2016 Ford Explorer Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 15 NHTSA recalls and 2,461 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
10/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Ford Explorer
The 2016 Ford Explorer shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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15
NHTSA Recalls
15 recalls on record
2,461
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
39
Crash Reports
14 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Ford Explorer (15)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Suspension: Rear
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…
🔧 Wheels: Hub
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…
🔧 Seats: Front Assembly: Recliner
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…
🔧 Seats
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…
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage: Tank Assembly: Mounting
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…
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine
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…
🔧 Parking Brake
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…
🔧 Structure: Body
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….
🔧 Power Train: Axle Assembly: Axle Shaft
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,…
🔧 Suspension: Rear
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…
Showing 10 of 15 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2016 Ford Explorer
Based on 2,461 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Ford Explorer — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Ford Explorer VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2016 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2019, 2010 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Ford Explorer
Is the 2016 Ford Explorer reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Ford Explorer has 15 recall campaigns and 2,461 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Explorer have?
The 2016 Ford Explorer has 15 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford Explorer?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Ford Explorer are: Structure, Steering, Unknown Or Other, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Ford Explorer safe to buy?
The 2016 Ford Explorer has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 15 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford Explorer should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford Explorer are: 2019, 2010. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2016.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.