2016 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet

Wheel bearing, tires or wheels

65owner reports
22,500median miles
$214median quote
2involved a crash

Newest report Jun 22, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

65 of the 2,444 complaints on this car describe wheels.

Tick what matches of 65 reports

a humming or growling that changes with speed

a wheel bearing was replaced

tires wore out early

a tire blew out

lug nuts or a wheel came loose

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the tires (54 reports), the wheel (16 reports) and the wheel bearing (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the wheels covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

17E-048Aug 28, 2017

Wheels:Hub

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

Risk and remedy

Risk: A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

NHTSA investigations into the wheels on the Explorer

PE08-060opened Oct 14, 2008

Tires · model years 2007 to 2008

Tire valve cracking. Closed apr 9, 2009.

NHTSA summary

ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGE

None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.

What owners paid

11 of the 65 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $125 to $500.

$125$214$500

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 16,100 and 29,350 miles, from the 53 reports that gave a mileage.

316

1617

2218

419

520

121

222

223

524

425

126

What owners wrote

“The rack and pinion steering has gone bad. This is causing the vehicle to be hard to drive as it is very difficult to turn the wheel and control the vehicle. This is making it dangerous to drive as you are unable to turn the wheel very well.”
Filed Feb 20, 2024

“While traveling on I-85N at 70mph, the front passenger tire suddenly came apart from both sidewalls. The tire is a EVOLUXX CAPRICORN 4X4 HP, 255/50R20, 109V, XL. The tire blow-out only caused minor damage to the inner wheel well shroud.”
Filed Aug 17, 2023

“Vehicle started to feel heavy, and vibrate harder through the gas pedal and steering wheel. I took it to my local auto shop and the wheel bearing needs replaced.”
Filed Aug 3, 2021

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 65 reports involved a crash and 3 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.