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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED AND MADE THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE "AUTO STEERING SYSTEM FAULTY, HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE, SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK, AND TORRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT" WARNING MESSAGES DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CURRIE FORD IN VALPERASO, IN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

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I AM DISCOVERING EVERY I DRIVE MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER I AM GETTING HEADACHES. MY WIFE DROVE AND SHE BEGIN TO HAVE TERRIBLE HEADACHES. WHEN MY CHILDREN RODE WITH ME THEY FELT NAUSEATED.

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YOU CAN SMELL EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. IT USUALLY HAPPENS UPON ACCELERATION DURING HIGHWAY OR CITY DRIVING. MY WIFE SAYS SHE HAS SMELLED IT BEFORE BUT WHILE OUR WHOLE FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR RECENTLY, IT WAS UNBEARABLE. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. WHEN I DISCOVERED IT, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE.

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ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT YET RECD. ANY LETTERS FROM FORD ON REPAIRING MY EXPLORER, MY SON OFTEN COMPLAINTS OF UNEASINESS AND NAUSEA WHEN SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT OF MY CAR. I DON'T PARTICULARLY NOTICE ANY SMELL BUT I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE OTHER NEWS AROUND FUMES AND CO ENTERING THE CABIN. THIS HAPPENS SPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING AND A/C IS ON WITH A/C WINDOWS CLOSED. I NOTICED THIS ONLY DURING OUR SUMMER BREAK THIS TIME WHEN MY SON SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE CAR AS OPPOSED TO SCHOOL NIGHTS.

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SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE OCCUPANT CABIN OF VEHICLE. OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS UNDER ACCELERATION WITH AIR CONDITION RUNNING (WARM WEATHER). SMELL IS QUITE STRONG, CONCERNED OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. I'VE TAKEN THIS UP TO THE FORD DEALER - THEY'VE SAID FORD IS SENDING LETTER ANNOUNCING THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED. DOCUMENTING COMPLAINT WITH NTSB AS THIS SHOULD LEAD TO RECALL, NOT JUST VOLUNTARY FIX.

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EXHAUST SMELL ENTERS THE CABIN WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON. THIS GETS WORSE WHEN GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE, PASSING OTHER VEHICLES, OR GOING UP HILLS. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE BOUGHT EXPLORER BRAND NEW IN SUMMER 2016. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SINCE THEN AND EACH TIME I ASK THEM WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND IF THEY CAN LOOK INTO IT. THEIR RESPONSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT NOTHING IS WRONG AND THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR. I HAVE EVEN BEEN TOLD THAT THIS COULD BE THE TURBO CHARGER. I FREQUENTLY GET HEADACHES WHEN DRIVING, AND GET DIZZY ON LONGER TRIPS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT CO ENTERING THE CABIN. I OFTEN OPEN THE HOOD WHEN IT IS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AFTER COMING HOME AND THE EXHAUST SMELL FILLS THE GARAGE.

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2016 FORD EXPLORER XLT WAS GREAT UNTIL I HIT 17,680 MILES. TRANSMISSION WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. ENGINE/WRENCH LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH AND I BASICALLY CRAWLED TO THE DEALERSHIP. VERY SCARY WHEN STOPPED, PUT THE PEDAL TO FLOOR AND WOULD BARELY MOVE. AFTER A FEW DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT APPEARED TO BE THE CLUTCH AND THEY REPLACED IT. GOT IT BACK AND TWO DAYS LATER, IT DID IT AGAIN. DROVE BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD IT FOR A DAY, BUT COULDN'T GET IT TO DO IT, SO I GOT IT BACK. TWO DAYS LATER, IT HAPPENED ONCE AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAID IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN, DRIVE IT RIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DON'T TURN IT OFF. A TECH WENT FOR A RIDE WITH ME AND WAS ABLE TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. WHEN WERE DRIVING BACK, LIGHTS ON DASH WENT OFF AND THE CAR DROVE FINE. THE TECH SAID NOT TO WORRY, THEY'D BE ABLE TO GET A CODE EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT OFF. SO I'M ON MY 3RD RENTAL AND WAITING TO HEAR WHAT WILL BE DONE. LUCKILY I LEASED MY EXPLORER AND EVERYTHING IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MY ADVICE IS STAY FAR AWAY FROM ANY FORD PRODUCT WITH THIS TRANSMISSION! IT'S DANGEROUS AND COMPLETELY UNRELIABLE.

