2012 FORD EXPLORER Steering Problems

ON 6/23/2015 MY WIFE BROUGHT HER 2012 FORD EXPLORER TO ME STATING IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER. BY THE TIME I LEFT WORK AT 6PM, THE HIXSON FORD DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED. THE NEXT MORNING, WHILE ON THE WAY TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND WHILE GOING AROUND A LONG CURVE ON HWY 546, THE STEERING WHEEL TOTALLY LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO BE WITHIN INCHES OF HITTING AN ON-COMING CAR IN THE CURVE. JERKING THE WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THAT I WAS TURNING IN THE CURVE AND THEN BACK UNLOCKED IT AND ENABLED ME TO GET BACK IN MY LANE. FORD STATES THAT THEY HAD ALREADY "REPROGRAMMED THE PSCM POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE" LAST JULY SO THEREFORE THE "RECALL" FOR THIS ISSUE (#14S06) HAS ALREADY BEEN CLEARED FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. WHETHER FORD ALREADY REPROGRAMMED THE PSCM OR NOT, THE ISSUE WHICH THE RECALL WAS ISSUED "POWER STEERING MAY...

STEERING MAKING CLUNKING NOISE WHEN YOU TURN STEERING LEFT TO RIGHT MOST OF THE TIME TO THE RIGHT

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT IT MAKES CLUNKING SOUND SOUND COMES FROM UNDER CAR MOST OF THE TIME TO THE RIGHT

I FIRST ENCOUNTERED THE PROBLEM ON MONDAY JUNE 08, 2015 AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WAS REALLY HARD TO STEER AS I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN I HAD TO USE ALL OF MIGHT TO MAKE THE TURN VERY SCARY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR HOME AFTER WORK THAT NIGHT, EVERYTHING OKAY TILL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2015 @ 7-8AM, DRIVING TO DROP MY KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL AND WORK, AS I WAS A MAKING A LEFT TURN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT WORST IT WAS BUSIER DAY, 2 ERROR MESSAGE CAME ON ABOUT STEERING ASSIST AND TRAC ADVANCE MESSAGE, AND 2 LIGHTS CAME ON DASHBOARD WITH A CAR AND 2 WAVY LINES (ROAD) 2ND PICTURE WAS THE SAME WITH THE WORD OFF. I HAD TO USE ALL MY MIGHT AND DRIVE SLOW TO TURN INTO THE...

ON MY WAY TO WORK THE SERVICE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN I GOT WORK I CALLED THE FORD DEALER THEY SAID BRING THE VEHICLE IN THE STEERING COULD GO OUT. LATER THE SAME DAY I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING WENT OUT IN THE 2.5 MILE TRIP TO GET TO THERE. I WAS GOING VERY SLOW AND MANAGED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR, IT WAS DIFFICULT AND SCARY, NO HYDRAULICS ANY MORE THESE SYSTEMS ARE ALL ELECTRONIC. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECREATE OR DIAGNOSIS WHAT'S WRONG AND THEREFORE HOW TO FIX IT. FORD HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO HELP WILL NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS, NOTHING. SO TODAY THEY STOP THE CAR RENTAL COVERAGE AND SHOVE AN UNDIAGNOSED SAFELY ISSUE BACK ON ME. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE...

I AM UNABLE TO ENTER THE DATE OF 5/29/2015 WHICH WAS THE DATE THIS OCCURRED. THE CAR WAS DRIVING GOOD AND I STOPPED TO SHOP. I CAME BACK TO THE CAR, CRANKED THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED THE MESSAGE OF POWER ASSIST FAILURE. I TRIED TO BACK UP AND REALIZED THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A PARKING SPOT AND CHECKED THE SERVICE MANUAL. I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS AND HOPED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET AS WAS TOLD IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SLOWLY AND GET HOME. TODAY I TOOK MY CAR TO HIXSON FORD, MONROE, LA AND HAD IT CHECKED. AT THIS POINT I WAS RECEIVING AN ADDITIONAL ERROR MESSAGES RELATED TO TRACTION. ALSO, MY SIGNAL LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD READ LAST NIGHT THAT THERE WERE SOME RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM RELATED TO FORD EXPLORERS. THE...

