2016 Ford Explorer suspension problems

Filed Jun 22, 2026 · Steering, Suspension · TX

2016 Ford Explorer, VIN [XXX]. Filing against Planet Ford Dallas regarding incomplete Regional Program 21R01 (Rear Toe Link Replacement), tied to Federal Safety Recall 21V537. May 11, 2026: Vehicle presented for 21R01 service. May 15: Returned with recall marked complete in Ford's system. 21R01 mandates replacement of both rear toe links, alignment check, and rear toe adjustment. None of these steps were correctly completed. Dealer has since acknowledged to me that the toe link was not replaced correctly, but instead with the incorrect part and that rear suspension hardware was left loose upon vehicle release. The vehicle was driven approximately one month in this condition. Progressive symptoms followed: steering pull, steering wheel offset, tire screeching, and vehicle instability. Rear toe was subsequently found approximately 3 degrees out of specification — consistent with loose hardware shifting during normal driving. Dealer is attributing front suspension wear to natural causes while providing no investigation demonstrating the incomplete recall did not contribute to or accelerate that damage. Ford Motor Company Head Office has confirmed 21R01 as applicable (Corporate Case [XXX]). Dealer has declined to accept responsibility. The recall was marked complete in Ford's system despite mandatory work not being performed. I am requesting the federal safety agency investigate dealer compliance with 21R01/21V537 and whether a reimbursement claim was submitted to Ford for work not performed. This matter may also be referred to the Texas AG Consumer Protection Division and FTC. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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 Mar 23, 2026 · Body, Suspension · 100,500 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 19V435000 (SUSPENSION), 21V316000 (STRUCTURE), 24V031000 (STRUCTURE) and 25V347000 (STRUCTURE). The contact stated that while driving approximately 30–35 MPH, the driver's side B-pillar trim detached from the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the part to do the recall repair was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 100,500.

Filed Oct 30, 2025 · Suspension · 143,000 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his grandmother was driving and decelerating, the rear passenger’s side suspension suddenly failed, rendering the vehicle undrivable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who determined that the rear passenger’s side tow link had failed and that both the rear passenger’s side and driver’s side tow links needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously serviced under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V537000 (SUSPENSION). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 143,000.

Filed Sep 23, 2025 · Body, Suspension · WI

Both an and b pillars are junk and dealer inspected a pillars and said they were fine? And there’s no remedy for the b ones which is annoying. My car shakes bc of a transmission shutter at 100k miles it’s not bad but why is jt going on? And wind noise because of the pillars I’m hoping? Needing help from someone.

Filed Aug 6, 2025 · Steering, Suspension · 156,580 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff and did not drive as intended. The contact stated that the next morning, she observed a sound emanating from the steering column. The check engine warning light was illuminated before the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact believed that the failure was associated with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V675000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 156,580.

Filed Nov 14, 2024 · Suspension, Wheels · 220,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH exiting a residential area. The front wheel axle came apart. The contact's husband removed the shocks. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to her residence. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17E048000 (Wheels, Suspension). The contact called the local dealer, who confirmed there were no associated recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

Filed Oct 28, 2024 · Steering, Suspension · 199,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V435000 (Suspension), and the dealer confirmed that the recall repair was performed. However, the contact stated while driving at various speeds on a bumpy road surface, the vehicle jerked significantly, and there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the suspension. The contact stated that the failure progressively worsened, causing the steering wheel to seize. The contact stated that the vehicle had become undrivable. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the recall repair had been performed. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the recall repair had not been performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.

Filed Oct 23, 2024 · Engine, Suspension · 85,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that oil from the turbo booster had leaked onto the catalytic converter and both the turbo booster and catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact indicated that previously the power transfer off unit was faulty, causing the vehicle to suddenly lose accelerating power; and the front control arms and ball joints were replaced. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 85,000.

Filed Sep 9, 2024 · Steering, Suspension · OH

I recently went to a mechanic sho0 to have a wheel alignment done because my steering wheel is about 50% tilted to the left. The shop told me they were unable to align the vehicle because there was a problem with my toelinks in the back of my car preventing the wheel from being straight. I called Ford to see if there was anything they could do because I got my toelinks done when there was a recall back in 2019. I have since had issues with my steering wheel not being lined and thought it was just out of balance. I would like for the toelinks to be looked at once again because apparently there is an issue with them.