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
2013 ford explorer. Was driving vehicle at low speed steering wheel became very hard to turn. No warning lights on. Called Ford recall phone number no assistance available was told my vehicle was not included in power steering failure recall.
- Weatherly , PA, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the power steering assist function became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.
- Easton, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, the power steering failed, causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 190,000.
- Martinsville, IN, USA
Power steering issues light came on right before it happened
- Garland, TX, USA
The safety failure involved the Electric Power Steering Rack on my 2013 Ford Explorer XLT. The failure occurred while driving on the interstate at posted highway speed, 65 mph. The warning lights came on during the failure and all power steering was lost. The electronic control box on the Steering Rack has been the diagnosed failure by a Ford service center, and the entire rack requires replacement, costing approximately $4000. While the lost of power steering did not cause an accident, it certainly could have and is a definite safety concern. This steering system had a recall in 2014 for the 2013 Ford Explorer, but my car's VIN was not included in the recall for some reason. From online research, this is apparently happening to others. Please raise this for a recall immediately as this could have been catastrophic.
- Henrico, VA, USA
On July 7, 2023 I was traveling to home from work. While driving about 50mph the car started beeping at me saying the traction control system and the intelligent awd has turned off. Then I received an error for power steering fault. After that the electronic power steering turned off making massively difficult to turn. Thankfully was able to pull off the road into a stores parking lot where I called my insurance company for a tow truck. Tow arrived and took it to a local ford dealer I go to. There they diagnosed the cars steering gear failed resulting in the above events. If the recall was applied to my vehicle and taken care of my safety would have never been put at risk.
- Orefield, PA, USA
I was driving when I got a warning my power steering needed serviced I was on the highway and couldn-??t pull over my traction control turned off and said the advanced traction control needed serviced. I got to a sage space and pulled over. I turned off my car and turned it back on to my wheel being locked and unable to move.
- Findlay, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and merging into the left lane, the vehicle pulled to the right with the traction control and the check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to control the vehicle but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the dealer since the vehicle was experiencing the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) and that the warranty had expired. No additional assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the NTHSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 249,000.
- Middletown, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the power steering malfunctioned, and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. During the failure, the message "Steering Default" was displayed. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 87,000.
- East Aurora, NY, USA
i was driving on the thru-way 90 and lost all power steering almost hit 3 people I was so scared I have proof of 13 people die because of this issue no steering control
- East Aurora, NY, USA
There are no warning lights on. My steering wheel is extremely hard to turn at times. I have seen recalls on this same year vehicle. The dealership has inspected my vehicle for this issue and it is the known steering issue for explorers. Where this is a failure of a known nature, my vehicle should be covered under the recall and I should not have to pay for this repair out of pocket.
- Bristol, ME, USA
The power steering system has an intermittent electric connection and the steering wheel will jerk in opposite directions. There is a recall for the issue with similar year ford explorers but for has told me to contact nhtsa to see if this vehicle can be added to the list for the same issues. Also I am not able to smog it due to bad catalytic converters.
- Turlock, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized with the "Power Steering Assist Fault" message displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The failure mileage was 100,000.
- Gainesville, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, with the "Power Steering Assist Fault" message displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, which corrected the failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 145,178.
- Cedar Falls, IA, USA
Steering rack moving up and down, steering loose
- Wahiawa, HI, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the power steering failed to operate as needed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had become a recurring failure. The contact also stated that when the Lane Departure: Lane Keep: Automatic Steering was engaged, the function independently disengaged, and the vehicle was drifting out of the lane. The contact pulled over and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the functionality returned. Additionally, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was notified of a failure with the rear suspension related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V537000 (Suspension) rear toe link. The contact related the steering failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 214,000.
- North Little Rock, AR, USA
Started car and Power Steering Assist Fail message came on, put car in drive and tried to turn steering wheel and had no power steering. Shut down car and restarted. The message did not show up this time, put car in drive and had power steering. This message has shown up in the past, approximately 10 to 12 times, but this is the first time we-??ve had a loss of power steering. It appears Ford has had a recall for this issue already (Recall #14S06) with a limited number of vehicles. Obviously, this is a problem with farther reaching ramifications that Ford should be required to do something about at their expense. If I had lost power while driving down the highway, I could have been involved in a wreck injuring myself and/or others. Please look into this. Thank you.
- Orlando, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 20 MPH, the power steering seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
- Belleville, NJ, USA
Sudden loss of power steering and traction control components at high velocity. Loss of steering put me and other at risk by not being able to control the vehicle.
- Madison, WI, USA
- Mount Vernon, IA, USA