10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,175 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Ford Explorer:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #15

Sep 232023

Explorer

  • miles
Tires damaged due to a rear toe link not having proper alignment adjustments. I was told to buy aftermarket products because the two ASE certified shops could not align my rear suspension. I've chewed through two pairs of brand new tires in less than 4 months.

- Shawnee, KS, USA

problem #14

Feb 282020

Explorer

  • miles
I have had a malfunction with what may be the front right break or steering component. Occasional metal on metal/grinding noise made when making a hard right turn or reversing left. Vehicle had been taken in a few times after purchase (Honda dealership), sound was duplicated but no issue detected by mechanics. Vehicle has been taken to ford and no issue detected. No warning lamps have ever come on.

- Spring Hill, KS, USA

problem #13

Dec 012022

Explorer

  • miles
Same issue as NHTSA campaign number: 22V150000 The problem: The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front-wheel circuit into the brake booster.

- Leesburg, VA, USA

problem #12

Apr 132022

Explorer

  • miles
Bad sudden brake fluid leak problems, alarm on car alerting to extremely low brake fluid warning. Have refilled a couple times but the leak is bad and for no apparent reason. Other similar years of ford vehicles have been recalled for the low brake fluid reason.

- Eagle River , AK, USA

problem #11

Jan 192021

Explorer

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while having a routine oil change at waldorf Ford (2440 crain hwy, waldorf, md 20601, (888) 709-3528) the technician informed the contact that the engine block was leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. A few days later a bystander informed the contact that there was water in the passenger's side rear brake lamp and that the brake lamp failed to illuminate when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact mentioned NHTSA campaign number: 15V605000 (fuel system, gasoline) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #10

Jan 062021

Explorer 6-cyl

  • miles
2016 Ford Explorer. Consumer writes in regard to brake failure while driving. The consumer stated as a result of the continuous failure, the vehicle was traded in.

- Hailey, ID, USA

problem #9

Aug 012020

Explorer

  • miles
This truck has had issues since I bought it like 5 months ago from carmax within that time I really only had it a month rest of time it has been in the shop I bought with 26K miles from carmax already had rebuilt engine breaks roaders still have engine issues now today belt broke and needs to be towed I should not have to have do many issues with a new truck not mention if you do not shut the trunk hard it will drain the battery since it keeps the lights on in the truck already had to replace the battery. This truck has been a lemon since day one and should have never been sold I feel this truck is not reliable and unsafe at times. Not worth the 26000 I paid for it. Plus the sensors go off for no reason and nothing is around.

- Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

problem #8

Jun 132019

Explorer

  • 42,000 miles
Vehicle is experiencing popping noises when turning the steering wheel left or right also happens while braking the popping is significant enough to feel in the steering wheel as well as in the floor boards on both front passenger and driver. The steering wheel has exhibited extreme vibration enough to make the outside driver review mirror shake. The steering wheel has also been stuck in the left turning position twice while trying to straighten wheels back out.

- Manor, TX, USA

problem #7

Dec 072018

Explorer

  • 38,000 miles
The vacuum tube assembly/ hoses corroded to the point the braking system was compromised. The dealership's assessment states that battery acid spilled onto the hose and the acid ate though it. When I visually inspected the hose, the only part of the hose that was corroded where both ends where it connects to the manifold and other end. I find it very odd that batter acid will only spill on 2 opposite ends of a hose, which happens to be where the connections are. The battery was replaced after the original battery's core exploded.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #6

Feb 012018

Explorer

  • 58,064 miles
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.

- St Claire, MI, USA

problem #5

Aug 312017

Explorer

  • 19,500 miles
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.

- North Hollywood, CA, USA

problem #4

Oct 182016

Explorer

  • 6,700 miles
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.

- Clayton, NC, USA

problem #3

Jul 162016

Explorer

  • miles
Husband was driving the vehicle was about to accelerate to get up a hill on a city street and engine sounded like transmission or other major part just "dropped". steering wheel froze, car idled violently, could not move vehicle, started to roll backwards until emergency brake was applied.acceleration went to literally zero, SUV would not move. Orange wrench light came on, stated to see manual.placed car in park shut off engine and waited and started at back up again. Scarry stuff, 2 children 2 and younger in vehicle. Won't let me input on next page, approximately 25-30 miles an hour, SUV has 5,500 miles on

- Redondo Beach, CA, USA

problem #2

Apr 172016

Explorer

  • 8,000 miles
While in motion on city street at 45 mph, brakes failed to respond in expected manner. Pressing brake pedal as far as possible, there was almost no braking action to slow vehicle.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #1

Aug 312015

Explorer

  • 358 miles
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 later I was told the cause was the failure of the rear ABS wheel sensor which they told me was replaced and also that they had driven the car for few days and it was now operational. I did pick up the car and again within a few miles we sustained the same failure with an added feature I backed out of my parking space and found that I had lost any ability to move forward and there was a severe grinding noise emanating from transmission, drove the back to dealer ship for the fourth time and was told that even though I was told that the Ford dealer mechanic did not replace any parts as I was told. As of today Sept 18th the car is still with the dealer and was told that in fact replaced the left ABS wheel sensor but they said that in fact was not the problem and that it still existed. I was told that they were think it is being caused by some type of short in a wire harness but they still are awaiting parts. I have requested a meeting with a Ford representative but I was told by the service manager that he could not arrange a meeting. I was told by a Ford representative I believe detroit that I should look at the back of the owners manual for advice on the lemon law.

- Berlin, MD, USA