2011 FORD EXPLORER Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEARS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E001000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000...UPDATED 10/07/14 *BF THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/10/14

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT AROUND 20 MPH WHEN THERE WERE CARS THAT SUDDENLY STOPPED. WHEN I WAS BRAKING I FELT AS IF THE STEERING WAS ALLOWING ME TO TURN AND IT HAPPENED SO FAST I FELT AS IF I LOST BRAKING POWER. THEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING AND COMPUTER FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AIR BAG, AND SECURITY SENSORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO RESET THE MASTER CONTROLS. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED COMPUTER FAILURE. THE FIRMWARE WAS UPDATED MULTIPLE TIMES, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED MONTHS LATER AND INCLUDED VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SHORTS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR MONTHS TO DETERMINE IF THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO THE FIRMWARE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V286000 (STEERING) AND 14E001000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

STEERING STOP MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON THE EXPRESS WAY. HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTART FOR IT TO CONTINUE MOVING. THIS HAPPEN A VIEW TIMES BUT NEVER ON THE EXPRESS WAY. *TR

POWER STEERING STILL FAILING EVEN AFTER RECALL "FIX". MY FORD EXPLORER 2011 ALREADY HAD THE POWER STEERING RECALL (SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14S06/NHTSA RECALL 14-V-286) FIX COMPLETED AT DEALERSHIP ON 8/7/14, BUT THE POWER STEERING IS STILL FAILING! THIS IS VERY SERIOUS IF THE RECALL "FIX" IS NOT WORKING. PLEASE REQUIRE FORD TO IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT THE PROPER FIX AND IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY ALL OWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THEIR EXPLORERS IN PER THE RECALL AND HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND COULD BE PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK. *TR

2011 FORD EXPLORER WAS JUST RETURNED TWO WEEKS AGO FOR NATIONAL RECALL ON ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. ON AUGUST 21ST AT 9:30 AM MY WIFE WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FELT AN IMMEDIATE POWER LOSS ISSUE WITH THE BREAKS. SHE IMPACTED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER AROUND 15 MPH. AIR BAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. SHE DID NOTICED THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT FAILURE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT TIME OF IMPACT. MY WIFE DID NOT FEEL THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE, NOR WERE THERE ANY SKID MARKS VISIBLE ON THE ROAD. MINOR FRONT END DAMAGE IS EVIDENT AND RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FLUID. INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT RECENT RECALL. *TR

I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN GOING DOWN A HILL ONTO A STREET WHEN THE SENSORS WENT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR REGISTERED TWO WARNINGS. I STOPPED THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. I WAS MANUALLY ABLE TO GET IT TO A PARKING LOT BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I DROVE VERY SLOWLY. WHEN I GOT TO THE PARKING LOT, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THE WARNINGS DISAPPEARED AND THE CAR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. I PROCEEDED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I GOT THE CAR FROM TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION. I SUBSEQUENTLY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY TO VOICE MY CONCERNS AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. THE BEST THEY COULD DO WAS A WEEK FROM TODAY. THIS IS A CERTIFIED, PRE-OWNED VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. *TR

ON JUNE 16TH, 2014, I WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD AND 18 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR AND I LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND ENDED UP IN A DITCH. THERE WAS NO WAY TO CONTROL IT OR EVEN TURN THE WHEEL. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON JUNE 19TH, 2014 HOWEVER, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. *TR

POWER ASSISTED STEERING GOES OFF WITH NO WARNING. FIRST HAPPENED BACK IN 2012, PULLED OFF ROAD, RESTARTED CAR EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. PROBLEM OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY OVER PAST 6-8 MONTHS. (3 OR 4 TIMES) DEALER SAYS UNAWARE OF ANY GENERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AM SCHEDULED TO TAKE TO DEALER FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS. NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL BUT PROBLEM WIDELY REPORTED ON THE WEB. *TR

