Reliable Auto DB

2016 Ford Explorer reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 Ford Explorer holds 2,450 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 220 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 13 Explorer years on this site. NHTSA has 15 recalls on file, including Structure, body, Engine block heater, and Roof and pillars.

2016 Ford Explorer
Photo by Bull-Doser, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain
Complaints

2,450

Per year

220

Recalls

15

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Structure (584 of 2,450), then Steering (530) and Engine (381). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 48,850 miles, and the middle half falls between 17,685 and 83,000 miles. Those filings include 39 that report a crash, 14 that report a fire, and 43 that report an injury.

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 Explorer has 1,788 complaints, 148 per year, and the 2017 has 1,700 complaints, 136 per year. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2017.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2016 Ford Explorer. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (15)

Recall structure, body 2026-07-14 · NHTSA campaign 26V448000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
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.
Vehicles affected 288,314
Recall equipment, electrical, engine block heater 2025-10-10 · NHTSA campaign 25V685000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 59,006
Recall structure, body 2025-05-23 · NHTSA campaign 25V347000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Explorer vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
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.
Vehicles affected 492,145
Recall structure, body, roof and pillars 2024-01-19 · NHTSA campaign 24V031000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 1,889,110
Recall suspension, rear 2021-07-15 · NHTSA campaign 21V537000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 631,176
Recall structure, body 2021-05-05 · NHTSA campaign 21V316000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 616,967
Recall suspension, rear 2021-03-12 · NHTSA campaign 20V675000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 454,941
Recall powertrain, axle assembly, axle shaft 2020-11-10 · NHTSA campaign 20V692000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 15,587
Recall suspension, rear 2019-06-10 · NHTSA campaign 19V435000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 1,194,173
Recall Seats 2017-11-29 · NHTSA campaign 17V767000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 177,264
Recall wheels, hub 2017-08-28 · NHTSA campaign 17E048000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.
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 Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Vehicles affected 630
Recall seats, front assembly, recliner 2016-06-28 · NHTSA campaign 16V475000
Summary 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."
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.
Vehicles affected 5,280
Recall Engine 2016-03-31 · NHTSA campaign 16V183000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 1,543
Recall gasoline fuel system, storage, tank, mounting 2015-09-28 · NHTSA campaign 15V605000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 203
Recall Parking brake 2015-07-24 · NHTSA campaign 15V464000
Summary 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."
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.
Vehicles affected 7,165

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (2450 total)

Structure
584
Steering
530
Engine
381
Powertrain
214
Electrical system
126
Engine and engine cooling
114
Fuel and propulsion system
104
Air bags
99
Speed control
76
Suspension
73
Wheels
50
Seat belts
40
Visibility
36
Seats
32
Visibility and wipers
32
Electronic stability control (ESC)
18
Service brakes
17
Tires
15
Forward collision avoidance
8
Fuel system, gasoline
7
Lane departure
7
Back-over prevention
6
Exterior lighting
6
Latches, locks, and linkages
5
Equipment
3
Traction control
2
Adaptive and mobility equipment
1
Air brakes
1
Fuel system, other
1
Parking brake
1
Show 22 more Show less
Crash-flagged

39

Fire-flagged

14

Injury reports

43

Death reports

0

Of the 1,502 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 48,850 miles. The middle half fall between 17,685 and 83,000 miles.

Complaints filed per year

4201521320162602017182201822920191672020158202119720223132023270202434520251122026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I am scared of this in fix recall for my family and kids I travel a lot for my son football on the freeway and road. If this was unsafe they should have been fix for us. Thank you I do not want to deal with trying to…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-18
  • "B-Pillar door trim came off of 2016 Ford Explorer. There has been a recall on this problem since May 2025. This problem is still listed as no repair or parts available. It is now Sept. 2026. 1 1/2 years is too long for…"
    Structure · filed 2026-09-12
  • "As I was driving down the highway, my A pillar trim began to get loose and flew off and hit the car behind me. It forced them to swerve yet they gained control of their car and approached me letting me know what…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-10
  • "Approximately 3 years ago, while driving my 2016 Ford Explorer on a [XXX], warning chimes sounded and a power steering/steering assist fault message appeared. Electric power-steering assist then stopped functioning and…"
    Steering · filed 2026-09-08
  • "I am writing to report a severe, inherently dangerous engineering defect regarding the internal water pump design on the 2016 Ford Explorer equipped with the 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 engine.On September 8, 2026, my…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-08

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2016 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Explorer two-wheel drive flex-fuel 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 17 24 20 MPG $3250
Explorer all-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 16 23 19 MPG $3400
Explorer all-wheel drive 2.3L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 18 26 21 MPG $3100
Explorer all-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 16 22 18 MPG $3600
Explorer all-wheel drive flex-fuel 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 16 23 19 MPG $3400
Explorer front-wheel drive 2.3L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 19 27 22 MPG $2950
Explorer front-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 17 24 20 MPG $3250

Specs and fitment

5th generation, 2011–2019
Body styles SUV
Oil 5W-30 synthetic (EcoBoost engines); 5W-20 synthetic (3.5L Ti-VCT V6) , 6 qt capacity
Tire size 245/65R17 (XLT) to 255/50R20 (Limited/Sport)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA complaints filed on 2011-2019 Explorers most often name the structure and the steering. Recall 19V-435 covers certain 2011-2017 Explorers: the rear suspension toe links may fracture from stress on the rear suspension, which can cause a sudden change in handling. Dealers replace the toe links and inspect the rear toe-link ball joints, replacing the wheel knuckle if needed. Recall 21V-537 expands that campaign for certain 2013-2017 Explorers originally sold or ever registered in salt-belt states, where road salt can corrode and seize the cross-axis ball joint and fracture the outboard section of the toe link. Recall 24V-031 covers certain 2011-2019 Explorers whose A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, so the trim can detach. Recall 21V-316 covers certain 2016-2019 Explorers whose roof-rail cover retention pins can loosen and let the cover detach.

Compare

Previous year 2015 Ford Explorer Next year 2017 Ford Explorer See every Ford Explorer model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Ford Explorer reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 Ford Explorer holds 2,450 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 220 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 13 Explorer years on this site. NHTSA has 15 recalls on file, including Structure, body, Engine block heater, and Roof and pillars.

What are common problems with a 2016 Ford Explorer?

The complaints owners file most often name Structure (584 of 2,450), then Steering (530) and Engine (381). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 48,850 miles, and the middle half falls between 17,685 and 83,000 miles. Those filings include 39 that report a crash, 14 that report a fire, and 43 that report an injury.

Is the 2016 Ford Explorer more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 Explorer has 1,788 complaints, 148 per year, and the 2017 has 1,700 complaints, 136 per year. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2017.

Has the 2016 Ford Explorer been recalled?

The 2016 Ford Explorer has 15 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2016 Ford Explorer?

Owners have filed 2450 complaints about the 2016 Ford Explorer with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Ford Explorer get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Ford Explorer is 19.9 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is my Ford Explorer?

2011-2019 is the 5th generation, built on a unibody platform, and 2020-onward is the 6th generation, which switched to a rear-wheel-drive-based platform shared with the Police Interceptor Utility.

Are there rear axle problems on the 6th-generation Explorer?

Yes. 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles were covered by recalls 22V-255, 23V-199, and 23V-675 for a rear axle horizontal mounting bolt that may fracture and disconnect the driveshaft, risking a loss of drive power or a rollaway.