10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 6 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 5 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 70,504 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
Power Steering Assit is intermittent and Steering Efforts increase to an unsafe level.
- North Syracuse, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed and driving around a curve, the power steering assist warning light illuminated, and the steering wheel became firm. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The following morning the contact started the vehicle, and the steering wheel was firm with the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed and the mechanic stated that the vehicle was experiencing the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (STEERING). The contact stated that an Extended Warranty for the failure had expired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the Extended Warranty had expired. The failure mileage was 215,002.
- Cub Run, KY, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the power steering assist fault warning message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact used excessive force to drive the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a steering gear failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) which he linked to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall or under warranty. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
- American Fork, UT, USA
2012 Ford explorer has a recall 14s06 which my vehicle allegedly isnt apart of, but for some reason im having this issue. Which is extremely dangerous
- Montclair, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while making a right turn to drive into a parking lot, he experienced a loss of power steering functionality. The "Service Advancetrac" and "Service Power Steering Now" warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the contact was made aware that a steering Extended Warranty had expired. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting a diagnostic test and repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised to file a complaint with the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was 133,182.
- Leominster, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, there was an audible chime heard along with the message to "Service Power Steering" before the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was unknown. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under the Manufacturer-??s Extended Service Program which was related to the failure. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 170,000.
- Detroit, MI, USA
While driving down the middle of a busy interstate suddenly the power steering was lost and a power steering assist warning appeared. Vehicle was almost impossible to control with no steering. After making it off the roadway and into a local business and turning the car off, when I turned it back on the warning was gone and the steering worked normally. This is definitely a life threatening failure and it happens without warning.
- Conroe, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 30 MPH, several unknown codes appeared on the instrument panel and the steering became difficult to maneuver. The driver was able to stop on the side of the road and turned off the vehicle for a few minutes. When the vehicle was restarted the power steering functionality resumed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the code was an electric power steering failure and informed the contact of an unknown recall that was related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle had to be taken to a dealer for diagnosis to confirm the failure and once confirmed, the repairs would be covered by Ford. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the electric power steering failure was confirmed. The manufacturer informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under an electric power assist recall. The contact was also informed that the vehicle was out of warranty and that the manufacturer would not cover the repairs. The vehicle was assumingly previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA
EPASS STEERING GEAR The power steering locked up on me while driving in town, thank goodness I was not on the freeway. I was finally able to steer it off the road, with incredible difficulty going 10 miles per hour to do so. The dealer says it is customer satisfaction issue and not a safety issue. I never received any letter that informed me of the problem. My vehicle just turned over 150,000 miles and they say it is out of warranty. It is about to cost me over $2500. The vehicle is at the dealership now, as I had to have it towed there. No warnings except right before it locked up.
- Conway, AR, USA
Steering Assist alert for power steering. Has continued to go out on numerous occasions in which steering is nearly impossible to turn wheel. Verified with mechanic and believed to be in regards to recall : 14V286000. Called ford with no assistance. Researched online with several issues. Almost crashed with 5 children in the car.
- Sheridan , MI, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while pulling out a parking lot, the steering wheel seized, and the contact was not able to move the steering wheel. The service power steering assist message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle that the was not under recall. Additionally, the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 131,000.
- Wilmington, DE, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while his wife was attempting to reverse out of the garage, the steering wheel became difficult to steer. The message -??Power Steering Fault-?? was displayed. The contact stated that his wife turned off and restarted the vehicle and the message disappeared. The contact stated that the power steering assist became operable; however, the failure recurred while driving. The contact stated that his wife was able to continue driving to the residence in a straightforward direction. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
- Tyler, TX, USA
When my car starts in the morning I receive a warning that the power steering is not working. I cannot turn the wheel and am at the point where I have to stop and start my car until the power steering comes back on. I am very concerned that this will happen while driving and I will be in a serious accident. I do not want to drive the car on the highway. I took this to Ford in Feb 2022 because Firestone informed me that there was a recall for this issue. Ford said the warning had been cleared after taking my car for about 3 days. This keeps happening so I called Ford twice in September 2022 and they told me the recall was expired. I took this to Lorentz this week and they confirmed the power steering issue and recall.
- Flower Mound, TX, USA
Power steering suddenly failed. Power steering assist light would come on spontaneously, but go off again after vehicle was restarted. Took vehicle to a local shop and was informed about the recall. Ford refuses to make repair claiming mileage has exceeded. Vehicle was not included in original recall, and we have received no paper work informing us about this recall
- Elwood, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the warning light disappeared. The contact stated that on another occasion, after restarting the vehicle the warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the steering rack assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 120,000.
- Staunton, VA, USA
The vehicle loses steering ability at highway speeds. I have taken it to my local mechanic and been told it is a programming issue from ford. It was reprogrammed by ford several times under the previous steering recall.
- Boca Raton , FL, USA
Power steering failed while driving the car. Car displays warnings of Power Steering Assist failure, Service AdvanceTrac, and Terrain Management System failure. I took the car to my dealer, who advised that the issue is tied to Ford recall 15N01 and my vehicle would need a new steering rack, however, Ford denied the warranty coverage as outside the 10-year time period. When I contacted Ford to note that the May 17, 2019 letter posted on the NHTSA website to dealers and service centers appears to waive the 10-year time and 150,000 mile limitation for warranty coverage, Ford refused to pay for the repair and stated that the NHTSA notice was not an official Ford document.
- Concord, NC, USA
The contact's wife owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while his wife was driving 30-35 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. The contact was able to veer to the side of the roadway. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle several times, the steering wheel regained power steering functionality. The contact's wife was able to drive to the residence; however, the failure reoccurred the next day. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact's wife that she had to pay a repair fee as the vehicle had previously received the one-time free repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. The contact stated that they paid out of pocket to have their vehicle repaired.
- San Mateo, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was 125,394.
- Colbert, WA, USA
- New Johnsonville , TN, USA