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2016 Ford Explorer recalls

NHTSA lists 15 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford Explorer. A campaign often covers only certain trims, engines or build dates, so check your exact VIN.

Check your 2016 Ford Explorer VIN

Enter your VIN to decode it free. For open (unrepaired) recalls on your exact VIN, use NHTSA's free lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2016 Ford Explorer recall campaigns on file (15)

Live data from NHTSA (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-15 and refreshed daily.

Structure:Body · Jul 14, 2026 · campaign 26V448000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional…
Equipment:Electrical:Engine Block Heater · Oct 10, 2025 · campaign 25V685000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when…
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded…
Structure:Body · May 23, 2025 · campaign 25V347000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Explorer vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
Risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will repair the B-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated November 2026. Owners may…
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars · Jan 19, 2024 · campaign 24V031000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Risk: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between…
Suspension:Rear · Jul 15, 2021 · campaign 21V537000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,…
Risk: A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675.…
Structure:Body · May 5, 2021 · campaign 21V316000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were…
Suspension:Rear · Mar 12, 2021 · campaign 20V675000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,…
Risk: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford…
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft · Nov 10, 2020 · campaign 20V692000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail.
Risk: The failed bracket could result in a loss of park function which can cause unintended vehicle movement, and loss of motive power while driving which increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the link shaft bracket, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners received an interim notification detailing safety risk December 8, 2020. A second letter will be mailed when…
Suspension:Rear · Jun 10, 2019 · campaign 19V435000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may…
Seats · Nov 29, 2017 · campaign 17V767000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 F-150 and Explorer vehicles. Loose power seat adjuster pivot bolts may cause the front seat cushions to detach and not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash.
Risk: In the event of a crash, a seat occupant that is not properly restrained has an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tightness of the power seat track upper pivot link bolt, either applying threadlocker or replacing the lift link and hardware, free of charge. Interim letters are expected to go out…

Showing the 10 most recent of 15 campaigns. Full details at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How to check if your 2016 Ford Explorer has an open recall

Find the 17-character VIN on the dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door-jamb sticker, or your registration or insurance card.
Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The result shows open recalls the manufacturer has reported for that VIN.
If a recall is open, call an authorized Ford dealer. Safety recall repairs are generally done free of charge.

Our tool decodes the VIN for free (year, make, model). The optional $1 report gathers NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Ford Explorer in one place, and there is no charge if we can't find your car's details. It is compiled from free public government data and is not an accident, title or ownership history report.

Frequently asked questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford Explorer (live data as of 2026-11-15). Not every campaign applies to every vehicle, because many cover only certain trims, engines or build dates.

Does my 2016 Ford Explorer have an open recall?

The list on this page shows campaigns for the model and year, not for your exact car. To see whether your VIN has an open (unrepaired) recall, enter it at NHTSA's free lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Do Ford recall repairs cost money?

Safety recall repairs are generally done free of charge by an authorized dealer.

Will I be charged if you can't find my vehicle?

No. Decoding a VIN on VinCheck1 is free, and if we can't find your car's details there's no charge for the report.

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