2016 Ford Explorer Structure

I purchased this car in January of 2021 and in April of 2022 the passenger side front window A pillar trim flew off while driving down the highway. Since then, the same thing has happened to my driver’s side A pillar exterior trim, and just this week (August 2023) the B pillar trim that also held my keyless entry keypad has also flown off while driving down the highway. I’ve joined a “5th Generation Ford explorer” Facebook group, and it seems that this is a VERY common occurrence to many users of this vehicle. I’ve also seen many ford explorers driving around that have the trim pieces missing meaning that either they fly off so often that I am seeing these vehicles during this short time before the owner’s get them replaced, or they flew off and people just didn’t want to fix it because they fly off so often. I’m lucky that all 3 times it happened to me, there weren’t any motorcycles driving behind me that could have gotten seriously injured by these pieces flying off at highway speeds. I really believe something needs to happen to fix this. These seem to be poorly engineered parts if they continually fly off the vehicles, plus ford doesn’t make or sell these parts very cheap so it’s obvious they are just trying to make money while putting lives at risk. I unfortunately do not have specific dates/milage/pictures of my previous incidents, and didn’t think of filling out a report until now when I’m in the middle of replacing my B-Pillar, but I can provide the dates and pictures of the piece off of my B-pillar below. I hope this helps. Please investigate this and really review this issue. I’ve seen previous articles that mention the NHTSA has received reports of these flying off, but the number of reports was only around 160. I’m sure if anyone from the government reached out to the Facebook group mentioned above, along with other ford Facebook/Social Media groups that this would cover like the ford Edge groups, they would easily find that this is a major safety issu

Windshield trim piece came loose and broke off while driving on the highway. I had to tape down the part that was still on there two times before I could have it repaired so that I did not lose the rest of it on the highway and cause an accident. The driver's side failed first and now my passenger side has split apart and is rattling while on the highway, so I have to have both sides repaired out of safety concerns!

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the front passenger’s side windshield trim detached from the vehicle. The contact also became aware that the front driver’s side windshield trim was loosened and almost detaching from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the windshield trims needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 65,000.

Twice I have been driving down the highway and have had the right front passenger side trim break off of the car. The first time it was caught between the door and the passenger side mirror and I was able to retrieve. Took to the dealer and they repaired. The second time it happened the same piece came off and flew off into freeway. A month ago I heard a loud noise while driving sounding like something struck my car and it was the molding on the passenger side door window that came off while driving down the interstate and was unretrievable. I have taken to repair shop to be replaced and see if any other possible issues with the trim and they have found cracks in the same trim pieces on both side rear windows.

The windshield trim on the passenger side flew off the vehicle unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds. The piece hit the windshield and then flew off causing me to almost run off the road. Thankfully, it did not strike another vehicle.

While driving on the freeway, the driver side windshield trim broke and flew off the vehicle. The safety of the vehicle traveling behind us was put at risk due to the flying debris. There were no warning lamps or messages displayed prior to this happening. The vehicle has not been inspected yet.

Trim piece on the front of the vehicle beside the windshield flew off while driving on the interstate. It smacked my windshield and flew off behind me. Very big safety concern considering there were other vehicles driving behind me and it could have hit them. I did not see where it went as I was confused as I did not know what the sound/item was at first.

Windshield trim blew off going down the interstate. I replaced it and it blew off again! Now I have extra wind noise and I’m scared it’s going to leak. I would try to glue another one down but do not want to affect my windshield integrity.

While traveling at highway speed on Interstate 20 W in Texas, the right A-pillar molding detached and flew off. There were no indications of the part beginning to loosen prior to detaching. I have not taken the vehicle to the dealer as it is out of warranty.

The passenger side windshield trim, separated from the vehicle at highway speeds, and landed onto the windshield of the vehicle behind me. Both vehicles were traveling at 75 mph when the incident occurred. I contacted my servicing Ford dealership, service, and parts department, to which both entities acknowledged this was a common problem for this year and model vehicle. I further inquired if any additional recalls for this trim component work on Ford’s recall list to which they said no. I am concerned because in 2020 a recall on the Ford Explorer roof rack rails, work executed, because those were separating from the vehicle at high rate of speed as well. Ford dealership quoted me $851 to replace both windshield trim components, both passenger and driver side a total of four plastic pieces. Ford also stated that the repair work would need to be done by a train service technician vice the end users themselves. Estimating approximately two hours of labor for both components would require the Ford vehicle owner to pay for $1000 to affect a repair which clearly is defective and unsafe at highway speeds. Separation of this component from the vehicle could have resulted in a high-speed collision and potential loss of life as a result of the failure of this part. I have also notified the Ford dealership that I intend to file a formal complaint on the defective parts with Ford motor company, as well as the NHTSA.

The driver side panels on my front windshield flew off while driving on the highway and then the passenger side broke and the lining ripped out slapping the side window. I know at least 4 other people whose Explorers have done the same and see them all the time driving around broken and gone. How is this ok? It could have hit another car or person when it flew off.

