USED VEHICLE RESEARCH

2016 Ford Explorer

Research the 2016 Ford Explorer using available NHTSA owner complaints, safety recalls, manufacturer communications, defect investigations, and CarIQ data-coverage analysis.

DATA CONFIDENCE: Moderate

Owner complaints

2,450NHTSA records

Recall campaigns

15Year, make and model lookup

Manufacturer communications

0Matched NHTSA records

Investigations

1Matched NHTSA records

SUBJECTIVE OWNER FEEDBACK

OWNER EXPERIENCE

What it is like to live with the vehicle—kept clearly separate from official NHTSA evidence.

BUILDING THE COMMUNITY

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SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE 2016 Ford Explorer
INDEPENDENT EVIDENCE TYPES

NHTSA owner complaint records remain part of Official Vehicle Data. Subjective review contributions remain in Owner Experience. One does not validate or prove the other. Read the methodology.

EVIDENCE, NOT A SCORE

WHAT THIS DATA CAN TELL YOU ABOUT RELIABILITY

Official records can provide useful research context, but each source has a different meaning. Complaint counts are not failure rates; recalls are formal safety campaigns; manufacturer communications are technical or service documentation; and investigations reflect formal NHTSA activity. Data Confidence measures evidence availability, not vehicle quality. CarIQ does not publish a composite Reliability Score.

Available evidence summary: 2,450 NHTSA owner complaint records; 15 safety recall campaigns; 0 manufacturer communications; 1 applicable NHTSA defect investigation.

EVIDENCE AVAILABILITY — NOT VEHICLE RELIABILITY

DATA CONFIDENCE

Moderate

Data Confidence measures how much usable evidence CarIQ has for this vehicle. It does not measure how reliable the vehicle is.

Why this rating?
Owner complaint data
Available
Manufacturer communications
Available
Recall data
Available
Investigation data
Available
Production denominator
Unavailable
Complaint component completeness
100%
Mileage completeness
0%
Incident-date completeness
100%

DESCRIPTIVE ANALYTICS

DATA INSIGHTS

Derived from official NHTSA source records. These statistics are descriptive and are not a reliability score.

Complaint records analyzed
2450
NHTSA complaints
Most reported component
Structure
24% of categorized complaint records
Top-three component concentration
61%
Records mentioning at least one top-three component
Median reported incident mileage
Not available from current source
0 valid mileage observations
Recall campaigns
15
NHTSA recalls
Most recent recall report
July 14, 2026
NHTSA recalls
Manufacturer communications
0
NHTSA manufacturer communications
Most documented component
Not available
NHTSA manufacturer communications
Top-three communication concentration
Not available
Share of categorized manufacturer communications

SOURCE COMPLETENESS

DATA QUALITY

Complaint records analyzed
2450
Component classification available
100%
Incident date available
100%
Mileage available
0%
Structured outcome fields available
100%

Completeness describes fields present in the retrieved complaint records. It is not a data-quality grade or a vehicle assessment.

Learn about CarIQ methodology

PRODUCTION-ADJUSTED DESCRIPTIVE METRIC

NORMALIZED COMPLAINT CONTEXT

Production-normalized complaint data is not currently available for this vehicle.

This metric compares the number of NHTSA owner complaint records retrieved by CarIQ with NHTSA-reported production volume for the corresponding vehicle population.

It is not a vehicle failure rate. Complaint reporting behavior, vehicle age, time on the road, production definitions, and other factors can affect the result.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Early Warning Reporting, Light Vehicle Production Data. Read the methodology.

OFFICIAL NHTSA OWNER COMPLAINT DATA

PROBLEMS REPORTED IN NHTSA RECORDS

CarIQ groups available NHTSA owner complaint records for the 2016 Ford Explorer by vehicle system to make recurring documentation easier to research. Most represented complaint categories describe the retrieved records—not failure frequency.

