YearToAvoid

2016 Ford Explorer Visibility & Wipers Problems

NHTSA lists 67 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2016 Ford Explorer, 3% of its 2,451 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 79,000. No related recall covers this area. The dominant pattern is rear window glass spontaneously shattering.

Visibility & Wipers complaints
67
3% of 2,451
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
79,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

  • Rear liftgate window spontaneously shatters or explodes with no impact, sometimes while parked or just after startup in cold weather.
  • Rear windshield glass breaks apart while the vehicle is being driven, with pieces falling away as doors open and close.
  • Rubber seal or weatherstrip around the driver's side window or door detaches while driving at highway speed.
  • Windshield or A-pillar molding vibrates loose at highway speed and can partially or fully detach, obstructing view.
  • Wipers reported to stop and stick in the upright position during rain, described as a driving hazard.

When 2016 Ford Explorer visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 13, 2016, latest Jul 27, 2026.

2016 Ford Explorer visibility & wipers complaints: complaints filed per month11Jul 2016Jan 2020Feb 2022Dec 2022Jul 2023Jun 2024Sep 2025Jul 2026
67 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2016 to Jul 2026; peak Feb 2023 (11).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2016 Ford Explorer

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by Explorer model year

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

  1. 20103 (3%)
  2. 201121 (2%)
  3. 201223 (3%)
  4. 201362 (3%)
  5. 201452 (3%)
  6. 201542 (2%)
  7. 201667 (3%)
  8. 201773 (4%)
  9. 201827 (4%)
  10. 20197 (2%)
  11. 202066 (5%)
  12. 202141 (10%)
  13. 202229 (11%)
  14. 202310 (9%)
  15. 20243 (14%)
  16. 202513 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Ford Explorer have a lot of window or wiper complaints?
NHTSA lists 67 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2016 Explorer, which is 3% of its 2,451 total complaints for that year.
What is the main window problem on the 2016 Ford Explorer?
The most common pattern in owner complaints is the rear liftgate window spontaneously shattering or exploding without any impact, sometimes while the vehicle is parked.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Ford Explorer window issue?
No related recall is listed in the NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2016 Explorer.
At what mileage do these window problems usually happen?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 79,000 miles at the time of failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2016 Explorer.
How does 2016 compare to other Explorer years for this problem?
The 2016 model's 67 complaints and 3% share are similar to 2013 (62 complaints, 3%) and 2014 (52 complaints, 3%), but lower than 2017's 73 complaints at 4%.

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.