2016 Ford Explorer reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2016 Ford Explorer — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 2,993
- 1,548 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 500 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 13
- see below
- Reported harm
- 57 reported crashes · 84 injuries · 21 fires
What owners report fails — 2016 Ford Explorer
- STEERING 500
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 421
- ENGINE 379
- STRUCTURE 360
- POWER TRAIN 198
13 recalls on record for the 2016 Ford Explorer
- NHTSA 25V685000 · 2025 · EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
- NHTSA 25V347000 · 2025 · STRUCTURE:BODY Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 24V031000 · 2024 · STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 21V537000 · 2022 · SUSPENSION:REAR A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 20V692000 · 2021 · POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT The failed bracket could result in a loss of park function which can cause unintended vehicle movement, and loss of moti
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2016 Ford Explorer
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2016 Ford Explorer units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Ford Explorer reliable?
NHTSA has 2,993 consumer complaints on record for the 2016 Ford Explorer and 13 recalls. The most-reported problem area is steering (500 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2016 Ford Explorer units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford Explorer?
Owners most often report problems with: steering (500), unknown or other (421), engine (379), structure (360). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2016 Ford Explorer?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.