2016 Ford Explorer electrical problems
131 of the 2,476 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Explorer name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 70 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 131 reports a crash · 6 a fire · 4 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 18 · 2017: 12 · 2018: 13 · 2019: 18 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 14 · 2025: 15 · 2026: 8
Half of the 86 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 11,000 and 80,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
2,476 complaints in all about the 2016 Ford Explorer, 8 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Explorer electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I started my vehicle and put in drive my steering wheel was locked in one position I was unable to turn the wheel left or right I started getting several lights on my dash from hill start assist, service advancetrac, steering assist fault.
Fuel pump assembly, sending unit. Fuel gauge stopped working. Vehicle had 38,000 miles on it. Dealer charged 600.00 plus to fix, not covered under recall or warranty
Vehicle was proceeding and all power to throttle stopped. Power steering went out. Vehicle coasted to stop in traffic turn lane. Ford stated this is a problem with vehicles throttle body
2016 Ford Explorer shuts off while driving. It's a known issue, but the vehicles are still being sold and no recall or systematic way of replacing it. I was on the highway and the vehicle just slowed down to a crawl twice. Ford offer no solution. I checked online and this seems to be a problem many people are experiencing.
2016 Ford Explorer. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle complete loss of power, airbag, check engine and powertrain warning lights illuminated at various times and accelerator malfunction. The consumer stated while driving on a main road, he heard a loud thud accompanied by an immediate and complete loss of power.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications70 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SSM 54601 Service bulletinFeb 24, 2026
- Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). Th
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0011 P0015 P0016 P0017 P0018 P0019 P0021 P0025
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Ford Explorer names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Ford Explorer
Source: the same files- body and structure problems 597 complaints
- engine problems 500 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 218 complaints
- fuel system problems 113 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2016 Ford Explorer?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 131 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (5% of everything owners filed about it), and 70 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2016 Ford Explorer?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 14 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2016 Ford Explorer?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 38,297 miles; half of them between 11,000 and 80,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.