2016 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

The current b-pillar trim issue that Ford hasn't remedied. In October 2025 my b-pillar broke off my car while driving, shatteringagainst the car behindme. When it did that the wiring immediately caused my liftgate to think it was open and I have not been able to access that back of my suv since then. In order to do so a piece in the door had to be removed and I have to crawl thru the vehicle to manually find a switch to release it. This has gone on for 5 months with me being unable to use the entire back half of the vehicle. If I open it manually it risks not getting shut fully and popping open. It's ridiculous it has taken this long for a fix.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, the back-over prevention camera screen was distorted. In addition, the contact stated that the screen image was wavy and had several colors. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed of an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the contact was informed that the VIN was not associated with the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,929.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 21V316000 (STRUCTURE), 24V031000 (STRUCTURE), and 25V347000 (STRUCTURE). However, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that rainwater was leaking inside the vehicle and standing water had accumulated on the carpet. The water was leaking from the front door, the roof near the dome light, and the glove compartment. The contact was unsure of where the water was entering the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a musty odor inside the vehicle. Most recently, while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal burnt odor inside the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was constantly illuminated since the vehicle was purchased. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

See attached document for complaint.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn to the left or to the right. The contact stopped and turned the vehicle off and restarted the vehicle, and the power steering functionality returned. The contact stated that the failure had occurred twice and during the second failure the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

Left side roof rack chrome cover came off on the freeway with no warning. It could have flown into other cars. Haven't taken to dealer yet. No inspection, the part is gone, run over by other vehicles. No symptoms prior to failure.

Coolant intrusion in the cylinder walls

I called ford about this recall in December of last year. The dealer in Chico CA. I submitted a request to get it done and they keep saying ford isn’t making them yet. I lost my piller and my car looks ugly an I just want it fixed

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact 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 while driving at 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. Upon arriving at the destination, the driver's side A-pillar trim detached from the vehicle. The A-pillar trim was pushed back into place. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving 60 MPH, the driver's side A-pillar trim detached from the vehicle. The contact's wife pushed the trim piece back into place and removed a piece of the trim. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while in Mexico, the driver's side A-pillar detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired by a mobile mechanic in Mexico. However, the contact stated that the failure worsened. The local dealer was not contacted. 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 unknown.

Intermittently, the vehicle's backup camera displays a blank (black) image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. The issue resolves its self by turning the vehicle off and back on.

I went to the dealer, Parsons Ford. The pillar b even has the weather stripping from recall is even detaching. Which they saw and stated its part of the recall. No recommendations to fox it. They said no parts or remedy at this time. Today when driving I heard noise and looked over. Saw the stripping getting worse. I contacted Ford and they say the same thing. This recall has been out since 2024 and no one wants to even fix it. I have a newborn coming and this is the only car I can use to transport her. I feel this is a safety risk not just for us but other people. See the pictures below all from today 9/5. The weather stripping is coming off more. I called Parsons Ford, they were to call me back. No response back today. Ford Social Media filed a claim and dealer to reach out. No response. All responses from Ford and myself today.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the passenger’s side near the windshield. The contact then observed that the A-pillar trim had detached and blown off the vehicle by the slipstream. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the parts were not yet available. The contact had received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (Structure). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

Coolant leak in the cylinder head grooves that builds up on the seal and leaking into cylinders. Causing coolant loss, white smoke and engine overheating. This issue has left me stranded on the interstate and in danger with potential engine fires. These incidents have exposed myself and the general public to unnecesary safety hazards.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly started to decelerate. Additionally, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the brakes unintendedly engaged. The “Scheduled Maintenance” light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and depressed the accelerator pedal seven times, and the vehicle started to operate as intended. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was test-driven, and the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was operating as designed. The contact related the failure to the results of a Google search on the throttle body. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact 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 while driving 50 MPH, the driver's side windshield exterior A-pillar trim detached from the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on a separate occasion, the passenger’s side windshield exterior A-pillar trim became loosened. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic after the most recent failure. The vehicle was not repaired. 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 failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Both my A pillars have ripped off on the highway. Called Ford Service center and they continue to say there are no parts available. Most recent incident was on [XXX], when my passenger side ripped off INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

air bag light illumination on occasion, ford confirmed and suggested $1000 repair. seems like a safety issue that is a manufacturer defect. vehicle has been maintained and rear seat rarely used.