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ROTTEN EGG AND FUEL SMELL IN CABIN.

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STRONG FOUL ODOR IS COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW, THE DEALER HAVE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE AND TRY TO FIX IT, STILL NOT RESOLVED. DEALER TOLD US TO FILE A CLAIM TO FORD, WE DID, FORD STATED THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AND THAT THERE ARE CONFIDENTIAL PROCESSES THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE WOULD KNOW WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP. THE CLAIMS ASSOCIATE OF FORD STATED THAT SHE CANNOT TELL US THE PROCESS FOR ONLY FORD AND FORD DEALER EMPLOYEES ARE ALLOWED TO KNOW THE PROCESS. THE SAID ODOR IS VERY STRONG THAT IT GIVES US CHEST PAINS, HEADACHE AND NAUSEA. ONE OF MY KIDS DOES HAVE A SEVERE ALLERGY AND MY OTHER KID IS A SPECIAL NEED CHILD, WE WOULD NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH WINDOWS DOWN IN ORDER FOR US TO USE THE CAR. THE DEALER IS DOING A BAND-AID OF DEODORIZING THE CAR FOR THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE FORD HOTLINE TELL THEM WHAT CAN BE DONE.

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WHEN I FILL UP THE TANK THE MILES VARIES EVERY TIME. ALSO, THERE IS A SMELL IN THE CAR WHEN I DRIVE. I HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO GET RID OF THE SMELL.

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I PURCHASED A 2016 FORD EXPLORER 5 MONTHS AGO. THE CAR HAD 38K MILES WHEN PURCHASED AND NOW HAS 42K MILES. LATELY I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE STEERING WHEN IN CURVES THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND GETS VERY STIFF AND YOU HAVE TO FIGHT IT TO GET THE WHEEL STRAIGHTENED OUT TO KEEP FROM WRECKING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS REPLACED COSTING $1900.00. FORD STATED THAT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY EXSISTING WARRANTY. I CONTACTED FORD REFERENCE THE ISSUE AND THEY STATED THEY WOULD OPEN A CASE AND HELP WITH COST. I RECENTLY HEARD BACK FROM FORD AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED IT DOES NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE BUT ONCE YOU ARE MOVING IS WHEN THE STEERING LOCKS. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 6K MILES OVER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND STILL UNDER POWER TRAIN BUT FORD SAYS THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HELP FIX THIS ISSUE.

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STRONG EXHAUST ODOR IN CABIN WHEN ACCELERATING HARD.

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AT HIGHWAY SPEED MY STEERING LOCKS UP AND TAKES GREAT EFFORT TO STEER. THEN LOOSENS FOR A BIT UNLESS KEPT IN THE SAME POSITION FOR MORE THAN SAY 30 SECONDS THEN LOCKS UP AGAIN. SOMETIMES WORSE THAN OTHERS. I ALMOST HIT A BARRIERS AT 75 TODAY 10/5/17.TURNS ARE WORSE THAN STRAIGHT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FORD ELECTRONIC STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A MIN. COST OF $1800 AS I HAVE 55000 MILES ON MY 2016. THIS IS UNSAFE! PLEASE HELP

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I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 MONTHS. EXHAUST IS LEAKING INTO THE CABIN OF VEHICLE. HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE TO BE "FIXED". AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE BACK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IT IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE EXHAUST SMELL HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING QUICKLY WITH THE AC ON.

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WHEN ACCELERATING WE GET A VERY STRONG EXHAUST SMELL IN THE PASSENGER CABIN.

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EMISSION ODOR ENTERING CABIN DURING ACCELERATION

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3-5 SECONDS AFTER A HARD ACCELERATION (NEAR OR AT FULL THROTTLE), THE CABIN FILLS WITH A STRONG, BURNING FLUID SMELL. I CANNOT PIN POINT THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL BUT IT HAPPENS 100% OF THE TIME. THIS HAPPENS ONLY IN MOTION UNDER HARD ACCELERATION ON ANY TYPE OF STREET. I USE 93 OCTANE AND FULL SYNTHETIC MOTORCRAFT 5W-30. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR WARRANTY REPAIR FOR AN UNKNOWN NOISE AND I WAS TOLD THE EXHAUST WAS SLIGHTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THIS DID NOT FIX THE NOISE AND THE SMELL HAS REMAINED AS WELL.

