10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,132 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 #239

Sep 262020

Explorer

  • 67,000 miles
My tire valve corroded after 3 years with the car. Which caused damage to the tire and the tire pressure sensor. The power steering went at 67000 miles. It stopped working completely while driving, extremely scary. The service department at the dealership said it is just something that happens. $2400 fix on a 4 year old car with 67000 miles and could have caused an accident.

- Glen Gardner, NJ, USA

problem #238

Aug 192020

Explorer

  • 78,000 miles
Steering would lock up and you would have to force the steering back to drive ability. The rack and pinion was worn out, in my opinion prematurely. This happened while the vehicle was in motion. The first time it was notice was on highway driving in a construction zone. The steering would catch when turning left or right and you would have to force the wheel to straighten out the vehicle.

- Coldwater, MI, USA

problem #237

Sep 232020

Explorer

  • 44,000 miles
Steering wheel is stiff and makes noise when turning.

- White Plains, NY, USA

problem #236

Sep 012018

Explorer

  • 30,000 miles
Even under warranty there were sporadic times the front suspension/steering would make a load thump noise. This usually happened when backing out of the driveway and sometimes when pulling out of a parking space. The dealer could never duplicate the noise so they found nothing wrong with it. Now at 48K miles and out of warranty the sound happens much more often. My wife said once the steering appeared to momentarily lock up and had to pull the steering wheel pretty hard to free it up. I found several other internet sites stating that the steering system is needing replaced on many Explorer with relatively low miles at a cost to the owners of over $2000.

- Lantana, TX, USA

problem #235

Jul 012020

Explorer

  • 33,400 miles
When turning right at a slow speed, heavy knocking/thumping noise and steering was jerky. Vehicle has 33,400 miles. Had it repaired at the Ford dealership yesterday and they replaced the rack and pinion at a cost of $1800. Since I read this seems to be a common problem I asked if this issue has been recalled and was informed it was not.

- Valencia, CA, USA

problem #234

Aug 152020

Explorer

  • 39,500 miles
Started having issues with the steering at 39,500 miles. Sounded like a popping or clunk type noise when I turned the wheel to the right. I took it to Ford dealership who indicated the whole steering assembly needed to be replaced. This car was built at the Chicago plant like all the other Explorer that needed the steering assembly replaced. Ford indicated this VIN was not part of recall.

- Mooresville, NC, USA

problem #233

Jun 172020

Explorer

  • 58,000 miles
Steering started making a grinding noise turning left or right. Intermittent severe pulling to the left or turning from left to right. Happens at low or high speed. Started about 58K miles. Car is unsafe and un-drivable in this condition. Advised the rack and pinion is bad and needs to be replaced at approx $2000.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #232

Sep 082020

Explorer

  • 56,000 miles
Started driving and received a warning on the screen saying "steering fault service now". lots power steering control. Thankfully was at a low speed and could stop safely before leaving our neighborhood. Put vehicle in park, powered off, powered back on, and was able to drive again. Vehicle has 56K miles on it.

- Miramar Beach, FL, USA

problem #231

Aug 312020

Explorer

  • 41,000 miles
While making turns either at slow speeds or at a complete stop, the steering makes popping sounds. Steering wheel also locks for half a second. Took vehicle to a shop and was advised it was the rack and pinion on the front right tire area. The vehicle is a 2016 and has 41K miles. This issue began manifesting approximately two weeks prior. Estimated cost to repair is $2500. According to vehicle forums this is a common issue with this vehicle make and model.

- Avondale , AZ, USA

problem #230

Aug 312020

Explorer

  • 104,000 miles
My wife was driving down the road when the steering quit. It was pulling from side to side and she almost lost control. Steering failure alarms were continuing to go off. She was able to get the vehicle off the roadway and avoid a crash.

- Boonville, MO, USA

problem #229

Jul 162020

Explorer

  • 57,001 miles
Power steering went on a 2016 Ford Explorer XLT with 57001 miles on it. Charged for steering rack/box replacement plus other astronomical fees associated with it out of pocket. The vehicle is supposed to be a family car. It is unsafe and hasn't been the same since. Car just gave out on highway with children in car. The car started to actively sway all over the road without warning. No control. Had to pull over. Called for assistance and than restarted the car to have no power steering what so ever. It was worse than trying to drive a heavy duty truck. As a female, I could not even turn the steering wheel. No codes came up prior; until the restart of the car. "??? dealer took week to get it in plus a day for part and thousands out of my pocket during a world wide pandemic. With massive amounts of people complaining about this issue why hasn't it been recalled" this is incredibly dangerous.

