Model year record

2016 Ford Explorer

14 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 3,552 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V448000

Structure: body

Component: Structure: body
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 288,314
Reported to NHTSA: 2026-07-14

Defect description

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

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 25V685000

Equipment: electrical: engine block heater

Component: Equipment: electrical: engine block heater
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 59,006
Reported to NHTSA: 2025-10-10

Defect description

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 risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 25V347000

Structure: body

Component: Structure: body
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 492,145
Reported to NHTSA: 2025-05-23

Defect description

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 risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V031000

Structure: body: roof and pillars

Component: Structure: body: roof and pillars
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 1,889,110
Reported to NHTSA: 2024-01-19
Owners notified: 2024-07-18

Defect description

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 risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V537000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 631,176
Reported to NHTSA: 2021-07-15
Owners notified: 2022-03-16

Defect description

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 risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V316000

Structure: body

Component: Structure: body
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 616,967
Reported to NHTSA: 2021-05-05
Owners notified: 2021-10-01

Defect description

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 risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 20V675000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 454,941
Reported to NHTSA: 2021-03-12
Owners notified: 2020-11-27

Defect description

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 risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 20V692000

Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft

Component: Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 15,587
Reported to NHTSA: 2020-11-10
Owners notified: 2021-02-02

Defect description

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 risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V435000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 1,194,173
Reported to NHTSA: 2019-06-10
Owners notified: 2019-06-26

Defect description

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 risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V767000

Seats

Component: Seats
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 177,264
Reported to NHTSA: 2017-11-29
Owners notified: 2018-03-16

Defect description

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 risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V475000

Seats: front assembly: recliner

Component: Seats: front assembly: recliner
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 5,280
Reported to NHTSA: 2016-06-28
Owners notified: 2016-08-18

Defect description

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 risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V183000

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Component: Engine and engine cooling: engine
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 1,543
Reported to NHTSA: 2016-03-31
Owners notified: 2016-05-18

Defect description

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 risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V605000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting

Component: Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 203
Reported to NHTSA: 2015-09-28
Owners notified: 2015-10-19

Defect description

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 risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V464000

Parking brake

Component: Parking brake
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 7,165
Reported to NHTSA: 2015-07-24
Owners notified: 2015-09-04

Defect description

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 risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Structure	639	90,000 mi
Steering	529	58,000 mi
Unknown or other	483	20,000 mi
Engine	400	16,850 mi
Structure: body	243	37,500 mi
Power train	218	43,600 mi
Electrical system	139	42,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	106	10,000 mi
Air bags	104	52,000 mi
Suspension	77	70,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	77	7,740 mi
Engine and engine cooling	70	99,000 mi
Wheels	51	22,000 mi
Seat belts	43	50,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	41	50,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	36	16,000 mi
Seats	32	36,500 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	18	38,350 mi
Service brakes	18	19,500 mi
Steering: rack and pinion	18	75,000 mi
Visibility: windshield: critical fasteners	15	82,300 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: pump	10	100,000 mi
Tires	10	16,100 mi
Exterior lighting	9	—
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	9	116,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control	8	110,926 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter	8	94,400 mi
Steering: electric power assist system	8	70,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	8	58,000 mi
Back over prevention	7	107,929 mi
Structure: body: door	7	86,800 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer	6	184,847 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems	6	97,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	5	25,900 mi
Lane departure: assist	5	110,926 mi
Structure: body: roof and pillars	5	15,000 mi
Visibility	5	132,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	3	28,139 mi
Lane departure: warning	3	—
Latches/locks/linkages	3	119,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	3	103,000 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate	3	4,800 mi
Vehicle speed control: throttle	3	136,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	2	38,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	2	100,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	2	98,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: throttlebody/manifold	2	136,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	2	98,331 mi
Parking brake	2	—
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	2	56,000 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)	2	135,401 mi
Steering: rack and pinion: rack	2	31,910 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut	2	21,500 mi
Tires: tread/belt	2	16,000 mi
Traction control system	2	31,060 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	2	86,800 mi
Back over prevention: rearview system braking	1	—
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera	1	—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables	1	36,421 mi
Electrical system: adas: parking assist: sensors	1	122,312 mi
Electrical system: wiring	1	195,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	1	76,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger	1	100,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)	1	79,000 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility	1	358 mi
Equipment: electrical: engine block heater	1	—
Exterior lighting: headlights	1	83,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: dynamic brake support/brake assist	1	24,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump	1	—
Fuel system, other	1	—
Lane departure: blind spot detection	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages: fueling/charging door/hatch/port: latch/lock release system	1	195,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift	1	71,600 mi
Power train: axle assembly	1	109,000 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft	1	47,075 mi
Seats: critical fasteners	1	50,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler	1	120,000 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock: ABS warning light	1	14,000 mi
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)	1	51,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	1	120,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid	1	66,000 mi
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly	1	61,653 mi
Steering: steering wheel /handle bar: yaw/angle sensor	1	69,000 mi
Structure: body: door: handle: exterior	1	195,000 mi
Structure: interior panels: door	1	50,000 mi
Suspension: front: hub	1	59,500 mi
Suspension: front: shock absorber	1	220,000 mi
Suspension: rear	1	39,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor	1	19,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	1	80,000 mi

The 2015 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 2017 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.