Both an and b pillars are junk and dealer inspected a pillars and said they were fine? And there’s no remedy for the b ones which is annoying. My car shakes bc of a transmission shutter at 100k miles it’s not bad but why is jt going on? And wind noise because of the pillars I’m hoping? Needing help from someone.

When accelerating more rapidly (like getting on interstate), a burning smell will enter the cabin. It is not noticed at low speeds, nor when acceleration to high speeds happens gradually. The smell is strong and lingers for about one minute.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (STRUCTURE) and 25V347000 (STRUCTURE); however, parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the front passenger’s side A-pillar trim detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the front driver's side A-pillar trim became loosened. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Most recently, the contact noticed that the B-pillar trim on the passenger’s and driver's side had become loosened. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired after the most recent failure. The local dealer was not contacted. 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 failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

Torque converter issue causes shuddered, can cause driver to unexpectedly adjust speed rapidly.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V347000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the passenger's side door B-pillar trim separated and flew off the vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. 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 unknown.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the A-pillar trim on the passenger’s side of the windshield started to detach. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the A-pillar trim had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact then 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 while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud rattling sound coming from the driver’s side windshield. The local dealer was contacted, and the dealer stated that parts were not yet 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. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Dear NHTSA, I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding my 2016 Ford Explorer (VIN: [XXX] .) Build Date: (08/15.), Mileage (115,262.). My vehicle has experienced a steering rack failure, which poses a serious risk of loss of steering control. I am aware of multiple recalls (such as 20v-675 / Ford 20S62 and 21V-537 / Ford 21S32) Addressing rear suspension toe link fractures in 2016 ford explorers. These recalls cover vehicles built in the same timeframe as mine, but my VIN is not included. This exclusion is concerning, as both the steering rack and suspension defect involve loss of steering control and directly impact driver and passenger safety. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate: 1. Why certain VIN's, including mine, were excluded despite being manufactured in the recall window. 2. Whether steering rack failures in the 2016 ford explorer should also be subject to an official safety recall. Thank you for your attention to this urgent safety matter. I look forward to hearing from somebody. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the A-pillar trim on both sides of the windshield started to detach. The contact also stated that the B-pillar trim on the driver's side started to detach. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (Structure). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact’s spouse stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was distorted, nearly causing the driver to hit a child while reversing in a parking lot. A bystander alerted the driver to stop the vehicle, which prevented the incident from occurring. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after it had rained, the contact entered the vehicle, and the driver's side carpet was wet. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (Structure); for the A-pillar and B-pillar failure. The contact stated that recently the A-pillar trim on driver's side was loose and the seal around the windshield on the driver's side was also loose. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to the A-pillar trim recall and felt that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (Structure); however, parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger's side windshield exterior A-pillar trims had detached, and the driver's side door exterior B-pillar trim was loose. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,295.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff and did not drive as intended. The contact stated that the next morning, she observed a sound emanating from the steering column. The check engine warning light was illuminated before the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact believed that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V675000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 156,580.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the A-pillar trim on the passenger’s side was missing. The contact was not aware of when the trim piece had detached from the vehicle. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); in early 2024. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the remedy 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 informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); approximately 2 years ago. The contact stated that the A-pillar trims on the driver's and passenger’s side were loose. The contact used caulk to temporarily hold the trims in place. The contact called a local dealer and the manufacturer several times and was informed that the part was not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

See attached document for complaint.

