10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 11 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 4 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 79,005 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 failed while driving on a city street.
- Lenexa, KS, USA
When driving the steering became impossible for my wife to steer the car. Power steering assist light came on along with advance trac light. This happened on 2 separate occasions. The first time we were traveling down a highway and the second time she was parking in the garage. She was unable to park the car staight in the garage. We took the car to herman Ford in luverne, mn to be repaired. We were told the problem in the steering gear. Through my research Ford has recalled other Explorer with the same problem. Ford is telling me that my car does not fall under the recall. This problem creates a dangerous situation when it occurs.
- Beaver Creek, Mn, MN, USA
When traveling long distances, usually over an hour, the warning for power steering and service advance trac comes on. The power steering will lock up and will be difficult to drive after vehicle has been parked and once its started back up again.
- Houston, TX, USA
Driving the car Saturday the 20th of July, running regular errands, the car was fine. Woke up Sunday morning to go to church and the steering started grinding when I turn the wheel. Took it to the mechanic and he said it was the steering gear and only Ford can fix that, but who has 1600.00.
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
While traveling in a forward direction on a city street, an alert for power steering malfunction appeared. A few seconds later, the power steering system completely failed and the steering locked up. I was unable to turn the steering wheel left or right. A quick research of the Ford Explorer power steering resulted with a large forum of people with same problem. The dealer my vehicle was taken to stated I was the second one in a week. A recall was done for this specific item was done, but for all wheel/4 wheel drive only. I feel this particular product is unsafe, especially since the vehicle was in motion.
- Peyton, CO, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. Shortly after the contact purchased the vehicle, the eps warning indicator flashed, indicating a power steering failure. Wilson Ford Lincoln (328 main St, logan, ut 84321) scheduled a diagnostic appointment for August 5, 2019. The vehicle was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 14V286000 (steering); however, the vehicle exhibited the same failure as the recall campaign. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA action number: PE12017 (steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.
- Hyrum, UT, USA
While operating 2013 Ford Explorer on highway at approximately 30 mph the right wheel suddenly turned 45 degrees right causing the vehicle to unexpectedly veer to right towards curb and pedestrian walkway. A visual inspection showed the outer tie rod disconnected from outer tie rod connector without warning. Mechanic determined the male thread on outer tie rod "worked" it's way out of the female outer tie rod connector. The metal threads on the end of the tie rod were stripped allowing outer tie rod and tie rod connector to sliding in and out freely without any rotation(loosening/tightening) of tie rod end. Fortunately no personal injury was sustained by anyone involved. At time of the incident the vehicle had approximately 40,000 miles and was in excellent condition receiving regular service. I believe the oem equipment on the vehicle is defective and runs the risk of serious injury or death if it were to fail at highway speed. I contacted Ford customer service to explain incident and they simply stated the vehicle was out of warranty. They did not seem to be interested in the details of mechanical failure as they did not connect me with a technician. Customer service representative told me if they would mark it as a simple tie rod failure and if enough people "complain" they would contact me. Out of abundance of caution I replaced both left and right tie rods and tie rod ends to prevent further failure. Repairs cost including labor exceeded $750 photos of failed parts attached please contact me for further information/questions.
- Amityville, NY, USA
The steering became so bad it was not safe to drive and could easily have caused a bad accident. I did not let my wife drive it. Local auto repair shop said it is an electrical issue in the steering so I drove it unsafely to Ford dealer who told us it is an issue with the steering gear. This should not happen in a 2013 vehicle with a little over 100K miles
- Millersburg, OH, USA
My 2013 Explorer losses power steering due to mechanical malfunctioning while driving the car. It was discovered the electronic power steering system had failed due to overheating. According to the dealer, my vehicle was excluded from the recall 14V286000 which was noted May 29, 2014. I repaired the car at the cost $2,600. I continue to have issues with the power steering.
- Baltimore, MD, USA
Power steering fault twice when making sharp turn
- Raleigh, NC, USA
Malfunction regarding "steering assist fault" keeps showing up. Loss of power steering all of the sudden that almost resulted in a crash. I see recalls about steering assist fault but mine is not listed. It has happened in motion and when first starting up the vehicle.
- Mount Pleasant, SC, USA
Driving down the expressway going 75mph when we got a power steering fault error. We lost all power steering and traction control. Very scary with our 3 small children in the car in the middle of the expressway. Called Ford and was told that while there was a recall for this issue, our VIN was not included. Doesn't make any sense since it is the exact same issue that models under the recall are experiencing. Ford needs to address this asap. We pulled over, turned off and restarted the vehicle and the fault went away and we regained power steering. Thankfully there was not much traffic otherwise we could have been seriously injured in an accident.
- Perrysburg, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the power steering assist malfunctioned, which nearly caused a crash. Paradise Ford (1360 w king St, cocoa, fl 32922, (888) 379-8533) stated that there was no recall on the vehicle and suggested that the power steering assist was faulty. An independent mechanic provided a second opinion and reached the same diagnosis. The manufacturer also stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall or extended warranty. The failure mileage was 92,000.
- Merritt Island, FL, USA
When I turn the wheel in my vehicle it makes a loud clunk noise and also when I apply my brakes. I looked up all Ford Explorer recalls and noticed one in 2014 that has to do with the electric power assist system. How can I know if my vehicle was on the recall list being so long ago and can this be covered under that recall? I see alot of complaints involving this same issue. I bought the car used in 2017.
- Pinetops, NC, USA
Sometimes the steering locks up even when moving have to shut down engine wait a minute and restart to get some power steering re-activated
- N Canton, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. While driving on the highway and making a right turn, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The contact was able to coast over to the side of the road and power off the engine. The contact waited ten minutes and restarted the vehicle, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The following day, the vehicle was towed to metro Ford (located at 9000 nw 7th ave, miami, fl 33150, (305) 751-9711) where it was diagnosed that the power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact called metro Ford and was informed that the part was not available for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to call pines Ford (located at 8655 pines blvd, pembroke pines, fl 33024, (954) 443-7000) to schedule an appointment. The vehicle was taken to pines Ford, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.
- Miami, FL, USA
My steering wheel suddenly became difficult to turn while in motion while turning off the highway resulting in a near collision. I received no interior warning lights or signals alerting me to an issue with the steering.
- Woolwich, NJ, USA
I experienced a total loss of power steering. It began as a little play in the steering wheel near the end of an 8 hour drive. The service power steering now light came on at that point. After parking the vehicle and restarting the vehicle there was no power steering at all.
- Arnold, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. While driving 30 mph, the power steering and traction control warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact was able to park the vehicle on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to D-patrick boonville Ford (located at 3100 in-62, boonville, in 47601, (812) 897-5838) where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The dealer associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 14V286000 (steering). The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.
- Rockport, IN, USA
- Morven, GA, USA