2016 Ford Explorer complaints

See attached document for complaint

The torque converter failed in my explorer while driving, making it act like it was in neutral. Luckily I was on a small road with little traffic, and able to pull over to a side street before my car was complete undrivable. If this happened on the highway or while turning, it probably would have cause a major issue or accident. NO warning lights on my dash and NO problem codes reported on OBD scanner tool. Ford has put out their own CSP for this issue a while ago and when I asked about it they told me it was expired. How can something they know is an issue expire? Dealership repair confirmed it was the torque converter and has to rebuild the transmission. I even found a service bulletin ford release about this problem, so they know about it.

Water pump failure, like many others. Caused engine to overheat, lose AC. Issue caught before complete engine failure. INTERNAL WATER PUMP CAN GO OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AND SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY CAUSING THE POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING TO FAIL ALL AT ONCE AND LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH IN TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT WHILE THE DRIVER STRUGGLES TO MAINTAIN CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE TO THE ROADSIDE OR EMERGENCY LANE . WHILE FORD HAS KNOWN OF THIS FLAW IN THE ENGINE DESIGN FOR YEARS AND DID NOTHING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel made abnormal grinding sounds. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,400.

Vehicle was purchased from carmax, there is a crack on the trim ar the d-pillar around the window on the driver side and passenger side. My wife bought a 2014 Ford Explorer about a week prior to mine from the same place and there is a crack in the same exact spot on the driver and passenger side. Causes water to leak into the interior of the vehicle. In the summer months it's causes a musty smell with the potential for mold to develop.

See attached document for complaint

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the passenger's side windshield exterior A-pillar trim had separated and flown off the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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 manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The water pump failed on my way home from work. A light in my vehicle started blinking rapidly and a warning alarm started sounding in the vehicle cabin unexpectedly. My vehicle suddenly overheated in the middle of a busy intersection causing me to stop unexpectedly to assess the situation before proceeding to safety. I (middle aged female) had returned from a long trip with two toddlers 800 miles round trip which extended late into the night on remote stretches of road without assistance available for several miles only a few days earlier. Had this happened a few days earlier, during that trip, I would have been stranded with two toddlers, alone after dark in a remote location. An independent service center made the diagnosis and performed a repair. They stated I was lucky the leak did not enter my oil reservoir based on the location of the water pump, locking up the engine and leaving the car completely inoperable in said intersection. The location of the water pump, and the fact it failed around 100,0000 miles seemed premature for similiar vehicles and the design/placement of the water pump is significantly more difficult to troubleshoot and repair. The cost of the repair was ultimately $3825.69 plus an additional cost to procure a rental vehicle while for the week my vehicle was being repaired.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while at a red light, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was drivable and was driven to a dealer. The dealer replaced the motor mounts and informed the contact that the torque converter and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. No further assistance was provided. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,393.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and was not able to exceed 50 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had been illuminated for over 3 years. t uThe vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed the engine needed to be replaced due to the rear turbo causing damages to the front turbo and the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the turbos needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however; the contact was informed that the vehicle was nonder recall and that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the steering wheel was difficult to operate. The contact stated that the Hill Start Assist Not Available, The Terrain Management System Fault, and Service Advance-trac message was displayed on the instrument panel. The Traction Control and TPMS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the independent mechanic replaced the rack and pinion. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

Steering was acting funny, return of the steering wheel to the straight position was becoming difficult. Electronic rack and pinion system then failed while driving. Luckily the issue occurred while in my driveway. Entire system was then replaced for roughly $2500.

Steering went out without notice. Unable to turn steering wheel.

While driving vehicle down the road, steering locked up. Vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed as a bad rack and pinion. This vehicle has 84,000 miles and should not already have issues with the rack and pinion. This incident, could have put my family and many other people's lives/vehicles at risk.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while turning the steering wheel to the right, the front end of the vehicle made an abnormal popping sound. The contact stated that the failure occurred while the vehicle was idling and while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion steering gear had failed. The dealer determined that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided because the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the front driver and front passenger side A-pillar trims detached. The contact was able to retrieve both A-pillar trims and temporarily replaced the trims with adhesive. Additionally, during rainy weather, rainwater was leaking through the front windshield into the interior of the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted. 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 manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 65–70 MPH, the trim detached and struck the windshield of another vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. 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 60,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The electric powered steering was making scraping-clicking noise when turning to the right. The steering rack over-extension stop came apart inside the rack enclosure. This can result in a tire scraping on metal parts inside the fender enclosure. I have 46,000 miles on this Explorer and I drive conservatively. I have learned that Ford vehicles have issues with these steering units and this part including labor is extremely expensive. Due to the safety factors I believe a recall repair or replacement for this part is in order.

The water pump failed causing all loss of antifreeze. After doing extensive research, this is a known issue and ford refuses to fix the issue. To fix the issue a large part of the engine has to be torn down to access the water pump.

I brought my vehicle in for a recall that replaced the rear toe links. The factory adjustable toe link was replaced with a solid non-adjustable toe link. This dealer stated there is no way to adjust the toe. My vehicle feels like the rear is “dancing” when I hit most road imperfections. In the rain, it gets significantly worse. I will be taking my vehicle to an independent shop, but the recall work has unintentionally created a dangerous condition due to no longer being able to align the rear of the vehicle. The recall done was Safety Recall 20S62. I feel at a minimum, Ford needs to cover the costs incurred by owners paying to have the new toe links removed and replaced with aftermarket adjustable toe links, as well as paying for the alignment. I have reached out to both the dealer and Ford. The dealer stated they performed the recall as described by Ford. However, the recall states to align the rear as the last step, but the dealer states the toe link is a single piece, which is therefore not adjustable. Ford customer service told me there is no updates to the recall at this time and to bring my concerns to my local Ford dealer. Thanks.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,558.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the steering was seized and failed to return to center. The tire sensor warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the tie rod and steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 148,996.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while attempting to leave her residence, it was difficult to maneuver the steering wheel. The contact continued to drive the vehicle when several unknown warning lights displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a power steering rack failure and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 70,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was tight while turning. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the rack and pinion. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the front driver’s side and front passenger’s side A-pillar trims detached and fell on the road. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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 failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Pre-Collision Assist Unavailable" and "Cruise Control" messages were displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the cruise control module; however, the dealer was unable to diagnose a failure with the Pre-Collision assist failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 90,000. The VIN was not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the contact became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 113,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle sputtered with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that coolant was leaking into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.

July 17, 2024 A little over a week ago steering system on my 2016 Ford Explore started making grinding noises when turning steering wheel. Steering started to feel " tighter " or stiffer when turning. There were no warning lamps or messages or other symptoms prior to the failure. Took it to the dealership where vehicle was purchased. Service advisor came out and verified there " seems " to be a problem but can't get the vehicle in until August 5. I am concerned about the danger of the steering system locking up while driving and asked him about it and advisor only said " just have it towed in " . In my opinion this is an extremely dangerous defect !!! If the steering locks up it certainly could cause the vehicle to veer into on coming traffic resulting injury or death. Who then is responsible for this defect and it IS a defect in the rack and pinion. I have been doing research about this problem and have found not just a few but many, many, customers with the same problems with repair costs ranging from $2,500.00 - $5,000.00 and apparently a huge shortage of parts 2016 Explorers.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, exhaust fumes was detected inside the cabin of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact installed a carbon monoxide detector in the rear of the vehicle and was alerted by the carbon monoxide detector of carbon monoxide inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Steering wheel stated making weird noise when turning. Got harder to steer and started jerking while driving. The explorer jerked from side to side and almost caused me multiple wrecks. I took it to the shop and it was my steering rack and pinion that needed replacing and may also have to be reprogrammed, which is an extra $600.00. I have had several cars and never had an issue like this! Not to mention it was almost $3000.00 fix. There were no warning lights for this and this is very dangerous especially since it happens so fast and could be deadly on the interstate! This needs to be recalled, there are many owners I read have had this problem. It is unacceptable and deadly! Not safe!

