2011 FORD EXPLORER Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE IT LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM SHOWED "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" AS WELL AS "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL". THIS WAS THE SCARIEST FEELING I HAVE EVER HAD. THIS HAS HAPPEN TO MY HUSBAND SEVERAL TIMES.. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SPOKE WITH SERVICE ADVISOR. I WAS TOLD TO TURN MY VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT. I ADVISED MY SERVICE ADVISOR THAT I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON APRIL 30, 2012 (40197 MILES) AND I MENTION THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR REPAIR. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR FORD TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS, SERIOUS PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID FOR MY FAMILY TO BE IN THIS CAR, WE TRAVEL ALOT AND I AM REFUSING TO DRIVE IT. I WAS AFRAID OF PURCHASING AN AMERICAN CAR BUT LOVED THE NEW FORD EXPLORER LOOK AND BODY. HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER PURCHASE...

WHILE IN OPERATION VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST. STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. WARNING MESSAGE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" FOLLOWED BY "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL " LIGHT ARE DISPLAYED. SHUTTING OFF VEHICLE AND RESTART TEMPORARILY CLEARED THE FAILURE. FAILED MORE THAN ONCE. *JS

WHILE COMING BACK TO WORK FROM LUNCH, MY WIFE WAS TURNING LEFT INTO PARKING LOT WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP PICKED UP THE CAR AND KEPT FOR A WEEK BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO FORD WOULD NOT LET THEM FIX THE PROBLEM. GOT THE CAR BACK ON FRIDAY JUNE 1, 2012 AND DROVE THE CAR AS USUAL. MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2012 ON THE WAY BACK TO WORK FROM LUNCH, DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING AGAIN BECAME VERY STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A TRAGIC ACCIDENT FROM THIS APPARENT PROBLEM BEFORE FORD DOES ANYTHING. I AM ASKING THE NHTSA TO PLEASE BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE MY FAMILY OR ANOTHER FAMILY IS SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN THERE SEEMED TO BE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT WHEELS. SHE COULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE. SHE GOT THE "POWER ASSIST FAILURE" MESSAGE. AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE RESOLVED. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND A "POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE" FAILURE AND HAS REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED US THAT SINCE WE HAD A NEW ONE, WE SHOULD HAVE NO MORE PROBLEMS. I REMINDED HIM THAT THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS NEW WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, MY SERVICE TRACKING DEFAULT LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN POWER STEERING DEFAULT LIGHT COMES ON, MY STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKS UP, LUCKILY, I WAS NOT MAKING A TURN AT THE TIME I WOULD HAVE NAILED ANOTHER CAR OR A PERSON, I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, POWER STEERING BEGAN TO WORK BUT THE SERVICE TRACKING DEFAULT LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I AM VERY WORRIED TO PUT MY TWO CHILDREN IN THIS CAR NOW, DEALERSHIP IS HAVING ME BRING IN THE VEHICLE TOMORROW AND I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING BUYING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS CAR, I HAVE HAD EXPLORERS IN THE PAST AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I WILL BUY ANOTHER ONE AFTER THE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, FORD NEEDS TO GET OFF THEIR BUTTS AND GET THIS FIXED,...

IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SIX DAYS AFTER MY VEHICLE'S FIRST STEERING PROBLEM. WHEN I STARTED MY 2011 EXPLORER ON THE MORNING OF 4/18/12, THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" LIGHT CAME ON AND MY POWER STEERING WAS GONE. AS INSTRUCTED BY MY FORD DEALER, I LEFT THE VEHICLE ON AND CALLED THEM. THEY IMMEDIATELY SENT A FLATBED TOW TRUCK, WHICH TOWED MY VEHICLE, WHILE STILL RUNNING, TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY CHECKED FOR PROBLEMS AND MADE REPAIRS, AND I QUOTE, "INSTALL NEW EPS GEAR REMOVED SUBFRAME AND INSTALL NEW EPAS GEAR PROGRAMMED AS BUILT DATAE AND CLEARED DTCS PERFORMED 2 WHEEL ALIGNMENT TEST DRIVE OPERATION GOOD." IN LAYMAN TERMS, THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE FRONT WHEELS AND DID A 2 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. IT TOOK ONLY 1 FULL DAY SINCE THE PARTS WERE ORDERED OVERNIGHT. I HOPE THAT HAS SOLVED THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM. I AM EXTREMELY...

2011 FORD EXPLORER WAS PARKED. STARTED CAR AND POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON ALARMS SOUNDING AND STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, YET CAR WOULD BACK UP ...STRAIGHT. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WHEN CAR WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT IT SEEMED TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION SLIP OR JUMP. AFTER WAITING FOR AN HOUR FOR TOW TRUCK THE EXPLORER STARTED FINE AND STEERING SEEMED TO WORK. TOO NERVOUS TO DRIVE. CAR WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALER. *TR

WHILE SLOWING FOR A STOP LIGHT, I FELT A CLUNK IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN MY 2011 EXPLORER LOST POWER STEERING. I SLOWED AND TURNED (WITH ALL MY STRENGTH) TO STOP ON A SIDE STREET. THE "POWER ASSIST FAILURE" LIGHT WAS ON AS WELL AS THE LITTLE TRACTION CONTROL CARS ON THE LOWER RIGHT OF THE DISPLAY SCREEN. THE LIGHTS ON THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE CENTER-CONSOLE DID NOT WORK EITHER. A MESSAGE ALSO APPEARED TO SERVICE ADVANCETRAC IMMEDIATELY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. THEN STARTED IT UP TO DRIVE TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. OF COURSE, THEN THE VEHICLE RESET EVERYTHING AND THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. THE FORD DEALER COULD NOT DETECT ANY ERROR MESSAGES DURING THEIR COMPUTER CHECK-UP. THEY SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, DON'T TURN THE CAR OFF SO THEY CAN RUN A CHECK-UP ON IT WHILE THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING....