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SMELL COMING FROM DASH VENTS ALL THE TIME. NOT SURE IF IT IS EXHAUST BUT EYES START BURNING AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. HIGHER RPM'S SEEM TO MAKE IT WORSE. WAS JUST INTO FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN DONE BUT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO TRY NEXT.

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UPON STRONGER THAN USUAL ACCELERATION OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR BOTH, THE SMELL OF EXHAUST CAN BE DETECTED IN THE CABIN. UNDER HARD ACCELERATION, THE SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS BECOMES VERY STRONG IN THE CABIN. AFTER TRIPS LONGER THAN AN HOUR, WITH AC OR HEAT RUNNING (NO OPEN WINDOWS), I HAVE BECOME VERY ILL, WITH FEARSOME HEADACHE, NAUSEA, LETHARGY, AND GASTROINTESTINAL DISTRESS. PASSENGERS HAVE ALSO REPORTED HEADACHE, NAUSEA, AND FEELING TIRED. WE BELIEVE THIS MAY BE DUE TO EXHAUST ENTERING THE CABIN AND CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. YESTERDAY, ON A LONGER TRIP FROM MILWAUKEE, WI TO CHICAGO, IL AND BACK, I BECAME SO ILL THAT UPON RETURNING HOME, I FELL ASLEEP IMMEDIATELY WITH THE WORST HEADACHE OF MY ADULT LIFE. INTENSE NAUSEA LASTED FROM 2PM (ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH THE DRIVE) UNTIL ABOUT 9PM. THIS HAS HAPPENED CONSISTENTLY DURING LONGER (GREATER THAN 20-30 MILES) TRIPS. HYDROGEN SULFIDE SMELL IS APPARENT MOST DURING WIDE-OPEN ACCELERATIONS BEFORE ENGINE WARM-UP.

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DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR PLASTIC WINDOW PILLAR FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WENT TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY WILL NOT COVER SINCE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. TOTAL BS!!!

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TERRIBLE SMELL IN CABIN OF EXHAUST (BURNING) UPON ACCELERATION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT SMELLED AN EXHAUST ODOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOMBALL FORD (22702 TOMBALL PKWY, TOMBALL, TX 77375 (877) 359-7182) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE INNER PANEL ABOVE THE DOOR PANEL HAD A GAP AND NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO TOMBALL FORD, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT BECAME DISORIENTED BUT WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CABIN AIR FILTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO TESTED THE VEHICLE FOR CARBON MONOXIDE AND DETERMINED THAT THE SPOILER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE AUTO DRAIN, GRILL ASSEMBLY, VENT AIR OTTER ADHESIVE, VALVE ASSEMBLY- AUTO DRAIN, INSULATOR, AND DOOR OTTER WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MORE REPAIRS NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BUY BACK THE VEHICLE, BUT WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AS OFTEN AS NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,663.

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EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CAR HAS BEEN AT FORD FOR OVER 2 WEEKS, TSB HAS BEEN DONE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED.

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WHEN ACCELERATING OR GOING UP INCLINE CAR STARTS TO SMELL LIKE CARBON MONOXIDE (LIKE THE HEATER IS ON). CIRCULATION IS WITHIN CAR. IN ORDER TO GET OUT MUST PUT ON OUTSIDE CIRCULATION AND ROLL DOWN WINDOWS.

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WHILE ACCELERATING OR OVERTAKING I SMELL FUMES OR SMOKE IN THE CABIN. FIRST TIME I CALLED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CABIN AIR FILTER MIGHT NEED TO CHANGE. THAT DIDN'T HELP. NEXT TIME IT OCCURRED THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD USE PRIMIERE GAS. THAT DIDN'T HELP. I HAVE A 2 WEEKS OLD BABY AND SCARED WHAT THESE FUMES WILL DO. I HOPE WE CAN FIX THIS BEFORE PEOPLE START PASSING OUT AND CRAS FROM THIS FUMES WHICH CAUSES A DIZZY SPELL. ADDED TO THAT, MY WING MIRROR ADJUSTS ITSELF EVEN WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES. THIS VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE AND VERY FAULTY. REALLY TIRED OF GOING TO "ARROW FORD" AS I GET NO RESOLUTION. THEY HAD MY VEHICLE FOR A TOTAL OF 2 MONTHS AND NONE OF MY CONCERNS ADDRESSED

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