2016 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2,447 owner complaints analyzed
14 distinct recall campaigns
48,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,501 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 503 of 2,447 complaints (20.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 542 | 22.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 128 | 5.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 90 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 82 | 3.4% |
| Braking behavior | 69 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 19 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 503 |
| Unknown Or Other | 426 |
| Engine | 381 |
| Structure | 373 |
| Power Train | 200 |
| Structure:Body | 198 |
| Electrical System | 120 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 104 |
Steering: 503; Unknown Or Other: 426; Engine: 381; Structure: 373; Power Train: 200; Structure:Body: 198; Electrical System: 120; Fuel/Propulsion System: 104
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 456 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 313 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 268 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 205 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 211 |
| 150,000 and above | 48 |
Under 25,000: 456; 25,000 to 49,999: 313; 50,000 to 74,999: 268; 75,000 to 99,999: 205; 100,000 to 149,999: 211; 150,000 and above: 48
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (456). 946 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 213 |
| 2017 | 260 |
| 2018 | 182 |
| 2019 | 229 |
| 2020 | 167 |
| 2021 | 158 |
| 2022 | 197 |
| 2023 | 313 |
| 2024 | 270 |
| 2025 | 345 |
| 2026 | 109 |
2015: 4; 2016: 213; 2017: 260; 2018: 182; 2019: 229; 2020: 167; 2021: 158; 2022: 197; 2023: 313; 2024: 270; 2025: 345; 2026: 109
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 542 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 128 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 90 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10795268 · 2015-11-21 (November 21, 2015)
WHILE I WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF MY RENTAL (THE VEHICLE RUNNING AND IN PARK), I PRESSED #2 OF THE NUMBERED BUTTONS, NEXT TO THE LOCK CONTROLS, AND THE SEAT STARTED MOVING BY ITSELF. THE SEAT MOVED UP AND FORWARD, WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED DOWN. MY LEGS STARTED TO GET COMPRESSED BY THE STEERING WHEEL, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MY KNEES WERE BEING FORCED INTO THE PLASTIC PIECES UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. MY BODY WAS BEING FORCED AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. I TRIED TO STOP THE SEAT FROM MOVING BY USING MY BODY TO CREATE A FORCE BUT …
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10795268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10838706 · 2016-02-26 (February 26, 2016)
WHILE MAKING A TURN ON A LOCAL STREET POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAITED A MINUTE AND RESTARTED NO FURTHER ISSUES. I HAVE OWNED MANY EXPLORERS INCLUDING 11-13 AND NOW 16. THE 16 HAS 12K MILES ON IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10838706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10765252 · 2015-09-18 (September 18, 2015)
SEPT 31ST - WITH 358 MILES AND LESS THAN OWNED FOR 24 HOURS ALL ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT FAILED, FLASHING ABS FAILURE LOSS OF SPEED CONTROL. OCT 1ST CAR TAKEN TO JCLEWIS FORD IN SAVANAH,GA, WAS CALLED BY THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS LATER AND WAS TOLD TO PICK THE CAR AND THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS TO REALIGN AND RESET COMPUTER SOFTWARE. I TOOK THE CAR AND DROVE 39 MILES AND WE SUSTAINED A TOTAL REPEAT OF THE PROBLEMS. AT THIS POINT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA AT POINT WHAT WAS WRONG OR THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, APPROXIMATELY FIVE DAYS LATE…
Owner-reported narrative. 358 miles reported. Look up ODI 10765252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10864777 · 2016-05-13 (May 13, 2016)
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2 MONTH OLD 2016 FORD EXPLORER WITH 1900 MILES ON IT AND WAS MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. WAS PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL AND COULD HEAR THE ENGINE BUT THE SPEED OF MY CAR WAS STALLED AT 35 MPH AND A WRENCH LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND INTO A GAS STATION WHERE I CALLED FOR A TOW. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED I TRIED MOVING THE CAR TO MAKE IT EASIER TO GET ON THE TRUCK BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. FORD DEALERSHIP S…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10864777 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10873653 · 2016-06-10 (June 10, 2016)