FORD EXPLORER 2011 HAS LOST POWER STEERING AND STABILITY CONTROL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS 3 OR 4 TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. STEERING IS RESTORED AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. STABILITY CONTROLS MAY TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES TO RESTORE THEMSELVES OR MAY NEED TO HAVE THE CAR TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTORE. *TR

AS WE WERE SLOWING FOR A STOP SIGN ON A CURVE, THE STEERING WHEEL LITERALLY JERKED OUT OF MY HUSBAND'S HANDS, STRAIGHTENING THE WHEELS. A WARNING BELL WENT OFF AND THE DASH DISPLAYED "POWER ASSIST FAILURE." IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE WHEEL. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING, STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE DEALER HAD A PREVIOUS EXPLORER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER IDENTICAL INCIDENTS RECORDED ON THIS SITE AND OTHER INTERNET FORUMS, ALL EVENTUALLY REPAIRED IN THE SAME MANNER. FORD, HOWEVER, WILL NOT APPROVE WARRANTY REPAIR BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AT THE DEALERSHIP OR RETRIEVE AN ERROR CODE, SAYING THEY "CAN'T FIX SOMETHING IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM REALLY IS." THEY WANT US TO DRIVE A CAR WITH A SERIOUS AND FRIGHTENING SAFETY ISSUE UNTIL IT FAILS COMPLETELY OR CAUSES...

2ND TIME IT HAPPENS FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH OR ABOVE THE STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SUV WAS UNABLE TO STEER , PULL OVER AND TURN CAR AND RE STARTED AND GAIN STEERING TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER RESET THE LIGHT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OK . AT 5000 MILES IT HAPPEN AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT HAPPENS WHILE TRYING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD . THIS TIME UNABLE TO DRIVE IT TOW HOME . TALK TO FORD AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND WE LOOK IN TO IT BUT , I THINK IS NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR NOT TO HAVE A SAFETY BACK UP PLAN WHEN THIS FAIL . AND VERY UNSAFE KNOW IT COULD HAPPEN ANY TIME WITH NO WARNING . EVEN IF FORD CLAIM IT WILL FIX IT .WHAT...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, THE STEERING RETURN TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,100.

"POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" HAS COME ON 7-10 TIMES TO DATE AS OF 1-26-2012 . AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RE-STARTING THE ENGINE, THE WARNING WENT AWAY AND I REGAINED POWER STEERING. I AM GETTING A WARNING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL. ONCE I RESTART THE CAR 4-5 TIMES THE WARNING LIGHT GOES AWAY. I AM SO AFRAID OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. SO FAR IT'S HAPPENED GOING MINIMAL SPEEDS 10-45 MPH. WHAT DOES ONE DO IF THIS HAPPENS GOING 70 ON AN INTERSTATE. *TR

LETTER FROM RE FEW DEFECTS IN MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER REMAIN AFTER THE DEALERS REPEATED REPAIR ATTEMPTS. THESE ISSUES DISTRACT ME WHILE DRIVING AND IT IS A CONCERN TO MY SAFETY AS WELL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE MAIN ISSUE WAS THE STEERING; THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT STRAIGHT AND WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE PULLED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE SHIFT INCREASED WHEN INCREASING SPEED. ALSO, THE A/C UNIT CHANGED TEMPERATURES BY ITSELF. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE TOUCH AND SYNC DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED AS HIS PHONE AND OR MP3 PLAYER KEPT GETTING DISCONNECTED. WHEN USING THE SYNC SERVICE TO REQUEST DIRECTIONS IT KEPT MISINTERPRETING THE COMMANDS, AS WELL AS DISCONNECTING WHEN DOWNLOADING A ROUTE. ON ONE OCCASIONS, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM FAILED AND THE SCREEN WENT BLANK. *JB

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND TURNING A CORNER. MANUAL STEERING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

2011 FORD EXPLORER 4WD IS PROGRAMMED TO SEND 100% POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS DURING NORMAL DRIVING. UPON SUDDEN ACCELERATION ESPECIALLY GOING UPHILL THE SUBSEQUENT TORQUE STEER IS OVERWHELMING TO THE DRIVER. CAN BE SO SEVERE IT CAN RIP THE WHEEL FROM THE HANDS OF THE DRIVER. THIS NEEDS TO ADDRESSED WITH PROGRAMMING TO BETTER DISTRIBUTE POWER TO ALL 4 WHEELS. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND ON THEN CAUSES POWER STEERING TO WORK AGAIN. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. DEALER DID NOT FIND AN ISSUE AT FIRST VISIT. SCHEDULED FOR SECOND DEALER VISIT. WE FEAR SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. *TR