Diagsheet

2016 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet

Seat belt or seat problems

  • 72owner reports
  • 49,000median miles
  • $900median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Apr 23, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

72 of the 2,444 complaints on this car describe seat belt.

Tick what matches of 72 reports

16
12
15
12
14

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the buckle (16 reports) and the module (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

2 recalls on the seat belts cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

17V-767Nov 29, 2017
Seats

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 F-150 and Explorer vehicles. Loose power seat adjuster pivot bolts may cause the front seat cushions to detach and not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash.

Risk and remedy
Risk: In the event of a crash, a seat occupant that is not properly restrained has an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tightness of the power seat track upper pivot link bolt, either applying threadlocker or replacing the lift link and hardware, free of charge. Interim letters are expected to go out January 15, 2018. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S40.
16V-475Jun 28, 2016
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Explorer and F-150 vehicles equipped with a manual recline driver's seat. The seat back frame may have insufficient welds which may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Risk and remedy
Risk: The seat back may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall begin on August 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 16C11.

NHTSA investigations into the seat belts on the Explorer

PE03-020opened May 21, 2003
Seats · model years 1998 to 2001

Front seat back recliner attachment. Closed sep 5, 2003, led to recall 03V-281.

NHTSA summary
BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 4, 2003, FORD NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V281) INVOLVING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2001 FORD EXPLORER / MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 4-DOOR, MY 1998-2000 FORD EXPLORER 2-DOOR AND MY 2001-2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT AND SPORT TRAC VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS.COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK RECLINED WITHOUT WARNING.A BOLT BETWEEN THE UPPER SEAT RECLINER ATTACHMENT AND THE SEAT BACK FRAME MAY FRACTURE.FORD WILL REPLACE THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT.BASED ON FORD'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
EA02-011opened Jul 2, 2002
Seat Belts · model years 1995

Safety belt assembly failure. Closed may 21, 2003.

NHTSA summary
ODI RECEIVED 18 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FORD IDENTIFIED ANOTHER FOUR REPORTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS INDICATE INABILITY TO LATCH THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAUSED BY A BROKEN LATCH RELEASE SPRING.NONE OF THESE 22 REPORTS RESULTED IN ANY INJURIES OR CRASHES.NO COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS.FORD CONDUCTED LIFE-CYCLE TESTING ON 6 FIELD SAMPLE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.THE RESULTS OF THAT TESTING DEMONSTRATED THAT THE TESTED BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES COULD BE EXPECTED TO OPERATE PROPERLY BEYOND THE EXPECTED LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.BASED ON THE LIMITED NUMBER OF REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS RECEIVED, AND A DECLINING COMPLAINT TREND, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXIST DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
PE02-007opened Jan 23, 2002
Seat Belts · model years 1995

Safety belt assembly. Closed jul 2, 2002.

NHTSA summary
EA01-008opened Feb 26, 2001
Seat Belts · model years 1999 to 2000

Seat belt webbing. Closed apr 25, 2002.

NHTSA summary
ODI OPENED PE00-044INVESTIGATION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2000, BASED ON A REPORT REGARDING THE DEATH OF THE OCCUPANT OF THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT IN A 2000 MODEL YEAR FORD EXPLORER XLS INVOLVED IN A ROLL-OVER CRASH.IT IS ALLEGED THAT THE WEBBING OF THE BUCKLE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FAILED DURING THE CRASH.THE OCCUPANT WAS PARTIALLY EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, THEREBY SUSTAINING FATAL INJURIES.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN OPENED FOR FURTHER STUDY.
PE00-044opened Nov 3, 2000
Seat Belts · model years 2000

Seat belt webbing. Closed feb 26, 2001.

NHTSA summary
ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2000, BASED ON A REPORT REGARDING THE DEATH OF THE OCCUPANT OF THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT IN A 2000 MODEL YEAR FORD EXPLORER XLS INVOLVED IN A ROLL-OVER CRASH.IT IS ALLEGED THAT THE WEBBING OF THE BUCKLE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FAILED DURING THE CRASH.THE OCCUPANT WAS PARTIALLY EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, THEREBY SUSTAINING FATAL INJURIES.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.
PE92-084opened Oct 23, 1992
Seats · model years 1990 to 1991

Front seat track failure. Closed feb 26, 1993.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available

None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.

What owners paid

12 of the 72 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $261 to $1,100.

$261$900$1,100
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 35,000 and 80,000 miles, from the 45 reports that gave a mileage.

215
516
317
618
819
1120
921
722
1023
724
325
126

What owners wrote

“The problem remedied by TSB 21B11-s2 did not occur in my vehicle while the TSB was in effect. It has now surfaced”

Filed Jan 4, 2025 · 112,891 miles

“Middle row, passenger side seat belt buckle is broken & will not latch. This is where my 9yr old sits & there is no reason or cause for this to break. My vehicle has the inflatable airbag seatbelts on this row.”

Filed Oct 27, 2023

“Car has inflatable seatbelt in the second row bucket seats. I am unable to find any car seats that are safe to use in this vehicle once you move from tether position Have visited local dealership and called Ford for assistance. None of which are able to assist with this which puts children in great harm as no car seat can be safely used”

Filed Oct 5, 2023

“The seat belt buckle for the second row passenger-side broke, making it impossible for the seat belt buckle to lock. Ford said the part was back ordered. When the part arrived and the car was being fixed, we received a call from the service manager advising the second row driver-side buckle broke as well. This seems to be a recurring issue.”

Filed Jul 11, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 72 reports involved a crash and 4 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

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