AT APPROX 1430 ON JUNE 2ND ON HIGHWAY ON RAMP ACCELERATING HAD THE SERVICE ADVANCETRAC WARNING LIGHT AND CHIME COME ON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT AND CHIME COME ON AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY PUT ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHER AND LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND FORCED MY EXPLORER TO THE SHOULDER. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY I CLEARED THE FAULTS, I WISH I WOULD HAVE TAKEN CELL PHOTO OF FAULT, AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED VEHICLE WITH NO ISSUES. I DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER ISSUES FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVE APPROX 25 TO 30 MIN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70 MPH, AN ELECTRICAL LIGHT CAME UP ON THE DASH AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER STEERING. MY FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR AND IT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING. I WAS ABLE TO MUSCLE THE CAR OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AT WHICH POINT, POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN AROUND 20 MINUTES LATER AND THEN RECTIFIED ITSELF AFTER A MINUTE OR SO. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND COULD NOT "REPLICATE THE ISSUE". THIS WAS THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL. I AM NOW LEARNING THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BACK IN JANUARY AND HAS ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND SERVICE STEERING ADVANCE TRACT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,417 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,437. PM UPDATED 9/4/14*CN

I WAS DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WHEN A SIGNAL CAME ON DASH " STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" AND I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. WAS JUST COMING OFF HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO RAMP AND HAD TO PULL OFF ON MEDIAN IN MIDDLE OF BUSY EXIT RAMP. STOPPED AND THEN RESTARTED CAR WHICH TEMPORARILY FIXED PROBLEM NOW DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE NEEDS REPLACED - WILL COST ME $600 !!!!!:( VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD AS THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS ! *TR

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON LOCAL ROAD, POWER STEERING GAVE OUT AND VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO EFFECTIVELY STEER AND PULL OFF ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC ONTO SHOULDER. AFTER PULLING OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD, TURNED OF ENGINE AND RE-STARTED. STEERING CAME BACK AND WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME. NEXT DAY, SUV DID SAME THING 2X AND ADDED A NEW ERROR MESSAGE REGARDING TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAULT ALONG WITH POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAULT. FORD HAS A SECTION IN THEIR OWNERS MANUAL WARNING THAT FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL EFFORT TO STEER THE VEHICLE, BUT THE DRAMATIC CHANGE FROM POWER STEERING TO THIS SCENARIO IS STARTLING. MY HUSBAND REVIEWED ON LINE AND DISCOVERED A RE-CALL FOR THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM HAD BEEN ISSUED IN JANUARY. WHEN CONTACTING FORD DEALER THEY STATED THIS RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE OUR CAR SINCE THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR VEHICLES THAT HAD...

WHILE TURNING ON A CURVE IN THE ROAD WARNING MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL " STEERING POWER ASSIST FAILURE " APPEARED 3 TO 5 SECONDS LATER CAR WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN VEHICLE CROSSED CENTER LINE RESULTING IN A NEAR MISS OF A HEAD ON CRASH PULLED TO THE SIDE RESTARTED VEHICLE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING WAS CORRECTED. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. RK

POWER STEER ASSIST DEFAULT SHOWN ON DASH. VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHILE IN MOTION. IT WAS RESET BY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE BECOMING FULLY DISABLED ON MAY 18, 2014. VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHILE IN MOTION AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE 5 MPH AND UNDER. *TR

I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE POWER STEERING WAS FINE. I WENT HOME AND CAME BACK OUT TO THE CAR TO GO ON AN ERRAND THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK. WE CALLED A WRECKER ON MAY 17 TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER. *JS

THIS IS THE 4TH TIME MY VEHICLE HAS LOST ITS POWER STEERING. I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING. I HAVE TO FIND A PLACE ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO PULL OVER AND TURN MY CAR OFF AND WAIT A WHILE THEN RESTART IT AND SOMETIMES IT FIXES THE PROBLEM AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. THERE IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN GOING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED AND CAUSE INJURY OR WORSE! FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ASAP! *TR

