Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 2,439 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Ford Explorer. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 2,439 · page 1 of 98
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (STRUCTURE); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact 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 had not experienced a failure.
Hello. I purchased my car in 2018. 2-3 years later, the power steering would randomly go out while driving - on the highway and city roads. This could happen once and then not again for 6+ months. When this happened a message would display about a "steering assist fault, service now". I found that if I pulled over, turned the car off and then on, it would generally work again. We had the vehicle in to 3 separate repair shops between 10/2022 and 10/2025 and no one could diagnose the issue as they needed it to replicate the condition. (In hindsight find this strange (concerning!!) as a simple google search shows what I am describing is a very common issue with a number of Ford models and also other vehicles.) In June 2026, while on vacation with my family (on a mountain) it happened again. We turned the car on and off several time, disconnected/reconnected the battery and could not get the car to start working again and this time the steering wheel was completely locked. We had the vehicle towed and rented a car to drive home. The dealership was able to diagnose and repair the issue by replacing the entire steering rack assembly. No issues since then.
Truck turns off
25V347 and 24V031 I recieved a notice of the first recall in February 2024. Over the Summer of 2024 and 2025 both the A-pillar and B-pillar trim has melted and become detached from the vehicle during high heat warnings and during my commute to work on the interstate 60 miles each day. Parts from the vehicle flew off at high rates of speed and were at risk to others on the road. For 2.5 years now I have driven a duct taped windshield on both drivers and on the passenger sides windows and on the tops of the door frames. The windshield rattles on the interstate--I feel this is dangerous. I have now recieved my 3rd factory recall: 25N17 Every day I drive this duct taped FORD, it is cemented in my mind that I will never purchase another Ford or Ford related product.
The contact called on behalf of his wife, who owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently accelerated. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact researched online and was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V164000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that upon further inspection, the contact became aware that the front A-pillar trim sealants were deteriorating. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
The contact's wife owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The owner received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the lower trim on the A-pillars on the front driver’s and passenger’s sides became loosened and pieces of the A-pillar trims fractured and detached from the vehicle while driving. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that parts for the recall repairs were still unavailable. The dealer recommended that the parts be taped down until the parts became available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure through the chat feature on the Ford website. The chat operator referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
We received the recall 25S53/25V347 on XXX. Then on XXX; [XXX], sent me a picture of the trim / rubber coming off the front windshield. I contacted the dealership Gary Yeomans Ford [XXX] & sent them the pic. They said they don't have the parts & didn't know when they would be available. They recommended us to contact a glass repairer and have them to fix it. And then us to send the bill to the Ford Dealership for reimbursement. The trim / rubber was flapping and making noise on passenger side. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the exterior a pillar trim on the driver’s and passenger’s side of the windshield detached. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the part was not available to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Been waiting on parts to repair existing A pillar trim recall for almost 2 years. This is unacceptable.
My 2016 ford explorers torque converter has failed. It causes a extremely rough idle while in drive or reverse, the rpms vary and at a complete stop the car will continue to lunge forward. If I were to continue to drive the vehicle at any point without warning my transmission could completely lock up causing me to stall in the middle of the road. The dealership has confirmed it as well as ford and ford has an active recall for my specific car but my vin isn't covered under the recall and ford is refusing any sort of fault.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the A-Pillar trims detached from the vehicle. The contact received notification of NTHSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
Lost all power in the transmission while driving down the road. Transmission is not fixable. Could barely get the car off the road
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the front windshield rattled and shook. No warning lights illuminated. The contact received recall notification letters for NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (Structure). A local dealer was contacted and placed the contact on a waiting list. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact phoned an additional unknown local dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at 50-60 MPH on a parkway, an unknown B-pillar trim detached. Additionally, the contact had received a notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V347000 (Structure). The local dealer was contacted and sent two mobile mechanics, who inspected the vehicle at the contact's residence and confirmed the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
I was driving along the highway and and the passenger side a-pillar trim blew off my vehicle. I had to pull over to the side of the road and pick up the piece that blew off. The driver side appears to be also loose as if it would come off. This part is recalled on other explorers of the same year, but for some reason, my VIN isn’t included.
Keyless entry pad/trim falling off
The piller on the passenger side flew off the vehicle driving down the interstate. It’s a recall that has been open for awhile but Ford never had the parts/remedy when I call.
See attached document for complaint.
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 unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and stated that information for parts availability would be released in December 2026, and again in November of 2027. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
2016 Ford Explorer, VIN [XXX]. Filing against Planet Ford Dallas regarding incomplete Regional Program 21R01 (Rear Toe Link Replacement), tied to Federal Safety Recall 21V537. May 11, 2026: Vehicle presented for 21R01 service. May 15: Returned with recall marked complete in Ford's system. 21R01 mandates replacement of both rear toe links, alignment check, and rear toe adjustment. None of these steps were correctly completed. Dealer has since acknowledged to me that the toe link was not replaced correctly, but instead with the incorrect part and that rear suspension hardware was left loose upon vehicle release. The vehicle was driven approximately one month in this condition. Progressive symptoms followed: steering pull, steering wheel offset, tire screeching, and vehicle instability. Rear toe was subsequently found approximately 3 degrees out of specification — consistent with loose hardware shifting during normal driving. Dealer is attributing front suspension wear to natural causes while providing no investigation demonstrating the incomplete recall did not contribute to or accelerate that damage. Ford Motor Company Head Office has confirmed 21R01 as applicable (Corporate Case [XXX]). Dealer has declined to accept responsibility. The recall was marked complete in Ford's system despite mandatory work not being performed. I am requesting NHTSA investigate dealer compliance with 21R01/21V537 and whether a reimbursement claim was submitted to Ford for work not performed. This matter may also be referred to the Texas AG Consumer Protection Division and FTC. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I have a 2016 ford explorer limited and it has 2 separate recalls on it one being the exterior a pillar applique trim clip attachments are not properly engaged due to improper assembly which borders the right and left side of the windshield, may be loose missing or become detached. also, the driver and front passenger door b-pillar trim appliques may become partially or fully detached. which I can hear wind noise and a rattling noise with also water pouring inside my truck when it rains, which has now caused damage to my wiring in the seats where the heat and cold does not work, nor does my sunroof/moonroof work anymore bc the water comes in from the top also
one fell of window right side when driving on right side of window i tried to glue it back on don't think it will hold don't drive it much now went to ford dealer several time always told part is not available why it is a 2016 after 10 years should replacement parts not be available
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the front passenger’s side A-pillar trim became loose and was vibrating against the passenger’s side window. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 246,000.
Multiple Ford dealerships in my service area have been contacted for recall dated Jan 19,2024, Manufacturer Recall Number24S02, NHTSA Recall Number24V031 but indicate Ford manufacturing does not have parts available. It has been over 2 years. What recourse do consumers have? Summary IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF THE EXTERIOR A-PILLAR APPLIQUE TRIM CLIP ATTACHMENTS ARE NOT PROPERLY ENGAGED DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OR REPAIR. IF THIS OCCURS, THE A-PILLAR APPLIQUE TRIM, WHICH BORDERS THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, MAY BE LOOSE, MISSING OR BECOME DETACHED. Safety Risk AN EXTERIOR A-PILLAR TRIM PART THAT DETACHES WHILE DRIVING CAN CREATE A ROAD HAZARD FOR OTHER ROAD USERS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Remedy FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS AUTHORIZED YOUR DEALER TO INSPECT AND REPAIR ANY LOOSE OR MISSING EXTERIOR A-PILLAR TRIM MOLDINGS FREE OF CHARGE PARTS AND LABOR. A TEMPORARY REPAIR MAY ALSO BE COMPLETED AS NEEDED.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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