10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 10 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 47,398 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I have a recall on rear suspension I have called to have the repairs done several times I was given response of they didn't have the parts needed and would take several weeks. Rear suspension is very unsafe and now the engine cooling component is causing issues with over heating and not giving any warning lights on dash and am afraid found cause fire or some unsafe issue
- Sherwood Forrest, CA, USA
I have a recall on rear suspension I have called to have the repairs done several times I was given response of they didn't have the parts needed and would take several weeks. Rear suspension is very unsafe and now the engine cooling component is causing issues with over heating and not giving any warning lights on dash and am afraid found cause fire or some unsafe issue
- Sherwood Forrest, CA, USA
Last year I had to have the electric power steering pump replaced as it completely locked up almost causing an accident while trying to turn, this year now the steering shaft froze up while driving in traffic. Totaling $3,100 to fix when I was told this is something that should never need to be replaced and I drive my vehicle very carefully with my children in it.
- Dollar Bay , MI, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and turning the vehicle to the left, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the steering wheel was also jerking while attempting to steer through the turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but recurring. The contact stated that the failure occurred mostly at slower speeds while turning. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the intermediate shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
- Maryland, NY, USA
The steering wheel was no longer operable(loss control of vehicle) We were turning into a gas station to purchase gas and the steering wheel failed I was able to miss the car at the pump next to the one I was attempting to park at. I purchased this vehicle 3/10/2023 I was not aware of any recalls or anything until tonight. I did not have any lights on indicating an issue but I had been reaching out to the dealer because I sensed something was wrong with the vehicle. My attempts to get it diagnosed went ignored until 4/25/23 when this incident occurred.
- Montgomery , AL, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the front windshield wipers activated independently. The contact removed the fuse to stop the windshield wipers. The vehicle was not diagnosed. On another occasion while starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality with the steering assist fault message displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the message disappeared and the power steering functionality returned. The vehicle was not diagnosed. On another occasion while the contact shifted the vehicle into park(P), the vehicle delayed recognizing that the vehicle was in park(P) and failed to turn off as needed. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 170,000.
- Keystone Heights, FL, USA
I am unable to take this matter to the dealer, as they have shut down thier business.
- Amesbury, MA, USA
EPS unit started clunking loudly when turning right in a parking lot. Replaced by a mechanic and clunking no longer present.
- Fenton, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH and making a right turn, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and had the rack and pinion replaced on two separate occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The contact continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
- Meyersdale, PA, USA
Vehicle use an electrical power assist. Vehicle became hard to steer leading to unsafe condition.
- West Bloomfield, MI, USA
Without any warning, the engine and power system failed while on the highway. There was no system warning lights preceding the event, and the vehicle had be well maintained. We were lucky to have been able to get off the road by safely coasting. Once towed to the mechanics, we were told that a rod had failed and entire would need to be replaced.
- Belleville , IL, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that the vehicle had lost steering gear functionality. The contact was able to pull the steering wheel and regain control. There was an unknown steering message displayed. The contact stated that the traction control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering gear, connecting rod, and rear toe link needed to be replaced, but the parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.
- Lexington, KY, USA
We have had power steering loss upon starting our 2015 Ford Explorer front wheel drive with park assist. This evening 2/13/2023 my wife called me to tell me the steering has stopped working again and she could not turn the wheels. The power rack has totally failed and I AS A STRONG MAN COULD HARDLY turn the wheels. I limped it home and it was all I could do to turn the wheels even going down the road. I am upset that Ford would of made this type of self sealed power rack that can fail and one will lose all control of the steering. Because it is so hard to turn the wheels. No woman can turn when in this situation and can wreak their Explorer because of this failure. Ford need to fix this issue and not just put the same part back into the Explorer. So anyone that owns a 2015 Explorer be aware of this issue!!
- Rossville, IN, USA
After several instances of intermittent loss of steering, the steering is now suck in manual mode (very stiff if not impossible to turn wheel). Luckily my wife was just pulling out of the driveway and not attempting to make a turn in traffic!! The dealer said it needs a new rack but at my expense!!"? $2500-3200. I am appalled that Ford has not addressed this issue yet. 2013/14 models covered, 2016 models covered. Why not 2015 models?" Its THE SAME EXACT ISSUE!!! Now I have a $12,000 brick sitting in the driveway. HEY, FORD!!! PLEASE HELP!! this is a very scary safety issue!
- Red Bluff, CA, USA
I was driving at about 50 mph and didn't have control of steering luckily I didn't panic and got safely off the highway. Never showed any signs that it was malfunctioning and it just went out. Took it the dealership and they told me it would be $2300 to repair.
- Abbeville, SC, USA
My steering column was fine one day, and then very loud the next. We took the car to our dealership. They figured out what was wrong... the steering gear went out which caused the complete steering gear assembly to be replaced. But, then they could not get the part from Ford. They said it was a "known issue" and Ford was not releasing the necessary part to have this repaired. They had my car four weeks before Ford agreed to ship the part. I am guessing they had to make sure the parts in inventory would not have the same issue. They would not release my car back to me because they deemed it "unsafe to drive". Finally five-six weeks later, I have my car back repaired.
- Arlington, TX, USA
the steering makes a loud pop noise when turning sometimes locks
- Yorktown Heights, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the steering became very difficult to turn. The contact was able to steer the vehicle; however, extra effort was needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven back to his residence and the vehicle regained power steering functionality after turning off and then restarting the vehicle. The contact stated that he recently started hearing a grinding noise coming from the transfer case. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the PTU transfer case needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
- Jamaica, NY, USA
My 2015 Explorer power steering failed while I was driving and resulted in no control of my vehicle. The Ford dealer has indicated that the Rack And Pinion Assembly, Part Number: E5BZ3504AM needs to be replaced. This is a serious safety concern. I had replaced this part a few years ago but fortunately that time I only experienced creaking noise while turning. Now Ford is telling the dealer there are no parts nationwide and my car is sitting at a dealership and has since August. This needs to investigated as Ford Motor Company will likely supply the service department with another one of these dangerous parts.
- Mount Pleasant, SC, USA
- Bloomington, IN, USA