MY WIFE, AND THREE CHILDREN WERE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED OUT AND SHE COULD NOT CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR HER TO GET PULLED OVER. SHE TRIED TO CALL ME FOR HELP BUT NO FUNCTIONS OF THE SYNC SYSTEM WORKED. SHE PULLED OVER AND WAITED FOR ME. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS RESET. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. TODAY IS SUNDAY SO I WILL ARRIVE THERE TOMORROW AND HAVE IT EVALUATED. VERY HAZARDOUS AND SCARY FOR MY WIFE AND THE CHILDREN. UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST ON MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER HAS JUST STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. BOTH TIMES HAPPENED IN PARKING LOTS AND THE STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. I'M REPORTING THIS BECAUSE THE FORD DEALER WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX IT SINCE IT RESET ITSELF AND IS NOW WORKING AGAIN. HOWEVER, RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL AND THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED TO PREVENT A FUTURE TRAGEDY. I WILL LIKELY GET RID OF THIS CAR NOW BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON BUSY HIGHWAYS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND SERVICE TRACK WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,801. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK WARNING APPEARED FOLLOWED THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING TOTALLY WENT OUT. THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS HAD I BEEN TURNING SHARPLY AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND MANY HAVE REPORTED IT. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS KNOWN ISSUE RESULTS IN A FATALITY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY RECEIVED A WARNING FOR STEERING FAILURE,SHORTLY AFTER POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED.RESULTING IN VERY HARD STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.VEHICLE TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHO RESET COMPUTER FIXING PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR EXPLAIN WHY IT HAPPENED. *TR

AS I WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND, AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WAS A CAR COMING UP TO THE STOP SIGN WHERE I WAS TURNING. I USED ALL THE FORCE I COULD TO TURN THE WHEEL BECAUSE IF I COULDN'T TURN, I WAS GOING TO HIT THE OTHER CAR. AS IT WAS, I BARELY MISSED THEM AND FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO TURN RIGHT AND THEN THE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH - I STILL HAD TO FIND A PLACE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SO I WENT INTO THE CHURCH PARKING LOT FIGHTING THE STEERING ALL THE WAY. I FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF IMPENDING FAILURE OF, AS IT TURNED OUT, AT THE FORD GARAGE, THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING...

WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHERE THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP AND WE WOULD GET A "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT". SO FAR, SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR THEN RESTARTING HAS CLEARED THE ISSUE. WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY; THIS HAS OCCURRED ONLY AT LOW SPEEDS (BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE OR IN A STORE PARKING LOT). TOOK THE CAR TO GET CHECKED TODAY AND IT IS GOING TO COST $2,000 TO REPAIR THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING (EPAS) GEAR. HAVE TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,00 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

THIS IS THE 5TH TIME MY POWERING STEERING HAS FAILED!!! FORD HAS REPLACED THE PART, AFTER I HAD TO SPEND $1800.00!!! THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED AND POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR FORD TO FIGURE THIS ISSUE OUT. *JS

THE CAR BASICALLY SHUTS OFF AND YOU LOSE POWER STEERING. NO WARN LIGHTS JUST CUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD US THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE POWER STEERING SENSOR AND THAT IT WOULD COST $2,000 TO FIX. I TOOK TO THE INTERNET AND SEARCHED THE ISSUE TO FIND OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY OPENED A CASE FOR US. THEY CAME BACK WITH $1,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BUT IT WILL STILL COST US $1,000 FOR SOEMTHING I FEEL IS NOT A PART THAT "WEARS OUT". IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF REPLACING THE PART BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT. *JS

2 TIMES WITHIN A WEEK, SATURDAY APRIL 26, 2014 BEING THE MOST RECENT, AS I WAS DRIVING MY POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER XLT FWD. WARNING LIGHTS SAYING "POWER STEERING FAILURE" LIT UP AND MY POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER OPERATING. I HAD TO PULL OVER USING MANUAL STEERING TO TURN THE EXPLORER OFF AND START UP THE POWER AGAIN TO BRING THE STEERING BACK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE. IT APPEARS THAT MANY OTHER 2011 TO AT LEAST 2013 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM POSING A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY SITUATION. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT FORD DOES NOT THINK IT IS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO BE RESEARCHED FURTHER. *JS

STEERING POWER ASSIST WARNING LIGHT CAME ON; LOSS OF POWER STEERING. TURNED OFF CAR, THEN RESTARTED AGAIN, PROBLEM WENT AWAY. HAS RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. *TR

ABOUT MONTHS AGO MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ALONG AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A WARNING SOUND AND THE "ASSIST POWER STEERING FAULT" MESSAGE CAME UP AS WELL AS SERVICE "ADVANCE TRAC." THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND WE HAD POWER STEERING AGAIN. WE TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND NOTHING FOUND! LAST NIGHT MY ENTIRE FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. VERY SCARY. LOOK ONLINE, FOUND A POWER STEERING RECALL IN THE 2011 EXPLORERS, CALLED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND CONVENIENTLY OUR VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS RUDE AND WOULD NOT EXPLAIN THE OTHER RECALL TO ME BECAUSE MY VIN DIDN'T GET RECALLED AS IF IT WAS...

WHILE DRIVING MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND LIGHTS ON MY DASH INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL WERE NO LONGER WORKING. I WAS FORCED TO ATTEMPT TO PULL OVER WHICH WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO MY POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKING. I TURNED MY VEHICLE ON AND OFF 5 TIMES (GIVING IT TIME BETWEEN TO RESENT ITSELF) BEFORE IT WOULD WORK PROPERLY HOWEVER I CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH IT THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT FORD REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FORD! FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE START TO LOSE THEIR LIVES!

WHILE DRIVING MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND LIGHTS ON MY DASH INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL WERE NO LONGER WORKING. I WAS FORCED TO ATTEMPT TO PULL OVER WHICH WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO MY POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKING. I TURNED MY VEHICLE ON AND OFF 2 TIMES (GIVING IT TIME BETWEEN TO RESENT ITSELF) BEFORE IT WOULD WORK PROPERLY HOWEVER THE LIGHTS INDICATING THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING REMAINED ON. I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT FORD REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FORD! FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE START TO LOSE THEIR LIVES!

THE STEERING POWER ASSIST FAULT WAS LITE UP AND THEN I LOST ALL STEERING AND ALL I COULD DO WAS TURN MY FLASHERS ON TO AVOID BEING HIT AND DRIVE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TT

THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, WHEN THE CAR COMPLETELY LOSES ALL POWER, CANNOT TURN THE WHEEL, CANNOT ACCELERATE AT ALL AND YOU ARE COMPLETELY UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN EVERY TIME TO BE SERVICED, THEY SAY THAT THE COMPUTER SHOWS THAT NOTHING IS WRONG, NO CODES SHOW UP. THIS PAST TIME I WAS 1 FOOT OVER TRAIN TRACKS WHEN THE CAR DIED. AN ONCOMING TRAIN PASSED BEFORE I HAD TIME TO RESTART MY CAR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL AND IF MY CHILDREN WHERE IN THE CAR I WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT OF THE CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED AT AN INTERSECTION AND DRIVING 40 MPH DOWN A BUSY STREET, HAPPENED TAKING A LEFT TURN ON A BUSY STREET. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS THAT IT IS ABOUT...

DRIVING AROUND A CURVE AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. WE SWERVED INTO THE OTHER LANE AND LUCKILY DIDN'T GET HIT. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT NOTIFICATION CAME ON. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR STREET DURING HEAVY AFTERNOON TRAFFIC. THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR ADVANCED TRACTION FAILURE AND POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT CAME ON. I ALSO NOTICED THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT CONTROL WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE ROAD INTO THE DRIVEWAY BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I AM A REASONABLY STRONG ADULT WOMAN AND HAD TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL EVEN SLIGHTLY WHILE SLOWLY MOVING. WHEN I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR INTO A SAFE PLACE I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED AGAIN, IT RETURNED TO NORMAL AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT. THREE DAYS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH ANOTHER DRIVER WHILE I WAS A PASSENGER. THE OLDER MALE DRIVER HAD SIMILAR DIFFICULTY STEERING AND TURNING THE...

I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE "POWERSTEERING ASSIST FAILURE" MESSAGE POPPED UP. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY BUT HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT AGAIN; THE STEERING WHEEL WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE; I HAVE CHILDREN AND DEPEND ON MY VEHICLE DAILY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL.

LOST STEERING ASSIST DURING TURN INTO DRIVEWAY. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANUALLY STEER THE VEHICLE, WHICH I WAS ABLE TO STOP DUE TO THE LOW SPEED. THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS AGAIN VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE WHEN I BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE, HOWEVER, AFTER STOPPING AND STARTING THE VEHICLE 2-3 TIMES THE POWER STEERING BEGIN WORKING AGAIN ALLOWING ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FORWARD IN THEIR MAINTENANCE BAY THE STEERING ASSIST FAILED AGAIN, AT WHICH TIME TWO COMPUTER FAILURE CODES WHERE PRESENT, WHICH I READ AND THEN SHOWED TO THEIR MAINTENANCE REPRESENTATIVE. THE CODE LISTED ON THE RECEIPT WAS C200D. THE SECOND ISSUE INVOLVES ERRATIC SHIFTS AND LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP UP TO 35 MPH. A FORD DEALERSHIP HAS COMPLETED TWO-THREE COMPUTER SOFTWARE UPGRADES. THE MOST SERIOUS SHIFTING PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN PULLING OUT OR...

