When turning the steering wheel to the right there is a distinct clunking sound. I have read multiple blogs where many similar stories are being told and it seems there's a defect in the steering gear expierencing internal failure prematurly. Owners are saying their vehicles will drift in the lane and the steering becomes loose and uncontrollable. Ford dealers are charging $2,500 to replace the parts causing this extreme safety issue. This needs to be recalled and fixed now, who can afford such an expensive repair on something this critical. Ford needs to step up and take responsibility. We took our vehicle in at 56,000 and they said nothing was wrong. At 68,326 miles we took in again because it got worse. This happens when you turn to the right and I hear it at slow speeds when parking or just right turns.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

I went on vacation with my family for a week. We took my car to airport and parked it from 11/8-11/16. I had no problems on the drive to the airport, but when we came home, almost immediately, while pulling out of the parking space (still stationary) I heard a rubbing nose coming from what sounded like the steering column. Due to my son's always being in the vehicle I didn't want to chance anything since it seemed to be steering related. I took it to a mechanic who ended up telling me that it was my steering rack. He also informed me that on the year's before mine they had to issue a recall due to similar issues as mine. I've noticed that there are a lot of people with the same year and model that still have this problem even though it isn't a recall anymore for some reason. Luckily I caught mine before it cause a serious issue, being that people have said this causes their steering to completely lock up.

- Lebanon, PA, USA

When turning the steering wheel to the right there is a distinct clunking sound. I have read multiple blogs where many similar stories are being told and it seems there's a defect in the rack and pinion. Owners are saying their vehicles will drift in the lane and the steering becomes loose and uncontrollable. Ford dealers are charging at least $2000 to replace the parts causing this extreme safety issue. I know of the recall for the rear suspension but this is very different. This needs to be recalled and fixed now, who can afford such an expensive repair on something this critical. Ford needs to step up and take responsibility. My vehicle has 65,000 miles. This happens when you turn to the right and I hear it at slow speeds when parking or just right turns.

- Kearney, MO, USA

While operating the vehicle, approximately 45mph, the car started to jar, then the power steering was lost, moments later the dash lit up with a slew of traction and steering warnings.less than a mile from home I wrestled it home. No leaks observed, my husband started it, and tried to turn the wheel, seized completely. Towed it to northhampton Ford in Massachusetts the following morning. After diagnosis the steering rack and computer control has to be replaced. $2800+ to repair. Ford knows of this, please issue a recall..help..

- Belchertown, MA, USA

When turning the steering wheel to the right there is a distinct clunking sound. I have read multiple blogs where many similar stories are being told and it seems there's a defect in the rack and pinion. Owners are saying their vehicles will drift in the lane and the steering becomes loose and uncontrollable. Ford dealers are charging at least $2000 to replace the parts causing this extreme safety issue. I know of the recall for the rear suspension but this is very different. This needs to be recalled and fixed now, who can afford such an expensive repair on something this critical. Ford needs to step up and take responsibility. My vehicle has 65,000 miles. This happens when you turn to the right and I hear it at slow speeds when parking or just right turns.

- Big Bear City, CA, USA

I was driving down the highway and I got errors saying my advace trac system needed to be serviced. Also that my power steering failed and I needed to pull the vehicle over safely. I was going about 65mph and my power steering went out!. I had to take an offramp shortly after (I was on my way to work) and it was difficult to steer the vehicle. Very dangerous!

- Pasadena, MD, USA

I started to feel strain on the steering wheel, and since I started feeling that tension on Nov. 5th, it has increased to a heavier tension that whenever I move my steering wheel to turn in my car, something is happening to my wheel, and it is grinding together. The steering rack and pinion seem to be the thing that is grinding together to make my steering wheel have tension and be unsafe.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

My vehicle was in motion, when I heard an odd noise. I stopped and decided to move only to hear a grinding noise any time I turned steering to left or right. Went to the chantilly Ford dealership in Virginia. It was diagnosed as a steering rack pinion problem which cost just over $2000

- Aldie, VA, USA

The power steering was inoperative when stationary and the vehicle was parked overnight in my garage and temp was below freezing. The steering was locked up and you could not turn the steering wheel. After the vehicle was running for about 20 to 30 minutes (trying to move steering wheel back & forth) it would let you then to turn the steering wheel. It did this 3 times and I had a Ford dealer check it out. They replaced the steering sector and it repaired the problem. One of the times the steering locked up it also was binding when I started moving and turning the steering wheel. I feel if the steering sector failed in about 4 years is safety item and should be recalled and owners refunded for this type of failure. It cost about $2300 to have it repaired. If this failure happened when driving I would have lost 100% of the steering.

- Towetr, MN, USA

Issues started with several electrical glitches that occurred and still occur consistently with no resolution. Battery was "fried" and replaced, sync module was replaced, now the glitches include a frozen steering column while driving and a "charging system service now" light that comes on and off while stationary and driving. Also passenger side view mirror gets stuck outwards, interior electrical malfunctions. Truck is no longer under warranty and I am tired of paying $150 diagnostic fees with no resolution.

- Pawling, NY, USA

Steering locked up while driving, was able to slow down safely but could have been really bad if going at higher speed or around a curve. Was able to stop and really force wheel to turn a bit. Dealer stated I needed to replace rack and pinion. $2500, but more of a safety issue to

- Andover, MN, USA

Loud knocking in the front end when making turns. Assumed it was the sway bar bushing needing replacement based on searches, however after having the vehicle a week the dealership has determined that it is a faulty steering gear. I'm submitting this complaint so that there are more of these documented out there. My vehicle was still operational when I took it in, however reading similar stories and problems of other owners, it could have been worse and resulted in a loss of steering control. Additionally when talking with Ford customer relations department they said at 37,500 the vehicle is out of warranty and they will not do anything to correct it. I'm concerned with such low mileage there appears to be a large risk to other owners.

