Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Ford Expedition owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 the fire, the fire department determined that the fire was caused by the air condition blower on the passenger side. A police report was filed. There were no injuries reported. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the vehicle was making an abnormal rattling sound on cold starts. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving from a complete stop and while coming to a stop. The contact also stated that the vehicle was experiencing rough idling. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to P&B Auto Repair Shop, where it was diagnosed that the cam phasers had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that an unknown fluid was leaking from the vehicle in two locations. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and informed about a possible catalytic converter failure. The mechanic blew out the parts. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the valve cover gasket was fractured, and the catalytic converter and vacuum pump needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the parts were not available. The dealer used silicon to secure the valve cover gasket. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 30 MPH, a loud explosion sound came from the engine compartment and engine oil began to leak from the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the turbo line had failed causing the turbo to strike the engine, creating a hole in the engine block. The contact was informed that the engine and turbo needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the engine made a knocking sound. No warning light was illuminated. The contact related the failure to the cam phasers; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.
I was driving at ~40 mph and the car suddenly lost power and decelerated. The wrench dash light came on. The car was forced into limp mode. The p2112 code showed on my OBD scanner. The code indicates a throttle body actuator stuck closed. The car started to run very rough, was stuck in 2nd gear and would only do 5 mph. Upon turning off and restarting vehicle the wrench light turned off and the throttle response was normal. I will have to replace the throttle body at my expense as the car is past warranty. I will keep the part for inspection. The road was relatively empty so it did not cause an accident. In heavy traffic at highway speeds this might have caused an injury wreck. The sudden deceleration without any brake lights could easily result in a rear end collision. …
The failed components are called "cam phasers." It is a known problem with the Ford 3.5 Ecoboost Engine (that even Ford is aware of). The cam phasers can fail, causing the timing chain to fail at any moment. They rattle upon startup of a cold engine. The failure of the original engineering is causing owners of this vehicle, along with the F150 and others, to have to spend anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 in order to replace these. The problem has been confirmed by the Ford dealer. In order to visually examine the cam phasers, it requires something like 10+ hours to open the engine. You do not receive a warning light to replace cam phasers. It is merely an audio diagnosis. Ford SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE for replacing these free of charge and replacing them with the newer versions of cam phasers, which apparently don't fail. Driving around with rattling cam phasers can leave you stranded!
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the rearview camera was intermittently inoperative. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine fan needed to be replaced; however, parts were not available for the repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the failure occurred while driving in the mountains and the vehicle was stuck in the middle of the road. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times; however, the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The throttle body failed, and my car lost power as I was turning into traffic on the road outside of my subdivision. My car went from approximately 45-50 miles an hour to no acceleration. My car would only go forward at the speed at which it idles. It was very dangerous to me and to others because it was a sudden power failure. The problem was reproduced by the local Ford dealer. I don't know if the component has been inspected by anyone. The first time it happened, there was an orange wrench on my dash with "See Owner's Manual" under it. This happened at least three times before we took it to our local Ford dealer. The dealership said they couldn't find anything wrong with my car and that I should "drive it till it broke".
Engine complaints in other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2016 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2016 Ford Expedition, 18% of the model year's 217 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline › turbo/supercharger (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Ford Expedition engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2016 Ford Expedition, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford Expedition engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 1 injury to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.