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2016 Ford Expedition problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
36% of relevant owner complaints on the 2016 Ford Expedition are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 60% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2016 Ford Expedition have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 75 of 217 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Expedition concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (36%), and the largest group is filed under engine (37). For comparison, the 2015 scores 43% and the 2017 scores 30%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Ford Expedition years
Of the 14 Ford Expedition years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 5th-best on engine and transmission share (36%). The worst is the 2019 (80%), the best the 2022 (25%). By volume, the 2016 drew 217 complaints (75 drivetrain), against 164 for the 2015 and 357 for the 2017.
Ford Expedition years to avoid and best years →
2010 Expedition problems · 2011 Expedition problems · 2012 Expedition problems · 2013 Expedition problems · 2014 Expedition problems · 2015 Expedition problems · 2016 · 2017 Expedition problems · 2018 Expedition problems · 2019 Expedition problems · 2020 Expedition problems · 2021 Expedition problems · 2022 Expedition problems · 2023 Expedition problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Ford Expedition
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Ford Expedition said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 75 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Ford Expedition engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2016 Ford Expedition, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Ford Expedition? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2016 Ford Expedition have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 75 of 217 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Expedition concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (36%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Ford Expedition?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Ford Expedition is service brakes: 52 of 217 complaints (24%) name it, followed by engine (37) and power train (36). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 36% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 Ford Expedition reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 36% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 60% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford Expedition years we score, it ranks 5th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Ford Expedition?
No. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2016 Ford Expedition, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Ford Expedition years are better?
Among the Ford Expedition years we track, the 2022 (25%), the 2023 (27%) and the 2017 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (36%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-expedition
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.