YearToAvoid

2016 Ford Expedition Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 53 engine complaints for the 2016 Ford Expedition, 25% of its 216 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 60,000. No related recall is on file for this issue.

Engine complaints
53
25% of 216
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
60,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of acceleration and stalling accompanied by a wrench warning icon on the dash.
  • Throttle body failure is described repeatedly, sometimes recurring more than eight times, forcing the vehicle to be towed or restarted.
  • Several owners describe the engine entering a limp mode with no power at speeds ranging from about 15 to 50 mph, requiring the vehicle to coast to a stop.
  • One owner reported a smell of exhaust inside the cabin during acceleration or idling when the rear wing windows were open.
  • A separate report describes smoke coming from under the glove compartment area near the engine after a popping sound and loss of air conditioning.

When 2016 Ford Expedition engine complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 26, 2015, latest Feb 5, 2026.

2016 Ford Expedition engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2015Jan 2018Jan 2019Apr 2020Jan 2021Aug 2022Oct 2023
53 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2015 to Feb 2026; peak Jul 2018 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Ford Expedition

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Expedition model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20109 (16%)
  2. 201118 (25%)
  3. 201228 (24%)
  4. 201317 (18%)
  5. 201414 (19%)
  6. 201542 (26%)
  7. 201653 (25%)
  8. 201758 (16%)
  9. 2018126 (34%)
  10. 2019142 (28%)
  11. 202064 (15%)
  12. 202166 (28%)
  13. 202218 (16%)
  14. 202313 (20%)
  15. 202413 (17%)
  16. 20253 (9%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2016 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA lists 53 engine complaints for the 2016 model year, which is 25% of all 216 complaints filed for that year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Ford Expedition engine issue?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine issue is 60,000 miles.
What kind of engine failure do owners describe most?
Owners most often describe throttle body failure and sudden power loss, sometimes with the vehicle entering limp mode and a wrench icon appearing on the dash.
Were there any crashes or fires linked to these engine complaints?
Within this engine complaint area, NHTSA data shows 2 crashes, 2 fires, and 1 injury reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.