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

While going to back out of my driveway, I'm in reverse and moving and go to turn the steering wheel and it is locked and I get a "hill start assist not available, service advancetrac" now mine you this car is only 4yrs old with 25K miles on it. According to all the other complai ts I've read I've gotten off easy in the fact I was in my own driveway and not driving anyways with my children in the car, which is the main vehicle they would be in. Had towed to local Ford dealer and told its the pinion in the steering column not covered under my 5yr, 60,000 miles warranty and will cost $2,247 pkus tax to fix. Absolutely ridiculous. 4 years old barely driven at 25K miles to have this crazy expensive fix that I cannot afford! where is the recall on this known problem" are we waiting for someone to die? is that what it takes" if it happened while taking NY kids to school who knows what could have happened. Please do the right thing.

- Oak Lawn, IL, USA

My car was completely totaled in an accident on 10/21/19. I received very serious multiple brain bleeds, facial lac, facial & head fx's & a severe tbi. My mom rec a concussion, facial lac concussion & a fx clavicle. We stopped at the stop sign & moved to the center between the 4 lanes & stopped again & we were hit by a large roll on roll off rock carrying dump truck in the middle of the lanes. The car was completely totaled & I was in a coma & airlifted to a trauma ctr approx 40 mins away, but I was in resp arrest & not expected to live. It is unknown exactly what caused the unsafe conditions, however I never cross straight across the traffic & we had been on a very very bumpy intersection the fri before the acc on Monday & the car had not been driven since that 5 hr trip of extremely bumpy rough road conditions on interstate 95 coming through part of nc, all of SC & part of ga.

- Springfield, GA, USA

I purchased this vehicle in April of 2019, with about 31K miles on the odometer. It was a returned lease. In January of 2020, at just over 41K miles, the steering gear failed as I was pulling into the parking lot at work. I had no problem turning the wheel to the left, but as soon as I turned the wheel even slightly right, there was an awful clicking noise, almost like something was grinding in the wheel well. I limped it over to the Ford dealership a mile away and they told me the steering gear had failed. I was outside of the 3 yr/36000 mi warranty, and apparently the 5 yr/60000 mi powertrain warranty only covers the steering housing, not the gear itself, so I was on the hook for the entire fix - $2200 at this point. The service advisor at Ford said it wasn't due to any neglect or "outside influence" - it just failed and there's nothing I could have done to prevent it. I find it hard to believe that something so catastrophic and expensive should be failing at 4 yrs/41K mi. Ford can't actually expect people to replace a $2200 part every 4 yrs/41K mi, right?! luckily I was doing about 5 mph when the gear failed - other people have been driving at highway speeds, and this issue is surely going to injure and/or kill people, if it hasn't already. Ford needs to rectify this issue!!

- Loveland, CO, USA

I purchased this 2016 for Explorer limited in August of 2016 with 18,000 miles on it. Now at just below 60,000 miles in January of 2020, I had the experience of my steering gear going out which in turn cost me $2200. Who would of thought that after only 3 years, the steering gear would go bad in a practically brand new vehicle? while driving the vehicle, the steering wheel would lock up and I would have to forcefully turn it to veer back in my lane on the city streets as well as on the highway. In Michigan, that was really dangerous especially in the snowy conditions. I don't understand how there is not a recall on the obvious defective parts. There is no way a driver can brake the electronic steering gear.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

While driving 70 mph on I81 in va the power steering on our 2016 Ford Explorer with less than 70,000 miles died. The only warning was a message on the dash saying "lane keeping syst malfunction" and "steering assist fault." After wrestling the car to a safe site I shut if off. Upon restarting the car the steering returned to normal. While driving to the nearest Ford dealer to have it checked out if failed again. The dealership performed pinpoint test B for U3000 code stored in the pscm. Their recommendation was replacement of the electric power steering gear asy (P/N fb5Z3504W) at a cost of $2,300. I inquired if there were any recalls or safety bulletins issued regarding premature failure of the power steering in which they indicated there wasn't. this is a safety issue, the car is difficult to control at high speeds and almost impossible to control at slow speeds especially if your making a turn. Without strong upper body strength, you can easily have an accident. Based on my experience with this issue, I strongly recommend a safety bulletin and a recall be issued.

- West Islip, NY, USA

Loss of ease of steering driving in frigid wind chill night time North Dakota weather. My wife was strong enough to strong arm steer and drive the vehicle the 40 plus miles home. A definite safety issue- an internet search revealed numerous complaints and complete steering failure on the electronic steering apparatus installed on this make and model. The repair costs could amount to $3000. The fact that these problems and steering apparatus failure is occurring on lower mileage vehicles is very concerning. Our vehicle has 56,700 odometer miles. This issue is definitely a safety issue and Ford Motor Company must be held accountable. The nearest Ford dealership is 75 miles away from our rural farm location- I expect I will have to Transport our vehicle to the dealership for repairs.

- Denhoff, ND, USA

I have a 2016 Ford Explorer that was purchased brand new 3.5 years ago. It has 55K miles on it, which isn't what I consider many miles, and is driven by my wife 90% of the time to and from work and we use it for longer drivers with our 4 year old daughter. I just received word, after I took the vehicle in for a grinding noise in the steering column, that the steering rack and gear has failed. I have seen others talk about this problem and it is a very big safety concern in my opinion. If this thing failed on the highway at a faster speed and my wife and child were in the car and she had limited steering control it could have been disastrous and tragic. I see on carcomplaints.com I am the 165th case of this happening. I wanted to make you aware of this and hopefully you can make the 3rd recall on this vehicle happen in the near future (had 2 already) please reach out to me with any questions.

- Suamico, WI, USA

At slow speeds 20 mph and less there is significant noise when driving over bumps or transitions. At very slow speeds less than 5 mph and turning steering wheel the steering will get stuck or hesitate and make a clunking or popping sound. Seems to be stabilizer bar related. Its progressively getting worse. I also have an engine surging issue at slower speeds of 30 mph or less.

- Reno, NV, USA