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Ford · NHTSA safety record

2016 Ford Expedition

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 217 safety complaints about the 2016 Ford Expedition with the US government. Of those, 8 describe a crash, 8 mention a fire, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 37 complaints, 17% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 66,760 miles, the median across the 128 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers December 2015 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

217 complaints on file

217

Complaints

8

Describe a crash

8

Mention fire

5

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints rose 44% year on year: 26 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 18 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 37 · 17%
POWER TRAIN 36 · 17%
SERVICE BRAKES 35 · 16%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 33 · 15%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 20 · 9%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 19 · 9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18 · 8%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 17 · 8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 16 · 7%
VISIBILITY 8 · 4%
AIR BAGS 5 · 2%
EQUIPMENT 5 · 2%
0 15 31

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 217.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2023 at 28.

32 24 16 8
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2015 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2016 Ford EXPEDITION, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV 4x2 SUV 4x4
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 21.2% 19.8%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

25V572000 · September 4, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
The risk
A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,456,417 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

22V648000 · August 26, 2022

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front blower motor located behind the glove box may fail.
The risk
Front blower motor failure can increase the risk of a vehicle interior fire.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the front blower motor assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the second quarter of 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S56.

Ford Motor Company · up to 198,482 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

22V150000 · March 11, 2022

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and 2016-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
The risk
A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter notifying customers of the safety defect were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed April 29, 2022. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-332. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S11.

Ford Motor Company · up to 195,864 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

1 injured · fire · 75,000 miles

WE DETECTED A BURNT RUBBER SMELL WHILE DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET (WITH A/C ON). THE A/C SUDDENLY QUIT. WE PULLED OVER TO TURN SUV OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN HOPING A/C WOULD RETURN. A/C DID NOT RETURN, SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING OUT OF A/C VENTS. STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND TURNED OFF SUV. THE SMOKE FROM THE VENTS GOT THICKER AND LARGE FLAMES BEGAN COMING OUT UNDERNEATH THE DASH. HUSBAND RAN IN TO GAS STATION AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. FIRE KEPT RESTARTING (THE PARKING LIGHTS WERE ON THOUGH THE CAR WAS OFF). HUSBAND FINALLY HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO KEEP FIRE FROM RESTARTING. THE A/C/HEATER BLOWER THEN FELL OUT ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR-MAT BURNED TO A CRISP.

NHTSA complaint 11353351. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 354 miles

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-BEDROOM WALL (WHICH WAS DESTROYED) IN REVERSE, PLACED ME IN TRAFFIC DANGER WHEN IT RACED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, PLACED A WITNESS DRIVING IN THE STREET IN DANGER AS IT BACKED UP, AND WHILE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY FORWARD, PLOWED HALF ITS LENGTH INTO A NEIGHBORS HOUSE, AND DESTROYED MOST OF ITS EXTERIOR AS A RESULT OF THE FORWARD AND REVERSE COLLISIONS. THE BRAKES WERE ABSOLUTELY USELESS AND COULD NOT

NHTSA complaint 10816224, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

1 injured · crash · 100,200 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. While parked in her friend's driveway with her child in her car seat, the contact heard an abnormal, popping sound as she was outside of the vehicle. The vehicle began to roll back without warning with her child inside the vehicle; she attempted to hit the emergency brake but was unsuccessful. The vehicle continued to roll backward into a neighbor's fence before the vehicle came to a halt. The contact's daughter was safe inside the car seat and did not sustain any injuries; however, the contact sustained mental trauma as a result of the failure. A police report was filed due to the neighbor's damaged fence. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or

NHTSA complaint 11502338, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · towed · 120,000 miles

The contact owned a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at 20 MPH and the air conditioner stopped functioning. The contact heard a popping sound coming from the vehicle, the contact pulled over on the side of the road and noticed smoke was coming from under the glove department of the front passenger side. The contact proceed to check under the hood and did not see any smoking coming from under the hood. After closing the hood, the contact noticed flames coming from under the glove department on the passenger side, the contact attempted to pull the carpet to stop the flames but it was too late the vehicle was already in flames. The fire department was able to extinguish

NHTSA complaint 11488986, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I brought my expedition in for recall 25V572, I brought it in and they said they had to run tests to see if it qualified, after testing they said that it qualified but that they didn't have the item in stock to make the repair, after several months, I called and they finally had the part to change out the camera. Problem is, it is worse than before I brought it in. The only time I get a clear image is when the hatch is in the air. I called the dealer back and they said "We changed the camera that is what the recall called for. What can I do. This is an extremely long vehicle and the back up camera aides in some tight spots. I really would like this to be working.

NHTSA complaint 11767449. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
2 separate ford dealerships have failed to solve my rear camera failure wasting about 12 hours of my time. The rear camera does fail to work quite often, but when in the dealer’s possession, they claim it’s working fine without showing any codes.

NHTSA complaint 11765135. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION

160,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera would occasionally display a blank screen, while at other times a "Camera Not Available" warning message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to multiple dealers, where it was diagnosed that the rearview camera had failed and needed to be replaced. The rearview camera was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the rearview camera failure persisted after an unknown recall repair associated with the failure was performed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage

NHTSA complaint 11760383, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
My 2016 Expedition has the same 6R80 transmission as the Ford F150, for which there is a recall for the Lead Frame. My wife was driving the vehicle on the highway and the check engine light came on and the vehicle went into "limp mode" causing the vehicle to decelerate to approximately 35 mph. Needless to say, she almost caused several accidents as she tried to move to the shoulder at a very reduced speed. The code was P0715 and P0717 which is the Turbine Shaft Speed Sensor which is part of the lead frame in the transmission. As stated before, there was a recall on this issue with the F150 but not to the Expedition since Ford did not sell as many Expeditions as F150's? I was able to have

NHTSA complaint 11759701, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY

120,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the blower motor functioned intermittently, turning on and off unexpectedly. The contact stated that the A/C functioned as intended during the cooler months but was intermittently inoperable in the warmer months, requiring that the wires that were overheating be repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V648000 (Visibility, Electrical System); however, the recall repair failed to fix the issue. The dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and

NHTSA complaint 11753086, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION

70,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen. The message “Camera Unavailable” was displayed. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the recall repair was completed. The contact was informed that the rear-view camera was inoperable after the recall repair was performed. The contact was informed that a diagnostic test was needed, and a diagnostic fee was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was

NHTSA complaint 11751659, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Expedition

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 10 2 —
2025 36 6 —
2024 76 7 —
2023 65 8 —
2022 113 12 —
2021 235 12 —
2020 417 18 —
2019 505 11 —
2018 375 14 —
2017 357 4 —
2015 164 3 —
2014 72 0 —
2013 92 0 —
2012 118 3 —
2011 71 0 —
2010 58 0 —

Other 2016 Ford models

Explorer 2,455 F-150 2,059 Fusion 1,631 Focus 1,181 Escape 1,131 Edge 914 Mustang 378 F-250 SD 289

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Ford on this site — 359 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst