2016 Ford Explorer Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 130 electrical system complaints for the 2016 Ford Explorer, 5% of all complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 42,000. There are 6 fire reports, 4 injuries, and 1 crash tied to this area, but no related recalls are listed.
- Electrical System complaints
- 130
- 5% of 2,451
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 6
- Injuries reported
- 4
- Median mileage
- 42,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Cooling fan or fan shroud smoking or catching fire shortly after startup or while stopped.
- Dashboard emits smoke when attempting to start the vehicle, with no clear root cause found afterward.
- Sudden loss of throttle response and power while driving, often with the wrench warning light on, at very low mileage.
- Liftgate closes on its own while someone is standing underneath it, or opens and closes unexpectedly after the driver walks away.
- Front-facing camera reportedly shorts out, triggering lane-assist and check-engine warnings along with visible melting near the front bumper.
- Steering assist reportedly cuts out or causes the vehicle to swerve, described by owners as an electronic steering rack issue.
When 2016 Ford Explorer electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 21, 2015, latest Jul 27, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2016 Ford Explorer
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Electrical System complaints by Explorer model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2016 Ford Explorer?
- NHTSA lists 130 electrical system complaints for the 2016 Explorer, which is 5% of the 2,451 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2016 Ford Explorer's electrical system?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2016 Explorer.
- At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up on the 2016 Explorer?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for electrical system complaints on the 2016 Explorer is 42,000 miles.
- Have there been any fires or injuries linked to electrical problems on the 2016 Explorer?
- NHTSA data shows 6 fire reports, 4 injuries, and 1 crash associated with electrical system complaints on the 2016 Explorer.
- Is the 2016 Explorer worse than other years for electrical complaints?
- The 2016 Explorer's electrical complaints make up 5% of its total complaints, which is on the lower end compared to years like 2020 at 19% and 2025 at 23%.