TOTAL COMPLAINTS2450

MOST REPRESENTED COMPLAINT CATEGORIES

Structure585 complaints
24%of categorized complaint records
Steering529 complaints
22%of categorized complaint records
Unknown or Other428 complaints
17%of categorized complaint records
Engine381 complaints
16%of categorized complaint records
Power Train214 complaints
9%of categorized complaint records
Electrical System125 complaints
5%of categorized complaint records
Engine and Engine Cooling114 complaints
5%of categorized complaint records
Fuel/propulsion System104 complaints
4%of categorized complaint records
Air Bags99 complaints
4%of categorized complaint records
Vehicle Speed Control76 complaints
3%of categorized complaint records
Suspension73 complaints
3%of categorized complaint records
Wheels50 complaints
2%of categorized complaint records
Seat Belts40 complaints
2%of categorized complaint records
Visibility36 complaints
1%of categorized complaint records
Seats32 complaints
1%of categorized complaint records
Visibility/wiper32 complaints
1%of categorized complaint records
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)18 complaints
1%of categorized complaint records
Service Brakes18 complaints
1%of categorized complaint records
Tires15 complaints
1%of categorized complaint records
Forward Collision Avoidance8 complaints
0%of categorized complaint records
Fuel System8 complaints
0%of categorized complaint records
Gasoline7 complaints
0%of categorized complaint records
Lane Departure7 complaints
0%of categorized complaint records
Back Over Prevention6 complaints
0%of categorized complaint records
Exterior Lighting6 complaints
0%of categorized complaint records
Latches/locks/linkages5 complaints
0%of categorized complaint records
Equipment3 complaints
0%of categorized complaint records
Traction Control System2 complaints
0%of categorized complaint records
Air1 complaint
0%of categorized complaint records
Equipment Adaptive/mobility1 complaint
0%of categorized complaint records
Other1 complaint
0%of categorized complaint records
Parking Brake1 complaint
0%of categorized complaint records

A complaint may list more than one component and therefore contribute to multiple categories. Percentages show the share of categorized complaint records that mention each component—not the percentage of vehicles affected. Category percentages may overlap.

INCIDENT REPORTS BY YEAR

1969
1
2012
1
2013
1
2015
23
2016
285
2017
215
2018
167
2019
232
2020
184
2021
159
2022
243
2023
301
2024
345
2025
231
2026
62

Grouped from complaint records with a valid incident date.

RECENT OWNER COMPLAINTS

Structure

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11765957
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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, the driver's side A-pillar trim unexpectedly detached. The contact stated that the B-pillar trim on the front passenger’s door unexpectedly detached. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available and that the parts were anticipated to be available in March 2027. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.

Unknown or Other

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11765173
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I am scared of this in fix recall for my family and kids I travel a lot for my son football on the freeway and road. If this was unsafe they should have been fix for us. Thank you I do not want to deal with trying to fix anymore.

Structure

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11763832
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B-Pillar door trim came off of 2016 Ford Explorer. There has been a recall on this problem since May 2025. This problem is still listed as no repair or parts available. It is now Sept. 2026. 1 1/2 years is too long for a company to delay in solving this safety problem and/or providing parts for said problem.

Unknown or Other

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11763430
Crash reported
Read complaint narrative

As I was driving down the highway, my A pillar trim began to get loose and flew off and hit the car behind me. It forced them to swerve yet they gained control of their car and approached me letting me know what happened. They were highly upset because it damaged their front windshield. I had no choice but to pay for the person's windshield to get repaired. This issue was recalled almost a year before this happened and every time I went to the dealership I asked them about it and they said the recall part was not in stock for repair and that they would call me when it is. I have yet, to receive a call regarding this. Now there are 2 additional recalls on my vehicle and they are all stating the same thing. That the part is unavailable.

