10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 11 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 4 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 78,948 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 assist fault occured while driving causing me to lose power steering. There is a recall out for this exact issue but my vehicle vin falls just outside of the dates stated for the recall, so the ford dealership is refusing to repair under the recall.
- Keithville, LA, USA
Upon taking off, in a busy intersection during lunch time traffic in town, a "Steering Assist Failure" and chime came on at the same time the power steering failed. While the steering was just shy of locked, I was able to avoid hitting oncoming traffic and aim the Explorer into a parking lot directly in my path. I put on my hazards (they should come on automatically in such instances) and the other motorists were kind and allowed me to do so since traffic around and behind me had to come to a stop. Even at a healthy 250 lbs and 6'4", it was a serious struggle to make even a small change in the angle of the steering wheel. The Explorer is my wife's vehicle and I just happened to be with her that day, prepping the vehicle for our son to take over as his since he starts college in the fall. I shudder to think what could've happened had either of them been driving it when this happened. There were NO prior indications, no odd noises, no roughness in the steering, no flashes of imminent failure, no notice of the possibility of this happening from FORD, just the sudden and dangerous loss of steering. We've owned this vehicle since it had ~54,000 we've loved the whole time, but this incident has caused us to lose faith in it. Even repaired, I don't see myself putting my wife OR son into it with any confidence in their safety.
- Auburn, KY, USA
I bought this car 2020 an spoke to them about this popping noise when I turn my steering wheel, well the other I had it repair thinking it was struts an springs but to fine out it was the rack and pinion bushing they had to have this knowledge. Then my backup camera went out it's because there to large structural issues at each rear hang that seems to be body putty in so they act sold this car without a full inspection I don't think so it has structural damage at the time of me purchasing it.
- Centerville , IL, USA
The power steering stopped working while we were driving with kids in my car could of been really bad or really fatal. This is a real safety risk luckily we were not on a freeway or any where there was a lot of traffic. I check the car before we bought it a year ago with no recalls for my vin but this a wide spread issue that Ford needs to acknowledge
- Sacramento, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the power steering assist fault and the service advancetrac warning lights were illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the power steering unit to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 142,706
- Dover, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 20-30 MPH, the Power Steering Fault message displayed and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) due to the manufactured date. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not provide financial assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 133,830.
- Spring Hill, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving off the highway into a parking garage, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with electric power steering assist failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
- Hoboken, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to turn at slow speeds, the steering wheel was very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering rack was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 120,000.
- Lachine, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH, the steering wheel became firm and was difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure only occurred while slowing down. The steering power functionality would return while accelerating. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that she contacted the dealer however, they were not able to assist. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,496.
- Verona, PA, USA
Was driving and trac control plus power steering assist came on and I lost all power steering while traveling at 70mph. Turn signals would not stay on and this almost caused me to wreck. Very unsafe.
- Watonga, OK, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH the steering wheel became firm and was difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. While slowing down and attempting to pull over, the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
- Marstons Mills, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering assist while turning to the left. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with a faulty power steering assist system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 14V286000 (Steering). The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.
- Leesburg, IN, USA
Steering failed completely. Unable to turn wheel at all. Thankfully I was stopped in my driveway this time, but unable to turn vehicle at all. It is being taken to Ford Dealership tomorrow. Problem has been reported to dealership, but not inspected yet.
- Leesburg, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the electronic power steering assist message was displayed. The contact restarted the vehicle for the vehicle to return to normal operation. The contact stated on several occasions the contact drove the vehicle without power steering assist. The local dealer was contacted however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
- Texarkana, TX, USA
Power steering failing. When turning makes loud grinding noise and gets stuck in one position and has to be jerked back to get out of a turn.
- Leesburg, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and making a turn, the steering became difficult to maneuver. There were no warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was diagnosed at a local dealer as a beginning stage of power steering failure. The contact believed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 153,000. Consumer stated Ford Motor Company will not assist in fixing this issue under this recall, despite their own dealership telling them this issue is affecting the consumer's vehicle. Consumer's power steering is almost non existent at times.
- Grand Forks Afb, ND, USA
Lost power steering and have code U3000-96
- Loris, SC, USA
This vehicle should be part of the Ford campaign 14S06 or 15N01. The power rack and pinion has frozen and made the vehicle undrivable. The vehicle has a build date of 3/12 and the campaign lists the affected vehicles from 2011 through February 28th 2012. Ford has denied multiple attempts to get this repaired and they say the build date excludes this vehicle. We are talking about literally days apart to make it eligible. We replaced the power rack and pinion at our expense approximately 2 years ago and the same problem has reoccurred. This vehicle is unsafe to drive and we can not get it repaired outside of the Ford dealerships as the electronic power steering control module has to be re-set by Ford after a replacement. The warning message is on in red on the instrument cluster message center and the warning chime is sounding.
- Miami, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the steering became inoperable. The power steering assist failure message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000.
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Spokane Valley, WA, USA