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

THERE IS A SMELL OF EXHAUST INSIDE THE CABIN OF OUR EXPLORER AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND WHEN OUR AIR CONDITIONING IS ON, RECYCLING THE AIR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS SMELL GIVES OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTER HEADACHES, AND WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IT COULD CAUSE OTHER HEALTH ISSUES OVER TIME. LIVING IN ARIZONA, WE CANNOT JUST TURN OFF THE AC WHEN IT IS 110-117 DEGREES OUTSIDE. WE HAVE TAKEN IT INTO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE DONE THREE REPAIRS, INCLUDING REMOVING THE BACK BUMPER AND SEALING SOME GAPS, REPLACING THE CEILING AIR VENTS AND ADJUSTING THE SOFTWARE IN THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THESE HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, AND THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT THEY HAVE DONE ALL THE REPAIRS THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO DO, PER THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM FORD CORPORATE. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE CALL FORD CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT AFTER TWO WEEKS OF WAITING FOR A "GOOD FAITH REVIEW," THE REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED US TODAY THAT WE DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A BUY-BACK, AND WE SHOULD JUST TAKE IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION ON THE REPAIRS, OR BUY A NEW VEHICLE AND TRADE OURS IN. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT DON'T WANT TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY TRADING IT IN, AS THE VALUE HAS DEPRECIATED SEVERELY IN THE YEAR SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.

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SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2016 I HAVE HAD SEATBELT RETRACTABLE MECHANISM IN THE THIRD ROW REPLACED; I HAVE HAD THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM REPLACED; I HAD TO HAVE THE KEYPAD ON THE DOOR PANEL REPLACED; I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING EPAS REPLACED (MOST RECENT). MOST HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY THANK GOODNESS. THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM DID GO OUT WHILE DRIVING.

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EXHAUST LEAKING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WHILE ACCELERATING ABOVE 3000 RPM.

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EXHAUST LEAK CONTINUES EVEN AFTER DEALER REPAIR. I AM STILL EXPERIENCING FOUL ODORS IN THE CABIN OF MY EXPLORER, WHICH I BELIEVE ARE RELATED TO THE CURRENT EXHAUST ISSUE NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION. ODORS ARE ESPECIALLY STRONG WHEN VEHICLE IS REMOTE STARTED AND A/C IS RUNNING. ALSO NOTICE SAME BAD ODORS AROUND ENGINE AREA OF VEHICLE WHILE RUNNING OR AFTER TURNED OFF - EVEN UP TO 2 HOURS AFTER ENGINE HAS STOPPED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH A CO2 DETECTOR IN THE VEHICLE - AND TO DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN SET OFF - HOWEVER I EXPERIENCE A DRY THROAT AND HEADACHES AFTER DRIVING IN THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE DEALER FIX HAS REDUCED THE SMELL OF BURNING HAIR/ELECTRICAL FIRE, BUT NOT TOTALLY DIMINISHED IT. BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SPEEDY ACTION FROM THE NHSTA (THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR SEVERAL YEARS ACCORDING TO PRESS STORIES), I WILL BE SELLING THE VEHICLE FOR THIS REASON AND THIS REASON ALONE. MY FAMILY DOESN'T LIKE TO RIDE IN THE VEHICLE ANYMORE AND IF THE GOVERNMENT WON'T TAKE ACTION TO LOOK OUT FOR OUR SAFETY, I WILL SIMPLY BUY ANOTHER CAR. I'LL LOSE A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TRADE-IN, BUT YOU CANNOT PUT A PRICE ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF YOUR FAMILY.

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EXHAUST SMELL ENTERING VEHICLE UPON BRISK ACCELERATION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE SERVICE "WRENCH" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (NORTHTOWN FORD IN MENOMONIE, WI) WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE SAME DEALER REPLACED THE RETAINING CLIP, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MADE THE MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND REQUESTED A BUY-BACK. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUES DID NOT WARRANT A BUY-BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000.

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JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A DEALER 60 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY, UPON FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATION WITH WINDOWS CLOSED AND AC SET TO RECIRCULATE, THE CABIN FILLED WITH EXHAUST FUMES WITH THE TELLTALE ROTTEN EGG SMELL. ONCE WINDOWS WERE OPENED AND EXHAUST FUMES EXITED THE VEHICLE, I CLOSED THE WINDOWS AND NOTICED NO MORE EXHAUST SMELL UNTIL I PERFORMED A FULL THROTTLE PASSING MANEUVER AND THE SMELL RETURNED AGAIN, PROMPTING ME TO OPEN WINDOWS AGAIN TO CLEAR THE AIR. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT, I DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY AT NORMAL THROTTLE WITH NO MORE EXHAUST ODORS OCCURRING. THIS WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING FOR A $41,000 VEHICLE.

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EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING VEHICLE DURING ACCELERATION.

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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, UPON ACCELERATING, EVEN WITH THE CIRCULATING AIR ON, THE FUMES ARE VERY STRONG COMING INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. ALSO, WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR WITH THE A/C ON, THERE IS A VERY SOUR/STALE ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS. WE MADE A 2 HOUR TRIP, AND AFTER BEING IN THE CAR THAT LONG, I HAD A BAD HEADACHE AND FELT NAUSEATED FROM THE FUMES. I AM THE MAIN DRIVER OF THE CAR AND IT IS MY SOLE SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR BACK IN JANUARY OF 2017, I STARTED GETTING BAD HEADACHES AND HAVE THEN ON A REGULAR BASIS. I'M STARTING TO THINK THEY ARE COMING FROM THIS CAR. IT HAS BEEN IN A FORD GARAGE NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED IT BUT THEY SAY EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT OK.

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WHEN ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY IT SMELLS AS IF EXHAUST FUMES ARE ENTERING THE CABIN. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS SAFE OR HEALTHY IF IN FACT I'M BREATHING EXHAUST FUMES. PLEASE REVIEW AND ADVISE. THANK YOU.

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WHILE DRIVING AND PUTTING LOAD ON THE ENGINE, THERE IS A SMELL OF EXHAUST IN THE CABIN. THIS IS MORE NOTICABLE WHEN THE AC IS ON RECYCLE AIR.

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EXHAUST LEAK INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN I CELEBRATE

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SINCE WE HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WE HAVE SMELLED A ROTTEN EGG/BURNT HAIR SMELL FROM THE VEHICLE. IT IS AT ITS MOST POTENT POINT WHEN ACCELERATING TO HIGHER RATES OF SPEED. IT KEEPS A FAIRLY CONSISTENT SMELL AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH AND HIGHER AS WELL. THE SMELL ALWAYS SEEMS TO COME FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. IS IT ALSO COINCIDENTAL THAT THE CABIN AIR FILTER ALREADY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED? THIS HAS MADE FOR DISORIENTING AND NAUSEATING TRIPS IN THE VEHICLE FOR ALL PASSENGERS. OUR CHILD HAS COMPLAINED AND HAS FELT ILL WHEN RIDING IN HIS CAR SEAT IN THE SECOND ROW. ON A RECENT 6500 MILE ROAD TRIP, I BECAME SEVERELY ILL AND HAD DIFFICULTY BREATHING WHILE RIDING IN THE TRUCK. I WAS NAUSEATED FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTERWARDS AND HAD AN EXCRUCIATING HEADACHE. WE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE LOCATION WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY STATED THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. WE THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LOCATION IN CABOT, ARKANSAS AND AGAIN; NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. WE WERE TOLD THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. WHY WERE WE NOT WARNED OF THIS ISSUE? WE ARE PUTTING OUR HEALTH AND MY CHILD'S HEALTH ON THE LINE EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE TRUCK BUT DUE TO OUR FINANCES, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE.

