general problems of the 2016 Ford Explorer - part 1

2016 Ford Explorer exterior a-pillar & b-pillar applique trim clip this may result in the b-pillar trim appliques detaching while driving. A b-pillar trim applique that detaches while driving can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. The problem been confirmed by a Ford dealer the vehicle has been inspected by the Ford dealership with no resolutions available!!!!?? no warnings at all before purchase of the family vehicle.

Recall Ford # 21s22 roof rack cap. I called Ford and reported that the roof rack cap has broken off. They stated that recall for my vehicle has been completed and closed. If the issue is still happening after the recall has been established even if it has been repaired, why is it still not covered under the recall. The repairs made to correct it were obviously not adequate.

The windshield trim on my car is missing. There is a recall on this but there is no remedy yet. With this not being fixed it is causing a safety issue with our car as well as allowing our car to flood inside when it rains. I have contacted Ford and they told me unfortunately there was nothing they could do at this time.

The rear camera is compromised because water gets inside and is blocking the view of the camera. You are unable to use the rear backup camera because the view is completely blocked or blurred by the water or moisture that is able to get in.

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.

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 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.

Was driving on the highway at an high speed and abruptly received a message “power steering failure” the steering wheel locked up. After a few seconds I was able to find a way to safely maneuver lanes but it was very difficult to maintain control of vehicle. Upon re starting car the error popped up again and the wheel is now completely locked. Upon conversation with a family member about the occurrence we found out this happened to their car as well. Same make year and model. Upon research this sounds to be a problem in the 2016 Explorers and is a major safety concern. This could have ended extremely badly.

A-pillar trim has been under recall since Jan. 2024. Ford estimated having the parts "the later half of 2024". Here it is June of 2025 and still no repair. Is it going to take a tragedy to motivate Ford? in no way could this be considered a "timely repair".

I’ve had it twice be an issue where the engine didn’t run quite right. The first time I took it to the mechanic it was determined the timing chain was bad and they also said this is a well known issue with the ecoboost engines in these Explorers. Only about a year later after replacing that and the water pump I went to start the Explorer and it wouldn’t start. Took it to the mechanic again and they found that the timing chain, again, had failed and this time it also caused damage to a piston rod. They said they were surprised it wasn’t catastrophic damage to the engine because of this. I’ve now had to spend literally thousands of dollars on this vehicle for timing chain related issues alone in just over 3 years of owning it. Searching online finds unending reports of similar issues to this as well as massive issues with the turbos and the cam phasers that also commonly are causing catastrophic engine failures despite routine preventative maintenance being performed. And the a pillar recall issue. I had it inspected December of 2024 and determined it needed them replaced. I was not given a time frame when that would be completed. I got a call over a month ago from the dealer saying to call them to schedule a repair. I did so and then was told that while I was on the list they still are unable to get any parts from Ford to repair this mandated recall and also cannot get a timeline on when said parts would be available. I’m almost six months past them saying it’s been ordered and still no idea when it’ll be repaired. And now a second recall was just announced for the b post coverings and I’m sure this will be just as bad. As many issues as this car is having I think Ford should have to pay for a lot more recalls than they have so far. I also had to have two other recalls fixed that the selling dealer didn’t address before selling to me.

The driver side b pillar applique is loose and I fear it may become completely dislogdged or blow off during high speed highway travel and cause some sort of accident. This recall has been open since may of 2025 and Ford motor company still has no remedy or fix for it yet. In addition -and not included in this recall- the driver side a piller applique on the windshield has also come loose and may also fly off during travel. This too should be fixed. Can you help?.

The backup camera stopped working and has a message that says contact dealership. It is blacked out and may cause a crash while reversing. Thank you. Ford has known issues and already has a recall for 2020-2023. This is a 2016.

I experienced two failures associated with other model years. The first was the right side a-pillar trim. It pulled free on the highway. I noticed it fly off and was able to recover the majority of it. It smashed on impact and there is a large piece missing. The remaining piece is available for inspection upon request. The a-pillar exterior trim flew off on a one-lane section of divided highway, there would have been no place for anyone to go if it flew back and there was a car behind me. This problem is a known issue I found out about on this (NHTSA) website. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no, it flew off on the highway and has not been reported yet. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no warning at all that this was going to break loose. I also have an issue with the ptu. I was driving home from the airport and at a a stoplight, I noticed a ticking noise when I stopped at the exit of the parking lot. I noticed it again closer to home, after a fifty mile drive. When I stopped on the off ramp from the highway, I noticed smoke coming from under/behind my Explorer. It smelled like antifreeze, but when I arrived home, and checked under the vehicle, I found black residue on the ptu and what looked like leaks from the axle seals that were not there for the last five months I've owned the vehicle. The vehicle smoked heavily when I stopped on the exit ramp, and when I went to accelerate into the traffic round-about, the vehicle lagged before moving, with an audible clunk and a lurch when it finally moved. Any reasonably hard acceleration produces a noise and will usually lag before moving. It may make a ticking noise when at idle cold, but is more pronounced the hotter the drivetrain gets. I had an obd ii scan done with no codes produced.