- Kingston, NH, USA

problem #228

Aug 262020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 103,000 miles
The vehicle was in motion on a state highway when the following warning messages were displayed steering assist fault service required, hill start assist not available, service advance trac, terrain management system fault. At this point I had complete loss of power steering. I was able to pull to the side of the road safely and had to have towed to the Ford dealer in my town which is was 2 hours away. Ford dealership diagnosed the problem as power steering control module.which is integral with the rack and pinion assembly. Cost of repair is $2400 of course I have a lifetime warranty on most parts including fuel pump, engine, transmission but rack and pinion not considered under this warranty.

- Kathleen, GA, USA

problem #227

Aug 172020

Explorer

  • 133,080 miles
The vehicle was in motion on a state highway when the following warning messages were displayed steering assist fault service required, hill start assist not available, service advance trac, terrain management system fault. At this point I had complete loss of power steering. I was able to pull to the side of the road safely and had to have towed. Local Ford dealership diagnosed the problem as power steering control module.which is integral with the rack and pinion assembly.

- Jean, NV, USA

problem #226

Aug 202020

Explorer

  • 44,000 miles
Noticed problem with steering. When I changed lanes the vehicle continued in that direction until I corrected it. This happened several times while driving home from work so I went straight to matt bowers Ford in metairie. I was told the steering gear needed to be replaced, the module reprogrammed and an alignment. I've seen quite a few recalls concerning this but was not told that my vheicle VIN was not affected. I now see many people are complaining of the same problems. This should be looked at carefully before someone gets hurt.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #225

Aug 132020

Explorer

  • 37,000 miles
I was driving home from dropping my daughter off at daycare and I lost the power steering on my vehicle while the vehicle was in motion and I was driving a steady speed down a straight road. My daughter was no longer in the car with me as this could have resulted in an accident but thankfully she was not and I was able to pull off the road with a lot of effort involved. My car had to be towed to the Ford shop and I had to have my power steering core changed. $2500. This car only has 37,000 miles and is a 2016 Ford Explorer. Quite frustrating, disappointing and expensive. There needs to be a recall with this problem because I am not the only one this has happened too.

- Jupiter, FL, USA

problem #224

Aug 242020

Explorer

  • 56,000 miles
Loss of steering while driving. Nearly caused a 4 car collision. Steering wheel locked while driving 57 mph. Was barely able to slow down and pull off to the side. This has happened multiple times, however after this last time, the steering wheel is permanently locked. Steering loss light came on afterwards.

- Midway Park, NC, USA

problem #223

Aug 162020

Explorer

  • 119,000 miles
I was turning into a gas station and the power steering went out with no previous warnings or issues.

- South Lebanon, OH, USA

problem #222

Aug 022020

Explorer

  • 73,000 miles
Steering was getting difficult while making turns. Took it to a Ford dealer and was told the rack & pinion need to be replaced for $2,560 and it is unsafe to drive. Ford is not covering this issue even though it is a faulty part on their end and should be their responsibility.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #221

Jul 192020

Explorer

  • 64,000 miles
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 Explorer. 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.

- Minnetonka, MN, USA

problem #220

Aug 102020

Explorer

  • 71,000 miles
I initially had 'steering fault' alert a few months ago. Just today a 'terrain maintenance fault' alert came up with a few alerts icons on the dashboard. The steering froze to the point I could only move the steering wheel an inch while muscling it to a stop. Apparently, according to the dealership, this is a know issue. They had me restart the SUV and that temporarily solved the issue, but it could happen again at anytime. The dealership said, if the issue isn't occurring when I bring the SUV in they can't specifically diagnose the problem, but more than likely the steering gear needs to be replace for ~$2K. As I am reading others, this is an ongoing issue that could put drivers in danger and have for others. I was in marshfield, MA when this happened, driving 30 mph approximately 2pm on plain street.

- Marshfield, MA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »