2016 Ford Explorer: ball joint or control arm failure

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 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 Jul 24, 2024 · Steering · 148,996 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the steering was seized and failed to return to center. The tire sensor warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the tie rod and steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 148,996.

Filed May 8, 2024 · Suspension · 116,000 miles · KY

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for service, and the contact was made aware of a failure with the rear upper control arms. The contact stated that both control arms displayed abnormal movements, and the suspension could not be properly aligned. No warning lights were illuminated. After investigating the failure, the independent mechanic related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V537000 (Suspension) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 116,000.

Filed Apr 15, 2022 · Suspension · VA

When driving made horrible noises but took into the dealer Purvis Ford, we showed them the recall letter but then stated it was only the control arms which we ended up paying for .

Filed Sep 18, 2021 · Suspension · IA

The tie rod on my 2016 Ford Explorer BROKE. Luckily my husband was just backing it out of our garage He heard a loud noise sounding like he had run over something metal and the car would not move. He got out to take a look and the right front wheel was turned completely sideways The dealership told us to bring it in. We had to hire a flat bed truck to get it there.so that was at our expense.When the flat bed truck driver came from another repair shop to help us, he immediately said "Oh,you have a broken tie rod huh?" We did not know. He said there is a rubber boot around the tie rods and our tie rod broke.My husband told the garage dealership this.They said they had never heard of that. BUT in taking it apart they discovered that was the case. We were without a car for 3 weeks as they had troubles locating a part. I wanted both sides fixed but they only fixed the one. They did give me the old part. It is a rusty, horrible looking piece of crap. It looks like it is 100 years old. It absolutely BROKE. Here is my concern. What if my husband and I and our friends would have been in the car driving 65 down the highway? I know what would have happened. There would have been deaths and severe injuries.THANK GOD it happened in our drive at home. We had no warning.Had there been an accident the report would have been "the driver and his passengers were killed after the driver lost control of the car". Never probably would have found this MAJOR LIFE THREATENING flaw in the car. How many accidents have there been with that conclusion. Did the driver really lost control or was there a major safety issue? I am scared to death to get in this car and go anywhere,Now we get a recall notice regarding possibility of a rear toe link fracture. REALLY? AND PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE ACCORDING TO THE LETTER? Are we to park the car and wait for the parts to become available? we need a car to drive. Ford needs to replace or reimburse for these damaged vehicles. I feel very, very unsafe.

Filed Apr 7, 2021 · Steering · 58 miles · CA

My explorer started having popping noises when turning left or right. It is bad enough to give significant feedback in the steering wheel and vibrations throughout the front passenger area. When I jack up the front end unloading the wheels, there is no noise or popping. With full weight on the wheels, when the wheel is turned slightly left and right and get significant popping and cracking feedback via the tie rods, the noise has progressed into the steering wheel freezing in place while driving the vehicle. Not being able to control the car is a major life safety issue if not addressed this has the potential to cause major injuries or death. If it has not already. The dealer is aware of the issues and I find countless online instances of this mechanical defect.

Filed Nov 17, 2020 · Steering · 115,000 miles · MO

When I go to turn, it continues to pop. The tie rods have been replaced along with rack and pinion but you could be stopped and applying brake and turn wheel and it pops.

Filed Oct 8, 2020 · Suspension, Wheels · 75 miles · SD · crash · 1 injury

Two separate failure within a four day time span. Company sold me the vehixal said it was a tie rod and fixed the right passenger rear wheel. The vehical was real eased to me today with the understanding that the rear suspension was fully repaired. I had a high speed accident after the left rear tir rod broke at a speed of 80 MPH. Due to the suspension breakage, the car went off the interstate at high speed. The rear end suspension had complete failure and the auto dealership released the vehicle to me with the full with assurance the issue was fixed. This was a very serious incident with a potential deadly outcome.

Filed May 17, 2019 · Steering · 61,653 miles · RI

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 ford explorer. While driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and made an abnormal noise. The vehicle was taken to balise toyota of warwick (located at 1400 post rd, warwick, ri 02888, (401) 352-5911) where it was diagnosed that the inner tie rod assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 61,653.

Filed Sep 24, 2018 · Steering · 36,500 miles · FL

While turning the steering wheel wether stopped or moving, there was a popping/clunking noise. Sometimes the clunk noise was louder, sometimes it wasn't as loud. Noise could be felt and heard from steering column and floorboard. Steering wheel would also grab at times where you physically had to force the wheel to turn. This seemed to happen more at slow speeds. While doing a service on the vehicle, I inspected all steering components. While another person was turning the wheel, I could hear popping in the right side steering boot that covers the inner tie rod end. I grabbed the boot and shook it and could hear metal rattling inside of it. Left side did not make any noise. I removed the boot off of the rack and pinion and found 2 pieces of metal that were hanging on the gear of the rack and damaged. The prices of metal appeared to be a grease seal as there is rubber attached to the inside piece(see picture attached). From looking at this, it is obvious that the hanging metal piece could get hung up on the corkscrew gear causing clinch noise and also cause the steering to grab. I did cut both pieces off for safety and in the process of getting it into the ford dealer of the certified warranty will cover it. This is a very dangerous issue and I have seen many complaints of this same issue with no fix noted by ford.

Filed Jun 14, 2018 · Steering · 38,000 miles · PA

My 2016 limited ford explorer with about 38000 miles began making a noise when turning the steering wheel. I was driving on the interstate and the steering was jerky and would hang. Took it to the ford dealership when I returned home and they replace the right tie rod end at a cost of $200+. The explorer continued to make a noise at low speeds. Wife said that the steering was jerky when she drove it. Took it back to ford dealership and was told that a nut had come off in the steering box and it needed a complete steering rack. Dangerous to drive as it was so authorized the replacement. Cost this time was $1685.67. The explorer had 40634miles on it when this was done. Got on the internet and found the steering is a rather common problem on ford explorers.