Engine

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11762805
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I am writing to report a severe, inherently dangerous engineering defect regarding the internal water pump design on the 2016 Ford Explorer equipped with the 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 engine.On September 8, 2026, my vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic primary seal failure of the internal water pump while operating. The vehicle immediately began dumping large quantities of engine coolant onto the ground from the designated engine block weep hole located on the lower passenger side. Because Ford engineered this specific engine with the water pump hidden entirely behind the front timing cover and driven directly by the engine's timing chain, any mechanical failure of the pump poses an immediate, severe safety risk to the driver and occupants. If the secondary pump seal fails or the weep hole becomes obstructed, coolant dumps directly into the engine crankcase, mixing with the engine oil. This sudden loss of lubrication can cause the internal pump bearings to seize rapidly, leading to the timing chain snapping or jumping tracks.The consequences of this design create two distinct, critical safety hazards:Sudden Engine Stall at Speed: A seized water pump or broken timing chain will cause an instantaneous, un-commanded engine shutdown while traveling at highway speeds. This immediately cuts off the vehicle's power steering assist and power brake booster, placing the driver at extreme risk of a high-speed collision. Passenger Cabin Hazmat Hazard: A major coolant dump underneath the engine bay onto hot exhaust components generates blinding steam and toxic chemical fumes that can enter the vehicle’s HVAC system, severely impairing driver visibility and breathing.This internal, chain-driven water pump design is a known, systemic manufacturing defect that forces vehicle owners to pay between 3,000 and 5,000 in preventative labor to fix an auxiliary cooling component before it destroys the entire engine block. I urge the NHTSA to open a formal safety investigation int

Steering

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11762935
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Approximately 3 years ago, while driving my 2016 Ford Explorer on a [XXX], warning chimes sounded and a power steering/steering assist fault message appeared. Electric power-steering assist then stopped functioning and the steering became extremely difficult to operate. I slowed down and was able to maneuver safely off the freeway. I shut the vehicle off, opened the driver’s door, waited approximately 45 seconds and restarted it. Normal steering assist returned. Shortly afterward, I took the vehicle to Oakdale Ford in Oakdale, CA and reported the problem. I was advised that further diagnosis/investigation would involve approximately 5,600 in costs. I declined due to the expense, and no repair was performed. The cause of the failure remains UNKNOWN. The vehicle remains available for inspection. During the approximately 3 years since, the vehicle has unexpectedly lost electric power-steering assist at least a dozen additional times, at different speeds and on different types of roads. Sometimes warning chimes/messages occur without loss of assist; other times assist is actually lost. Shutting the vehicle down, opening the driver’s door, waiting approximately 45 seconds and restarting has restored steering assist each time, but the problem later recurs unpredictably. I live in a mountainous area and regularly drive narrow, winding roads with steep drop-offs and limited or no guardrails. Sudden loss of steering assist while negotiating a curve makes the vehicle significantly harder to control and creates a serious risk of leaving the roadway. No crash or injury has occurred to date. The failure is intermittent, unpredictable, repeatedly occurs while driving, and has not been repaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Structure

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11762206
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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V347000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact reached out to the local dealer and stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the B-pillar trim was taped to the door; however, after the tape lost the stickiness, the trim became loose and was hanging down by the electrical wiring. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer confirmed the failure.

Structure

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11761615
Read complaint narrative

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V347000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle and the contact were informed that the B-pillar trim needed to be replaced. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available and that only half of the B-pillar trim could be replaced. The dealer stated that the remaining part needed to be provided by the manufacturer. The dealer informed the contact that parts might to available April of 2027. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaints are reports submitted by vehicle owners and other consumers. Complaint counts do not represent the percentage of vehicles affected and do not by themselves establish that a safety defect exists.

A higher complaint count can partly reflect how many vehicles were sold, vehicle age, and other factors. CarIQ does not yet normalize complaint counts by vehicles sold.

Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This site is not endorsed by NHTSA.