I WENT TO CRANK MY CAR AND WHEN I DID I IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED A POWER STEER FAIL ASSIST NOTICE. MY CAR HAD NO POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE TO A PARKING SPACE AND REVIEW MY OWNER'S MANUAL. I LET THE CAR SET FOR 10 SECONDS AND THEN CRANKED AGAIN IN HOPES THAT IT WOULD RESET. IT DIDN'T. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME AND PARK THE CAR. THIS MORNING I TOOK THE CAR TO HIXSON FORD IN MONROE, LA. BY THAT TIME I HAD RECEIVED A TRACTION ERROR ON THE DASHBOARD AND ALSO WAS UNABLE TO USE MY SIGNAL LIGHT. I WAS TOLD ALL OF THIS WAS IN RELATION TO THE POWER STEERING AND THE NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR A PRICE OF $1794.00. IT APPEARS THAT FORD IS VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A LARGER...

STARTED CAR AND POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE WARNING CAME ON. YOU COULD NOT STEER AT ALL. HAD TO TURN CAR OFF AND ON A COUPLE TIMES TO GET COMPUTER TO RESET. CARS 3 YRS OLD JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND FORD WON'T COVER IT EVEN THOUGH STEERING COULD LOCK UP AS YOUR DRIVING.

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE A WHILE AGO AND TOOK MY CAR IN RIGHT AWAY FOR THE SOFTWARE FIX. NOT LONG AFTER THAT, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WHERE THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY DIDN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING. 2 WEEKS AGO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED. THEY SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. 7 DAYS LATER I GOT IN MY CAR AND IMMEDIATELY GOT A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT ERROR ON THE DASHBOARD AND COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT ONCE IT WAS THERE, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING FINE. NOW, 5 DAYS LATER, MY CAR IS STILL THERE AND THE ONLY THING THEY KEEP TELLING ME IS THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. I SENT THE SERVICE REP A LINK TO MULTIPLE WEBSITES WHERE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS EXACT SAME...

IN A PARKING LOT ON A FRIDAY DEC.19 AT 6AM, THE STEERING ASSIST DASH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND IN SAME INSTANCE, STEERING LOCKED UP. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER, BUT WAS ABLE TO BRING MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED TO A STOP. RESTARTING THE CAR ENABLED STEERING. I NOTIFIED MY SPOUSE WHO CALLED DEALERSHIP AND ARRANGED FOR A SERVICE VISIT THE NEXT MONDAY. DEALER HONORED RECALL ( 14S06 ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ) FOR ISSUE BY FLASHING THE SOFTWARE. MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER WAS PRESENTED TO ME AS REPAIRED & FIXED AND READY TO DRIVE IN A SAFE MANNER. SAME EVENT OCCURRED JAN. 8 AT 8PM IN A PARKING LOT. I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO SAME DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. THE DEALER CALLED AND STATED THE RACK & PINION AND SEVERAL STEERING MODULES REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. DEALER THEN STATED YOU ONLY GET ONE (1) FORD RECALL SERVICE FOR AN EVENT AND...

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE STEERING LOCKED UP. WAS TOLD BY FORD DEALER IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE YET THEY WANT ME TO DRIVE IT TO THEM TO BE REPAIRED WHICH THEY ARE GOING TO CHARGE ME FOR. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD IN FULL. *TR

POWER STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING. STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT. MUST SHUT OFF CAR AND RESTART TO RECOVER POWER STEERING. HAPPENS OFTEN. TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND SOURCE OF PROBLEM WAS NOT ISOLATED OR FIXED. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP QUIT WORKING 2 TIMES ON MY MOTHERS SUV. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORD TWICE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FIX IT THE FIRST TIME. SAW RECALL BUT EXPLORER WAS NOT IN THE LIST. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON BOTH OCCURRENCES. IT IS MY ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT THIS ISSUE. I ALSO WORK IN AUTOMOTIVE FIELD AND I KNOW THIS WAS A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. I DO NOT WANT MY MOTHER OR ANY INDIVIDUAL HURT DUE TO LACK OF INVESTIGATION. I EXPECT A RESPONSE FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION. THE DEALERSHIP CAN PULL UP ALL INFO, A RENTAL WAS PROVIDED. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANAGE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, A WEAKER DRIVER, PHYSICALLY, WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. *TR

SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14S06/NHTSA RECALL 14V-286 WE RECEIVED THIS RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM FMC. KNOWING WE HAD A TRIP COMING UP, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO KEN GARFF FORD IN UTAH FOR SERVICING AND TO HAVE THE RECALL CORRECTED. THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE ISSUE SO I WENT ON MY WAY. I DROVE A SINGLE GAS TANKS WORTH (APPX 400 MILES) AND THEN EVERYTHING WENT TO HELL. POWER STEERING FAILED, TRACTION CONTROL FAILED, TERRAIN MANAGEMENT FAILED. THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR WHICH FORD ISSUED THE RECALL IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP IS NOW TELLING ME THAT THEY COMPLETELY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND IT IS MY FAULT THAT THESE SYSTEMS FAILED. THEY WANT ME TO BELIEVE AN ELABORATE TALE ABOUT HOW I HAVE DRIVEN MY EXPLORER 72000 MILES WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND SUDDENLY, AFTER THE RECALL GETS FIXED, I THEN HAVE THAT EXACT PROBLEM? THAT...

RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FROM FORD TO GET MY VEHICLE IN IMMEDIATELY. CALLED SACRAMENTO DOWNTOWN FORD AND SPOKE WITH DAVID. DAVID SAID "SORRY, CAN'T HELP YOU RIGHT NOW AS THEY HAVE NOT SENT US THE PARTS OR THE SOFTWARE". HE ADDED, "CALL BACK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS". I WAS SHOCKED THAT NOTHING WAS OFFERED. WEBSITE EVEN STATES MAY CAUSE INABILITY TO STEER YOUR CAR AND LETTER EVEN STATES MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BUT THEY CAN'T HELP ME RIGHT NOW? SO DISAPPOINTED IN FORD! IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME OR MY FAMILY FORD WILL PAY.

I WAS STOPPED AND THE CAR WAS IDLING IN DRIVE (I WAS BRAKING) WHEN THE CAR BEEPED AND DISPLAYED TWO WARNINGS, ONE ABOUT POWER ASSIST FAILURE OR OFF AND THE OTHER ABOUT ADVANCETRAC SERVICE (I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT WORDING OF THE ERRORS). THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING IN THE CAR. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF AND ON AGAIN. AFTER IT TURNED ON IT STILL SAID THE ERRORS BUT I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, AND WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND MOVED UP A BIT THE ERRORS ALSO WENT AWAY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE ABLE TO TELL ME THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL BUT THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ON HOW TO FIX IT WHAT IT WAS, OR ANY TYPE OF REMEDY OR REASSURANCE. THEY SAID THE SOONEST THEY COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO LOOK AT...

DRIVING TO WORK ON JUNE 25, 2013 (20,420 MILES) ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 55 MPH WHEN A "POWER STEERING ASSIST" FAULT CODE POPPED ONTO THE SCREEN AND WITH VERY LIMITED STEERING CAPABILITIES WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, TURN OFF THE ENGINE FOR 10 MINUTES AND THE ERROR CORRECTED ITSELF. ON MAY 9, 2014 (30,513 MILES), AFTER COMING OFF A WINDING ROAD TURNED ONTO A STRAIGHT LANE, POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT CODE POPPED UP AGAIN, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. ON MAY 23, 2014 (31,002 MILES), GOT INTO MY PARKED VEHICLE TURNED ON ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST CODE POPPED UP AND I WASN'T ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL, HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT AGAIN. WHEN THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON JUNE 25, I CONTACT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND I WAS INSTRUCTED "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, BRING IN YOUR VEHICLE."...

