2016 Ford Explorer Steering Problems
Owners have filed 532 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2016 Ford Explorer, 22% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 58,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “rack pinion” (23% of reports).
- 532steering complaints
- 58,000median miles at failure
- 10mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $2,950typical repair cost reported by owners
- 37%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Rack pinion: mentioned in 123 of 532 complaints (23%)
- Steering gear: mentioned in 54 of 532 complaints (10%)
- Fault service: mentioned in 36 of 532 complaints (7%)
- Grinding noise: mentioned in 31 of 532 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2016 Ford Explorer at $2,950, and half of them between $2,600 and $3,250.
Based on 101 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 344 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 532 complaints, 10 mention a crash, 5 an injury.
Ford Explorer steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Explorer | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2025 Explorer | 9 | 9% | — |
| 2024 Explorer | 2 | 10% | 3,600 |
| 2023 Explorer | 12 | 11% | 3,000 |
| 2022 Explorer | 9 | 3% | 108,500 |
| 2021 Explorer | 6 | 1% | 11,510 |
| 2020 Explorer | 28 | 2% | 17,000 |
| 2019 Explorer | 9 | 3% | 56,000 |
| 2018 Explorer | 20 | 3% | 35,000 |
| 2017 Explorer | 76 | 4% | 42,917 |
| 2016 Explorer | 532 | 22% | 58,000 |
| 2015 Explorer | 347 | 19% | 60,000 |
| 2014 Explorer | 498 | 30% | 90,000 |
| 2013 Explorer | 835 | 37% | 95,000 |
| 2012 Explorer | 360 | 43% | 97,282 |
| 2011 Explorer | 742 | 62% | 68,000 |
| 2010 Explorer | 4 | 3% | 39,500 |
| 2009 Explorer | 1 | 3% | 76,000 |
| 2008 Explorer | 13 | 9% | 91,621 |
| 2007 Explorer | 10 | 5% | 80,729 |
| 2006 Explorer | 9 | 1% | 97,500 |
| 2005 Explorer | 12 | 2% | 70,000 |
| 2004 Explorer | 41 | 3% | 88,386 |
| 2003 Explorer | 27 | 2% | 99,250 |
| 2002 Explorer | 155 | 5% | 92,150 |
| 2001 Explorer | 21 | 6% | 109,400 |
| 2000 Explorer | 40 | 4% | 89,000 |
| 1999 Explorer | 38 | 3% | 86,500 |
| 1998 Explorer | 70 | 4% | 119,493 |
| 1997 Explorer | 33 | 2% | 196,000 |
| 1996 Explorer | 47 | 3% | 97,940 |
| 1995 Explorer | 52 | 6% | 160,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists steering for the 2016 Ford Explorer. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Yes How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Yes: While driving on [XXX] at highway speed, my vehicle suddenly began to swerve, causing a significant loss of steering control and…
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The exterior B-pillar trim on the side of the vehicle became detached while the vehicle was being driven. After the trim became loose and was temporarily secured by a Ford dealership, the vehicle's…
Approximately 3 years ago, while driving my 2016 Ford Explorer on a [XXX], warning chimes sounded and a power steering/steering assist fault message appeared. Electric power-steering assist then stopped functioning and the steering became extremely difficult to operate. I slowed down and was able…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 Ford Explorers have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 532 owner complaints about steering for the 2016 Ford Explorer (22% of the 2,461 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Ford Explorer steering?
No recall currently lists steering for this vehicle.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 58,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2016 Ford Explorer?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,950 (half paid between $2,600 and $3,250), from 101 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2016 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “rack pinion”, in 123 of 532 complaints, followed by “steering gear” (54).
Other 2016 Ford Explorer problems
See all 2016 Ford Explorer problems or steering problems across all Explorer years.