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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN EXHAUST ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO GAIN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (TOM BOLAND FORD, 9699 HWY 168, HANNIBLE, MO) AND THE LIFTGATE DRAIN SEAL WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

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INTERNAL ELECTRONIC FAILURE IN THE STEERING RACK. EXPLORER IS TWO YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 44,173 MILES. STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING!!

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WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING BECAME LOOSE AND STARTING VIBRATING. AFTER PULLING OVER AND ATTEMPTING TO SECURE, IT THEN BECAME PARTIALLY DETACHED AND WAS BENT BACKWARDS. IT OBSTRUCTED THE VIEW OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. IT THEN FLEW OFF INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY, IT LANDED ON THE SHOULDER AND DID NOT HIT ANOTHER CAR/CAUSE A WRECK ON THE INTERSTATE. THE DRIVER SIDE IS ALSO PARTIALLY COMING OFF ACCORDING TO REPAIR QUOTE FROM DEALERSHIP.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVE ROGERS FORD (LOCATED AT 9760 OH-64, WATERVILLE, OH 43566, (419) 878-8151) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND PRIMARILY OCCURRED DURING HOT, HUMID WEATHER WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ACTIVATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,400.

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WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WETHER STOPPED OR MOVING, THERE WAS A POPPING/CLUNKING NOISE. SOMETIMES THE CLUNK NOISE WAS LOUDER, SOMETIMES IT WASN'T AS LOUD. NOISE COULD BE FELT AND HEARD FROM STEERING COLUMN AND FLOORBOARD. STEERING WHEEL WOULD ALSO GRAB AT TIMES WHERE YOU PHYSICALLY HAD TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN. THIS SEEMED TO HAPPEN MORE AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHILE DOING A SERVICE ON THE VEHICLE, I INSPECTED ALL STEERING COMPONENTS. WHILE ANOTHER PERSON WAS TURNING THE WHEEL, I COULD HEAR POPPING IN THE RIGHT SIDE STEERING BOOT THAT COVERS THE INNER TIE ROD END. I GRABBED THE BOOT AND SHOOK IT AND COULD HEAR METAL RATTLING INSIDE OF IT. LEFT SIDE DID NOT MAKE ANY NOISE. I REMOVED THE BOOT OFF OF THE RACK AND PINION AND FOUND 2 PIECES OF METAL THAT WERE HANGING ON THE GEAR OF THE RACK AND DAMAGED. THE PRICES OF METAL APPEARED TO BE A GREASE SEAL AS THERE IS RUBBER ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE PIECE(SEE PICTURE ATTACHED). FROM LOOKING AT THIS, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE HANGING METAL PIECE COULD GET HUNG UP ON THE CORKSCREW GEAR CAUSING CLINCH NOISE AND ALSO CAUSE THE STEERING TO GRAB. I DID CUT BOTH PIECES OFF FOR SAFETY AND IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT INTO THE FORD DEALER OF THE CERTIFIED WARRANTY WILL COVER IT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH NO FIX NOTED BY FORD.

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THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND THE CAR WILL BUCK/SHAKE AND ALMOST DIE WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT OR FOR SEVERAL HOURS TAKES 1-2 MINUTES TO JERK/SHAKE AND THEN WILL RUN FINE. TWICE THE WRENCH ICON HAS COME ON IN THE DASH. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES NOW TO BE FIXED. THEY WERE ABLE TO VALIDATE WHAT HAPPENED, AS IT HAPPENED TO THEM BUT SAID THAT THE CAR'S COMPUTER DID NOT GENERATE ANY CODES SO THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE/REPAIR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE RACK AND PINION WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. D'ORAZIO FORD (1135 SOUTH WATER STREET, WILMINGTON, ILLINIOIS 60481, (815) 476-5205) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

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BOUGHT THE 2016 EXPLORER LIMITED WITH ROUGHLY 28,000 MILES ON IT. RAN GREAT FOR ABOUT 2,000 MILES AND THEN STARTED NOTICING A POP/CLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT GOING 5MPH OR LESS. MAINLY HAPPENED WHEN PULLING INTO AND OUT OF PARKING SPACES. WOULD ALSO RANDOMLY DO THIS WHILE PARKED. TOOK INTO 2 FORD DEALERSHIPS AND SURPRISE, THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD TO KEEP DRIVING IT AND IF IT GETS WORSE TO BRING IT BACK IN. DROVE IT FOR ANOTHER FEW THOUSAND MILES WITH IT HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY. FINALLY AFTER HEARING THE NOISE MORE CONSISTENTLY AND EVEN FEELING THE STEERING SLIGHTLY JERK TO THE SIDE ON ONE OCCASION , I TOOK IT BACK INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SOUND THIS TIME AND SAID IT NEEDED A NEW STEERING RACK. THIS INCLUDES THE WHOLE RACK AND PINION. SO FAR SO GOOD. MY ISSUE IS I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT ALL THESE EXPLORERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES (MOST OF THEM WORSE THAN MY CASE) AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THEY'RE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL? SOME EXPLORERS STEERING LITERALLY LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING BASED ON ALL THE COMPLAINTS I'VE READ. I FEEL I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES CATCHING THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT GOT WORSE. NOW I'M KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED THAT THE PROBLEM DOESN'T COME UP AGAIN LIKE I'VE HEARD ALSO HAPPENS. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS FAULTY WITH THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN TO A CAR THIS NEW?

