RecallRepo

2016 Ford Explorer Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2016 Ford Explorer has 13 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,544,560 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3,004 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

EQUIPMENT 25V685000 2025-10-10 59,006 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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

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,…

STRUCTURE 25V347000 2025-05-23 492,145 affected
Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Explorer vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.

Consequence

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

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…

STRUCTURE 24V031000 2024-01-19 1,889,110 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed Feburary 16, 2024. Owner notification letters…

SUSPENSION 21V537000 2021-07-15 631,176 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

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

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.…

STRUCTURE 21V316000 2021-05-05 616,967 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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…

SUSPENSION 20V675000 2021-03-12 454,941 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

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

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.

POWER TRAIN 20V692000 2020-11-10 15,587 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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.…

SUSPENSION 19V435000 2019-06-10 1,194,173 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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…

SEATS 17V767000 2017-11-29 177,264 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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…

SEATS 16V475000 2016-06-28 5,280 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

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

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16V183000 2016-03-31 1,543 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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

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…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 15V605000 2015-09-28 203 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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

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.

PARKING BRAKE 15V464000 2015-07-24 7,165 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

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.

Complaints by component

STEERING
501
9crashes7injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
422
9crashes2fires26injuries
ENGINE
379
3crashes3fires8injuries
STRUCTURE
362
3crashes1fires1injuries
POWER TRAIN
198
6crashes4fires
STRUCTURE:BODY
195
1crashes3injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
119
1crashes6fires4injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
103
1crashes1fires5injuries
AIR BAGS
99
7crashes1fires8injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
74
1crashes
Total complaints3,004

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The piller on the passenger side flew off the vehicle driving down the interstate. It’s a recall that has been open for awhile but ford never had the parts/remedy when I call.”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2026-06-28

“Multiple ford dealerships in my service area have been contacted for recall dated jan 19,2024, manufacturer recall number24s02, nhtsa recall number24v031 but indicate ford manufacturing does not have parts available. It has been over 2 years. What recourse do consumers have? Summary in some of the…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2026-06-18

“The contact owns a 2016 ford explorer. The contact stated that distorted image would appear on rear view camera every time contact would go in reverse with his vehicle. The contact stated that distortion on camera started happening today, 06/03/2026. Contact stated they contacted dealer but has…”

BACK OVER PREVENTION · reported 2026-06-03

“The electronic power steering failed yes its available for inspection my child and my safety were put at risk when I warning came up and said "steering loss, stop safely" and the steering wheel was locked. The problem was still there when it was brought into ford service center nothing prior to…”

STEERING · reported 2026-06-03

“The contact owns a 2016 ford explorer. The contact received the recall notification letter for nhtsa campaign number: 24v031000 and nhtsa campaign number: 25v347000. The contact stated that the water had entered the b-pillar trim and had detached. The local dealer was contacted who confirmed who…”

STRUCTURE · reported 2026-05-29

“The contact owns a 2016 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph the drivers side b- piller had detached. The contact indicated that the b-piller trim stayed connected to the vehicle by a wire. After the failure the contact discovered that the rear hatch door would…”

STRUCTURE · reported 2026-05-28

“The contact owns a 2016 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph the drivers side b- piller had detached. The contact indicated that the b-piller trim stayed connected to the vehicle by a wire. After the failure the contact discovered that the rear hatch door would…”

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES · reported 2026-05-28

“The a pillar piece has been on recall since 2024. I have been trying to get this fixed for almost 2 years and stevens ford in milford has been telling me the pieces are on back order since then. The piece became loose recently when driving on highway and I called them (ford dealer) to notify them.…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2026-05-26

Defect investigations

Investigation EA17002 Opened 2017-07-27 · closed 2023-01-17

Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

During the EA17-002 investigation, the agency reviewed and analyzed reports of exhaust odors in the passenger cabins of Model Year 2011 to 2017 Ford Explorers. This investigation required an approach that incorporated knowledge and expertise from the automotive, medical, environmental health, and occupational safety…

Investigation EA17002 Opened 2017-07-27 · closed 2023-01-17

Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

During the EA17-002 investigation, the agency reviewed and analyzed reports of exhaust odors in the passenger cabins of Model Year 2011 to 2017 Ford Explorers. This investigation required an approach that incorporated knowledge and expertise from the automotive, medical, environmental health, and occupational safety…

Investigation PE23001 Opened 2023-01-27 · closed 2024-02-08

Windshield trim molding Item detachment

On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2016 Ford Explorer as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.