10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
25 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,750 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.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #96

Jan 152017

Explorer

  • 26,000 miles
Exhaust fumes enter the interior of the vehicle upon acceleration. The dealer states that there is no part to rectify this problem. I am suffering with chronic headaches. Please help!! my next step is to install a carbon monoxide detector in my vehicle.

- Carriere, MS, USA

problem #95

Apr 042016

Explorer

  • 1,000 miles
Vehicle emits odor like sulphur or rotten eggs, possibly carbon monoxide, when accelerating rapidly or unexpectdly. It always happens when accelerating, pressing gas to merge onto highways or to pass cars on highways. I took my Explorer to dealership purchased from several months after purchasing, but was told nothing was wrong. Netween Feb and May 2016 is when I made appointment at dealer for them to take a look. The problem still exists to this day. I roll the window down to let the smell out when it happens.

- White Plains, MD, USA

problem #94

Jul 292017

Explorer

  • 20,000 miles
While accelerating a weird smell fills the cabin of my Explorer. Other people smell it as well not just me. Sometimes after driving for more than 30 minutes I get a headache or I am dizzy.

- Pikeville, NC, USA

problem #93

May 222016

Explorer

  • 0 miles
Exhaust gas smell in cabin when accelerating

- Montgomery, TX, USA

problem #92

Jul 252017

Explorer

  • miles
Exhaust smell inside of car at moderate to heavy acceleration. For dealer repaired at 23000 miles problem has come back after 11 months and 15000 miles. Fumes cause headaches and nausea

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #91

May 152016

Explorer

  • 100 miles
On acceleration have smell of rotten eggs. Having headaches also. Reported to dealership but saying there are no problems with exhaust fumes. I have reported twice but no word until seeing on cbs issues on other Explorer. Have had this problem since bought the vehicle. Thought at first it was the catalytic converter.

- Kansas City, KS, USA

problem #90

Jul 282017

Explorer

  • miles
We are experiencing an ongoing smell of exhaust in the cabin of our 2016 Ford Explorer. The smell is noticeable in different conditions, but two conditions seem to always be in place - when accelerating and when the recirculate option is on.

- Glenshaw, PA, USA

problem #89

Jul 262017

Explorer

  • 28,500 miles
Fumes and odor in cabin following acceleration; sickening smell; must roll down windows

- Bethpage, TN, USA

problem #88

Jun 132017

Explorer

  • 33,000 miles
Yes I am having huge coughing fits and lightheadedness and exhaust fume smell entering my cabin on new 2016 Ford Explorer I purchased. I am experincing headaches as well after driving long trips. Both on street normal and highway travel

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #87

Jul 272017

Explorer

  • 11,800 miles
Possible carbon monoxide infiltration. I was sitting in the car with the engine running waiting for my wife while she was shopping. I suddenly got a headache and became dizzy. Went home and headache and dizziness went away after about 2 hours.

- Canandaigua, NY, USA

problem #86

Apr 202017

Explorer

  • 15,805 miles
The car produces a rotten egg sulfur smell in the passenger cabin while accelerating the engine under moderate to heavy load. The fumes are dangerous and you have to open all the windows to vent the smell from the passenger cabin or I become dizzy and lightheaded from the fumes. There is definitely an exhaust leak that is coming into the passenger cabin when the car accelerates under load.

- Cheshire, CT, USA

problem #85

Jul 242017

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 26,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. While driving 60 mph, there was an abnormal hydrogen sulfide odor. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (hayford Ford located at 1330 301st ave nw isanti, mn 55040 763-689-5555), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened case number: Cas12775863. No further assistance was provided. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 26,000...updated 08/22/17 updated 09/28/2017

- Cambridge, MN, USA

problem #84

Feb 072017

Explorer

  • miles
When I accelerate my Ford Explorer the exhaust fumes are filling the cabin, we are experiencing a rotten egg odor that basically makes you sick. I have taken the vehicle to the Ford dealership 3 times, they attempted to correct the problem but they were not successful. We cannot use the vehicle for long trips last time we try it was very uncomfortable, I got sick with the fumes.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #83

Jul 032017

Explorer

  • 25,000 miles
Consistent engine exhaust odors in the cabin after acceleration.

