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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,571 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Ford Explorer engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 3 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #308

May 162023

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The waterpump of the vehicle causes excessive leaking which causes the vehicle to overheat.

- Sebring, FL, USA

problem #307

May 042023

Explorer

  • miles
I was driving my vehicle only a month after getting oil change and service. I was confident my vehicle was in good condition as it had passed the inspection. I suddenly noticed the temperature needle was rising. I immediately pulled over and asked for help and was told i needed water. My water pump was not working.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #306

May 072023

Explorer

  • miles
Coolant leaking, could be water pump issues? Also foul order inside vehicle. I just bought this so I don't know when these problems started. I have not taken it to a shop yet

- Priest River , ID, USA

problem #305

Feb 152023

Explorer

  • 1,176,658 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Everytime my ac/heat is on it affects my engine as I-??m driving. My speedometer fast jumps. As soon as I turn it off it seems to run better. I made a complaint a week ago about something going on with my fuel and fan running high speed. I have a foul smell in my car. I thought for awhile it was something outside but now I believe it-??s coming from my car. It smells like fuel/rubber/sewer if that makes sense.

- Youngstown , OH, USA

problem #304

Apr 132023

Explorer

  • miles
Took 2016 Ford Explorer in for an oil change. Was informed that there is an Engine Water Pump leak and needs replacement. There were no warning lights or notifications. Concerns are a malfunction of only vehicle available to me and my family.

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #303

Oct 032022

Explorer

  • 117,658 miles
My fuel evap pump check engine light keeps coming on. I-??ve owned this vehicle since July 2022 and I have paid for the evap pump 3x-??s. My fan constantly runs in the engine. My engine has a stutter when I press the gas. Ford absolutely dropped the ball with this vehicle. I have already paid thousands of dollars (water pump, evap pumps and more) please help on getting this car serviced. I still owe like 20k on this car. I cannot afford to keep getting it fixed. I have 121k miles on it.

- Youngstown , OH, USA

problem #302

Mar 272023

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Defective water pump. Water pump is leaking coolant, this could lead to engine damage. Repair is extremely costly.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #301

Mar 192023

Explorer

  • miles
This model has a defective water pump. When it goes the engine stops even if in the middle of a busy intersection.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #300

Mar 212023

Explorer

  • miles
Informed that the water pump on my 2016 Explorer is going out. This seems to be an ongoing problem that Ford is not addressing.

- River Ridge, LA, USA

problem #299

Mar 102023

Explorer

  • miles
My Ford Explorer was idling roughly and unsafely hesitating in traffic. The check engine light came on. I had to drive it to the Ford Dealership to be evaluated. On the way to Bill Collins Ford in Louisville KY, my vehicle hesitated in traffic several times, and I feared that I would be hit by other vehicles. I was informed that it had a catastrophic engine failure. The head gasket was blown. The service manager informed me that replacing the head gasket would not resolve the issue due to the DESIGN FLAW with the engine. This design flaw that is inherent to this engine family has caused vehicles to unsafely hesitate in traffic and catch fire. There are currently no engines available due to the number of engines that are failing. My vehicle cannot be repaired at this time.

- Shepherdsville, KY, USA

problem #298

Mar 082023

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is a known issue with the 2018 Explorer. A warning came on the dash with a wrench that says, see manual along with the airbag light. The vehicle lost all power, went into a safe mode and would only idle rough. The shop diagnosed this as a known issue with the throttle body malfunctioning. I called Ford and although there was a min extension done to the warranties for this car, it expired. This needs to be recalled. Had this of happened at interstate speed, myself and my entire family could have been severely injured or killed.

- Johnston, IA, USA

problem #297

Feb 172023

Explorer

  • miles
The water pump is located inside the motor to repair is over $3,000 just to simply change a water pump a leaking water pump will lead to a motor lock up from what could of been a $100 do it your self job turns into a $3000 job for a dealership or locked up motor and motor replacement or a crash

- Barrackville , WV, USA

problem #296

Jun 102022

Explorer

  • miles
My touch screen isn-€™t working properly and I have brand new converters in there is smoke coming out of my tail pipes, also I have to jump my vehicle every time I want to go somewhere.

- Castro Valley, CA, USA

problem #295

Feb 222023

Explorer

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a routine oil change, he was made aware that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, and that the water pump, head gasket, and timing belt needed to be replaced. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was advised to have the repairs completed at a local dealer. The contact made a local dealer aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

- Lafayette, CO, USA

problem #294

Feb 122023

Explorer

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact used an ODB scanner and retrieved a fault code for a misfire in cylinder #1. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinder. The mechanic stated that either the engine or gasket needed to be replaced, and the contact was advised to have further diagnosis and repairs completed at a local dealer. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Truckee, CA, USA

problem #293

Feb 192023

Explorer

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, a loud noise was heard coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle then lost motive power while coming to a stop at a stop signal. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure reoccurred shortly afterwards, and the vehicle was unable to be restarted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the part to do the repair was on backorder. The vehicle remained with the independent mechanic awaiting the parts for the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.

- Essex, MD, USA

problem #292

Jan 212023

Explorer

  • miles
The heater stopped working but it seemed a benign problem-- until we had someone look at it. It was apparently leaking coolant due to a faulty design and water pump failure, and the mechanic told us the engine could have just seized up on the freeway putting us in danger. Ultimately cost over 3000$ and nearly 2 weeks to repair

- Oak Creek, WI, USA

problem #291

Jan 022023

Explorer

  • 117,658 miles
Water pump, leaking coolant, ticking engine

- Youngstown , OH, USA

problem #290

Oct 012022

Explorer

  • miles
2016 Ford Explorer. Wife was sitting in running vehicle, in line waiting to pick up our kids from school. Warning lights came on and engine sputtered out. Was checked by personal mechanic said coolant was empty but no leaks on ground at school. Said signs of past leakage. I filled with antifreeze and it ran fine with no visible leaks. @ months later i noticed reservoir low. Brought to ford for the luggage rack recall and had them check coolant issue and do oil change. Water Pump. We had only owned the car for six months. How many thousands of people need to have issues with the water pump failing before we get any help. For god sakes its becoming a meme. Ok another couple thousand after i just had the water pump on my lacrosse replaced. Kids can go without food again. At least we weren't traveling down the turnpike at 70 mph when it happened.

- Williamstown, NJ, USA

problem #289

Jan 252023

Explorer

  • miles
The water pump failed and dumped coolant into the oil and seized the engin

- Ashland, OH, USA

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