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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

While driving at 65 miles an hour on a busy highway the steering wheel on my 2015 Ford Explorer experienced a complete failure. The power steering assist warning illuminated and my vehicle was unable to safely move from one lane to the next. I was approaching a curve in the road and I applied my brakes and turned on my hazards to avoid wrecking into the highway barrier. I was nearly struck by a large semi-tractor trailer and a few other vehicles as I attempted to get to safety. I thought for sure I was going to be struck by passing vehicles. Once I was able to get to safety, the messages read "power steering assist fault" and then I saw another message that read a terrain management function fault as well. I immediately called my wife to tell her I was stuck on the side of rt 280 in West orange, NJ. Just in case something happened to me. I the called aaa to request a tow. I turned off the engine and the terrain management fault was still illuminated. I attempted to move my vehicle to a safer place and kept hearing a whining noise and the steering would go in and out of faults. Once I was in a safe place I advised aaa of my location and awaited their service. I was surprised to hear that this is not an unknown issue to Ford by the tow truck driver. We had the Explorer towed to beyer Ford in morristown, NJ. I received a call today from the Ford dealer that the power steering rack has to be replaced. I looked this issue up on-line and found many complaints regarding the same issue and not just on Explorer, but other Ford vehicles and different years. I am extremely concerned about this problem because it literally came out of nowhere while I was driving at 65 mph. That possibility that I could have had my family including my 6 year old daughter in the vehicle and giving different circumstances, it could have been a catastrophic event. We also own a 2011 Ford Explorer.

- Randolph, NJ, USA

Driving 45mph down on a major road my steering went out. The dash read an error "steering fault" and I could barely control the car. I was luckily able to pull over and turn the car off and back on. Steering was restored. It appears there was a recall for this exact issue for model years prior to mine (www.thecarconnection.com/news/1092388_ford-recalls-914000-escape-Explorer-SUVS-for-power-steering-issue). I called the local dealership and they told me there were no active recalls and I was out of warranty so I would have to pay to get it looked at. I then called Ford corporate and was told the same thing. I told them about the previous recall and that it was a major safety issue but they did not care. They actually told me that it was not a safety issue!

- Mullica Hill, NJ, USA

This past winter my wife complained about a popping sound when backing our 2015 Ford Explorer Sport into the garage. The problem has now become intermittent and occurs while driving on the roadway.

- New Haven, IN, USA

Power steering failed at a high rate of speed.

- Millersville, PA, USA