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering failed to function as intended. The contact heard a squeaking sound while steering the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle became undrivable. The contact stated that the failure had occurred twice. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with power steering assist assembly failure. The contact was informed that the power steering assist assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the parts were on back order. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle made a loud rattling sound. The contact stated that several unknown messages were displayed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became abnormally stiff, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with rack and pinion failure. The vehicle was currently being repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 149,700.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became abnormally stiff, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The power steering malfunction warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with steering gear internal failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall for the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the exterior A-pillar trim detached and flew off the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. 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 unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Took my 2016 Ford Explorer in to get A/C fixed and investigate "clunking" noise heard when turning. Dealer service rep informed me that the entire rack and pinion steering assembly needed to be replaced at a cost of ~$3200. When I asked if I could just ignore it and not get the work done (as this is quite expensive), I was told that I didn't have to get the work done but, I would be in danger of losing steering control of the vehicle. Upon doing research, online, to see if this was a normal cost, I found that there were many consumers who had the same issue. Some of these dated clear back to 2017 with low mileage. This is only a year after this vehicle was released. Even if that was the 1st complaint made, Ford has had 7 years to investigate this issue and, one would hope, issue a voluntary recall to fix it since it is a major safety issue.

Just noticed B Pillars on both R&L front doors have become detached at the tops and I am concerned that one or both will come completely loose and fly off while driving and cause injuries or accident. No incidents or injuries to report as of yet.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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 contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. The contact pulled off the road and turned off the vehicle to allow the engine temperature to return to normal. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was inspected by a mechanic and was informed that the failure was related to Manufacturer Recall Campaign Number: 21N01 for the High-Speed Cooling Fan Motor Relay (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 174,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the A-pillar trim had started to detach and the brackets that hold the A-pillar trim intact had started to crack. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the exterior A-pillar trim detached from the vehicle and flew off. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. 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 unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while stopped, the engine was idling rough. The contact stated that while accelerating, the vehicle was slow to respond and then jolted forward. While driving, reversing, or at a stop, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure was due to the torque converter. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 94,400.

Recall 24s02/24vo31outside pillars. I witnessed it flew of my car while driving nearly hitting another car. I don't understand why the recall is taking an extended time for it to be fixed but its available for you to purchase which is $956. my question is what is the difference between the one purchased and the recall? then if purchase you'll not Offered a reimbursement!

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact became aware of wet spots on the driveway and later discovered that fluids had started to leak from the water pump. One day while the contact's wife was driving the vehicle, the engine overheated with the temperature gauge indicating that the engine was HOT. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was confirmed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall for the water pump failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

The transmission suddenly downshifts causing rapid deceleration, if on the freeway could have caused an accident, the Ford garage could not duplicate the problem, there were no warning lights and no computer codes

On June 14, we drove our 2016 Ford Explorer from Tallahassee, FL to Boone, NC without issue. However, on [XXX], upon starting the vehicle, we noticed a gasoline smell. Concerned for our safety, we checked the car before leaving the neighborhood and discovered fuel pouring from the front. We parked the vehicle in a safe location and coordinated a tow to the local Ford dealership and were informed our fuel line had ruptured. The vehicle had 41,000 miles at the time of the incident. We were not given a clear explanation for the fuel line rupture, leaving us apprehensive about the safety and reliability of Ford vehicles. The ordeal cost $4,000 in repairs, and the service experience made us feel taken advantage of after we were routinely asked if we were local. Our Ford mechanic in Tallahassee later mentioned that labor charged by the Boone dealership seemed excessive. Additionally, they refused to replace the gasoline-covered cabin air filter and engine cover, raising further concerns about the service provided. The rupture of the fuel line posed a severe safety risk as it could have led to a fire or explosion, endangering the lives of the occupants and others nearby. The problem has not been reproduced but was confirmed by the local Ford dealership. No inspections have been conducted by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives to our knowledge. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. Our gas tank was nearly full

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH in the snow, the vehicle started fishtailing. The contact was able to continue driving at slow speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an alignment; however, the mechanic informed the contact that the rear suspension toe links had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V537000 (Suspension) and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving in the rain. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was able to continue driving after the rain stopped. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring increasingly while driving over potholes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under the recall because the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the front windshield trim had detached. The contact used duct tape to hold the trim in place. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Trim around windshield becomes loose on highway and rattles against windshield and rubber seals have started coming loose

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, she became aware that the A-pillar trim was missing. The contact stated that a couple months later the rubber gasket on the driver’s side had flown off. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.