- Manvel, TX, USA

problem #82

Jul 122017

Explorer

  • 1,000 miles
Every time I step on the gas to accelerate quickly, the inside of my car starts to smell like smoke or something is burning. I have to lower my windows for about a minute to clear the air out. It has been going on for months.

- Covina, CA, USA

problem #81

Jul 132017

Explorer

  • 15,000 miles
My stock (unaltered) 2016 Ford Explorer Sport with ecoboost engine emits a rotten egg, sulfur-like odor into the passenger cabin upon full throttle acceleration. This condition does not occur during normal (less than full throttle acceleration) driving. This condition occurs only during full throttle acceleration and is replicable. This condition has occurred since original purchase in 04/2016 and continues today.

- West Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #80

Apr 072016

Explorer

  • 23 miles
There are exhaust fumes coming into the cabin of this 2016 Ford Explorer. The smell stinks and the gases have made the occupants of the Explorer sick. The dealership has acknowledged the smell. It has had at least nine opportunities to fix the problem, but it has been unsuccessful. Ford is aware of the problem. The exhaust fumes come into the cabin at various times. The problem usually occurs when the rear A/C re-circulation is on and when there is heavy acceleration or going uphill. There have not been any alterations to the Explorer except for the repairs attempted by the dealership. In May 2017, the dealership used tsb 17-0044 to try to stop the fumes from coming into the cabin. Again, it was unsuccessful. It appears the Ford told the dealership to also try tsb 14-0130. That repair did not work either.

- N. Charleston, SC, USA

problem #79

Jan 012017

Explorer

  • 100 miles
Under acceleration, a very strong "rotten egg" odor enters the vehicle's cabin. The odor is so foul that it has at times caused headache and/or a queasy feeling. This happens continuously on and off the highway, only under acceleration.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

problem #78

May 012016

Explorer

  • miles
Purchased 2016 Ford Explorer in April of 2016. Initially, shortly after the purchase, I continually noticed the smell of burning plastic from the engine area after a lot of city driving. I assumed it was the fact the vehicle was new and was still breaking in. Several months went by and I simply became accustomed to it. Read online about plastic bags making that smell sometimes when stuck on the hot exhaust pipes and thought it could be that. Didn't think about it much because it was not overbearing in the cabin. However, as of several weeks ago, smell was getting worse so I mentioned to dealer. They told me it's an exhaust leak. It's taken two weeks to order the parts and get me rescheduled for service and the smell has become much worse since that visit. Wondering if tech loosened exhaust system. Very hard to drive with the windows up - needs constant flow of fresh air. Smells more like "typical" exhaust smell now - inside and outside the vehicle. I drive 30-50 miles in the city each day, so it's a constant smell. Can't park in the garage because odor gets into the house. Just learning that it's an exhaust leak has me worried because I have tolerated this for over a year.

- Dellslow, WV, USA

problem #77

Jul 152016

Explorer

  • 10,000 miles
I have been taking this vehicle into the dealership many times since July 2016 for an exhaust smell in the cabin when accelerating and at high speeds and constantly feel dizzy and nauseous when driving the vehicle. I have tried multiple dealerships to fix and they have tried all the tsb's that apply to the 2011-15's, but seem to not work on the 2016. They have resealed the vehicle at least 3 times, replaced the exhaust system, and other parts, and who knows what else they've tried, but still with no resolution. I'm taking it back to the dealership yet again tomorrow, but refuse to take this vehicle back home until the smell is completely gone, which seems to be an impossible feat at this point. I have a case open with Ford, but have not not made any progress with them either (over 6 weeks). Please do what you can to get them to make a recall asap before I become one of those soccer moms that passes out behind the wheel with her kids and dogs in the car and they make a lifetime movie about how my husband can no longer live without us :)

- Hutto, TX, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »