2016 Ford Explorer: loss of power steering

Filed Oct 1, 2026 · Steering · NY

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Yes How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Yes: While driving on [XXX] at highway speed, my vehicle suddenly began to swerve, causing a significant loss of steering control and creating an unsafe driving condition. Concerned that I had experienced a flat tire, I immediately pulled over to inspect the vehicle. Upon inspection, I found that none of the tires were flat. Believing it was unsafe to continue at normal speed, I proceeded cautiously and drove the vehicle slowly to my service center for diagnosis. After examining the vehicle, the service center informed me that the rack and pinion steering assembly was the cause of the problem I experienced. At the time of the incident, I had an extended warranty/service contract that provided powertrain coverage. However, I was informed that because the rack and pinion system in my vehicle is electronically assisted, the repair was not covered under the terms of the policy. Given the sudden loss of steering control and the potential safety risks involved, I am seeking a review of this matter by your team. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, by Insurance agent who declined my insurance claim. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No prior symptoms. Approximately first week of September 2026. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 8, 2026 · Engine · MI

I am writing to report a severe, inherently dangerous engineering defect regarding the internal water pump design on the 2016 Ford Explorer equipped with the 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 engine.On September 8, 2026, my vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic primary seal failure of the internal water pump while operating. The vehicle immediately began dumping large quantities of engine coolant onto the ground from the designated engine block weep hole located on the lower passenger side. Because Ford engineered this specific engine with the water pump hidden entirely behind the front timing cover and driven directly by the engine's timing chain, any mechanical failure of the pump poses an immediate, severe safety risk to the driver and occupants. If the secondary pump seal fails or the weep hole becomes obstructed, coolant dumps directly into the engine crankcase, mixing with the engine oil. This sudden loss of lubrication can cause the internal pump bearings to seize rapidly, leading to the timing chain snapping or jumping tracks.The consequences of this design create two distinct, critical safety hazards:Sudden Engine Stall at Speed: A seized water pump or broken timing chain will cause an instantaneous, un-commanded engine shutdown while traveling at highway speeds. This immediately cuts off the vehicle's power steering assist and power brake booster, placing the driver at extreme risk of a high-speed collision. Passenger Cabin Hazmat Hazard: A major coolant dump underneath the engine bay onto hot exhaust components generates blinding steam and toxic chemical fumes that can enter the vehicle’s HVAC system, severely impairing driver visibility and breathing.This internal, chain-driven water pump design is a known, systemic manufacturing defect that forces vehicle owners to pay between $3,000 and $5,000 in preventative labor to fix an auxiliary cooling component before it destroys the entire engine block. I urge the federal safety agency to open a formal safety investigation int

Filed Sep 8, 2026 · Steering · CA

Approximately 3 years ago, while driving my 2016 Ford Explorer on a [XXX], warning chimes sounded and a power steering/steering assist fault message appeared. Electric power-steering assist then stopped functioning and the steering became extremely difficult to operate. I slowed down and was able to maneuver safely off the freeway. I shut the vehicle off, opened the driver’s door, waited approximately 45 seconds and restarted it. Normal steering assist returned. Shortly afterward, I took the vehicle to Oakdale Ford in Oakdale, CA and reported the problem. I was advised that further diagnosis/investigation would involve approximately $5,600 in costs. I declined due to the expense, and no repair was performed. The cause of the failure remains UNKNOWN. The vehicle remains available for inspection. During the approximately 3 years since, the vehicle has unexpectedly lost electric power-steering assist at least a dozen additional times, at different speeds and on different types of roads. Sometimes warning chimes/messages occur without loss of assist; other times assist is actually lost. Shutting the vehicle down, opening the driver’s door, waiting approximately 45 seconds and restarting has restored steering assist each time, but the problem later recurs unpredictably. I live in a mountainous area and regularly drive narrow, winding roads with steep drop-offs and limited or no guardrails. Sudden loss of steering assist while negotiating a curve makes the vehicle significantly harder to control and creates a serious risk of leaving the roadway. No crash or injury has occurred to date. The failure is intermittent, unpredictable, repeatedly occurs while driving, and has not been repaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 13, 2026 · Steering · KY

The electronic power steering failed Yes its available for inspection My child and my safety were put at risk when I warning came up and said "steering loss, stop safely" and the steering wheel was locked. The problem was still there when it was brought into Ford service center Nothing prior to the warning

Filed May 17, 2026 · Engine, Suspension · FL

Vehicle: 2016 Ford Explorer 2WD V6-3.5L VIN: [XXX] rchase: January 20, 2026 Odometer at Purchase: 70,929 miles (fraudulent — true mileage approximately 123,779 miles) Dealer: Drive Time Car Sales Company LLC, DBA Drive Time, 8805 E Adamo Dr, Tampa, FL 33619-3525 Narrative — Copy and Paste Into the federal safety agency Online Form: On January 20, 2026, I purchased a 2016 Ford Explorer 2WD V6-3.5L (VIN: [XXX] ) fr [XXX] Sales Company LLC, located at 8805 E Adamo Dr, Tampa, Florida 33619-3525. At the time of sale, the vehicle had three open, unrepaired federal safety recalls: 1. the federal safety agency Recall 19V435 / Ford 19S17 — Rear Suspension Toe Link Replacement (initiated June 26, 2019, affecting 1,194,173 vehicles). The rear suspension toe links may fracture, causing sudden loss of vehicle handling and risk of crash. 2. the federal safety agency Recall 21V537 / Ford 21S32 — Rear Suspension Toe Link Cross-Axis Ball Joint (owner notifications mailed March 2022, affecting 644,055 vehicles). The cross-axis ball joint may corrode and seize, causing toe link fracture and loss of steering control. 3. the federal safety agency Recall 25V347 / Ford 25S53 — B-Pillar Door Trim Detachment (owner notifications mailed June 2025, affecting 492,145 vehicles). B-pillar trim may detach while driving, creating a road hazard for other motorists. None of these recalls were repaired prior to sale. The dealer had documented actual knowledge of all three open recalls. Drive Time provided me with copies of the recall notices as part of the purchase paperwork at the time of sale. Additionally, the recall documentation included a printout from the federal safety agency recall lookup website for this specific VIN, timestamped January 19, 2026, at 5:28 PM — the day before the sale — proving that Drive Time actively investigated and confirmed the open recalls within hours of delivering the vehicle. Ford's own dealer notice for Recall 19V435/19S17 states: "Federal law requires dealers to complete this recall service before a new vehicle is INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 26, 2025 · Steering · MT

I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding my 2016 Ford Explorer (VIN: [XXX] .) Build Date: (08/15.), Mileage (115,262.). My vehicle has experienced a steering rack failure, which poses a serious risk of loss of steering control. I am aware of multiple recalls (such as 20v-675 / Ford 20S62 and 21V‑537 / Ford 21S32) Addressing rear suspension toe link fractures in 2016 ford explorers. These recalls cover vehicles built in the same timeframe as mine, but my VIN is not included. This exclusion is concerning, as both the steering rack and suspension defect involve loss of steering control and directly impact driver and passenger safety. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency investigate: 1. Why certain VIN's, including mine, were excluded despite being manufactured in the recall window. 2. Whether steering rack failures in the 2016 ford explorer should also be subject to an official safety recall. Thank you for your attention to this urgent safety matter. I look forward to hearing from somebody. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 13, 2025 · Steering · 97,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering assist functionality, and the steering wheel was stuck while attempting to turn the steering wheel to the left or the right. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact spoke with the dealer and was informed that the power steering assist had failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

Filed Jun 12, 2025 · Body, Steering · 105,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of the federal safety agency Campaign numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000(Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving 40 MPH and making a right turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the steering wheel had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance in covering the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Jun 7, 2025 · TX

Was driving on the highway at an high speed and abruptly received a message “power steering failure” the steering wheel locked up. After a few seconds I was able to find a way to safely maneuver lanes but it was very difficult to maintain control Of vehicle. Upon re starting car the error popped up again and the wheel is now completely locked. Upon conversation with a family member about the occurrence we found out this happened to their car as well. Same make year and model. Upon research this sounds to be a problem in the 2016 Explorers and is a major safety concern. This could have ended extremely badly.

Filed May 8, 2025 · Steering · 65,964 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering functionality. The contact stated that the message “Power Steering Failure - Stop Driving Vehicle” was displayed. The traction control warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with internal steering gear head failure. The dealer performed the steering gear replacement and realignment. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The manufacturer later informed the contact that no assistance would be provided. The failure mileage was 65,964.

Filed Apr 3, 2025 · Steering · 144,337 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 144,337.

Filed Feb 4, 2025 · Steering · NJ

Vehicles steering is extremely difficult to turn, power steering fluids have been checked and changed out as well. Issue persists in high and low speeds