2016 Ford Expedition Problems and Recalls (215 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2016 Ford Expedition is Brakes (21% of 215 owner reports). There are 3 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Brakes — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 215 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2016 Ford Expedition?

45 of 215 filings named Brakes (21% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (28 reports).

There are 3 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Brakes, Electrical, and Rear camera / backup safety. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2015 has 164 reports on file; this year has 215. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2016 Ford Expedition

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 3 campaigns on file below.
Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
Skim a few owner reports below for Brakes. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Brakes 45 complaints · 20.9% of the file

Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:

Crashes 8
Fires 8
Injuries 5
Deaths 0

All Ford Expedition years →

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table

System / Component	Complaints	Share of Reports	Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)	45	20.9%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)	28	13.0%	4 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)	26	12.1%	0 crashes · 1 fires
Engine (ENGINE)	23	10.7%	1 crashes · 2 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)	20	9.3%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)	18	8.4%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)	12	5.6%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING)	5	2.3%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)	4	1.9%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover	52	24.2%	1 crashes · 5 fires

NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

Campaign 22V150000 was reported 2,211 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
Campaign 22V648000 was reported 240 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
Campaign 25V572000 was reported 1,532 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.

View timeline records as a table

Date	Record type	Count	Record identifier
2015-Q4	Owner reports	1
2016-Q1	Owner reports	1
2016-Q3	Owner reports	2
2016-Q4	Owner reports	3
2017-Q1	Owner reports	2
2017-Q2	Owner reports	2
2017-Q3	Owner reports	2
2017-Q4	Owner reports	1
2018-Q1	Owner reports	5
2018-Q2	Owner reports	6
2018-Q3	Owner reports	8
2018-Q4	Owner reports	4
2019-Q1	Owner reports	4
2019-Q2	Owner reports	7
2019-Q3	Owner reports	9
2019-Q4	Owner reports	3
2020-Q1	Owner reports	4
2020-Q2	Owner reports	8
2020-Q3	Owner reports	8
2020-Q4	Owner reports	7
2021-Q1	Owner reports	3
2021-Q2	Owner reports	7
2021-Q3	Owner reports	4
2021-Q4	Owner reports	6
2022-Q1	Owner reports	3
2022-Q2	Owner reports	5
2022-Q3	Owner reports	11
2022-Q4	Owner reports	3
2023-Q1	Owner reports	9
2023-Q2	Owner reports	6
2023-Q3	Owner reports	6
2023-Q4	Owner reports	7
2024-Q1	Owner reports	4
2024-Q2	Owner reports	5
2024-Q3	Owner reports	3
2024-Q4	Owner reports	4
2025-Q1	Owner reports	5
2025-Q2	Owner reports	6
2025-Q3	Owner reports	5
2025-Q4	Owner reports	7
2026-Q1	Owner reports	8
2026-Q2	Owner reports	6
2026-Q3	Owner reports	5
Mar 2022	Recall campaign	1	22V150000
Aug 2022	Recall campaign	1	22V648000
Sep 2025	Recall campaign	1	25V572000

NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (3)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Brakes, Electrical, and Rear camera / backup safety.

Recall campaign 22V150000

Brakes

Report date

Mar 11, 2022

Component:

Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)

Consequence:

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.

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.

View authoritative NHTSA record →
Recall campaign 22V648000

Electrical

Report date

Aug 26, 2022

Component:

Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)

Consequence:

Front blower motor failure can increase the risk of a vehicle interior fire.

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.

View authoritative NHTSA record →
Recall campaign 25V572000

Rear camera / backup safety

Report date

Sep 4, 2025

Component:

Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)

Consequence:

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.

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.

View authoritative NHTSA record →

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07

Showing 5 of 215 complaints · page 1 of 9

2026-08-28Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)

NHTSA ODI 11760383

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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 was approximately 160,000.

2026-08-26Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)

NHTSA ODI 11759701

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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 the lead frame replaced, at my cost, to remedy the situation, however, the fact that this is a known issue with this transmission and only some of the cars with this transmission were recalled is morally wrong. This could have caused a major accident resulting in serious injury or death since Expeditions were not part of the recall.

2026-07-27Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)

NHTSA ODI 11753086

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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 informed the contact that the vehicle exceeded the 12-month or 3,000-mile limitation. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

2026-07-20Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)

NHTSA ODI 11751659

CrashFireInjuryDeath

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 filed. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

2026-07-10Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 11749454

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The safety incident occured on April 20, 2026, when my 2016 Expedition EL failed to stay in park on a flat level parking lot causing significant safety concerns for my vehicle and all other vehicles with the same components. My car was parked for 4-5 minutes in front of the school my son attends and because he was sick the morning I parked my vehicle in front of the main entrance of the schol in an approved parking place, I left the car running while I went inside to turn in an assignment due that morning. After giving it to the front office person and explaining which teacher it needed to be given to, I turned around to return to my vehicle only to witness my car begin moving. It rolled 2-3 car lengths before it slammed into the back of a Coca-Cola Vendor truck and stopped. I was not able to catch it before the accident happened. I knew the vehicle was not safe to drive, so I had the Expedition towed to the local Ford dealership in town. The certified Ford dealership discoovered the problem when performing diagnostics as they were able to reproduce the problem. The "parking PAWL return spring not securely locking into park. found the parking PAWL worn and the return spring collapsed meaning nothing was locking the transmission into park" There were zero warning notifcations on the electrical messaging panel to alert a driver to this potentially dangerous problem. The outcome of this situation pose a horrific risk to pedestrians, and passengers when a vehicle can begin moving into "Drive" with no passenger behind the wheel.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2016 Ford Expedition?

Owners named Brakes most often — 45 of 215 reports (21%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2016 Ford Expedition?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Brakes, Electrical, and Rear camera / backup safety. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2016 Ford Expedition?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21

Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources