIDE THE CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION I ALSO REMEMBERD IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT VERY HARD AFTER BRAKING AND THEN GETTING BACK ON THE GAS IT HAPPENED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE .

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WITH NO WARNING - EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON WITH A MESSAGE THAT SAID "SEE MANUAL." I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFICE AND PULL OVER. AFTER TEN MINUTES, I RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR STARTED BACK UP WITH NO PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK OFF. FROM THERE IT DROVE BEAUTIFULLY LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED - EXCEPT THAT IT DID ! FOUR DAYS LATER, I TAKE IT TO THE DEALORSHIP. THEY DETERMINED THAT THIS HAPPENED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY. I HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND IT'S GOING TO COST ME $380. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WITH THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ALL OVER THE INTERNET THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS AT THE DEALORSHIP WHEN THEY SOLD ME THE CAR. AND ALSO THAT FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THIS YET CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. I HAVE TO HAVE THIS FIXED, I HAVE NO CHOICE. I WOULD DEFINITLY LIKE TO REUMBERSED FOR THIS REPAIR. BUT IN ADDITION TO THE OUT OF POCKET COST, THE POWER GOING OUT ON THE CAR WHILE DRIVING IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WITH THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE WITH THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE MODEL / YEAR , I HOPE THAT SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY PLACE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE.

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ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR "STEERING FAULT" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD TO TURN. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND STARTED GOING HOME. JUAT AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVE WAY "STEERING LOSS" LIGHT CAME ON AMD I COULD NO LONGER TURN MY STEERING WHEEL. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.

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WHILE IN MOTION THE VEHICLES STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME "STICKY" AND MAKING A GRINDING SOUND. SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR BECAME HARD TO CONTROL WHILE IN MOTION BECAUSE IT HAD LOST POWER STEERING. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND THE REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AS WELL AS NOT GUARANTEED BECAUSE THE PART IS FATLY AND IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.

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WHILE STATIONARY, OR SITTING IN VEHICLE WHILE IDLING, CARBON MONOXIDE IS DETECTED IN THE CABIN AND I HAVE BEEN FALLING ASLEEP AND STAYING TIRED FOR REST OF THE DAY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THE 2 MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD THE NEW SUV. I SUSPECTED AFTER I WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY SHERIFFS. I PLUGGED IN MY HOME DETECTOR TO CHECK IF THAT WERE THE CASE. I AM NO LONGER IDLING WITHOUT WINDOWS OPEN IF POSSIBLE DUE TO WEATHER.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND RESISTANT WITHOUT WARNING. TED BRITT FORD OF CHANTILLY (FORD BUILDING, 4175 AUTO PARK CIR, CHANTILLY, VA 20151, (703) 454-0008) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED 5 TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

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I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AT 16,000 MILES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP EACH TIME, ONLY TO BE TOLD IT MUST BE GIVING A CODE SO THEY CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. MY EXPLORERS STEERING PROBLEM WOULD CORRECT ITSELF IF I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION & STARTED BACK. IN JULY 2019 AT 46,636 MILES I LOST ALL STEERING. I HAD THE EXPLORER TOWED INTO MY LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD IT IS A STEERING GEAR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES THAY I FEEL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE 'POWER STEERING FAULT ASSIST' MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE STRENGTH TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO MAGIC CITY FORD (51 NORTHRIDGE LN, LEXINGTON, VA 24450, (540) 463-3196) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART, WHICH WAS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON JULY 30, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL BECOME SHAKY AND UNCONTROLLABLE . I WAS FEELING UNSAFE AND MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE AND WITHIN SECONDS THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE UP AND WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON. I GLIDED TO THE SHOULDER. TURNED THE CAR OFF. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TURNING IT BACK ON BUT WARNING LIGHTS AND STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL LOCKED. HAD THE CAR TOWED.

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2016 FORD EXPLORER - THE BACKUP CAMERA WILL COME ON WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55-60 MPH. WILL CAUSE IT TO LOOSE POWER, THE RPM'S DROP RIGHT BELOW 1000, THE WRENCH SYMBOL COMES ON, AND IT WILL BARELY MOVE DOWN THE ROAD. A SCREEN WILL POP UP ON OCCASION SAYING HILL ASSIST IS UNAVAILABLE. YOU HAVE TO PULLOVER, TURN THE CAR OFF, OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR TO MAKE SURE THE RADIO AND ALL GOES OFF, WAIT EXACTLY ONE MINUTE, AND THEN YOU ARE ABLE TO CRANK THE VEHICLE UP TO BE ABLE TO MOVE. I HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND ALL THEY SAY IS IT'S A SENSOR INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION, AND ALL THEY CAN DO IS CLEAR THE CODE OUT. THEY SAY THAT IT IS SAYING MY VEHICLE IS TRYING TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE HAD OTHERS SAY THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THEM AS WELL. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN REGARDS TO MY WARRANTY, BUT I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM, AND IT HAS BEEN OVER 2 WEEKS. I HAVE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE SEVERAL TIMES, AND I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM HIM. I CONTACTED THEM BECAUSE WHILE LOOKING AT THE PAPERWORK IT SAID IT HAD A LIMITED POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, BUT IT WAS PURCHASED AS A PRE-CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE WITH AN UNLIMITED POWER TRAIN WARRANTY THEY WERE OFFERING FOR VEHICLES WITH LEST THAN 80,000 MILES. I HAVE NOT HAD IT A YEAR YET. I HAVE AN EMAIL FROM THE SALES REP HIMSELF STATING THAT IT IS UNLIMITED. IT WAS PURCHASE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018.

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SMELL OF SULFUR OR NATURAL GAS IN THE CABIN, CAUSING HEADACHES AND DIZZINESS. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE WORSENED IF CLIMATE CONTROL FANS ARE BLOWING. THE ISSUE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING.

