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2016 Ford Explorer Fuel System Problems

From NHTSA owner complaints and recalls. Updated Oct 17, 2026.

How common are fuel system problems on the 2016 Ford Explorer?

112 owners have reported fuel system problems on the 2016 Ford Explorer, 5% of all complaints for this year and the 6th most reported problem area. Most reported problems happened at about 6,000–42,000 miles. 1 recall covers this area.

112 complaints 5% of all 2016 complaints 11,000 miles typical

Which parts fail

The specific part named in each complaint.

Fuel pump 1
Throttlebody / manifold 1

Mileage when it failed

Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (84 of 112). The amber line is the middle value.

When problems were reported

Fuel System complaints by the year the problem happened.

Fuel System complaints by Explorer year

2008 Explorer 2
2009 Explorer 2
2010 Explorer 9
2011 Explorer 40
2012 Explorer 34
2014 Explorer 71
2015 Explorer 94
2016 Explorer 112
2017 Explorer 49
2018 Explorer 23
2019 Explorer 17
2020 Explorer 42
2021 Explorer 27
2022 Explorer 37
2023 Explorer 3
2025 Explorer 3
2026 Explorer 3

Related recalls

Fuel tank may separate from vehicle

Fire risk

Fuel tank bolts may not have been tightened during production, so the straps can break and the tank can come loose. A loose tank can leak fuel, which raises the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will tighten the fuel tank attachment bolts as needed, free of charge.

Recall 15V605000 · Sep 2015
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Other 2016 Ford Explorer problems

Common questions

What are common 2016 Ford Explorer fuel system problems?

Complaints most often name the fuel pump and throttlebody / manifold.

At what mileage do 2016 Ford Explorer fuel system problems happen?

Most complaints that gave a mileage fell between about 6,000–42,000 miles. The middle value is about 11,000 miles.

Is there a recall for 2016 Ford Explorer fuel system problems?

Yes: 15V605000. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.

Which Explorer year has the most fuel system complaints?

The 2013 Explorer, with 153 complaints.

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases. Complaints are unverified owner reports.