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Car · Ford problems

2016 Ford Explorer problems

2,465 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Ford Explorer. The most reported area is body and structure (24% of them). NHTSA also lists 155 service bulletins and 14 recall campaigns.

2,465owner complaints
39say a crash was involved
14say a fire was involved
59injuries and deaths reported

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 59. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 2,465 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

18 smaller areas not shown (427 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 155 repair bulletins from Ford for the 2016 Ford Explorer. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

  1. SSM 54366Received November 19, 2025

    Electrical system

    Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.

  2. TSB 25-2005Received January 27, 2025

    Some vehicles may exhibit at least one of the following conditions:.

  3. SSM 53040Received October 16, 2024

    While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.

  4. SSM 52314Received March 20, 2024

    Power train (transmission and drive)

    During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper, achieving proper torque of the crankshaft pulley bolt is critical.

  5. SSM 52335Received March 20, 2024

    Engine and engine cooling

    For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and...

  6. SSM 51536Received May 4, 2023

    Body and structure

    For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended.

  7. 21R01Received December 2, 2022

    Suspension

    Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles Rear Toe Link Replacement Under Safety Recall 21S32, some of the affected vehicles exposed to a highly corrosive environment where road salt is used...

  8. 20B27 S1Received October 5, 2022

    Engine and engine cooling

    Certain 2015-2019 MKC and 2016-2019 Explorer Vehicles Equipped With the 2.3L Engine and 6F35 Transmission Powertrain Control Module Reprogram Submitting Owner Letters.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford Explorer. Recall repairs are free at a Ford dealer. The 3 to look at first:

  1. 26V448000July 14, 2026

    Structure

    The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.

  2. 25V347000May 23, 2025

    Structure

    The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.

  3. 24V031000January 19, 2024

    Structure

    The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

See all 14 recalls for the 2016 Ford Explorer, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Explorer will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

This model year has an engine recall in NHTSA's data. Before you pay for an engine repair, check the recalls and ask the dealer about warranty extensions for your VIN. Those repairs can be free.

Start with a diagnosis

Body and structure 592 complaints · 24%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Steering 532 complaints · 22%

Engine and engine cooling 483 complaints · 20%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Power train (transmission and drive) 215 complaints · 9%

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Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

0 of 17 characters

Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2016 Ford Explorer: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2016 Ford Explorer?

Of the 2,465 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Ford Explorer, 592 (24%) name body and structure, and 532 (22%) name steering. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2016 Ford Explorer reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 39 of the 2,465 complaints as involving a crash and 14 as involving a fire. They also reported 59 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford Explorer. Recall repairs are free at a Ford dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 155 repair bulletins for the 2016 Ford Explorer.

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Sources

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.