Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2016 Ford Explorer
NHTSA data on file today
The 2016 Ford Explorer has 15 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2,464 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V448000 Roof Rail Covers May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V685000 Engine Block Heater May Short Circuit and Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V347000 Driver and Passenger Door Trim May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V031000 Exterior A-Pillar Trim May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V537000 Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V316000 Roof Rail Covers May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V675000 Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V692000 Link Shaft Brackets May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V435000 Rear Suspension Toe Links May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V767000 Front Seat Adjuster Pivot Bolts may Loosen NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17E048000 Hub Unit Bearing may Allow Wheel Detachment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V475000 Driver Seat Back Frame May Fail/FMVSS 202, 207 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V183000 Engine Block Heater May Overheat NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V605000 Fuel Tank Mounting Bolts may be Loose NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V464000 Parking Brake may not Fully Engage/FMVSS 135 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Structure 592 complaints
- Steering 531 complaints
- Unknown or Other 433 complaints
- Engine 382 complaints
- Power Train 215 complaints
- Electrical System 128 complaints
Of the 2,464 complaints on file, 39 report a crash and 14 a fire; across all 2,464 complaints, owners report 59 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2016 Ford Explorer is rated below-average due to multiple recalls for body, suspension, and powertrain issues, alongside hundreds of owner complaints, particularly regarding the structure and steering components. These persistent issues contribute to its lower reliability and higher cost of ownership over time.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 50,000–80,000 miles | $700–$1,200 | very common |
| steering system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $600–$1,000 | common |
| engine cooling | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$600 | common |
| fuel tank assembly | 30,000–60,000 miles | $450–$900 | common |
| roof rail covers | 40,000–70,000 miles | $100–$200 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pads and brake fluid
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant flush
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Drive belt replacement
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Loose roof rail covers
- Unusual steering noise
- Vibrations when braking
- Sudden loss of engine power
- Suspension creaking sound
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2016 Ford Explorer at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.