- Mandeville, LA, USA

Vehicle lurched into adjoining lane on interstate while going around a slight curve at about 70mph. I was able to get the car under control and pulled off the freeway. Luckily there was no one in the adjacent lane or I almost certainly would have hit them. I was close enough to home that I got the vehicle back (about a mile), but the steering would 'stick'/pull to the right or left when turning such that I had to force it back to center (would not return to center on its own). Limped home at about 10 mph. Had the car towed to Ford dealership who diagnosed a failure of the electronic steering gear and steering rack. They said they've seen this a few times with 2016 Explorer. The Ford technician was shocked that the vehicle was drive-able at all given the damage to the failed steering gear/rack. He explained that I could have easily lost all steering and had a major accident. The vehicle had been in no accidents or had any other incidents that could account for the failure. The Ford technician stated that it looks like a complete failure of the oem parts. Replacement parts and labor cost approximately $2,100.

- Cedarburg, WI, USA

Certified pre-owned 2016 Ford Explorer with 56,000 miles. Electronic steering gear failed. Lost power steering. Luckily it happened at low speed while exiting a parking lot near home - no accident. $2,200 repair cost; no warranty coverage.

- Aliquippa, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. While driving 60 mph, the steering seized for approximately 20 minutes and the traction control and steering assist fault warning indicators illuminated. The contact veered to the shoulder of the road and turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, it did not resume normal operation. The vehicle was towed by an independent towing company to the contact's residence. Arundel Ford (1561 portland rd, arundel, me 04046, (800) 889-7171) was contacted and scheduled a diagnostic appointment. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred multiple times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

- Stanford, ME, USA

The first time my steering wheel got stiff was on 09/13/2019 while trying to make a left turn on a city street. In the process of making the left turn the steering wheel got stiff, and the steering fault hill start and trac lights went on. I was unable to control the wheel which cause me to get onto of the side walk almost hitting a tree. I had to hit my breaks in order to avoid the accident. My kids body jerk back and forth really hard. I turn my car off and back on, and the steering wheel was working again. I was able to drive home safely. The second time the steering wheel got stiff was on 10/05/2019. While on the a curve of ramp to get out out the freeway the steering wheel got stiff again, and the steering fault, hill start and trac lights went on as well. Once again I had to hit the breaks hard in order to avoid hitting the rail, as I was not able to control the steering wheel. I try turning my car off and back on again to see if the steering wheel would work again but it still did not work. I had to call my husband to come and pick me up. I took the car to the dealer and I was told that they had to replace the whole power steering equipment which cost me a total of $2350.39.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

At around 75K miles the steering began to making popping/grinding noises. The sound resolved within the same trip and stopped. It's been two months and the grinding sound returned while driving this weekend on a winding road with my two year in the back seat. While driving around a corner at moderate speed (35-40 mph), the steering wheel briefly stuck and brought my vehicle to the edge of the pavement before I gained control again. The sticking persisted around corners and while turning both directions. Once unstuck, the steering felt loose and near unpredictable. The vehicle is now at a local Ford dealership who confirmed it's a result of rack and pinion failure and quoted around $2500 to repair. They confirmed this is common in Explorer. My research also shows hundreds of reports and complaints exactly as mine, often in frightening and life threatening circumstances. There is serious potential for fatal outcomes with the nature and frequency of this malfunction.

- Williamstown, VT, USA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. While driving 70 mph, the steering column seized and the steering column warning indicator illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle to the side of the highway, pressed the "ok" option on the message board, and was able to resume normal driving. Also, while driving 55 mph and hauling a trailer, the "hill start assist not available" warning indicator illuminated. The contact pressed the "ok" button and the warning light disappeared. In addition, the ABS, steering fault service now, and service track warning indicators illuminated at various times while driving. During the failure, the contact pressed the "ok" button again and the warning indicators disappeared. The contact took the vehicle to sunnyvale Ford (650 E el camino real, sunnyvale, ca 94087, 408-215-9949) and was informed that the repairs would cost $400. After a diagnostic was performed, the dealer determined that the warning indicator illumination was linked to a faulty battery. The dealer wanted to test the vehicle's trailer hitch cable to determine if that cable was linked to the failures. It was diagnosed that the steering rack was the cause for the system failure and the dealer provided an estimate for the repairs. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 32,000.

- Sunnyvale, CA, USA

The power steering gear failed at 41,000 miles. Because of this, the vehicle steering was unpredictable. You turn the wheel, but it may not straighten back out. After reviewing some message boards, this sounds like a common issue with the 2016 Explorer between 40K and 50K. This is a serious flaw, and serious safety issue. I was lucky enough to only run into problems at lower speeds. However if this would have happened at highway speed, with my wife and kids in the car, there is no telling how horrible it would have been. Not to mention the possibility of hitting others on the road due to loss of steering. Seeing how there are multiple people with this problem, I believe this has to be a recall.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

My vehicle intermittently displayed 'steering fault. Service now' message on my dashboard. Unfortunately at first, I didn't think much of it since it happened so infrequently and the steering wasn't too noticeable. Had I known then what I know now, I would have recorded it the first time it occurred. It wasn't until I hit around 25,000 miles that the steering was slightly difficult. I was driving through my town and found it noticeably harder to turn the steering wheel around corners. The same warning appeared on the dash, to which I scheduled an appointment. When I took it in to be serviced for the previous recall, I requested for them to look into the message. Turns out I have a faulty epas in my vehicle, estimating around $2,200 to replace. When I contacted Ford customer service, they reviewed my case and denied any coverage for this replacement.

- Grantham, NH, USA