10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 10 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 6 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 58,359 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
On Saturday, 6/29/19, I took my car to bob tomes Ford in mckinney, tx, to have recall 19S17 work done as I feel I have limited control of my car due to this suspension toe link/steering issue. I was told Ford sent the wrong parts and that I would have to wait a couple weeks for the correct parts to come in. I don't know if this is true. All I know is, I have complained to Ford multiple times and was very glad to hear about this recall. Now I have to wait even longer" this is the same recall from 2016. Why can't Ford get it right? should I trade my Ford in" I just bought it in March 2019. I told the guy at Ford, if I crash my car before they can fix it, I will be taking Ford to court. Help
- Anna, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and the eps, traction control, and various other unknown warning indicators illuminated. The contact had to strongly maneuver the vehicle in both directions to prevent a crash. The vehicle was barely coasted off the highway. When the vehicle was shut off and restarted, the various warning indicators still flashed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was diagnosed and repaired. The vehicle was excluded from NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V286000 (steering) and 14E001000 (steering); although, the vehicle exhibited the same failure. Apple Ford shakopee (1624 weston ct, shakopee, mn 55379, (952) 445-2420) was contacted and indicated that the vehicle would need to be scheduled for an appointment the following Monday or Tuesday for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000. Consumer stated the rack and pinion steering assist was replaced. 'parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
- Minneapolis, MN, USA
Steering grabs and pulls my car while driving. Hard to turn steering wheel. No lights or messages appear. Contacted dealership due to them fixing the rear suspension toe links. They advised it has no effect on the steering of my SUV. I was driving 45-50 miles mph on hwy 72 fredericktown mo trieing to slow down to turn left.
- Fredericktown, MO, USA
Vehicle steering assist malfunction light came on and I lost all steering capabilities. I am a 220 pound man that had to struggle to get the vehicle to the side of the road. The steering wheel literally locked in the position it was in. My wife complained about this problem earlier in the day. Thank god she was able to pull to the side of the road. Steering assist malfunction light appeared and just as quick as this light came on, we lost all steering. Extremely dangerous condition!!! I have parked the SUV in the garage and have not used it since. Ford acknowledges this problem in the 2011-2013 and 2015-2017 vehicles. It's obviously an issue from 2011-2017. Why was 2014 excluded from this recall?
- Marlboro, NY, USA
On April 10, 2019 we were pulling out of my drive way to leave my house and noticed a grinding sound coming from the front end, it was very loud. We took it to a reputable mechanic company local to do a diagnostic the sound. This company is ase-certified. After reviewing my Explorer they stated that the rack and pinion was bad and it needed to be replaced asap due to this being a major safety issue and we shouldn't wait to get it replaced. $1998.21 later we received the car back the next day fixed. I had called Ford and explained to them that this was a saftey issue and we had read on line that the previous years have been recalled. They told me that my year doesnt have a recall and stated I could write a letter and that was all I could do. I also asked if anyone would follow up with me and Ford couldnt answer my questions. We just received another recall notice for the toe link. So that car is going back to the dealer for that work. This is recall number 4 that I have had to take the car back to the dealership for.
- Citrus Heights, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the steering wheel would sporadically tighten and the "steering assist fault" and "check charging system" indicators illuminated. An independent mechanic referred the contact to brandon Ford (9090 E adamo dr, tampa, fl 33619, (813) 246-3673) where it was diagnosed that a new alternator was needed. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic for a second opinion. The mechanic replaced the alternator. The failure recurred and the contact called the dealer who informed her that the alternator should have been replaced with one from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired again. The contact was concerned that the dealer was recommending a higher repair bill. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.
- Ruskin, FL, USA
Power steering failure while in motion on interstate
- Clarksville, TN, USA
Started with hearing groaning/grinding noise when turning. I experienced a loss of power steering after a few days later while driving on city streets around 35 mph. Received the warning lights "loss of steering" and "service advancetrac". there are so many rack and pinon failures in late model Explorer. They should be recalled!!