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER ON A STATE HWY AT 55 MPH, SUDDENLY BELLS AND WARNING ON DASH INDICATING STEERING FAILURE ISSUE. WITHIN 1 BLOCK, I WAS UNABLE TO STEER AT ALL. HAD TO BE TOWED. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE POWER STEERING GEAR WAS BAD. TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE $2200. VEHICLE HAS 76,000 MILES. VERY UNSAFE CONDITION HAD IT HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY OR DEATH.

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAVE AROUND 50,000 MILES ON MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE HAD IT WORKED ON 3 TIMES AND IT CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND THOSE ON THE ROAD. MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, YET FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL.

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE NYS THRUWAY AROUND 70-75MPH AND THE CAR DECELERATED TO 55MPH THEN WAS LIKE IN A COAST MODE. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND IT SAID SEE MANUAL. I PUSHED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND IT WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED CAR OFF AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND PUSHED OK TO THE SEE MANUAL. I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT. WE COULD OF BEEN KILLED IF SOMEONE WAS BEHIND ME. I BROUGHT IN TO DEALER AND SAID THEY REALLY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG OR SEE ANY INFO ON THE COMPUTER WHEN CAR WAS HOOKED UP. VERY SCARY AS I HAVE READ ONLINE MORE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM.

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STRONG EXHAUST AND VERY HIGH LEVELS OF CO ENTERING CABIN AT NORMAL ACCELERATION, VERY BAD AT HARD ACCELERATION I HAVE MULTIPLE PICTURES OF MY CO SENSOR I HAD IN THE VEHICLE FOR SOME TIME NOW WITH LETHAL CO LEVELS. I BELIEVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS HAVE BIG ENOUGH CRACKS TO FLOOD IN CO INTO THE CABIN THROUGH OPENINGS. MINE HAS HAD THE 'DEALER ITSB' TO RESOLVE, NO CHANGE AND IT REGISTERED HIGHER AFTER. REPLACE THIS MANIFOLD AND SEAL THIS TRUCK OR BUY IT BACK FROM ME FORD. IF PUTTING MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN DANGER DAILY DOESN'T SCARE YOU, THE PICTURES AND PROOF I HAVE ARE ENOUGH FOR ANOTHER LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU FOR THIS! I NEED TO BE CONTACTED BY A FORD REP (NOT A DEALERSHIP) TO RESOLVE OR MY LAWYERS WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

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WHEN DRIVING MY FORD EXPLORER 2016 THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING A SOUND WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED, BOTH WHEN TURNING FROM A STOP OR GOING AROUND A CURVE. IT WOULD ALSO CATCH AND SORT OF STICK WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED AND WOULDN'T EASILY TURN BACK TO NORMAL AFTER THE TURN OR CURVE HAD BEEN MADE. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE RACK AND PINION HAS TO BE REPLACED, COSTING $1885. IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BC OF THE STEERING WELL STICKING.

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THE CAR WAS WEAK TO START FOR 2DAYS.. DAY 3@ 5AM I PUSHED THE KEY 2XS TO START MY 2016 FOR EXPLORER FROM INSIDE MY HOUSE. IT DIDN'T START SO I GOT INSIDE THE CAR & PUSHED THE START BUTTON, IT MADE CLICKING SOUND THEN SAID SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN! LATER THAT. AFTERNOON I LOOKED UNDER HOOD & BATTERY ACID WAS EVERYWHERE. THE MOTOR CRAFT BATTERY EXPLODED!

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YES EXHAUST IS STILL COMING OUT AFTER REPAIR IN CAR AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM WENT OFF IN CAR YEATERDAY

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO FLAGSHIP FORD (850 FERN DRIVE, BALDWIN, WISCONSIN 54002, (715) 684-4520) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

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I HAVE 25,000 MILES ON THESE TIRES AND THEY ARE PEELING APART. AT 20,000 I NOTICED IT AND TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY MADE EXCUSES AND SAID I RAN SOMETHING OVER. THERE ARE OTHER RECALLS ON SIMILAR TIRES. THEY ARE LITERALLY PEEKING APART. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 1/2 YEARS NEW.

