Most common 2016 Ford Explorer Police Intercept problems
Share of the 21 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Explorer Police Intercept complaints by model year
Best Explorer Police Intercept years: 2020, 2015, 2017. Years to avoid: 2016. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2016 Ford Explorer Police Intercept:
Windshield trim molding Item detachment
On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has received 671 VOQs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injuries.
Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab
During the EA17-002 investigation, the agency reviewed and analyzed reports of exhaust odors in the passenger cabins of Model Year 2011 to 2017 Ford Explorers. This investigation required an approach that incorporated knowledge and expertise from the automotive, medical, environmental health, and occupational safety fields.
What 2016 Ford Explorer Police Intercept owners say
Body & structure
The plastic pieces on the "a" and "b" pillar, driver and passenger side are coming off.
The vehicle had co in the interior as high as 30 ppm. Unit was placed out of service due to the above conditions and officer headaches.
Engine & cooling
Two Police officers were patrolling in a city environment together in a 2016 Ford interceptor utility and had symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. This vehicle previously had all carbon monoxide related Ford recall work completed. The officers' symptoms included headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, and chest spasms. Later in the day an odor began to emanate from the vehicle, which is when the vehicle was taken out of service. The officers went to the hospital and were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. The vehicle was taken to Ford and the ptu was found to be leaking and had metal shavings in the unit's oil. The ptu was replaced. An inspection of the exhaust system was done and nothing unusual was located or repaired. Ford was unable to determined the cause of carbon monoxide in the vehicle compartment. …
Law enforcement vehicle receiving high carbon monoxide level readings (10+ parts per million) in passenger cabin upon hard acceleration (from complete stop to 100+ MPH) with the air conditioning system on with the recirculation function activated.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Ford Explorer Police Intercept a good car?
Based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Explorer Police Intercept rates use caution: 2.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Explorer Police Intercept at the same age. It is one of the Explorer Police Intercept years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Ford Explorer Police Intercept?
The body & structure — 5 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and transmission & drivetrain (2).
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Explorer Police Intercept have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2016 Ford Explorer Police Intercept. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Explorer Police Intercept?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2015 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016. See the full Ford Explorer Police Intercept years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford Explorer Police Intercept problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 30,000 miles; 94% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.