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I DRIVE MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER MORE THAN 80 MILES A DAY, MOSTLY IN INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. I HAVE NOTICED A STRONG ODOR THAT RESEMBLES MERCAPTAIN OR BURNING FUEL. I HAVE DISMISSED THIS AS TRAFFIC RELATED AND SWITCHED THE A/C TO RECIRCULATE BUT OFTEN HAVE TO VENT BY ROLLING DOWN WINDOWS. THIS IS MOST COMMON WHEN DRIVING WITH THE A/C ON DURING HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE RESEMBLING CARBON MONOXIDE WHILE THE RECIRCULATION AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE PASSENGER (THE CONTACT'S WIFE) NOTICED THE ODOR. THE CONTACT SAW THE FAILURE ON THE NEWS AND CALLED THE DEALER (L&S TOYOTA, 248 AUTO PLAZA DR, BECKLEY, WV, 25801; 304-252-8548; EXT 231) WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT FAXED OVER SIX PAGES OF INFORMATION FOR THE DEALER TO TRY AND REMEDY THE CARBON MONOXIDE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE YEAR AND MODEL WAS INCLUDED IN INVESTIGATION NHTSA NUMBER: EA17002 (STRUCTURE, ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

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CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK. WHEN I ACCELERATE AS I GET INTO AN EXPRESSWAY RAMP, A STRONG ODOR COMES INTO THE CAR LIKE ROTTEN EGG. VERY CONCERNING, SPECIALLY SINCE I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER TO GET IT FIXED AND IS STILL AN ISSUE.

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I AM GETTING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY VEHICLE WHEN ACCELERATING. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS IN THE RECIRCULATE MODE. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 5/31/16 AND IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE. THE DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION.

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NOXIOUS "ROTTEN EGG" SMELL IN THE CABIN WHEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATING. CONCERNED ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE BASED ON RECENT NEWS REPORTS.

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WHEN ACCELERATING EXHAUST FUMES FILL THE CABIN

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THE TRIM BETWEEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE WINDSHIELD FLEW OFF OF THE THE CAR. I ESTIMATE THAT MY SPEED WAS 65 MPH. THERE ARE 51,000 MILES ON THE CAR. NOT ONLY DOES THIS COST ABOUT $300 EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS, IT IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS OR PEDESTRIANS NEAR THE ROAD. IT VIRTUALLY BECOMES SPEAR WHEN IT BECOMES DETACHED. I PASS OTHER EXPLORERS OFTEN THAT ARE MISSING THE SAME PIECE OF TRIM AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE.

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EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN WHILE HITTING RPM OF 3200. FUMES ENTER WHILE CARGO VENT IS ON. YOU WILL ALSO SMELL THE FUMES WORSE WITH WINDOWS DOWN. HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND UNDER ACCELRATION. BEEN TO 3 DEALERS AND HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE.

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AFTER ACCELERATING ONTO THE INTERSTATE OR WHEN I AM CLIMBING A STEEP HILL ONCE I DECELERATE AND MAINTAIN A LEVEL SPEED THE CABIN FILLS WITH A "BURNT OIL" SMELL. IT HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HARMFUL GASES.

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EXHAUST FUMES COMING INTO CABIN, CAUSING BURNING OF EYES AND NOSE, HEAD ACHES, AND NAUSEA.

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SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS UPON ACCELERATION

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TRAVELLING AT 70 MPH MY VEHICLE'S RPMS DROPPED TO 500 - 1000, THE ACCELERATOR BECAME UNRESPONSIVE, AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN SPEAKING WITH THE MECHANICS AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP, THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE WAS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY (ETB). MY CAR WAS JUST OVER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, AND ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BULLETIN ISSUED, MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. THERE IS ALSO AN ACTIVE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THE SAME ISSUE IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS, NOT INCLUDING 2016. I SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH FORD VIA A PHONE CALL, WHO APOLOGIZED AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE EXPENSE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER. IN MY OPINION, FORD IS NOT BACKING THEIR PRODUCTS FOR WHAT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

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