2016 FORD EXPLORER Safety Overview

Component: STRUCTURE

"The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the driver’s side B-pillar trim detached from the vehicle and was dangling by two wires. The contact later used black duct tape to seal the trim in place. The dealer was notified of the failure and later informed the contact that parts for NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) were not available for the recall repair. Additionally, the contact stated that the front driver’s side A-pillar trim was rattling while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000."

Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER

"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."

Component: POWER TRAIN

"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."

Component: STRUCTURE

"Been waiting on parts to repair existing A pillar trim recall for almost 2 years. This is unacceptable."

Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER

"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)"

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

"Truck turns off"

Component: POWER TRAIN

"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."

Component: STEERING

"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."

Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER

"Lost all power in the transmission while driving down the road. Transmission is not fixable. Could barely get the car off the road"

Component: STRUCTURE

"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."

Component: STRUCTURE

"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."

Component: STRUCTURE

"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."

Component: STRUCTURE

"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."

Component: STRUCTURE

"After multiple communications with the local Ford Dealership, the recall on the vehicle has not been completed nor inspected. The Ford Dealership has repeatedly stated that they do not have the parts and cannot give an estimated time frame of arrival. The conversation always ends, "we will call when the parts come in". This has been over a year now. Today I called a different dealership in the area and received the same response. The Recalled Part on my vehicle is deteriorating, and it is only a matter of time before it detaches and causes damage or injury. Any help resolving this issue would be appreciated."

Component: STRUCTURE

"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."

Component: STRUCTURE

"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."

Component: STRUCTURE

"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."

Component: STRUCTURE

"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."

Component: STRUCTURE

"Keyless entry pad/trim falling off"

Component: STRUCTURE

"The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure). The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH on two occasions, the driver's side A-pillar trim flew off the vehicle into traffic. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer twice, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the A-pillar trim needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000."