2016 Ford EXPEDITION

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ford EXPEDITION has 274 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: my 2016 ford expedition el ltd v-6 3.5l with 354 odometer miles produced 4 minor prelude engine surges within a couple hours on the roadways before it went full throttle 5 times within a couple minutes. it suddenly, and without warning, ran down my wife after squishing her against the garage-bedroo. ⚠️ 10 fire reports filed.

10 fire reports 8 crash reports 4 injuries

274

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

52 complaints

19%

• MY 2016 FORD EXPEDITION EL LTD V-6 3.5L WITH 354 ODOMETER MILES PRODUCED 4 MINOR PRELUDE ENGINE SURGES WITHIN A COUPLE HOURS ON THE ROADWAYS BEFORE IT WENT FULL THROTTLE 5 TIMES WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES. IT SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, RAN DOWN MY WIFE AFTER SQUISHING HER AGAINST THE GARAGE-BEDROO
• LEASED CAR 11/2016. ON 1-6-16, COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE POWER, NO WARNING, NO WARNING LIGHTS. SUDDEN. AVOIDED COLLISION. DEALER FOUND VACUUM PUMP FAILURE, FIXED. THEN HAPPENED AGAIN 1 MONTH LATER 2-2-16, AGAIN ACCIDENT AVOIDED. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR W/O ANY PRESSURE. I AM TOLD BY CUST SERVICE THAT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPEDITION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVEN AFTER THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PINE TREE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT FULL ACCELE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“MY 2016 FORD EXPEDITION EL LTD V-6 3.5L WITH 354 ODOMETER MILES PRODUCED 4 MINOR PRELUDE ENGINE SURGES WITHIN A COUPLE HOURS ON THE ROADWAYS BEFORE IT WENT FULL THROTTLE 5 TIMES WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES. IT SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, RAN DOWN MY WIFE AFTER SQUISHING HER AGAINST THE GARAGE-BEDROO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

40 complaints

15%

• MY 2016 FORD EXPEDITION EL LTD V-6 3.5L WITH 354 ODOMETER MILES PRODUCED 4 MINOR PRELUDE ENGINE SURGES WITHIN A COUPLE HOURS ON THE ROADWAYS BEFORE IT WENT FULL THROTTLE 5 TIMES WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES. IT SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, RAN DOWN MY WIFE AFTER SQUISHING HER AGAINST THE GARAGE-BEDROO
• SMELL OF EXHAUST INSIDE VEHICLE WHENEVER REAR WING WINDOWS ARE OPEN; GENERALLY OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION OR IDLING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE IN AUGUST 2016.
• WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET I LOST POWER AND CONTROL TO THE ENGINE. CONTROL OF THE ENGINE IS LOST WHEN WITHOUT WARNING ACCELERATION IS LOST. THE CAR WILL SLOW UNTIL ABOUT 5 MILES AN HOUR SPEED. THE RPMS WILL FLUCTUATE UP AND DOWN AND STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR DOES NOTHING. NO WARNING IS GIVEN,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

36 complaints

13%

• ON 11-30-2016 WITH CLEAR WEATHER AT ABOUT 3 PM TRAVELING AT TRAFFIC SPEED OF 70 MPH ON I610 SOUTH LOOP EAST HARRIS COUNTY TX (CITY OF HOUSTON) IN THE 3RD LANE RIGHT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE SHOULDER OF 4 LANES, A "WRENCH" ICON COME ON THE DISPLAY AND SAID TO CONTACT THE DEALER. IMMEDIATELY AT THE SA
• STARTED CAR LEFT MY HOME AND PULLED OUT ONTO THE ROAD. I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I REACH A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND I FELT A SLIGHT SHUTTER AND SAW A WARNING INDICATOR WRENCH LIGHT UP ON THE CAR. I DEPRESSED THE THROTTLE AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THROTTLE INPUT. I HAD TO C
• THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FAILED CAUSING LOUD GRINDING NOIISE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“ON 11-30-2016 WITH CLEAR WEATHER AT ABOUT 3 PM TRAVELING AT TRAFFIC SPEED OF 70 MPH ON I610 SOUTH LOOP EAST HARRIS COUNTY TX (CITY OF HOUSTON) IN THE 3RD LANE RIGHT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE SHOULDER OF 4 LANES, A "WRENCH" ICON COME ON THE DISPLAY AND SAID TO CONTACT THE DEALER. IMMEDIATELY AT THE SA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

