10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 9 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 7 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 41,132 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
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the power steering electronic control module failed on several occasions while driving and attempting to steer the vehicle in either direction. The vehicle was taken to mitchell selig Ford (801 bloomfield ave, windsor, ct 06095, (860)688-3651), where the power steering rack was replaced at the owner's expense for $2,200. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 81,000.
- Windsor, CT, USA
At about 60,000 the steering started catching. At any speed this happened. It would feel like the tires were in a rut, then all of a sudden it would break free, and the vehicle would suddenly swerve over about a foot. It has gone on to a grinding noise. Very unnerving to drive at highway speed! Ford tells me the steering rack is bad, and since it's out of warranty, they will not cover repairs. I've owned quite a few non-Ford vehicles with over 150,000 miles and never had a steering issue with them.
- Garden City, KS, USA
Steering becomes stuck while making a right or left turn. This happened on a stop light while turning. It also has a sliding/grinding feel when turning the wheel while in idle. Issue seems to be a manufacturing problem with Ford vehicles that have the electronic steering wheel system.
- Elizabeth City, NC, USA
I went to pull out of my driveway and my vehicle's power steering completely locked up and I was unable to steer my vehicle. I managed to at least back it straight back into my driveway to be out of the road, and called the closest Ford dealership to me. I had 3 lights come on my dash with these messages; hillstart assist not available, service advancetrac, and steering assist fault service required. My vehicle had to be towed to the dealership, and the entire power steering has to be replaced, which the repair costs $2300 to fix. If I would have been moving at a faster speed this could have been a much worse story, because when the steering locked up you could not turn the steering wheel at all. I have filed a complaint with Ford directly, and they have said there is nothing they can do, but this is a known problem and a lot of others have had the exact same issue with their vehicle. But yet they refuse to issue a recall on this.
- Vale, NC, USA
The rack & pinion steering broke and Ford is refusing to include it in the recall they have on this exact problem.
- Collinsville, OK, USA
2016 Explorer XLT with 70K miles and the power steering started to fail requiring the steering rack and pinion to be replaced. Symptom included sticking and unpredictable steering while stopped and at all driving speeds and conditions.
- Marlborough, CT, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle pulled to the right with an abnormal clunking sound coming from the steering column. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. Freedom Ford (3941 admiral peary hwy, ebensberg, pa 15931, (800)215-0042 and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,000.
- Northern Cambria, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the steering assist, hill assist and traction control warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that there was an audible sound in the vehicle. The vehicle loss power steering assist and the vehicle became difficult to steer. The contact drove slowly to the residence. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000. Consumer stated steering wheel was stuck and could not turn at all.
- Miamisburg, OH, USA
After getting my airbag recall taken care of I noticed the steering started getting tight more and more after 2 days it was really tight until it rained and it got loose again but the street line sensors and the rumble stopped working. One day after the rain dried the wheel tighten up again where I can barely turn it. I ask Ford about it and they said I had to get a diagnostic for $179 to determine what was wrong. Also have a problem with the emissions passing because the air filter sensor is not working. Trying to get an outside mechanic. Ford is a ripoff.
- Randolph, MA, USA
Steering became difficult for turning and reversing in to my driveway. I was driving on major highway and able to fortunately get off and return home. But when I got in my car a few days later to take it to autoshop, the steering wheel did not move at all and so had to have my car towed
- Havre De Grace, MD, USA
I got into my car one morning and the car made a terrible sound when turning the steering wheel left to right. The steering also wants to stick when going around a turn. I took it to a Ford dealership where the said the rack and pinion was going bad and is common in my year of car and mileage. They said at any point my car steering could completely be lost. How dangerous especially when driving with a toddler"!"!
- Washington, PA, USA
Steering makes a popping sound while turning the wheel at slower speeds. This is contributing to the steering slipping while driving. The Explorer has 53000 miles on it. Out of pocket at a cost of $2,200 to $2,500 dollars for a premature failure of steering system components. These premature/defective steering problems can lead to deaths or serious injuries while driving.
- San Diego, CA, USA
The steering makes popping and grinding noise when turning left or right. Also at times the steering is hard, there is resistance. I have to use two hands force-ably to turn. At fist I thought this was an isolated indecent but realize its getting worse over time. Was roughly around 65,000 miles when I first noticed popping noise.the vehicle has approximately 80,165 miles on it. The majority is highway miles.
- Folcroft, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the vehicle loss power steering assist and the steering became firm. No warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the residence. The contact also stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic after the failure recurred with several additional unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was referred to Mountaineer Ford located at (615 eisenhower dr, beckley, wv 25801) and an unknown repair was performed however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.
- Glen Daniel, WV, USA
On February 4, 2020, my wife's 2016 Ford Explorer (VIN# [xxx]) had an odometer reading of 29,265 miles when she began to notice serious safety concerns after the steering system had malfunctioned while turning at intersections, driveways and parking lots. During one incident, the steering system temporarily locked up and make a distinct clunking sound; it almost caused my wife to hit another car during a left hand turn at an intersection. She is the primary driver of this vehicle 99% of the time to Transport our grandchildren while the remaining 1% has involved my commute to work. Our reynolds Ford of norman dealership failed to duplicate the steering malfunctions we experienced. They also made it known that our extended five-year warranty would not cover any repairs related to the steering system. On March 6, 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration https://www.NHTSA.gov/vehicle/2016/Ford/Explorer/SUV/fwd, there were seven recalls, one investigation and 918 complaints on the 2016 Ford Explorer. Of those 918 complaints, 189 were related to the same safety related steering problems experienced by our vehicle. Many of those 189 complaints also indicated that the vehicle owners had to pay out of pocket at a cost of $2,200 to $2,500 dollars for a premature failure of steering system components. Ford needs to accept responsible and own up to their premature/defective steering problems to prevent deaths or serious injuries. I should not have to pay for defective/premature steering components. At this point, I have zero quality and safety confidence with my current steering system and replacement parts. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Norman, OK, USA
I bought my certified preowned 2016 Ford Explorer on October 22 2019. I have had it for 4 months. Yesterday while I was driving I noticed when slightly veering to the right that the wheel pulls hard towards the right and it it hard to pull the wheel back to the straight position. I tested this on the left side and it does the same just not as hard to pull.
- Spokane, WA, USA
Advancetrac and steering fault warning lights came on while driving. Steering locked up and became extremely difficult to safely steer off roadway.
- Hernando, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 5 mph, making a left turn the steering wheel ceased with the remote hill start assist not available service advance trac, power steering assist warning light illuminated. The contact veer to the shoulder of the road placed the vehicle in park turned the vehicle off and back on which failed to resume normal operation. The vehicle was towed to bommarito Ford located at (675 dunn rd, hazelwood, mo 63042, (314) 895-0600 where a diagnostic test was still pending. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.
- St.Louis, MO, USA
The steering makes popping and grinding noise when turning left or right. Had vehicle inspected at a trusted garage I use, they said that the rack and pinion was shot. The vehicle has approximately 53165 miles on it. The majority is highway miles.
- South Point, OH, USA
- Columbia, SC, USA