The exterior a-piller trim part is missing, having already detached. I have called Ford 3 times and the customer service once. They keep saying for the last year that the parts are not available. They will not take responsibility to get this fixed. If the other one falls off it could cause other people to get injured.

The active recall for the trim only includes the front two trim pillars. There are trim pillars down each window on this vehicle, making that a total of 8 pieces of trim for the windows. Driving down the highway my drivers side window trim pillar (which includes a lock panel with wiring) blew off and almost hit another vehicle that was passing me, while with my children, causing me to have to pull over multiple times and even try to find a back road home. There are so many Ford Explorers missing various pieces of trim from the window areas. I’ve been told by Ford mechanics that they all have cracking on the rear window trim pillars due to brackets so I am assuming those will fly off soon as well. Now I can’t drive on the highway to doctor’s appointments due to the safety issues of this vehicle. I cannot afford to keep forking thousands into this vehicle nor should I have to. Overall the whole Ford Explorer model should be rechecked. We purchased this car due to safety awards only to be dealing with very unsafe conditions. From pieces of the vehicle flying off down the road to air bag lights, etc. Please if you’re able, look into these other trim pieces on the car. Also the front piece of plastic running under the windshield is lifting and not sealed appropriately to the window causing a loose windshield, in addition the rubber going around the inside of the windshield is not sealed causing the rubber to lift and slap around on the vehicle. I have notified Ford of these issues and they directed me here. Thank you for your time.

Windshield pillar molding has detached. I have called a local dealer 4 times over the past three months for repairs. Local dealer (tamiami Ford naples florida) states that parts are not available. Nthsa has published a letter from Ford on approximately July 18, 2024 that parts are available for the repair. Additionally nthsa has published a quarterly update in October of 2024 that 51,000 repairs have been done on this recall. I see the parts available at various dealerships around the country. Please advise on what Ford motor CO plans on doing to complete these repairs or is my local dealer misinformed?.

Top pillar on car came off and almost hit vehicle. Ford really did a bad job with the graphics of this vehicle. Just like the pillars on the front of the car now this.

Ptu burnt out less than 53k miles. Molding on passenger side broke off while driving 60mph struck another vehicle causing to other vehicle to leave road. Thank god no one was injured. This thing could have killed a motorcycle driver. Checked online and there are thousands of reports of same molding breaking off while driving. Ford TN# does not recognize and disconnects call.

"a" pillar left and right coming loose, right side blowing away on the freeway. Dealer mentioned they have a fix for it but will not repair until recall approval.

1. Yes 2. My front window can shatter 3. There is a recall open up on it 4. No 5. Yes the trim came off going down the highway and started flapping against my window and it sounded like gun shots my front window is making a god awful sound and the trim is coming loose and flapping. They said the parts would be here in 2024 this is very dangerous with driving.

Good morning, I’m reaching out in regards to my 2016 Ford Explorer. I’ve been trying to get the necessary recall repairs completed, but unfortunately, I’ve been unable to locate the required pillars for the repairs. I recently brought my vehicle back to the dealership, but was told that no work can be done until both parts are available. I was also advised to try sourcing one of the parts from another Ford dealership on my own, which I’ve had no luck with. To be honest, I’m feeling very overwhelmed. I purchased this vehicle used, back in September 2025, and since then, it has been one issue after another. I’ve already invested more into mechanical repairs than what I currently owe on the vehicle. I’m a [xxx], and this vehicle is our only mode of transportation. I’m growing increasingly concerned for our safety, especially knowing that the recall parts are critical and things could start to fall apart — literally — if they’re not addressed soon. With that said, I would greatly appreciate your help in exploring any other options available through Ford or the dealership. Some specific questions I have are: is there any way for the dealership to help source the necessary parts through other Ford networks or escalate this to Ford corporate? can you assist with a temporary vehicle solution while waiting on the parts (loaner or rental)? would there be any way to explore trading in or transitioning into another vehicle, even with the current issues and financial position I’m in? I understand that supply issues happen, but I’m just trying to keep my kids and myself safe, and right now I’m feeling stuck. I would extremely appreciate any help or direction you can offer. Please feel free to call or email me directly. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I was driving 55mph (speed limit) down a curvy country road when the steering wheel became stiff and wouldn’t turn. A red light flashed and said I had lost steering. I was barely able to get stopped before going of a steep embankment. I was stoped in a dangerous spot with no way get out of oncoming traffic. My vehicle flashed a yellow light that said terrain management system failure. No only was my life risk everyone that traveled down that road that morning. This included a school bus full of children and several other people that were trying to make it so work just like me.

Water pump failed at 58,000 miles.