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CARBON MONOXIDE RELEASE INTO CAR REMAINS EVEN AFTER DEALER REPAIR

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OK LET'S START WITH THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD STEERING ISSUES FROM THE START WITH THIS VEHICLE. WE PAID $700 TO FIX OR BAND AID THE PROBLEM LAST MONTH. SO, WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR OUR SUMMER VACATION WE ACTUALLY CONSIDERED RENTING A CAR BECAUSE WE STILL DIDN'T THINK IT WAS RIGHT. RENT A VEHICLE WHEN WE HAVE AN ALMOST BRAND NEW VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE WITH A $500 A MONTH CAR PAYMENT?!?! AGAINST OUR BETTER JUDGMENT, WE TOOK IT FROM PA TO FL, WELL ALMOST. ALONG I-95 IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT ABOUT 11PM THE STEERING SEIZED WITH OUR FAMILY IN THE CAR. WE HAD TO GET A HOTEL ROOM, RENT A CAR AND LEAVE THE POS IN SC TO CONTINUE OUR VACATION. IT'S NOW ALMOST 3 WEEKS IN AND IT'S STILL IN SC. WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN FOREIGN CAR PEOPLE. WE HAD A HONDA PILOT FOR 12 YEARS, NEVER A PROBLEM WITH IT. IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM, IT WAS COVERED BY THE AWESOME WARRANTY OR IT WAS A RECALL. LOTS OF RECALLS, MANUFACTURER AND HONDA. WHICH, UP TILL NOW I THOUGHT WAS A PAIN IN THE ASS! NOW, I GET THAT AT LEAST THEY HAVE ENOUGH INTEGRITY TO HAVE RECALLS! FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS THE WORST WARRANTY AND 0 INTEGRITY! WE LOVED THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THIS VEHICLE. LOOKS DEFINITELY AREN'T EVERYTHING...LESSON LEARNED. WE WILL TAKE THE LOSS ON TRADING IT IN AND GOING BACK TO HONDA, TOYOTA OR NISSAN TO KEEP OUR FAMILY SAFE. I GUESS FORD IS WAITING FOR A FATALITY?!?!

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POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A BUSY PUBLIC STREET. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE SAFELY OFF THE ROAD.

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THE PROBLEM STARTED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS A "STICKINESS" AT ABOUT 5 DEGREES OFF CENTER. THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE "CATCH" WHERE IT WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND I WOULD HAVE TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO KEEP TURNING. THIS VERY DISTRACTING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE, TO INCLUDE INTERMITTENT SHUDDERING, THAT FEELS LIKE DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS, SQUEEKING AND CLICKING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND IF LOCKING THE STEERING OUT IN ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER THE WHEEL WILL "JUMP" BACK. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THIS SEEMS LINKED TO THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST, WHICH THOUGH IT HASN'T FAILED COMPLETELY, IS DEFINITELY FAILING. AFTER READING OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH MY THREE KIDS, AND AM NOT WILLING TO PAY THE $2,600 REPAIR PRICE FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 2 AND A HALF YEARS OLD. I AM NOW BACK TO DRIVING MY 12 YEAR OLD TRUCK, WHICH WHILE IT HAS IT'S OWN PROBLEMS, AT LEAST IT IS SAFE.

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SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS REACHED 40,000 MILES WE HAVE NOTICED HARD SHIFTING WHEN ACCELERATING. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THERE IS A SOUND LIKE THE ENGINE MAY FALL OUT OF THE CAR.

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HANKOOK TIRES ARE SHREDDING UNDER NORMAN CITY DRIVING. CAR HAS APPROX 30,000 KMS. SIDE ARE PERFECT, ONLY IN THE CENTER OF THE TIRE IS THERE ANY SHREDDING. LITERALLY, LARGE CHUNKS OF TIRE MISSING. DRIVING IS CITY PAVEMENT. UNDER 50 MPH

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I BEGAN TO NOTICE A STRONG GAS FUME SMELL IN THE CAB WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE 'RECALL' REPAIR FOR CO CONCERNS DID NOTHING. I CURRENTLY STILL HAVE THE STRONG SMELL INSIDE CAB.

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OUR VEHICLE HAS 13451 MILES. THE FACTORY TIRES HANKOOK 255/50R20 105H VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2 ARE SCALING ON ALL FOUR TIRES TO A DEGREE.

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