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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,531 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2016 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #18

Apr 282024

Explorer

  • 80,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was tight while turning. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the rack and pinion. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

- Mcgrange Park, IL, USA

problem #17

May 242024

Explorer

  • 122,312 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while making left and right turns on several occasions at various speeds, the parking assist warning light illuminated, and the steering wheel became stiff. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 122,312.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #16

Jun 012023

Explorer

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a grinding and squeaking sound coming from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the noise was due to a faulty steering rack and pinion. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 40,000.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #15

Mar 012023

Explorer

  • 114,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while turning in either direction, the steering wheel jerked with a rubbing sound coming from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the local service center to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering rack and pinion was faulty and needed to be replaced; however, the parts needed to repair the vehicle were on backorder. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 114,000.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #14

Nov 142022

Explorer

  • 59,900 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the steering column was emitting a grinding noise and the steering wheel suddenly seized without warning. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to maneuver the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the rack and pinion failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not covered under a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 59,900.

- Albany, OR, USA

problem #13

Jul 292022

Explorer

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving and making left and right turns, the contact heard a clunking noise in the steering wheel. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel felt detached. The contact stated that the vehicle was swaying to the left and the right. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was transferred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #12

Jul 172022

Explorer

  • 102,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, a ticking noise was present within the steering column while turning in either direction. The contact stated that eventually the noise became louder. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and turning the steering wheel to the right, the steering wheel seized causing the driver to forcefully turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction to avoid losing control of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the steering column rack and pinion was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 102,000.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #11

Jan 042022

Explorer

  • miles
On January 4, 2022, while driving my children to school at 55pmh, my steering rack failed. I was able to get the vehicle parked before the steering wheel completely froze up. Multiple messages showed up on the dashboard, including a steering failure message. The vehicle was towed to my local mechanic, and he has determined that the steering rack needs to be replaced, at an estimate of $2200. The repair is scheduled to be done on 2/10/22.

- Whiting, ME, USA

problem #10

Nov 012020

Explorer

  • miles
El rack an pinon ya fue remplazado. Entiendo que ES muy prematuro para remplarlo. ES un falla de fabrica. Translation: "the rack and pinion was replaced. To my understanding is too premature to be replaced. It seems like is a manugacturing defect"

- Fajardo, PR, USA

problem #9

Jul 012021

Explorer

  • miles
Steering locked up while driving, causing a dangerous situation, fortunalty it was at low speeds an no harm came of it. 61,000 miles on the vehicle, Failed rack and pinion steering, needed to be replaced. $2,500.

- Hamilton , MT, USA

problem #8

Jun 012021

Explorer

  • miles

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

The rack and pinion steering had to be replaced in my 2016 Ford Explorer Limited. I had a difficult time controlling the steering and was fearful with my 4 kids in the car but made it home. I had it replaced and had to take a loan out to cover the $2500 price tag. The car has mainly highway miles on at 109,000. I am hoping to have this reimbursed by Ford because what I am looking up this is a MAJOR problem with many Ford vehicles.

- Kingston, PA, USA

problem #7

May 292021

Explorer

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at 10 MPH, various warning lights illuminated as the steering became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle collided with the curb and then stalled. The vehicle was restarted with all warning lights and audio warnings. The contact was able to drive without the power steering to a friend's residence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic for diagnosis or repairs. The contact called the dealer who told him that the failure was related to the rack and pinion and a diagnosis appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was notified and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

- Macomb Township, MI, USA

problem #6

Sep 112020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the steering wheel failed. The driver kept the steering wheel under control and move into the slow lane while continuing to drive. The contact stated that the steering system failure warning light illuminated on the instrumental panel when the failure occurred. The vehicle was towed to lewis J C Ford (9505 abercorn street savannah, Georgia, 31406, (912)-210-5677) to be diagnosed. The mechanic located the failure at the steering wheel rack and pinion. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #5

Jul 092019

Explorer

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. While the contact's wife was driving in reverse, the steering wheel seized. She had to use excessive strength to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was driven to columbia Ford of Tennessee (115 S james campbell blvd, columbia, tn 38401, (931) 388-2463) where it was diagnosed that a new rack and pinion needed to be installed. The vehicle was not repaired, but planned to be repaired in a few days. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Summertown, TN, USA

problem #4

Feb 182019

Explorer

  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. While driving approximately 25 mph, there was an abnormal grinding noise coming from the steering and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to parkway Ford Lincoln (located at 311 commercial pkwy, dover, oh 44622, (330) 343-6681) where it was diagnosed that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

- Cadiz, OH, USA

problem #3

Sep 172018

Explorer

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various low speeds, the rack and pinion within the steering wheel failed. While making a right turn, the contact heard a knocking noise coming from the steering column. D'orazio Ford (1135 South water street, wilmington, illiniois 60481, (815) 476-5205) was made aware of the failure and diagnosed that the rack and pinion was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #2

May 142018

Explorer

  • 31,910 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. While driving various speeds, an abnormal noise was heard. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to haldeman Ford (2443 lehigh St, allentown, pa) where it was diagnosed that the steering rack failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 31,910. The VIN was not available.

- Easton, PA, USA

problem #1

Apr 182018

Explorer

  • 56,442 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. While driving various speeds, a grinding noise was heard coming from the steering wheel. The steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact also stated that the vehicle jerked when attempting to change lanes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (fairway Ford of evans, 4333 Washington rd, evans, ga 30809, (706) 854-9200) where it was diagnosed that the internal fault electric rack and pinion assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was 56,442.

- Clarks Hill, SC, USA

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