The moonroof malfunctions and can be stuck in the open position. The drain plug for the moonroof can easily get clogged causing water to back up into the overhead structure. This causes water to fall onto the driver and passengers. The water flows from the overhead area, the side pillars and onto the floorboards. The electrical components are then compromised and the motor that controls the moonroof stops working. In my situation my moonroof was stuck in the open position for several days. I live in florida where it rains alot. It is not safe to drive with an open moon roof during a severe thunderstorm. In doing my research this seems to be a very common problem with Ford moonroofs. I've had to have it fixed twice now. Luckily the first time it was stuck in the open position but water continued to pour into the interior of my vehicle while I was driving. This caused me to be distracted as I was driving. I had it repaired both times at a Ford dealership.

The recall has been in place for replacing an exterior a-pillar trim part - we have tried to get it replaced, but there are no parts nationally. Why haven't the parts been created? it has been over a year.

I was made aware of a recall for my 2016 Ford Explorer sport involving the exterior a-pillar appliqué molding recall#24s02 and NHTSA# 24v031 I had an inspection done on 12/30/24 and it was determined at that time it needed to be replaced, but parts were not yet available. I have since then regularly checked with the dealership to see if parts were available, but they have not become available. I reached out to Ford directly on 7/28/25 and was told my case was escalated and I need to work with my 'case handler' who did not contact me until 8/11/25 after I made multiple repeated requests to speak to someone. They informed me there are no parts, there is no eta and despite assurances to the contrary(they informed me that they ". . . Works daily with your dealership's management team. " have not spoken to the service advisor at the dealership as of yet. Their case number at Ford is cxh-05085068-r9d1s4 the part flew off on the highway on 7/28/25 and now today, 8/11/25 the rubber around the windshield is coming loose. Ford continues to say they have no updates. The dealership said the last they checked, last week, there were over 30,000 orders in for this part, that Ford was no longer accepting new orders from dealers for this, and that they will not give any eta on this being remedied. I'm concerned that more damage is being done to my vehicle and based on Ford's behavior thus far will try to not cover any additional repairs that caused by their inability to provide a repair in a reasonable and timely fashion. I'd like this repaired, correctly, and any other repairs necessary due to the delay, by no later than the end of the month of August.

I am writing to formally express my profound disappointment with the excessive delay in shipping parts related to the recall of the a-pillar trim piece for my vehicle. It has been over two months since the dealer removed these trim pieces from my car in compliance with the recall process, yet the replacement parts have not been provided. This delay is both unacceptable and deeply frustrating, as it has resulted in my vehicle being driven in a state that is visibly unprofessional and not reflective of the quality standards I expected from Ford. I trusted Ford to address safety and recall issues in a timely and efficient manner, as required under federal law. Unfortunately, my experience with this matter has fallen far short of those expectations.

Rack and pinion failure. Caused me almost to wreck. Cost is $4200 to fix. Ford has to program it and send it back to my mechanic. I’m lucky this didn’t go out while going down a hill that would have been very bad.

Spoke to maplecrest Ford in union NJ about the front pilars recall. Maplecrest Ford took pictures of the pilars in September 2024 and told me in January that they will replace them. January became April , abril became June. Now maplecrest Ford is back to the beginning by taking pictures again and waiting on Ford for approval to replace the pilars.

Unknown.

A-pillar trim on both sides of my windshield flew off while driving over one year ago. Contacted Ford multiple times and parts are still not available to make the repair under recall 24s02. Ford still does not have parts for 18 months. Please do something to require Ford to make the parts to fix this recall. Thank you.

Leather dash is coming unglued near windshield and retracting towards front of dash. This is exposing a white underliner near the windshield and causing a severe glare on windshield. This condition significantly reduces visibility which is a high risk safety concern I have researched and several other Explorer owners have this same condition.

The rear camera, mounted on the lift gate, is no longer operating correctly. At times, it will flicker off and on, camera picture 'rolls', or does not work at all (black screen with error message - "camera is no longer operational, contact the dealership"). These incidents with the camera have occurred multiple times each month over the last year. When reversing in the dark especially, this becomes a major safety issue. Currently do not see a NHTSA or Ford recall for this defect.

Recall 24s02/24vo31outside pillars. I witnessed it flew of my car while driving nearly hitting another car. I don't understand why the recall is taking an extended time for it to be fixed but its available for you to purchase which is $956. My question is what is the difference between the one purchased and the recall? then if purchase you'll not offered a reimbursement!.

Ford has been unable to repair our vehicle for over a year because they say they can't get parts for recall # 25v347. We have contacted multiple Ford dealerships in a 300 mile radius. The outside noise coming from around the windshield area has increased. This is a major safety issue. I'm fearful that many people will be killed when the windshield and connected components start blowing out while driving. If Ford had been serious about getting manufactured parts out to dealers, they would be available. It appears that Ford has made a calculated decision to attempt to wait out owners. This is a dangerous situation for all concerned. We request repairs or an equitable solution.