OFFICIAL NHTSA SAFETY RECALL DATA

SAFETY RECALLS

15 recall campaigns found

01STRUCTURE:BODYCampaign 26V448000July 14, 2026

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.

Safety Consequence

A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.

02EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATERCampaign 25V685000October 10, 2025

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Safety Consequence

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.

03STRUCTURE:BODYCampaign 25V347000May 23, 2025

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Explorer vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.

Safety Consequence

Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will repair the B-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated November 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S53.

04STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARSCampaign 24V031000January 19, 2024

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

Safety Consequence

A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

05SUSPENSION:REARCampaign 21V537000July 15, 2021

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.

Safety Consequence

A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return for the new remedy. An interim notification letter notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2022. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S32.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

06STRUCTURE:BODYCampaign 21V316000May 5, 2021

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.

Safety Consequence

A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S22.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

07SUSPENSION:REARCampaign 20V675000March 12, 2021

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin that were previously repaired under a prior recall numbers 16V-245 or 19V-435. The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link may fracture.

Safety Consequence

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S62.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

08POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFTCampaign 20V692000November 10, 2020

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail.

Safety Consequence

The failed bracket could result in a loss of park function which can cause unintended vehicle movement, and loss of motive power while driving which increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the link shaft bracket, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners received an interim notification detailing safety risk December 8, 2020. A second letter will be mailed when parts become available in January 2021. The recall began February 2, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S63.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

09SUSPENSION:REARCampaign 19V435000June 10, 2019

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

Safety Consequence

A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

10SEATSCampaign 17V767000November 29, 2017

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 F-150 and Explorer vehicles. Loose power seat adjuster pivot bolts may cause the front seat cushions to detach and not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash.

Safety Consequence

In the event of a crash, a seat occupant that is not properly restrained has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tightness of the power seat track upper pivot link bolt, either applying threadlocker or replacing the lift link and hardware, free of charge. Interim letters are expected to go out January 15, 2018. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S40.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

11WHEELS:HUBCampaign 17E048000August 28, 2017

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

Safety Consequence

A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

12SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINERCampaign 16V475000June 28, 2016

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Explorer and F-150 vehicles equipped with a manual recline driver's seat. The seat back frame may have insufficient welds which may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Safety Consequence

The seat back may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall begin on August 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 16C11.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

13ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINECampaign 16V183000March 31, 2016

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured November 25, 2013, to January 25, 2016, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured October 20, 2014, to January 28, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with 2.3L GTDI engines and engine block heaters. These engine block heaters have elements that may overheat while plugged in.

Safety Consequence

Overheating of the engine block increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and replace the electrical cord, as necessary. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S14. Note: Owners should not use the engine block heater until the vehicle has been remedied.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

14FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTINGCampaign 15V605000September 28, 2015

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured on July 24, 2015. During vehicle production, the fuel tank attachment bolts may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the fuel tank straps may fracture and the fuel tank could separate from the vehicle.

Safety Consequence

If the fuel tank separates from the vehicle, a fuel leak may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the fuel tank attachment bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S26.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

15PARKING BRAKECampaign 15V464000July 24, 2015

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015, Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 21, 2015, and 2015-2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015. The affected vehicles have a parking brake that may not fully engage when applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Safety Consequence

If the parking brake does not fully engage and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while on a slope, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the operation of the parking brake system, and if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C07.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Recall results shown here are based on year, make, and model. A specific vehicle may or may not be affected. Check the vehicle's VIN with NHTSA to confirm open recalls before purchasing. Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

OFFICIAL NHTSA MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION DATA

MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS

TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS0

No NHTSA manufacturer communication records were returned for this year, make, and model.

Manufacturer communications include service bulletins and other technical information submitted by manufacturers to NHTSA. The existence or number of communications does not establish how often a condition occurs or whether an individual vehicle will experience it.

