2016 Ford Explorer engine problems
500 of the 2,476 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Explorer name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 72 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. 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 engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 500 reports a crash · 3 a fire · 13 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 91 · 2017: 100 · 2018: 38 · 2019: 33 · 2020: 14 · 2021: 14 · 2022: 62 · 2023: 73 · 2024: 45 · 2025: 22 · 2026: 8
Half of the 351 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 9,000 and 77,000 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 “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Explorer engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Two Police officers were patrolling in a city environment together in a 2016 Ford interceptor utility and had symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. This vehicle previously had all carbon monoxide related Ford recall work completed. The officers' symptoms included headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, and chest spasms.
Law enforcement vehicle receiving high carbon monoxide level readings (10+ parts per million) in passenger cabin upon hard acceleration (from complete stop to 100+ MPH) with the air conditioning system on with the recirculation function activated
Driving on freeway at 65mph. Car stalled leaving no power to steering and brakes. Was able to restart and drive at drastically reduced speed. Engine RPM drops at idle at any stop on when car idling with transmission in park. Diagnosed as defective throttle body
While cruising on the interstate at 69 MPH, I lost all acceleration to the gas pedal. I didn't know what happened and noticed that the gas pedal was dead. Very scary situation while on the interstate. I was able to cruise to the nearest exit and then get to a side road. I noticed the CEL, wrench light, and air bag light has come on.
I was driving in a parking lot when the wrench light came on, as well as the check engine light, and the car lost all accelerator function. I was able to coast only. I was driving straight when this occurred. Since I was already in a parking lot, I was able to coast into a parking spot.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 16V183000 CriticalMar 31, 2016 · 1,543 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured November 25, 2013, to January 25, 2016, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured October 20, 2014, to January 28, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with 2.3L GTDI engines and engine block heaters. These engine block heaters have elements that may overheat while plugged in.
72 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 25B51 OtherMay 9, 2026
- Certain 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco, 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco Sport, 2020-2022 Model Year Corsair and Escape, 2016-2024 Model Year Explorer, 2019-2020 Model Year Fusion, 2016-2018 Model Year Focus RS, 2022-2024 Model Year Maverick, 2016-2019 Model Year MKC and 2019-2024 Model Year Ranger Vehicles Equipped with a 2.0L or 2.3L Engine and Engine Block Heater System Block Heater Replacement
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
B141B B141C P013A P013C P0327 P0332 P0297 P0298
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
- transmission and drivetrain problems 218 complaints
- electrical problems 131 complaints
- fuel system problems 113 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Ford Explorer?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 500 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (20% of everything owners filed about it), and 72 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall 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 engine on the 2016 Ford Explorer?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 16V183000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Ford Explorer?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 28,000 miles; half of them between 9,000 and 77,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.