Is the 2016 Ford Explorer a bad year?
2,465 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Explorer years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2016 Ford Explorer are in line with other Explorer years. Body structure and seat belts stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Explorer owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 83,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 592 (24%) | 50k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat beltsSTANDS OUT | 40 (2%) | 42k–85k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 215 (9%) | 9k–84k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Suspension | 73 (3%) | 49k–100k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Visibility and wipers | 68 (3%) | 53k–98k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 6 (0%) | 85k–131k miles · ahead | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 532 (22%) | 42k–80k miles · mostly behind | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Engine | 434 (18%) | 9k–75k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 129 (5%) | 10k–78k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 112 (5%) | 6k–43k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 99 (4%) | 44k–78k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 76 (3%) | 6k–36k miles · mostly behind | — |
| WheelsSTANDS OUT | 50 (2%) | 15k–27k miles · mostly behind | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| ExhaustSTANDS OUT | 43 (2%) | 9k–78k miles · mostly behind | Exhaust leak repair $200–$1,500 · Catalytic converter replacement $500–$4,000 |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 83,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 2,465 complaints: 39 mention a crash · 14 mention a fire · 43 report an injury · 78 say the car was towed.
164 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My water pump has gone out and apparently this has not been the only one.
I have noticed theres a burning smelling from heater/ac vents right after acceleration from vehicle being stopped.
The power train and engine light came on and the truck stopped driving while on a busy road.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 83,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Ford Explorer: 15
The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle. A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving. Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach. A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
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. A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle. A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link may fracture. A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail. 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.
The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension. A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
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. In the event of a crash, a seat occupant that is not properly restrained has an increased risk of injury.
These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end. A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
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." The seat back may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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. Overheating of the engine block increase the risk of a fire.
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. If the fuel tank separates from the vehicle, a fuel leak may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
The affected vehicles have a parking brake that may not fully engage when applied. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 179
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Ford Explorer. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: Customer concern of a vibration or rough idle…
For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM)…
During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Windshield trim molding Item detachment
Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab
Neighbouring years
2015 Explorer: 1,815 complaints, keep it · 2017 Explorer: 1,706 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Explorer year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Explorer years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2016 Ford Explorer a bad year?
2,465 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Explorer years. At 83,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford Explorer?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: body structure (592), seat belts (40), transmission and drivetrain (215), suspension (73), visibility and wipers (68).
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Explorer have?
15 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 26V-448), Equipment (NHTSA 25V-685), Body structure (NHTSA 25V-347), Body structure (NHTSA 24V-031) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.