Some manufacturers may issue more detailed service documentation than others, so communication counts should not be used alone to compare vehicle reliability.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration manufacturer communications

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS

TOTAL INVESTIGATION RECORDS1
Open investigations
0
Closed investigations
1
Applicability match
range

Preliminary Evaluation

Windshield trim molding Item detachment

PE23001
Status
closed
Component
Structure:body:roof and Pillars
Opened
Jan 27, 2023
Closed
Feb 8, 2024
Read NHTSA summary

On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has received 671 VOQs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injuries. Some consumers have reported that the failure occurred while they were driving at highway speeds, with the detached trim panel entering the path of travel of the vehicle behind them, requiring the driver of the following vehicle to take evasive action. It is noteworthy that motorists who experience this type of road hazard are less likely to accurately identify the subject vehicle the item detached from and report the event to the NHTSA. In its April 17, 2023 response to ODI’s information request, Ford provided 175 consumer complaints (including field reports) and 14,162 warranty claims related to A-pillar trim panel detachment. Ford relayed that the subject vehicles utilize a plastic A-pillar bracket, which is bolted to the vehicle structure during assembly. The A-pillar trim panel is attached to the bracket utilizing 7 plastic clips. Contributory factors which have been identified by Ford as leading to the subject defect include incomplete installation at the assembly plant, inadequate part stack up, damage to fasteners during installation, and failure to follow proper repair procedure during windshield replacements or other services. On January 19, 2024, Ford filed safety recall 24V-031 for MY 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles to address the subject defect. In the Part 573 Safety Recall Report, Ford identified that a detached A-pillar trim panel can create a road hazard for other road users, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall remedy includes an inspection of the existing A-pillar trim panel and, if necessary, the replacement of the component. The remedy A-pillar trim panels will be installed with an additional adhesive for robustness and utilize an inspection procedure to ensure full engagement of all the retention clips during installation. In view of the recall action being taken by Ford, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

NHTSA investigations evaluate potential motor-vehicle safety defects. The existence of an investigation does not by itself establish that a safety defect exists, and the absence of an investigation does not establish that a vehicle is problem-free.

Open and closed describe NHTSA's process status, not a CarIQ reliability judgment.

View official NHTSA investigation data ↗

DESCRIPTIVE SOURCE OVERLAP

CROSS-SOURCE VEHICLE DATA

CarIQ compares categories appearing across independent NHTSA datasets. Overlap can help identify areas with more available documentation, but it does not establish defect frequency or prove that an individual vehicle will experience a problem.

ComponentOwner complaintsManufacturer communicationsRecall campaignsNHTSA investigationsOfficial sources containing records
Seats320102 of 4
Parking Brake10102 of 4
Structure:body:roof and Pillars00112 of 4
Structure5850001 of 4
Steering5290001 of 4
Unknown or Other4280001 of 4
Engine3810001 of 4
Power Train2140001 of 4
Electrical System1250001 of 4
Engine and Engine Cooling1140001 of 4

Displayed first by the number of source categories containing the component, then by owner complaint count, then alphabetically. This is a presentation rule, not a vehicle ranking. Complaint reports, manufacturer communications, recalls, and investigations describe different events and are never added into a combined total.

complaint
Available
communication
Available
recall
Available
investigation
Available
production
Unavailable

COMMON RESEARCH QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 2016 FORD EXPLORER

Is the 2016 Ford Explorer reliable?

CarIQ does not currently assign a reliability score to the 2016 Ford Explorer. Available evidence is shown as separate official-source records with a Data Confidence classification of Moderate.

What problems are reported for the 2016 Ford Explorer?

2,450 NHTSA owner complaint records. When complaint data is available, the page groups records by the NHTSA component categories they identify without treating those categories as verified failure rates.

Are there recalls for the 2016 Ford Explorer?

15 safety recall campaigns. Year, make, and model results do not confirm whether a specific VIN is affected or whether a remedy has been completed.

USED-CAR CANDIDATE RESEARCH

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