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

Rackin n pinion safety hazard

NHTSA ODI 11592050

There has been many reports of electronic steering issue where it would just swerve you off the road and loose full control while driving for years 2013-2015 cars but 2016 years are also being effected. A dealership confirmed it was an electronic steering rack causing the issue. No warning lamps had went off either

NHTSA ODI 11577640

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of power of steering assist, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact sustained injuries to her face. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the parts to do the repair were not available. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V435000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11515182

Traveling at approximately 65mph on the highway, while beginning to enter a slight turn in the highway, the steering wheel "froze" as if the vehicle was off. It stayed locked ,about 15 degrees to the right, and would not free up. I tried applying brakes, which instantly began pulling me further left and into a ditch. Within 5 seconds I lost control of the vehicle, at around 50mph, impacted a guard rail, then went airborne, nose diving onto the service road below the highway. No lights were present at the time of the failure, a Ford dealership had done an inspection on my Steering Rack back on 10/29/2021 that found no issues present. The way the crash happened, I'm lucky to be alive, but how is this not a recall? How is there not a safety feature to allow for manual control of the steering if the electrical system dies? Scariest moment driving by far, a roller coaster I wish to not be put on again. I have significant bruising from the seat belt impacting my right side hip, my mirror dislodged and hit me in the head, seat airbag bruised my left shoulder, and my neck is about as sore as it can get

NHTSA ODI 11508168

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at 10 MPH, various warning lights illuminated as the steering became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle collided with the curb and then stalled. The vehicle was restarted with all warning lights and audio warnings. The contact was able to drive without the power steering to a friend's residence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic for diagnosis or repairs. The contact called the dealer who told him that the failure was related to the rack and pinion and a diagnosis appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was notified and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11419161

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 65 IN HAM LAKE, MN SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE LUNGED TO THE LEFT TOWARDS THE DITCH. I WAS ABLE TO FISHTAIL IT BACK ONTO THE ROAD, ALMOST ROLLED THE VEHICLE AND BARELY KEPT IT UNDER CONTROL. I GOT OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND CALL THE ANOKA COUNTY SHERIFF FOR ASSISTANCE. A DEPUTY ASSISTED BUT I DON'T BELIEVE A FORMAL POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THIS WAS SUNDAY JULY 19TH. WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT IT THE FOLLOW DAY AND DETERMINED THAT THE TOE CONTROL LINK HAD BROKEN. THEY REPAIRED IT WITH A NEW PART FROM THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED FINE. LAST NIGHT THE NEW PART THAT THEY INSTALLED BROKE AS WELL. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PART, THE TOE CONTROL LINK ON 2011-2017 FORD EXPLORERS. I CHECKED THE VIN ON THE NTSB WEBSITE BUT IT INDICATES THAT OUR CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WE HAD BROUGHT THE CAR INTO METROPOLITAN FORD IN EDEN PRAIRIE EARLIER IN THE YEAR FOR OTHER RECALL ISSUES. HAD THE RECALL BEEN COMPREHENSIVE, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT AND FIXED. AT 65 MPH, MY DAUGHTER AND I SHOULD HAVE BOTH BEEN KILLED IN THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT. IT HAD BEEN SEVERAL WEEKS SINCE THE (NEAR) ACCIDENT AND WE ARE STILL SHAKEN UP BY IT. FORTUNATELY, LAST NIGHT'S INCIDENT WAS AT MUCH SLOWER SPEED. I AM FEARFUL THAT THERE ARE OTHER FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES IN DANGER AS WELL. I HAVE A PHOTO THAT I TOOK OF THE CURRENT (SECOND) BREAK THAT OCCURRED THAT IS ATTACHED.

NHTSA ODI 11348930

MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 10/21/19. I RECEIVED VERY SERIOUS MULTIPLE BRAIN BLEEDS, FACIAL LAC, FACIAL & HEAD FX'S & A SEVERE TBI. MY MOM REC A CONCUSSION, FACIAL LAC CONCUSSION & A FX CLAVICLE. WE STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN & MOVED TO THE CENTER BETWEEN THE 4 LANES & STOPPED AGAIN & WE WERE HIT BY A LARGE ROLL ON ROLL OFF ROCK CARRYING DUMP TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANES. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED & I WAS IN A COMA & AIRLIFTED TO A TRAUMA CTR APPROX 40 MINS AWAY, BUT I WAS IN RESP ARREST & NOT EXPECTED TO LIVE. IT IS UNKNOWN EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS, HOWEVER I NEVER CROSS STRAIGHT ACROSS THE TRAFFIC & WE HAD BEEN ON A VERY VERY BUMPY INTERSECTION THE FRI BEFORE THE ACC ON MONDAY & THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THAT 5 HR TRIP OF EXTREMELY BUMPY ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS ON INTERSTATE 95 COMING THROUGH PART OF NC, ALL OF SC & PART OF GA.

NHTSA ODI 11307049

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE NOISE WAS HEARD, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING AND BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION WITH THE MEDIAN WALL AND THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT AND HER DAUGHTER SUFFERED MODERATE BRUISING THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,064.

NHTSA ODI 11082532

I WAS DRIVING MY PREGNANT WIFE (31 WEEKS) AND MY 22 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER TO CHURCH THIS PAST SUNDAY (1/14/18), WHEN WE ENTERED A SHARP LEFT HAND CURVE. WE GOT TO THE HALFWAY POINT IN THE TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND SENT US INTO A DITCH AND BANK. THANK GOD NOBODY WAS COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OR WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE! THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING; NO LIGHT, NO SENSOR, NOTHING. THE WHEEL SIMPLY LOCKED TIGHT IN THE TURNED POSITION AT ROUGHLY 30 MPH. I LATER LEARNED FORD HAS BEEN USING ELECTRONIC CONTROLLED POWER STEERING AND THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ACROSS VARIOUS FORD MODELS WITH NO KNOWN RECALLS. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED THAT CAN'T TELL THEIR STORY? THERE IS NO WAY WE'LL BE KEEPING THIS VEHICLE AND FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO REDESIGN THEIR STEERING OR RETURN IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL, BELT-DRIVEN DESIGN.

NHTSA ODI 11063620

WAS TRAVELING DOWN A CITY SURFACE STREET WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TRIED TO BEAT ME TO GETTING ONTO THE SAME STREET I WAS TRAVELING ON MADE A SUDDEN TURN BEFORE I COULD GET TO HIS LOCATION. UPON TRYING TO MANEUVER AND AVOID A COLLISION THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DID NOT RESPOND TO THE MANEUVER AND INSTEAD VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE. STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION AS INTENDED, ABS SYSTEM ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE FIRST TIME I GOT INTO A WRECK LIKE THIS WITH THIS VEHICLE. MAKING A SUDDEN TURN IN THIS VEHICLE WILL LIKELY SUFFER SOME SORT OF ACCIDENT, VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND LIKE IT SHOULD WITH ALL THEM ELECTRICAL SAFETY FEATURES.

NHTSA ODI 11034214

ON OCT. 18 WHILE OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 40 MPH ON HWY. 301 SOUTH IN WILSON NC AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN TO STOP FOR THE TRAFFIC STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AHEAD THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STEERING BOTH DID NOT FUNCTION, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP OR STEER THE VEHICLE CAUSING A REAR-END COLLISION TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KENLY FORD LATER THAT DAY FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, THEY RAN CHECKS AND FOUND NO CODES. ALL I KNOW IS THE BRAKES AND STEERING DID NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI 10919214