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I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE IN THE TRANSMISSION OR SHIFTING AND WON'T GO INTO GEAR OR DRIVE UNTIL YOU TAKE IT AND PUT BACK TO PARK. THEN SOMETIMES IT WILL AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD A FORD ENGINEER THAT THOUGHT THEY FIGURED IT OUT AFTER SHELLING SOMETHING AND REPAIRING IT. IT WORKED FOR A MONTH AND NOW IS BACK AT DEALER FOR A SECOND TIME. SEEMS TO BE WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR TRANSMISSION

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TURNING STEERING WHEEL MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. STEERING GETS STUCK WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND HAS TO BE FORCED BACK TO CENTER. DOES NOT RETURN ON ITS OWN. HAPPENS WHILE SITTING OR DRIVING. IF YOU MAKE A TURN ON THE STREET IT WILL SEND YOU OFF THE ROAD OR INTO ANOTHER LANE IF YOU DO NOT FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK. THE STEERING RACK IS BAD. 3 YEAR OLD EXPLORER. AFTER RESEARCHING MORE ALMOST EVERY OTHER YEAR OF EXPLORER IN THE TEENS HAS HAD A RECALL FOR THE STEERING GEAR EXCEPT 15/16. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FOR 2016 STEERING GEARS. ARE WE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED FIRST?

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RECEIVED RECALL 19V-435 BROUGHT IT INTO DANA FORD STATEN ISLAND AN WAS TOLD THIS RECALL ONLY COVERS REAR ALLIGNMENT AND THIS COULD EFFECT THE FRONT ALIGNMENT AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $89 PLUS TAX. WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR 5HEIR MISTAKE?

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR WAS A DISTRACTION AND HAZARD TO THE CONTACT AND HIS CHILDREN. THE CONTACT CALLED RUSTY WALLACE FORD (134 SHARON DR, DANDRIDGE, TN 37725, (423) 623-6138) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO SERVICE THIS KIND OF FAILURE ANY MORE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,250.

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CARBON MONOXIDE IN CAR. I DRIVE UP TO 8 HOURS A DAY FRO MY JOB. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS I'VE EXPERIENCE DIZZINESS AND NAUSEA THOUGHT OUT THE DAY AND RECENTLY LEARNED OF CO ISSUES WITH FORD EXPLORERS. I PURCHASED A CO DETECTOR LAST WEEK TO TEST MY CAR OVER THE PAST 3 DAYS THE ALARM HAS GONE OFF INDICATING HIGH LEVELS OF CO IN THE CABIN WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND STOPPED. SPECIFICALLY, WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON "AUTO" AT APPROXIMATELY 3500RPM THE DETECTOR REGISTERED CO IN THE CABIN, AT 4500 RPM THE LEVEL OF CO DOUBLED.

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MOVING DOWN A HIGHWAY WHEN WITH A SUDDEN SHUTTER AND THEN A LOUD BANG THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER WITH BLINDING SMOKE IN AND AROUND THE CAR. MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD FIRE LAPPING UP THE DRIVERS SIDE ROCKER PANEL FROM UNDER THE CAR. TRANSFER CASE EXPLODED WITH SUCH FORCE IT DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. OCCURRED AT 41,000 MILES ON A THREE YEAR OLD VECHICLE.

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MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 20MPH ON A CITY STREET AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED LOCKING UP. FOUND IT UNERVING AND DIFFICULT TO COME OUT OF THE TURN. THIS CAUSED ME TO MAKE A DANGEROUS STOP IN A ACTIVE INTERSECTION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT CALLED MCCLARY FORD AT 866-644-9524 (LOCATED AT 1104 U.S. HIGHWAY 72 EAST, ATHENS, AL 35611) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY VEHICLE'S DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD PILLAR/MOLDING TRIM FLEW OFF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PLASTIC WHICH THE PANEL IS DEFECTIVE.

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TIRES - ALL 4 HANOOK TIRES DOT # 5MNC 1A H (0216) 255/50/R20 TREADS HAVE BEEN CHIPPING AND PEELING UP RESULTING IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS AND EXCESSIVE WEAR. THESE TIRES ARE CLEARLY PROBLEMATIC TIRES AND COMPLETELY WORN OUT AT 20,000 MILES. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE IF THIS RESULTING FROM NEW COMPOUNDS (MATERIALS) USED IN MANUFACTURING. HIGH SPEED BLOWOUTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED FOR THIS PARTICULAR TIRE YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS TIRE DESPITE ITS DEFECTS AND SAFETY CONCERNS. I FIRST NOTICED IT ON THE TWO FRONT TIRES. IT IS SHOCKING THAT FORD WOULD USE THESE TIRES.

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DASH WARNING MESSAGE STATES "STEERING SYSTEM FAULT". POWER STEERING NO LONGER ACTIVE. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEEL. HAD TO MUSCLE CAR TO SAFE LANE. NOT DRIVE-ABLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME AS THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED OVER A YEAR AGO. WOODY ANDERSON FORD (2500 JORDAN LN NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35816, (877) 315-0514) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BARRIER STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO SOUTH BAY FORD (5100 W ROSECRANS AVE, HAWTHORNE, CA 90250, (888) 890-2965) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE BARRIER STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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PREMATURE TIRE WEAR CAUSING INADEQUATE TRACTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS

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JUNE 4TH 2019 THROTTLE BODY FAILED ON 2016 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WITH V6 ECOBOOST ENGINE AT 59K MILE. VEHICLE HAS BUCKING AND HAD NO ACCELERATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. SPOKE TO FORD CORPORATE THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT SERVICE ADVISORS AT FORD HAVE TOLD ME.

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