32 complaints

12%

• AROUND JULY 2018 MY EXPEDITION STARTED JUST RANDOMLY CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. AFTER GETTING THE CODES READ IT CAME UP AS THE THROTTLE BODY. WE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AND IT SEEMED TO HELP UNTIL ABOUT NOV 2018 THEN INSTEAD OF CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING THE CAR W
• VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY STARTED ON FIRE. IT HAD BEEN TURNED OFF AT A RESTAURANT IN PARKING AREA. IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 3 MILES IN TOWN JUST BEFORE THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD LOW MILEAGE, APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES. NO KNOW MECHANICAL OR OTHER ISSUES, SERVICED REGULARLY.
• 2016 FORD EXPEDITION EL LIMITED - MANUFACTURED IN DEARBORN MICHIGAN "YELLOW WRENCH" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE FREEWAY AND CUT 100% OF POWER TO THE MOTOR, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAD TO TRAVERSE TRAFFIC TO GET TO A SAFE AREA. CALLED A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS LIKELY THE THROTTLE BODY.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“AROUND JULY 2018 MY EXPEDITION STARTED JUST RANDOMLY CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. AFTER GETTING THE CODES READ IT CAME UP AS THE THROTTLE BODY. WE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AND IT SEEMED TO HELP UNTIL ABOUT NOV 2018 THEN INSTEAD OF CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING THE CAR W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

23 complaints

• THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE PARKED. THE VISOR WAS CLOSED SO GLASS DID NOT ENTER THE CAR. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW, AND HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT. THE SUNROOF GLASS HAD EXPANDED OUTWARDS, AS SEEN IN THE PICTURE, AND DID NOT HAVE ANY CRACKS DUE TO IMPACTS PRIOR TO THE GLASS FAILURE.
• WHEN DRIVING PAST CELL TOWERS THE SATELLITE SIGNAL GOES OUT REPEATEDLY. VERY DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING. EXAMPLE ON I-5 AT 38.475641, -121.504846, ON BUSINESS-80 AT 38.571184, -121.468347, ON I-80 AT 38.663596, -121.357112, AND ON WALERGA RD SOUTH OF ELVERTA BLVD IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY. THERE IS A
• THE VEHICLE BLOWER SPEED CONTROLLER DOESN'T MATCH SETTING ON THE CLEMENT CONTROL. THE BLOWER WILL BLOW AT FULL SPEED OR NOT AT ALL. THIS HAPPENS NOT MATTER THE DISPOSITION TO THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THIS IN WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, NOTHING WAS FOUND. SECOND TIME OUT OF WARRANTY, STATED IT WAS A SOFTWAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports

“THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE PARKED. THE VISOR WAS CLOSED SO GLASS DID NOT ENTER THE CAR. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW, AND HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT. THE SUNROOF GLASS HAD EXPANDED OUTWARDS, AS SEEN IN THE PICTURE, AND DID NOT HAVE ANY CRACKS DUE TO IMPACTS PRIOR TO THE GLASS FAILURE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 274 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: MY 2016 FORD EXPEDITION EL LTD V-6 3.5L WITH 354 ODOMETER MILES PRODUCED 4 MINOR PRELUDE ENGINE SURGES WITHIN A COUPLE HOURS ON THE ROADWAYS BEFORE IT WENT FULL THROTTLE 5 TIMES WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES. IT SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, RAN DOWN MY WIFE AFTER SQUISHING HER AGAINST THE GARAGE-BEDROO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: MY 2016 FORD EXPEDITION EL LTD V-6 3.5L WITH 354 ODOMETER MILES PRODUCED 4 MINOR PRELUDE ENGINE SURGES WITHIN A COUPLE HOURS ON THE ROADWAYS BEFORE IT WENT FULL THROTTLE 5 TIMES WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES. IT SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, RAN DOWN MY WIFE AFTER SQUISHING HER AGAINST THE GARAGE-BEDROO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: ON 11-30-2016 WITH CLEAR WEATHER AT ABOUT 3 PM TRAVELING AT TRAFFIC SPEED OF 70 MPH ON I610 SOUTH LOOP EAST HARRIS COUNTY TX (CITY OF HOUSTON) IN THE 3RD LANE RIGHT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE SHOULDER OF 4 LANES, A "WRENCH" ICON COME ON THE DISPLAY AND SAID TO CONTACT THE DEALER. IMMEDIATELY AT THE SA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: AROUND JULY 2018 MY EXPEDITION STARTED JUST RANDOMLY CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. AFTER GETTING THE CODES READ IT CAME UP AS THE THROTTLE BODY. WE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AND IT SEEMED TO HELP UNTIL ABOUT NOV 2018 THEN INSTEAD OF CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING THE CAR W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)