HI I NEED HELP WE ARE HAVING ISSUE WITH OUR 2016 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WE ONLY HAVE IT FOR 3 MONTHS 2K MILEAGE, WE NOTICED THE HOOD VIBRATE AT 65MPH OR OVER ON FREEWAY, I BROUGHT IT TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALER, "FORD SERRAMONTE" ON 05/16/16 THE SERVICE MANAGER NAME HENRY SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF IT BUT COULDN'T DO ANYTHING & THEY ARE WAITING FOR FORD TO FIND THE SOLUTION TO FIX IT, BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN CHECK THE HOOD. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER CARE TEAM ON 05/18/16 & THEY OPEN A CASE, CASE NUMBER: CAS-9514452-P1Y5C2 TARA MELVIN COSTUMER CARE MANGER …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885835 · 2016-07-19 (July 19, 2016)
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A STREET AND THE GAS PETAL STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND I COULDN'T MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD DRIVE AGAIN AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, BUT, ONLY FOR 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE THE GAS PETAL STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND THIS HAPPENS A LOT. THEY INSTALLED A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND TOLD ME THEY WEREN'T SURE IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAD MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WITH ME AND IT WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10846306 · 2016-03-13 (March 13, 2016)
I RECENTLY RECEIVED A 2016 FORD POLICE UTILITY (EXPLORER) AS A NEW PATROL VEHICLE. WHILE ON PATROL I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. I RECEIVED A STEERING ASSIST FAULT MESSAGE ON THE DASH, AS WELL AS A TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL ERROR MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS 935 MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ WHERE FORD HAS HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH THIS STEERING SYSTEM. AS A POLICE OFFICER I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH NO WARNING COULD RESULT IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR OFFICERS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, AS WELL AS CIVILIANS …
Owner-reported narrative. 935 miles reported. Look up ODI 10846306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10864153 · 2016-05-10 (May 10, 2016)
MY CAR (FORD EXPLORER 2016) ENGINE STALLED (DURING DRIVING/MOTION) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET (I WAS VERY LUCKY IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY!). THE ENGINE LIGHT INDICATION TURNED ON. FORD DEALER TOLD ME IT IS THE 'THROTTLE BODY' PART THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THEY WILL ORDER THE PART. THEY TOLD ME IT CAN TAKE UP TO 5 WEEKS TO RECEIVE IT BUT IN THE MEANTIME I CAN DRIVE MY CAR, ONLY AFTER I CONFRONTED THEM ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR THEY SUGGESTED THAT I WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE PART WILL BE REPLACED. I AM WRITING TO YOU IN …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10864153 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10870403 · 2016-05-23 (May 23, 2016)
DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65MPH. CAR STALLED LEAVING NO POWER TO STEERING AND BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE AT DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED. ENGINE RPM DROPS AT IDLE AT ANY STOP ON WHEN CAR IDLING WITH TRANSMISSION IN PARK. DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10870403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10871368 · 2016-05-28 (May 28, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET THERE WAS A BURNED RUBBER SMELL OUTSIDE VEHICLE, FOLLOWED BY STRONG SMELL OF NATURAL GAS INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A RATTLING OR THUMPING SOUND. THINKING BACK, THERE WAS A NATURAL GAS SMELL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE DAYS BEFORE BURNED RUBBER SMELL. I LET THE DEALER HEAR A RECORDING OF THE SOUND. THEY DESCRIBED IT LIKE THE SOUND OF DRIVING ON A RAILROAD TRACK. AFTER DEALER INSPECTION, THE DEALER FOUND 'CRACK IN PTO DUE TO INTERNAL FAILURE' THEY HAD TO 'REPLACE PTU AND PTU VENT FOLLOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10871368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10929493 · 2016-12-01 (December 1, 2016)
THE FUEL LINE ATTRACTED A CRITTER MOST LIKELY A SQUIRREL WHICH CHEWED THROUGH THE RUBBER HOSE AND CAUSE A SEVERE FUEL LEAK THAT COVERED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT A FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE FORD TECHNICIAN, THE HOSES NOW CONTAIN SOY AND THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL CASES IN WHICH CRITTERS HAVE CHEWED THROUGH VARIOUS HOSES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTS OF VEHICLES.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10929493 at NHTSA ↗