The windshield trim on the passenger side of my 2016 Ford Explorer came flying off my car while I was traveling at about 70mph. The piece flew upwards and backwards. I was not able to see if it hit any of the cars behind me. I was not able to stop to retrieve the piece. I've included a picture below. My car is available for inspection upon request. The safety of the drivers behind me was obviously put at risk having to dodge the flying part. I have not brought the car in for the repair yet, so they have not inspected it, nor has the police or insurance company. I just wanted you to know about it. There were no symptoms before the incident occurred.

Both Front windshield trims flew off while driving. Each side different days. On highway driving when saw something fly on side of my vehicle and almost hit vehicle beside me. I was forced to pull over check my vehicle and noticed windshield trim missing.

I’ve had two instances of the windshield moulding becoming detached and flying off the car while on the highway. The first was a couple of years ago and involved the right side windshield moulding, this last one involved the left side windshield moulding. Each time I can’t be sure that the moulding didn’t fly into another car because it came off with such force, it actually scratched my car when it flew off. This is the second time I’ve had to pay over $300 to get the moulding replaced because of what I feel are faulty clips that hold it on. This poses a safety hazard to not only me (distraction when it comes off while on the highway) as well as other drivers around me. I feel this needs to be a recall issue and, if owners have paid to have said repairs already done, a reimbursement made for the repairs done to date. As an added note, I was at my grandson’s baseball game Friday night and there were three explorers in the parking lot, I ring mine. ALL THREE were missing one side of their windshield mouldings!!

Driving highway speed, passenger side B pillar trim flew off of the vehicle. Since Ford denied any responsibility with first call (complaint 11543574) I did not contact. Self-repaired.

Driving highway speed, passenger side A pillar trim flew off of vehicle. Called Ford, they responded that no support was available for this incident. Self-repaired.

Driving highway speed, top part of driver's side B pillar trim (key entry pad) broke off. This required emergency pullover to try and secure remaining bottom part of the pillar that was attached with keypad wiring. Unable to secure, I continued travel on service road at slow rate of speed and secured with duct tape later for my drive home. Since Ford refused assistance for first incident (11543574 passenger side A pillar trim) I did not report this incident. Self-repaired later. Additional complaint filed 11543575 for passenger side B pillar trim.

As I was driving over a bridge at approximately 45 mph, the A-pillar trim on the driver's side of the windshield broke and flew off of my car and hit the car behind me. Then, a few days later, as I was getting my car washed, the luggage rack cover blew off while going through the dryer at the end. Coincidentally, I received notice of a recall on the luggage rack system in the mail about 2 months after it happened and that has been replaced but my A-pillars have not.....seems to me they are related issues. Luckily, no one was hurt and no accident was caused.

On two separate occasions, the windshield trim panel blew off my Explorer while I was driving at highway speeds. This was the trim panel on the driver's side in both instances. I had it repaired the first time and then it happened again. I was told by Safelight, who repaired it the first time, that they have done dozens of these repairs. And, it happened to my brother-in-law's Ford Excursion. Just look around while you're driving and you will see many Ford SUVs with missing trim panels. The dealership refuses to fix it even under my extended warranty - even though it's clearly a defect - and it costs hundreds of dollars for the repair. I know Ford is aware of the problem and doesn't seem to care. A recall needs to be issued. The last time the trim blew off I was driving 65 miles an hour on I-10 in traffic - the trim could have easily hit another car - and may have for all I know.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she noticed that the driver's side windshield trim panel had detached. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number PE23001 (Structure). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 48,700.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the driver's side windshield trim panel detached and was hitting against the vehicle. The contact veered to the side of the road and cut the trim panel. The contact stated that the failure recurred with the passenger's side windshield trim panel. Additionally, the contact stated that the trim panel at the base of the windshield was fractured. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was determined that the entire windshield trim panel needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that he would be charged a fee for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE23001 (Structure). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Passenger side A Pillar Trim (OEM Part # BB5Z-7803144-AA) detached while driving at Highway speed.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the motor mounts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the motor mounts had been replaced three times by the dealer since December 2022. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,300.

The body-A pillar trim panel doorman on the passenger side. Flew off while driving on the highway. I happened to be the passenger this day and if I had the window rolled down a little more, this piece would have hit me in the face. At first, we thought it was a piece of debris from the ground on the highway so we kept driving. But then the rubber part that sits underneath the trim began to flap and that’s when we realized we needed to exit. There’s no way we were going to be able to recovery that piece from the highway. Luckily no one got hurt.

In 2021, driving down the highway, our driver side windshield trim partially broke free and started smacking against the driver side window before breaking off and flying behind the vehicle. Then in July 2023, the passenger side windshield trim broke free on the highway. Appears the rubber seal disintegrates allowing the wind to grab it and rip the plastic trim piece off the vehicle. Currently, the rubber seal on the engine cowl windshield trim is disintegrating also.