2016 Ford Explorer Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 532about this part
- Share
- 22%of 2,463 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 58,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 532 complaints about the steering of the 2016 Ford Explorer, 22% of the 2,463 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 58,000 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I bought my certified preowned 2016 Ford Explorer on october 22 2019. I have had it for 4 months. Yesterday while I was driving I noticed when slightly veering to the right that the wheel pulls hard towards the right and it it hard to pull the wheel back to the straight position. I tested this on the left side and it does the same just not as hard to pull.”
NHTSA complaint #11315709, filed 2020-03, 45,000 miles“Sounded like a popping or clunk type noise when I turned the wheel to the right for a while then it started to make noise when turn the wheel either way. Losing control driving. Read on the news, 1.2 million Explorer recalled for the steering assembly recalled for same issue but when I call Ford they said this VIN was not part of recall. Very disappointed.”
NHTSA complaint #11364367, filed 2020-10, 60,000 miles“When turning right at a slow speed, heavy knocking/thumping noise and steering was jerky. Vehicle has 33,400 miles. Had it repaired at the Ford dealership yesterday and they replaced the rack and pinion at a cost of $1800. Since I read this seems to be a common problem I asked if this issue has been recalled and was informed it was not.”
NHTSA complaint #11355650, filed 2020-09, 33,400 miles“Power steering locked up , well its electric steering .and the warring lights came on terrain assist and hill assist disabled, service advance trac ,steering loss , I was traveling on the freeway doing about 70 miles an hour when this happed I almost loss control of the vehicle . There are so many complaints about this problem with the Ford explore steering issuse .”
NHTSA complaint #11373167, filed 2020-11, 66,000 miles“I was driving down the highway and I got errors saying my advace trac system needed to be serviced. Also that my power steering failed and I needed to pull the vehicle over safely. I was going about 65mph and my power steering went out!. I had to take an offramp shortly after (I was on my way to work) and it was difficult to steer the vehicle. Very dangerous!”
NHTSA complaint #11287518, filed 2019-12, 59,730 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10207116Jan 14, 2022Some 2016 Explorer vehicles equipped with factory remote start (on the key fob) may exhibit erratic operation of the climate control seats and/or heated steering wheel during a…
- 10152466Nov 1, 20182013-2019 vehicles equipped with a LKS system with customer complaints of steering wheel vibration, steering pull or vehicle drift may be due to an alert and/or steering aid…
- 10144947Aug 24, 2018When connecting the Vehicle Communication Module (VCM) and Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) or Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) to the DLC located on the driver side…
- 10095995Nov 17, 2016Some 2010-2016 epas equipped vehicles may exhibit steering related noises. The workshop manual (wsm) diagnostic procedures have been updated in section 211-02. When diagnosing…
- 10090662Oct 10, 2016When hooking up the vehicle communication module (vcm) and integrated diagnostic system (ids) to the dlc located on the driver side under the steering column at the gwm, make…
- 10092562Aug 22, 2016When hooking up the vehicle communication module (vcm) and integrated diagnostic system (ids) to the dlc located on the driver side under the steering column at the gwm, make…
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 2% |
| 2025 | 9 | 8% |
| 2024 | 2 | 10% |
| 2023 | 12 | 11% |
| 2022 | 9 | 3% |
| 2021 | 6 | 1% |
| 2020 | 28 | 2% |
| 2019 | 9 | 3% |
| 2018 | 21 | 3% |
| 2017 | 76 | 4% |
| 2016 | 532 | 22% |
| 2015 | 347 | 19% |
| 2014 | 500 | 30% |
| 2013 | 836 | 37% |
| 2012 | 360 | 43% |
| 2011 | 742 | 62% |
| 2010 | 4 | 3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 3% |
| 2008 | 13 | 9% |
| 2007 | 10 | 5% |
| 2006 | 9 | 1% |
| 2005 | 12 | 2% |
| 2004 | 41 | 3% |
| 2003 | 27 | 2% |
| 2002 | 155 | 5% |
| 2001 | 21 | 6% |
| 2000 | 40 | 4% |
| 1999 | 38 | 3% |
| 1998 | 70 | 4% |
| 1997 | 33 | 2% |
| 1996 | 47 | 3% |
| 1995 | 52 | 6% |
| 1994 | 24 | 2% |
| 1993 | 19 | 2% |
| 1992 | 25 | 4% |
| 1991 | 10 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2016 Ford Explorer
591 complaintsOther or unknown
434 complaintsEngine
382 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
215 complaintsElectrical system
129 complaintsEngine cooling
114 complaintsFuel system
112 complaintsAir bags
99 complaintsVehicle speed control
76 complaintsSuspension
73 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
68 complaintsWheels
50 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology