10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,577 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2015 Ford Explorer:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #48

May 062018

Explorer

  • 50,000 miles
I was driving on the highway at 60 mph and the car beeped a warning stating steering malfunction and my wheel just locked. I was in my car with my wife and two kids. I immediately put on my blinkers and started honking, luckily everyone around me realized my car was in trouble and safely made it off the highway. Something like this is extremely dangerous when you cannot control a car at 60 mph

- Clarksburg, MD, USA

problem #47

May 142018

Explorer

  • 52,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. While driving low speeds, the steering wheel made a grinding noise and became difficult to maneuver. The contact also stated that the vehicle jerked when attempting to change lanes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (jack bowker Ford Lincoln, 2415 N 14th St, ponca city, ok 74601) where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,000.

- Nardin, OK, USA

problem #46

May 092018

Explorer

  • 61,834 miles
Vehicle has less that 65,000 miles and the electrical power steering assist shuts down making the vehicle unable to turn. This happened to me while on the freeway going 50 mph making it extremely dangerous to control. The vehicle now has no power assist to help with steering at all.

- Newport Beach, CA, USA

problem #45

May 042018

Explorer

  • 101,220 miles
At interstate highway speed 80mph my power steering was lost. I had two warnings pop up as it went out; steering loss stop safely and service advance track. There was not any warning at all. This was not a typical power steering loss I have experienced this with older vehicles I have had. I had to put nearly my full body weight of 300 lbs into steering to a safe place. Had this happened to others this very well could have been a high speed impact into a wall with this loss. I am having this vehicle towed to a dealer after attempting to turn the vehicle off and restarting it to see if a reset may be needed as some codes reset this way.

- Leavenworth, IN, USA

problem #44

Mar 032018

Explorer

  • 40,000 miles
Since around 40000 miles, power steering will have a loud click and pop with all turns. Since 50000 miles, during the turn, the power steering will lock and the driver will have to pull hard to change turn radius. Took it to Ford - entire epas (electronic power assisted steering) needed to be replaced. This is unsafe and unacceptable at 50000 miles.

- Beaufort, SC, USA

problem #43

Mar 052018

Explorer

  • 40,000 miles
Steering failed while driving in motion resulting in a close call when crossing intersection having oncoming traffic to interstate ramp, evidently a major safety risk, due to electronic steering rack design issue. Estimate of over $2,253 repair with $1,343 part at local Ford dealership.---thanks,

- Denham Springs, LA, USA

problem #42

Feb 102018

Explorer

  • miles
2015 Explorer Sport - have a binding, popping noise when turning the steering wheel to the right. Pops before completing a full turn at full stop and will pop multiple times when doing a K-turn or right turn at slow speed. Had thrust washer, nuts, and other items replaced Nov 2017 at 34776 miles, now at 38000 and its back and of course techs can't duplicate. I also went to dealer and drove after they rotated tires and changed the oil and couldn't. next morning in driving its doing it again, but one pop at a time at full stop. This must be a defect becuase I had the same type of problem in my 2013 Explorer. My warrenty is up and I need this fixed as I'm afraid to drive with confidence.

- Smyrna, DE, USA

problem #41

Feb 062018

Explorer

  • 29,000 miles
When my car is in any kind of turn you hear a popping noise. Not very loud but noticeable. Also when on a incline or decline a crunching noise can be heard. My son borrowed my car last weekend and noticed it. Took it to dealership and they of course cannot replicate this noise. With all of the other complaints about this same issue I am appalled that Ford has not looked into this. I guess not enough deaths or serious injuries have occurred yet for it to be on their radar.

- Houton, TX, USA

problem #40

Jan 222018

Explorer

  • 51,000 miles
With 51,000 miles and just over 3 years on the car, the steering gear box failed with popping noise occurring anytime the steering wheel was turned. Got worse quickly and had to get it fixed. Very expensive but also very scary for my safety. I always take care of my cars and keep them for 7-10 years.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #39

Jan 012018

Explorer

  • 49,000 miles
I was driving and while turning I lost steering assist controls. No power steering at all. I all most crashed in mid turn.

- Raytown, MO, USA

problem #38

Dec 272017

Explorer

  • 53,000 miles
Stopped in the street to do a U-turn, started my turn and lost steering. Drove into a curb, got out of the car and discovered the lower control arm had snapped in half.

- Saline, MI, USA

problem #37

Oct 262017

Explorer

  • 48,000 miles
The power steering fails while driving. This has happened about 7-8 times in the past year. The worst time was when it failed in a slow, tight turn. When the power steering failed the steering self aligned back to straight. This happened in my kid's elementary school parking lot. It easily could have led to a bad accident or hitting a pedestrian because the vehicle went in an unintended direction. The attached picture is from one of the other 7-8 times this occurred, thus the mismatch in mileage from the picture and that listed in the complaint.