- Kansas City, MO, USA
While driving down a major highway with my family and with no warning the power steering went out along with a notification saying, "steering loss stop safely" and "service advance trac". had my girlfriend been driving we probably all would have been killed by a semi coming through the curve as I was struggling to steer the vehicle and keep it in our lane as there was no place to pull to the side of the road. I finally managed to stop the vehicle and pull to the side of the road after struggling through the curve. I called a friend to pick up my family and manage to get the vehicle back home driving very slow struggling with the steering with hazard lights on. After a little research I found there were recalls for the same issue on 2011-2013 and 2015-2017 Ford Explorer 's but not the 2014! even though 1000's have reported the same issue with the 2014. This is ridiculous its almost as if people have to get killed before they do something about about this.
- Ottawa, IL, USA
Timing chain and cam phasers causing vehicle to excel erase and stop with no control. Power steering going in and out while driving.
- Grandville, MI, USA
I was driving down the highway at approximately 65mph when I went to switch lanes and noticed my steering was tight and hard to turn toward the left. My vehicle then continued to have this issue with steering being tight to the point I was worried about getting into an accident. I stopped driving my car and made an appointment with Ford dealership. This is a common problem and actually one that I found out my sister had with her 2012 Explorer with the steering assembly or column. Her same exact issue though was covered under a recall and mine is not.
- Old Lyme, CT, USA
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2014 Ford Explorer. While driving 15 mph, the steering wheel seized and was unable to turn. The "failure on full electric steering control" and "safely park the vehicle" messages were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced an electric power steering loss and wanted to know if that could have been attributed to NHTSA campaign number: 16V245000 (suspension). The vehicle was towed to priority Ford (located at 7520 N military hwy, Norfolk, va 23518, (757) 419-2500), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.
- Norfolk, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. While driving 65 mph, the steering wheel seized and the "power steering out pull over" warning message appeared. The vehicle was taken to mclaughlin Ford (950 N main St, sumter, SC 29150, (888) 471-4257) where an alignment was performed and the computer was reset. After the repairs, the failure recurred and the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was taken to J.C. lewis Ford (9505 abercorn St, savannah, ga 31406, (912) 210-5690) where the alternator and battery were replaced, but the failure still occurred. The vehicle was taken to multiple unknown dealers, but the cause of the failure could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage 113,738.
- Brentwood, MD, USA
I was driving when all of a sudden the steering wheel became hard to maneuver.. it gets really stiff and hard to control. Once it sticks to a specific path it wants to go in that directation and I lose control of managing the direction of the Ford Explorer 2014 XLT.
- Naperville, IL, USA
I had stopped to get gas and once I returned to the car and put it in gear it made a horrible sound and the steering went out and I could hardly move the wheel. Turned the car back off and waited a few minutes, turned it back on and still no power steering. Luckily for me my husband was still in town and he had to come and drive the car to the dealer since I could not turn it at all to even move it away from the gas pump. The repair bill was $1,800 for something that should not be going out on a less that 5 year old vehicle that cost close to $30,000! I just feel blessed that my daughter and I were not actually driving down the road when it went out like others have complained about.
- Jackson, TN, USA
Bought this car from a dealership was told car was in great shape. Less than a week later steering started locking up and was hard to turn, the following day almost wrecked when vehicle stayed turning left when merging on the highway. We turned around and drove home and on every turn the steering was very hard had 2 near misses.I'm just glad my teenage driver wasn't behind the wheel. We haven't driven our car since and am very disappointed that we are to nervous to let it be driven.
- Shepherdsville, KY, USA
While driving the vehicle steering becomes extremely hard due to power steering sensors being faulty. Also steering shaft froze making it hard to turn.
- Becket, MA, USA
The whole steering column and power steering locked down driving about 55 mph without warning. I had to muscle it off the road and out of harms way. I had it fixed by Ford and now it is messing up a second time.
- Carrollton, GA, USA
Power steering failed. My 2014 Ford Explorer has 85,245 miles. Today I stopped for gas. When I re-started I got an error message "power steering assist failed". steering was extremely hard. I am glad this did not happen yesterday when I was 250 miles from home pulling my small camper!! this is recalled on the 2013 & 2015 models, why not the 2014??
- Martinsville, VA, USA
- Endora, IA, USA