POWER STEERING FAIL LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING. AFTER KILLING THE CAR, LETTING IT SIT THEN RESTARTING IT I STARTED BACK WORKING. *TR

I WAS PARKED AT A STORE PARKING LOT. I GOT IN THE CAR TO BACK UP AND THIS MESSAGE "POWERSTEERING ASSIST FAILURE" POPPED UP ON THE SCREEN AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT...THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING AND IT BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER RESET THE POWER TRAIN COMPUTER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT 55 MPH WHEN THE 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT' DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERIOR DISPLAY. THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP & I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE & DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID CRASHING & TURNED THE CAR OFF. ONCE I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON THE FAULT WAS NO LONGER THERE & I DROVE HOME. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP & MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE VEHICLE CHECKED THE NEXT DAY. LATER ON THAT SAME DAY, MY WIFE & I HAD AN APPOINTMENT. HOWEVER, WHEN WE STARTED THE VEHICLE UP, THE SAME FAULT WAS IMMEDIATELY DISPLAYED & THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I KEPT TURNING THE CAR OFF & TRYING TO RESTART, BUT THE FAULT WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I HAD TO GET MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. I DID SOME RESEARCH...

OUR FIRST INDICATION OF STEERING PROBLEMS HAPPENED AROUND SEPTEMBER 2013. A DASHBOARD ERROR "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC" MESSAGE KEPT ILLUMINATING. FIRST THE DEALER REPLACED A "SENSOR" THAT DIDN'T FIX IT. THEN A SOFTWARE UPDATE, THAT DIDN'T WORK. THEY THEN REPLACED THE "RACK AND PINION", IN THIS CAR I AM TOLD IT IS AN ELECTRONIC STEERING MOTOR. THAT DID FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE ERROR MESSAGE, HOWEVER AT TIMES THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND "INFOTAINMENT" SCREEN WOULD GO BLANK AND REBOOT. ALL SEEMED FINE FOR A FEW MONTH'S UNTIL AN UNEXPECTED EVENT OCCURRED IN JANUARY 2014. I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014 ON ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE IN GUAM. IT WAS A BRIGHT, SUNNY DAY, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE IDEAL. I STOPPED AT THE POST OFFICE AND WHEN I TURNED LEFT TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE, I NOTICED THE STEERING WAS A LITTLE JERKY. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH...

I WAS DRIVING MY EXPLORER WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT SUDDENLY, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER TO SAFETY. A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT I WAS TOO BUSY TRYING TO STEER TO SAFETY TO MEMORIZE WHAT IT SAID. *TR

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAPPENED WHILE RAINING. THE FIRST TIME,ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SCREEN AND MYFORDTOUCH SCREENS BOTH WENT BLACK AND LOST POWER STEERING SUDDENLY,BUT ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. BUT, ALL OF SUDDEN, THEN POWER STEERING RE-ENERGIZED AND MADE STEERING WHEEL JERK CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID MOMENTARILY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PULL OVER. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SCREEN THEN HAD A MESSAGE "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM." I TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. FEW DAYS LATER, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE CHECKED OUT AS BEING FINE. TODAY, VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP TO TURN INTO DRIVEWAY AND FELT LIKE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. HAD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL WITH GREAT FORCE TO TURN INTO DRIVEWAY HOME AND THE DROVE ABOUT 200FT...

AFTER STARTING THE CAR, A WARNING OCCURRED FOR THE FIRST TIME SAYING POWER STEERING NEEDED SERVICE "SOON". WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. THE NOTICE DID NOT APPEAR AND MY ENTIRE FAMILY CONTINUED TO OUR DESTINATION. DURING THE COURSE OF OUR RIDE, WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANOTHER WARNING. THEN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN WE VEERED INTO THE OTHER LANE NEARLY CRASHING INTO ANOTHER CAR.DUE TO POWER STEERING LOSS. THE SITUATION WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR