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

STEERING GEAR FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AT LOW SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING RIGHT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A STRONG ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS INCLUDING EARNHARDT FORD (7300 WEST ORCHID LANE, CHANDLER, ARIZONA 85226 (480) 893-0000), BUT THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO SAN TAN FORD (1429 EAST MOTORPLEX LOOP, GILBERT, ARIZONA 85297) WHERE THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,500.

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ROTTEN EGG SMELL WHEN VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING UP INCLINE AND AIR UNIT IS ON RECIRCULATE. HAD IN FORD DEALERSHIP BEFORE TO ADDRESS PROBLEM BUT OBVIOUSLY STILL NOT FIXED. DO YOUR JOB AND QUIT TRYING TO PROTECT FORD THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND YOU KNOW IT. MY WIFE AND KIDS USE THIS CAR AND THEY ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN FORD SAVING A DOLLAR.

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EXHAUST SMELL COMES THROUGH AC SYSTEM WHEN ASCENDING UPHILL AT HIGHER RPM. HAD IN SERVICE SHOP BEFORE FOR THIS ISSUE BUT IT STILL EXISTS. TIME FOR YOU GUYS TO MAN UP AND MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THEIR CRAP CAR.

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ORIGINALLY I HAD A LIGHT COMING ON WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD SAYING "STEERING FAULT SERVICE NOW" IT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF OR OCCASIONALLY I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART MY TRUCK TO RESET. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK I STARTED HAVING MULTIPLE LINES COME ON AT ONE TIME FLASHING AT ME WHILE DRIVING SAYING "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC, HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE, SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC AND STEERING FAULT SERVICE NOW". WHEN THESE LIGHTS COME ON I LOSE ALL POWER STEERING IN MY VEHICLE AND I'M UNABLE TO STEER AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IT HAS BECOME EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHILE DRIVING, BUT OTHER THAN THAT I SEE NO RHYME OR REASON OR OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE THE SAME WHEN THE LIGHTS HAVE CAME ON. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MY MECHANIC TO LOOK AT AND HE FOUND ONLINE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE MANY PEOPLE ARE BLOGGING ABOUT AND COMPLAINING ABOUT. HE HOOKED MY TRUCK UP TO THE COMPUTER BUT COULD NOT GET ANY TYPE OF ERROR CODE TO COME BACK AND SUGGESTED I FOLLOW UP WITH FORD TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT BUT ALSO SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT SOMEONE TO SEE IF THIS HAS SOME TYPE OF RECALL BECAUSE IN HIS WORDS "THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE". I HAVE CHECKED BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE AS OF NOW BUT DID SEE THERE WAS A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THE 2011-2013 EXPLORERS AND A RECALL WAS MADE. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT THIS WEEK FOR MY TRUCK TO GO TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO BE LOOKED AT BUT FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED NOW ON THE 2016 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE 2 YOUNG DRIVERS THAT OCCASIONALLY DRIVE MY VEHICLE, IF ONE OF THEM WERE TO DRIVE IT WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT, I DON'T WANT TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. THIS IS TO SERIOUS TO IGNORE AND I SEE TO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE SO I KNOW THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ONLY I AM GOING THROUGH. PLEASE RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND HAVE THIS CHECKED.

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THE CAR HAD NOT YET HAD THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE FOR THE PLUGS AND SEALS COMPLETED. I HAD NOT NOTED ANY EXHAUST ODORS IN THE CAR AND HAD NOT PROBLEMS DURING MANY ALL DAY DRIVES. AFTER AN 11 HR DRIVE THIS WEEK WITH THE AC ON THE WHOLE TIME (NOT ON RECIRCULATING), I HAD MANY SYMPTOMS OF CO EXPOSURE (HEADACHE, DIZZY, NAUSEA) AND ALL 3 OF MY DOGS WER AFFECTED (POOR APPETITE, LETHARGIC). ONE OUT OF THE CAR I'M FRESH AIR FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE SYMPTOMS SLOWLY DISSIPATED. WISH I HAD HAD A CO METER IN THE CAR. I HAD MILDER SYMPTOMS ON SEVERAL TRIPS (4-7HRS DRIVING IN ONE DAY) IN THE WEEKS BEFORE THIS LONGER TRIP. THESE WERE ALL HIGHWAY DRIVING AND CAR DID NOT IDLE WHILE SITTING.