- West Bloomfield, MI, USA

problem #36

Sep 192017

Explorer

  • 59,853 miles
Steering rack assembly needed replacing for the second time within 14 months of each other (07/07/2016 and 09/19/2017). First time was at 37,100 miles, second time was at 59,853 miles. Both times the vehicle was being driven at 70+mph and without warning, indicator lights came on and I lost power steering.

- Carrollton, GA, USA

problem #35

Sep 012015

Explorer

  • miles
Exhaust fumes in cabin as well as a popping noise when I turn left and felt like power steering was going out. Popping can happen while stationary or moving. Exhaust fumes in cabin when you accelerate. Has been happening since I've owned the car. Dealership (Ford) can not duplicate either. Purchased new tires last year and since that day, the SUV has a consistent vibration. They (dealership) Ford can not duplicate the issue. I was told today, the exhaust fumes only relate to the police SUV's. I've reported this since I've had the car....

- Eads, TN, USA

problem #34

Oct 152017

Explorer

  • 41,000 miles
Vehicle only has 41000 miles and the rack and pinion is making a cracking noise when turning to the right. Vehicle has not fail as getting the steering lock but needs to be replace to prevent an accident.

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

problem #33

Sep 112017

Explorer

  • 32,300 miles
Driving on small highway 55-60 mph. Dash warnings ding and flash power steering assist failure, terrain mangement system fault, service advance trac. Vehicle suddenly loses power steering and found it very difficult to make turn into parking lot. Restarted car hoping it was a glitch...I was low on wiper fluid and pressed ok. (seemed to happen immediately after pressing button on steering wheel). All was normal and drove home. This continued to happen after several days and would correct itself upon restarting car. I was lucky to be driving in light traffic. I have made arrangements to have vehicle diagnosed and repaired. After reading many complaints, I am suspecting the steering rack needs to be replaced.

- Seacrest, FL, USA

problem #32

Aug 162017

Explorer

  • 51,449 miles
My wife was driving at high speed on interstate highway. Noticed sudden loss of ability to steer. Numerous warning and messages appeared on dash along with audible alarms. Thankfully was able to pull over to side of road and stop. Seemed to be complete loss of power steering.was able to get vehicle home but vehicle was very hard to steer. Had vehicle towed to local Ford dealership. Code revealed failed steering rack. $1800 to replace steering rack. Vehicle had 51449 miles. Contacted Ford consumer relations-asked her to trigger a recall. I told her, in my opinion, this is a dangerous flaw that could have caused a disasterous collision. She started a file and would be in touch with my local dealer, in hopes that there may be a possible "financial assistance" situation. Service adviser at local dealership said there is no recall because the numbers aren't there on this model year to consider it dangerous enough to recall the vehicle for this problem. I believe, in this situation, Ford Motor Company is putting profits ahead of safety. I had no choice but fix the vehicle and am quite confident that the steering rack installed is of the same crappy quality as the one that failed. As of 4 weeks later, I have yet to hear back from my dealer or Ford Motor Company about any "financial assistance". what a joke. Very dissatisfied with the resolution of this problem because these steering racks are failing all over the country.

- Brandon, SD, USA

problem #31

Jul 092017

Explorer

  • 46,000 miles
Console started flashing "service steering assist soon" and "traction assist failure". would clear up when car restarted. Never lost steering during this 2 week time. July 9th, 2017, driving 70 mph on 405 freeway near long beach, ca, flashed "steering assist failure" and lost power steering. Traction assist failure light as well. Got though traffic, slowed down and exited without any power steering, stopped and restarted and issue went away. Called dealer and took car in the next morning. They reset codes and said "if it happens again bring it back in." Which scared me. 9 days later lost steering turning into work parking lot then lost steering 3 more times within 24 hours. Took to dealer and they had to replace the entire epas rack and pinion system for $1916.79. The car had 46,7K miles and only highway driving. Outside of warranty as they don't consider this powertrain. Had I been in a turn or exit ramp off freeway would have been a crash for certain.

- Aliso Viejo, CA, USA

problem #30

Sep 032017

Explorer

  • 63,000 miles
I was driving my 2015 Explorer about 55 mph, coming up to a driveway I needed to turn into a few hundred feet away. Suddenly the car lurched and warning signals popped up on my dash. It alerted me my collision warning sensors failed and service advance trac. I attempted to brake and slow down for my trim and realized I had lost power brakes as well as power steering in my attempt to turn into the driveway. I narrowly missed hitting a tree while making the turn into the driveway. I coasted to a stop and immediately ran a vehicle diagnosis. It suggest I shut the vehicle off and turn it back on to see if the codes cleared. When I turned the vehicle on all warning were still displayed but brakes and steering returned. My local Ford was fairly close so my father in law attempted to drive it there and suddenly all codes cleared out of the vehicle.

- Whitehall, MI, USA

problem #29

Aug 122017

Explorer

  • 42,592 miles
On 08-12-17 I pulled into my driveway an turn my steering wheel locked up and I could not turn it.. I shut down the car and restartd it.it had reset if this had happened on the highway someone could have been killed. I will take the car to Ford on 8-14-17 to see if they will help and fix it.

- High Rolls, NM, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »