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What 2,423 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Explorer

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (2,423)Crash / fire / injury (77)Body & structure (570)Steering (527)Engine (379)Transmission & drivetrain (212)Electrical system (124)Engine & cooling (114)Fuel system (110)Airbags (99)Speed control (76)Suspension (73)

10 of 2,423 complaints match · Body & structure · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Feb 25, 2026Body & structureCrash

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the driver's side roof rack cover panel ejected from the vehicle and made contact with a second vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle swerved to avoid the airborne projectile and crashed into a third vehicle. During the incident, no damage to the vehicles or injuries to the occupants in either vehicle were reported. No police report was taken. The local dealer was informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V316000(STRUCTURER). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. Also, the front driver's door exterior A-Pillar Trim had detached and was snapped back into position, and both the driver side and passenger side exterior B-Pillar Trim had come loose. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11720474

Jun 12, 2025Electrical systemBody & structureFire

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V435000 (SUSPENSION), 24V031000 (Structure), and 25V347000 (STRUCTURE). However, the parts to do the recall repairs for 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (STRUCTURE) were not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side A-pillar detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while the vehicle was idle and the contact was dropping off her child at school, the rear passenger seat caught on fire. The contact had turned on the seat warning, and when the daughter exited the vehicle, an abnormal burnt smell was coming from the back seat. The contact then noticed smoke was emitting from the seat. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off the engine, and put out the fire. The seat was damaged beyond repair, and the wires were exposed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the most recent failure. No Fire and Police reports were filed. There were no injuries sustained. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.

NHTSA ODI 11666632

Jun 9, 2025Body & structureCrash1 injury

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign number: 24V031000 (Structure) and NHTSA Campaign number: 25V347000 (STRUCTURE); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the driver's side A-pillar detached from the vehicle. The brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle immediately. The vehicle then crashed into the guardrail. The contact stated that the vehicle spun around, and went across the freeway and hit the guardrail on the other side, where it came to a stop. None of the air bags deployed. The contact suffered injuries to his back that did not require medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and then it was towed to the dealer. The insurance company was not notified. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving 50 MPH, the front passenger A-pillar trim and the back passenger B-Pillar trim were loose. The contact stated that the brackets on the front driver side seat are loose and the seat wobbles. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the most recent failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11665905

Oct 15, 2024Body & structureCrash

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (STRUCTURER); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced the failure while driving approximately 40 MPH the passenger side A-Pillar trim ejected from the vehicle. During the failure, the driver became distracted and crashed into the rear of a second vehicle. During the crash, no injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000. The VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11619783

Jun 17, 2023Body & structure1 injury

My Ford Explorer 2016 windshield outer trim fell off while driving causing major danger on the highway.

NHTSA ODI 11527485

Mar 3, 2020SuspensionBody & structureCrash

THE RECALLED TOE LINK ON THE REAR SUSPENSION BROKE 3 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS REPLACED AND CAUSE A CRASH WHILE DIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, SLOWING FOR A SPEED ZONE FOR A TOWN. INVOLVING BODY DAMAGE. AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND 1 WEEK AFTER GETTING IT BACK FROM THE DEALER THE LINK BROKE FOR A SECOND TIME, WHILE ON A CURVE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY BOTH TIMES.WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 6 WEEKS TOTAL AND HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE FOR 2 OF THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11315894

Apr 17, 2019Body & structureFuel system1 injury

ONE MORNING, I BEGAN TO SMELL A SULFUR OR GAS-LIKE SMELL INSIDE THE CAR. I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT BUT IT PERSISTED FROM 5:00 A.M. -9:00 A.M. MY 7 YEAR OLD SON EVEN SMELLED IT WHEN ENTERING THE CAR. AFTER DROPPING HIM OFF AT SCHOOL I DROVE TO DEALERSHIP TO GET IT INSPECTED. DURING THAT DRIVE, WITH THE WINDOWS CRACKED, I BEGAN TO FEEL A DULL HEADACHE, DIZZINESS AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS. ONCE I DROPPED MY CAR OFF FOR INSPECTION AND WAS OUT OF THE CAR I DIDN'T FEEL ANY BETTER AND MY HEADACHE AND WEAKNESS GOT WORSE. MY WIFE TOOK ME TO THE ER OUT OF PRECAUTION AND AFTER BLOODWORK WAS TAKEN, I WAS CONFIRMED TO HAVE HAD CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. I AM A NON-SMOKER AND MY COHB LEVELS WERE TWICE THAT OF A NON-SMOKER : 3.8% IT WAS RAINING OUT SO I COULD NOT UNROLLI WINDOWS AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO. I WAS NOT DRIVING WITH THE A/C ON, WAS NOT SITTING IDLE. MINIMUM SPEED WAS 5-10 MPH AND MAX SPEED WAS 70 MPH FORD IDENTIFIED THE SMELL AS A FAILING PTU BUT CLAIMED THERE WAS NO CO PRESENT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH A CO SENSOR INSIDE THE CAB. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 32 MONTHS WITH NO ISSUE BUT I CANNOT IGNORE THAT I DID IN FACT HAVE CARBON MONOXIDE EXPOSURE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE EXISTENCE OF THE STRONG SULFUR SMELL SHOWING UP. I AM NOT CONVINCED CARBON MONOXIDE GETTING INSIDE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11196870

Feb 22, 2017Electrical systemBody & structureSeats1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE TAILGATE INADVERTENTLY OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED WHILE DRIVING, BUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT CLOSED THE TAILGATE, BUT IT WOULD RE-OPEN. WHILE THE TAILGATE WAS OPEN, IT CLOSED UNEXPECTEDLY AND INJURED THE CONTACT'S HEAD. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THE SENSOR FOR THE TAILGATE. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED FORWARD AND INJURED THE CONTACT'S RIGHT KNEE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES BECAUSE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY WOULD NOT OPERATE OR OPERATED INCORRECTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 500.

NHTSA ODI 10956347

Jan 17, 2017Body & structure1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE RANDOMLY OPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO REMAIN SECURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE RANDOMLY FELL DOWN WITH FORCE AND STRUCK A PASSENGER. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. ALSO, THE LIFTGATE RANDOMLY OPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE LIFTGATE WAS DAMAGED WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT THERE WAS NO RECOMMENDED REPAIR SOLUTION. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW MODULATOR WAS NEEDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,500.

NHTSA ODI 10945643

Jul 7, 2016Body & structure1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE INDEPENDENTLY CLOSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SLIPPED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE AWAY AND SUSTAINED A BROKEN HIP, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/20/16*LJ *JS

NHTSA ODI 10883290

Working with the data? Download all 2,423 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 7, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Ford Explorer verdict →