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WHEN DONE PUMPING FUEL, FUEL LEAKS OUT OF THE FILLER DOOR AND GAS COLLECTS AROUND THE HOLE AND RUNS DOWN THE OUTSIDE PANEL OF THE VEHICLE

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CAR MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING(CURVING) SOUNDS LIKE A JAR OF MARBLES. GOT THE AXLES REPLACED AND STILL DOES IT

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PAINT STARTS TO BULDGE AND FLAKES. STRONG SMELL OF CARBON MONOXIDE INSIDE THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HALDEMAN FORD (2443 LEHIGH ST, ALLENTOWN, PA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 31,910. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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ORIGINAL HANKOOK FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED AT ABOUT 10K MILES DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR AND CHUNK OF TIRES PEELING OFF. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO POOR ALIGNMENT. I PAID FOR 2 NEW TIRES. FORD EVENTUALLY REIMBURSED US FOR ONE OF THEM. NOW, 8K MILES LATER THE TIRES ARE JUST AS BAD AS THE ONES THAT WERE REPLACED. THE REAR ONES ARE ALMOST SMOOTH. HANKOOK IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEALERS TO REPLACE THEM WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL YET MY DEALER WILL NOT DO IT.

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CARBON MOXNOXIDE AND ODOR FROM THE EXHAUST COMING INTO THE CABIN CAR CAUSING HEADACHE AND DIZZINESS WHILE DRIVING. INCREASED ODOR WITH SPEED AND A/C ON.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER THE CONTACT'S WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS, AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS DETECTED COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE BECAME ILL AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS WIFE HAD CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING AT FOUR TIMES THE NORMAL LIMIT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MEDICAL DOCTOR THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

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PURCHASED NEW 2016 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED 4WD 4DR IN 2016. THE OE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE 4 HANKOOK VENTUS S1 NOBEL 2 TIRES, SIZED 255/50R20. THE DOT RATING IS "5MNC 1A H". AT 32,789 MILES 1 TIRE WAS REPLACED UNDER HANKOOK "WARRANTY". THE FRONT TIRE TREADS WERE "FLACKING/PEELING" ON THE INNNER TREAD, MIDDLE TREAD AND OUTER TREAD. 3 OTHER TIRES NOT SHOWING THE SAME DEFECT. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER WHERE PURCHASED AND WHO IS A HANKOOK DEALER. MY PRORATED COST FOR THE TIRE WAS $112.40 FOR MOUNT AND BALANCE. RETAIL COST OF TIRE WAS $214.00. TIRE STILL HAD 3/32 LEFT ON TREAD AND TIRE RATED FOR 50,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT TIRE HAS DOT 5MNC 1AH 5117 AND OLD TIRE WAS 5MNC 1AH 2715. REVIEWING OTHER COMPLAINTS IT APPEARS HANKOOK HAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE ON THEIR HANDS AND WILL ONLY PAY FOR 100% TIRE REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY IF 25% OR LESS WEAR HAS OCCURRED WHICH IS 12,500 MILES ON TIRE RATED AT 50,000 MILES. HOPING NHTSA WILL SEE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL TIRE MANUFACTERED IN 2016 AND 2017 AND FORCE HANKOOK TO REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS FOR ANY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES THEY HAVE PAID TO REPLACE TIRE(S)

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MY 2016 LIMITED FORD EXPLORER WITH ABOUT 38000 MILES BEGAN MAKING A NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WAS JERKY AND WOULD HANG. TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHEN I RETURNED HOME AND THEY REPLACE THE RIGHT TIE ROD END AT A COST OF $200+. THE EXPLORER CONTINUED TO MAKE A NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS. WIFE SAID THAT THE STEERING WAS JERKY WHEN SHE DROVE IT. TOOK IT BACK TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT A NUT HAD COME OFF IN THE STEERING BOX AND IT NEEDED A COMPLETE STEERING RACK. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS IT WAS SO AUTHORIZED THE REPLACEMENT. COST THIS TIME WAS $1685.67. THE EXPLORER HAD 40634MILES ON IT WHEN THIS WAS DONE. GOT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THE STEERING IS A RATHER COMMON PROBLEM ON FORD EXPLORERS.

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2016 FORD EXPLORER STARTED MAKING A NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND THE STEERING BECAME JERKY AND DIDN'T WANT TO STEER. THIS WAS AT SOMEWHERE AROUND 38000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHEN I GOT HOME AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A RIGHT TIE ROD END. THE TIE ROD END WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $200+. THE FORD EXPLORER CONTINUED MAKING A NOISE AT A LOW SPEED AND WIFE STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS JERKY WHEN SHE DROVE IT. TOOK IT BACK TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT A NUT HAD CAME OFF IN THE STEERING BOX AND THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS IT WAS SO AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR. THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT 40634 MILES. SO FAR THIS APPEARS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM.