I am writing to you today with an urgent and serious safety concern regarding my 2016 Ford Explorer XLT. My vehicle is affected by the A-pillar molding inspection recall, Campaign 24S02/24V031. Last week, while I was driving on the interstate, the passenger side A-pillar molding detached from my vehicle and flew off. This created an extreme safety hazard for myself and other drivers on the road. I contacted my local Ford dealership, Cloninger Ford of Salisbury, to have the recall addressed. They informed me that they cannot perform the repair because the necessary part is out of stock. This is a critical safety issue. The driver's side A-pillar molding is also loose and could detach at any time, posing the same risk. I have found the replacement part is available for purchase from various online retailers, which contradicts the dealership's claim of part unavailability. The recall documentation states that a detached trim piece can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Given that this has already occurred with my vehicle, I need an immediate and concrete solution. I am requesting a specific timeframe for when a permanent remedy will be available for recall 24S02/24V031 and when I can bring my vehicle in for the repair. The safety of myself and others on the road is at risk. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was driving the family and about to enter the highway when my steering started to feel like there may be a problem. The steering started to feel like it was sticking. I turned around and headed back home (about 4 miles) by the time I entered my street, steering failure warning lights started on the dashboard. I had to come to an abrupt stop because the steering wheel would not turn to pull in my driveway. We had to dolly the rear of the car over so i can pull straight into my driveway. I can not even imagine what would have happened if I did not turn around to head home. If this happend on the highway or on a ramp, I could have become devestating.

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 the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The water pump has been replaced 3 times within a 2 year period on this vehicle . Something is causing it to fail and the constant leaking of fluid causes the vehicle to drive erratically in highway traffic. The alternator has been replaced twice within a 10 month period. Something is causing it to fail and it has caused major anxiety because the vehicle has completely turned off in the middle of extreme traffic. This is a dangerous situation and has yet to be fully remedied. I believe this model to be a lemon.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the A-pillar trim fractured and detached from the vehicle. The contact stated that the trim was hitting against the vehicle. The contact stated that the A-pillar trim detached and almost caused a crash with three other vehicles. The contact stated that the remnants of glue on the windshield impaired the contact’s vision while driving. The contact stopped and cleaned the glue off the windshield. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and an emergency service appointment was scheduled. 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 failure. The failure mileage was 57,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver side A-pillar trim detached, and the front passenger’s side A-pillar trim was loose. The contact received notification of NHTSA 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 165,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the vehicle failed to turn to the left or right, and the steering wheel was stiff. The contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted into drive(D) and pulling into a parking spot, the steering wheel was stiff. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was turned off and restarted without the failure recurring. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for maintenance on the brakes, and the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the steering rack assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,500.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the A-pillar trim on the driver’s side windshield started to detach. The contact also stated that the B-pillar on both sides of the front doors had started to detach. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer sent a technician to the residence and the vehicle was diagnosed and it was determined that the A-pillar trim retention clips had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts for the recall repairs were 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 failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,175. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

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 while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger’s side A-pillar trim detached. 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 45,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact 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 during rainy or snowy weather, snow or rain was leaking into the driver’s side B-Pillar trim. The contact stated that water was accumulating on the floor of the vehicle. 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 failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a rattling sound coming from the roof of the vehicle. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the passenger’s side roof rail cover had become unsecured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 137,000.

A pillar components have come detached on both sides of my vehicle. One on the right side in spring of 2024 and one on the left side summer 2025. The entire rubber and plastic moulding is missing on the right and the entire rubber became unattached underneath the plastic pillar accent on the left. I am afraid of that piece detaching and hitting a car. Why is it taking so very long for a remedy for this?!!!!???

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 150,831 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was previously documented as 161,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V435000 (SUSPENSION), 21V316000 (STRUCTURE), 24V031000 (STRUCTURE) and 25V347000 (STRUCTURE). The contact stated that while driving approximately 30–35 MPH, the driver's side B-pillar trim detached from the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the part to do the recall repair was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. 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 100,500.

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 while driving 65 MPH, the driver’s side windshield exterior A-pillar trim detached and started flapping. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was not fully diagnosed but the dealer informed the contact that the recall parts were not yet 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. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the A-pillar trim on the driver’s side windshield started to detach. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet 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. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the passenger’s side A-pillar trim blew off the vehicle. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); over a year ago and the parts were not available to repair the recall. The contact also received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V347000 (Structure); and parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.