10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
79,005 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #59

Jul 072016

Explorer

  • 36,000 miles
36,000 miles on my 2013 Ford Explorer. Started up my car and went to back up and I had no power steering. My car was built after the cut off of the re-call and will be having it looked at and fixed on Monday. Ford needs to extend the re-call to later models as this problem is effecting a lot more Ford then they thought. This is out right wrong of Ford.

- Loxahatchee, FL, USA

problem #58

Jun 142016

Explorer

  • 60,000 miles
Vehicle was parked and when I started to back up the message center displayed and flashed power assist and the steering was difficult to turn. I pulled forward into the parking space, shut the car off and restarted the vehicle. At this point the power steering retuned and I drove it to the dealership. Ford has a recall for similar 2011-2013 Explorer but the VIN code series on my Explorer does not fall under the current recall which is #14S06. I have attached a service invoice of the repairs done which are the exact repairs the recall #14S06 calls for.

- Burkburnett, TX, USA

problem #57

Nov 292013

Explorer

  • 112 miles
One week after I purchased my brand new Ford the transmission started going bad after a month I was told that it is defective and I had a new transmission installed my air bag sensors were changed cause they were defective my transmission was damaged again and was repaired again and the fuel was also recalled my Ford still give me a very bad smell when driving on the highway I believe it still has damage in the transmission also when I went to get my car balanced with Ford the power steering piece that was electric that cost me almost $1,000 please I can take any help I can get

- Caguas, PR, USA

problem #56

Jun 062016

Explorer

  • 44,000 miles
I have a 2013 Ford Explorer with 44,000 miles and sent it to the dealer. The dealer said the power steering gear box is not functioning and needs to be replaced. There is a recall on Ford Explorer's for the 2011-2013 models for the "power steering assist fault", which did come on and the power steering failed in my vehicle. I contact Ford directly and they were of no help and offered no assistance.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #55

May 142016

Explorer

  • 75,000 miles
Driving approx 45mph through town on a multi-lane roadway, steering became virtually impossible, nearly locking up. Was able to maneuver vehicle off the road without damage or injury. Vehicle was towed by towing company to nearest Ford dealership awating evaluation/repair at this time.

- Clewiston, FL, USA

problem #54

Dec 112015

Explorer

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. While driving at various slow speeds and turning, the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

- Olathe, KS, USA

problem #53

Apr 012016

Explorer

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. While driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel became extremely hard to maneuver without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and verified that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V286000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 75,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #52

Apr 152016

Explorer

  • 74,000 miles
Complete loss of power steering while driving. I momentarily felt panicked inside, my children were in the car and we were going 70. Turned the car off and restarted and it drove. I took the vehicle in to the dealership and it seemed fine. 9 months later (April 2016) it happened again driving 45mph in heavy traffic with my children in the car. I was able to force the car to the side of the freeway and calm down. The car would barely steer. It was harder to maneuver than driving an older vehicle without power steering. It was just short of being locked up. Again it reset after turning on and off about 5 times. It was evening and I decided it had to go back to the shop the next day. The following day it was locked up completely and not drivable. I had it towed to the dealership as it was not drivable and unsafe. The power steering assist and traction assist alerts stayed up- both functions showing off.

- College Station, TX, USA

problem #51

Apr 122016

Explorer

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. While making a turn at an unknown speed, an abnormal clicking sound emitted from the steering wheel without warning. In addition, the vehicle veered to the left or right independently without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.

- Edgemoor, SC, USA

problem #50

Nov 022015

Explorer

  • 61,144 miles
Takata inflators, I bought my 2013 Ford Explorer in July of 2015. By November 2015 my car had been making very loud scraping noises every time I turned right or left. I brought it to the Ford dealer that I bought it from to get it checked out. The dealership had to replace the steering rack, which fixed the problem. However, it was not covered under any warranty or recall. In researching online I found that some 2013 Ford Explorer have had the same problem and are covered under an active recall. Mine still is not!!! I have 2 small children and was told that it needed to get fixed asap otherwise my steering wheel could freeze up, which would cause an accident and put our lives in danger. I am very upset with this as I had to pay $1561 out of pocket and our lives were in danger!!!!

- Oelwein, IA, USA

problem #49

Mar 272016

Explorer

  • 60,000 miles
When driving this vehicle the steering seems to "stick" and when you apply more pressure to move the steering wheel, the vehicle jerks and darts you into the other lane at highway speeds. This is very dangerous when driving in close proximity to other vehicles such as construction zones or narrow rural roads with oncoming traffic.

- Elizabethtown, KY, USA

problem #48

Feb 192016

Explorer

  • miles
Paint bubbles on hood inside and out with corrosion, 2) power steering failing, recall for issue in effect, but, not mine have to pay $2000 for repairs, unable to steer while driving low speed

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #47

Feb 252016

Explorer

  • 27,000 miles
The "power steering fault" light was on when I was driving. And I lost steering ability at all. I managed to drive to the nearest Ford dealer, and they wanted to charge me $1800 for replacement. This is because somehow I wasn't included in the recall for power steering. This is absurd!

- Novi, MI, USA

problem #46

Jan 292016

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. While driving 80 mph, the power steering malfunctioned and it became extremely difficult to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 21,000. Updated 04/22/2016 updated 05/05/16.

- North Platte, NE, USA

problem #45

Feb 142016

Explorer

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. While driving 25 mph, the steering wheel seized and the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V286000 (steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

- Brownsville, TX, USA

problem #44

Feb 152016

Explorer

  • 10 miles
Was driving and the steering wheel became really hard to turn and then on my screen of my truck a warning pop up saying ( power steering assist fault) so now my steering is very hard to turn

- Brownsville, TX, USA

problem #43

Feb 122016

Explorer

  • 53,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing out of parking space, the power steering assist disable warning message illuminated and the power steering malfunctioned. The contact mentioned that the vehicle resumed normal function after it was turned off and restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure and stated that the electronic power steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and refused to provide any assistance since the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V286000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 53,000.

- Shelton, CT, USA

problem #42

Nov 012015

Explorer

  • 19,748 miles
Loss of power steering. After experiencing loss of power steering on multiple occasions I performed online research and became aware of safety recall 14S06. I contacted Ford for resolution and they informed me my vehicle is not subject to recall. The vehicle with some 19,000 miles is our of warranty (>36 months). Ford indicated that any repairs for this dangerous condition would be at owner expense. The vehicle was produced on the assembly line in Chicago which was the origin of the vehicle defect which prompted the recall. However, it appears to have been assembled approximately 1 month after the recall cut-off. I contend that the defect was still present and the recall should be broadened. This is a serious defect with potential life threatening consequences. Ford has been unreceptive in even investigating the matter. The vehicle was moving on the occasions when the power steering failed, while negotiating a curve. My professional driver indicated that the car had to be stopped and the vehicle restarted to reset the power steering. No driver feedback of a trouble code.

- Dulles, VA, USA

problem #41

Nov 012013

Explorer

  • 25,000 miles
Power steering failure. Failed multiple times, unable to replicate at dealership. Happened at low speed while in a parking lot. Pulling into parking spot and steering failed causing minor collision with parked vehicle in next space. Dealership still unable to replicate.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #40

Jan 272015

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing out of a parking spot, the steering wheel was difficult to turn without warning. The contact stated that the failure recurred on several occasions, each time the vehicle was driven at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed that the electronic power steering rack needed to be replaced. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V286000 (steering). The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 51,000. Updated 04/04/16 updated 04/05/16.

- Dalhart, TX, USA

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