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I HAVE BEEN SMELLING A HORRIBLE ODOR THAT SMELLS LIKE NATURAL GAS/FUMES IN THE CAR TO THE POINT IT MAKES ME SICK AND GIVES ME HEADACHES. I ALSO HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD AND CAN'T HAVE HER IN THE CAR EITHER. I TOOK IT INTO FORD 2 DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY HAVE HAD IT 2 WEEKS AND STILL HAS NOT FIXED IT. IT IS HEADING BACK IN AGAIN TOMORROW. THE FIRST TIME WE NOTICED THE SMELL IN THE CAR, IT WAS FROM CRANKING IT UP AND JUST GOING FLAT DOWN THE ROAD. ALSO, WHILE GOING UP THE HILL IT SMELLS AS WELL. NO MATTER IF IT'S FLAT OR A HILL, FROM CRANKING IT OR AFTER DRIVING A WHILE, SHORT DISTANCE OR LONG DISTANCE, IT SMELLS LIKE HORRIBLE FUMES THAT MAKE ME SICK.

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THE STEERING COLUMN WENT OUT AT 38,000 MILES. THE MOTOR IS DEAD AND ENTIRE THING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

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EXHAUST GASES ARE GETTING INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. RECALL AND ADDITIONAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, BUT THE ISSUE STILL EXISTS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V767000 (SEATS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. GOSCH FORD TEMECULA (26895 YNEZ RD, TEMECULA, CA 92591, (951) 708-9148) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

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TIRES ARE WORN COMPLETELY OUT AT 25,000. HAVE HAD FLAKING AND SHREDDING TREAD DURING PREMATURE WEAR. 50,000 MILE TIRE

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JPS FORD (224 GAP FARMS RD, ARCADIA, LA 71001, (318) 263-2084) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST UNIT CAUSED FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CARBON MONOXIDE UNIT INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE ALERTED THE CONTACT OF THE FUMES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (STIVERS FORD LINCOLN, 1450 E. HICKMAN RD, WAUKEE, IA 50263), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

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TAKATA RECALL I HAVE A 2016 FORD EXPLORER PLATINUM I HAVE IDENTICAL TWIN BOYS SO THE SAFEST PLACE FOR THEM IS IN THE MIDDLE SEAT THEIR CAR SEATS ARE FACING FORWARD NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE OVER TWO YEARS OLD THE SEAT BELT GOES UNDERNEATH THE CAR SEAT AND BUCKLES IN IT'S A BRITEX SNAPTIGHT CARSEATS THE SEATBELTS HAVE AIRBAGS ON THEM I HIGHWAY PATROL HAD NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION BEFORE AND INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF THOSE SEAT BELTS WERE TO BE SET OFF THEY WOULD INFLATE UNDERNEATH THE CAR SEAT AND CAN HURT MY CHILDREN THERE'S NOTHING IN THE FORD HANDBOOK THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T HAVE CAR SEATS IN THIS VEHICLE BUT TWINS I HAVE TO HAVE ONE ON EACH SIDE I CAN'T PUT THEM BOTH IN THE MIDDLE IN BETWEEN THE DRIVERS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IN THE MIDDLE ROW THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE TO PUT THEM AND THE HIGHWAY PATROL INFORMED ME TO CONTACT YOU BECAUSE THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND CAN HURT OR POSSIBLY KILL MY CHILDREN IF I WAS TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT AND THOSE SEATBELT AIRBAGS WERE TO GO OFF. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET NO ACCIDENTS I WAS DOING A SAFETY CHECK AT VALLEY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN FRESNO AND THEY WERE EDUCATING US ON HOW TO INSERT CAR SEATS AND WHERE TO PUT THEM IN THE CAR SO THAT THEY'RE THE SAFEST WHEN THEY CAME ACROSS THE AIRBAGS ON THE SEAT BELTS AND SAID CONTACT FORD I WENT TO FORD RIGHT AWAY I PAID $43,000 FOR MY VEHICLE AND LITHIA FORD IN FRESNO CALIFORNIA DID NOT WANT TO HELP ME THEY SAID LIABILITY THEY CAN'T TAKE THE SEAT BELT OUT AND PUT JUST REGULAR ONES IN DUE TO LIABILITY AND THE HIGHWAY PATROL SAID I CANNOT KEEP MY CHILDREN IN MY VEHICLE I NEED YOUR GUYS HELP I CAN'T AFFORD TO GO BUY ANOTHER BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND THE HIGHWAY PATROL HELPED ME LOOK THROUGH THE FORD OWNER'S MANUAL AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T HAVE CAR SEATS IN THERE I NEED YOUR HELP ON TO WHAT I CAN DO TO HAVE A VEHICLE FOR MY TWO BOYS THAT IS ABSOLUTE SAFEST

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND CHEST, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BATTLEFIELD SERVICE CENTER IN MANASSAS, VIRGINIA, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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