FORD EXPLORER 2012 WITH VIBRATION AND GRINDING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND LOSS OF ALL STEERING. INITIALLY INFREQUENT HOWEVER AFTER TWO YEARS THE OCCURRENCE IS COMMON AT ALL SPEEDS AND ROAD CONDITIONS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND TEMPORARY LOSS OF ALL STEERING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THREE SEPARATE FORD DEALERS FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISER THERE WERE NO DIAGNOSTIC ERRORS AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED IN A TEST DRIVE BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER IN MAY, 2014 I BROUGHT WEBSITE REPORTS OF OTHER DRIVERS EXPERIENCING STEERING GEAR FAILURE IN THEIR 2011 AND 2012 FORD EXPLORERS. THIS VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WAITING AT THE FORD DEALER (OVER TWO WEEKS) FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS. *TR

ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WITHIN THE LAST MONTH THE POWER STEERING FAULT ASSIST HAS GONE OFF. TWICE WHILE DRIVING AND ONCE WHEN FIRST STARING THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY DROVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS BUT CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS SOMETHING IS RECALLED OR THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHILE THEY HAVE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS TO DANGEROUS OF AN ISSUE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING WHEN MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. IT WAS VERY HARD TO MANEUVER MY CAR TO THE EXIT RAMP AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN ON SMALLER STREETS. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. IN AUGUST OF 2012 MY POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AFTER A TWO MONTH WAIT FOR PARTS. (FIRST CLUE THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM) IT WAS REPAIRED AND 6 MONTHS LATER IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. I AM A POLICE OFFICER AND WE HAVE PURCHASED FORD EXPLORERS AS PATROL VEHICLE. I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER TO THE POLICE ASSOCIATION WITH MY CONCERNS ABOUT OFFICER SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN IS NHTSA GOING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECOGNIZE THE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS FLAW. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN BURIED YEARS AGO, BUT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA THE PROBLEM IS EXPOSED. YOUR CREDIBILITY AS AN INVESTIGATIVE BODY IS CERTAINLY AT QUESTION. THE FACT RECALLS WERE FORCED ON TOYOTA AND YOU BLATANTLY IGNORE THE ISSUES WITH FORD IS AN INTEGRITY ISSUE WITH YOUR ABILITIES TO BE IMPARTIAL. MY NEIGHBORS...

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2012 FORD EXPLORER DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WENT STIFF (POWER STEERING WENT OFF), CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE INTO THE OTHER LANE, AFTER WHICH THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT LIGHT CAME ON. I HAPPENED TO BE IN OUR OTHER CAR FOLLOWING DIRECTLY BEHIND HER AND WAS ABLE TO WATCH THE INCIDENT HAPPEN. SHE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SWITCHED VEHICLES WITH HER AND DROVE THE EXPLORER TO OUR HOUSE, WITH NO ADDITIONAL TROUBLE. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FAULT LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON. OUR VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER NOW, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND FOUND THIS WEBPAGE, WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THIS ISSUE IS WIDE SPREAD AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A FATALITY: HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2012/FORD/EXPLORER/STEERING FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE WAS ONLY TRAVELING 45 MPH AND THERE WAS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DISABLED AIR BAG AND DISABLED TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED DURING THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,805.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE AS BRAKES WERE APPLIED. WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF OF HIGHWAY WITH MUCH EFFORT AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. ORIGINALLY TOLD IT "SOUNDS LIKE A SENSOR HAS GONE BAD." NOTIFIED TODAY THAT RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED FOR AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $2300. BASIC WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD!!! ALSO NOTIFIED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SYNC SYSTEM THAT I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF. HAVE HAD THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES SINCE I GOT IT BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT! *TR

MAY 2013 (13490 MILES) WAS DRIVING 30 35 MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON, I TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. ALL WAS OK. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING RACK DECEMBER 23,2013, (21173 MILES) WAS DRIVING 40 MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON. WOULD NOT RESET BY TURNING ON AND OFF. DROVE TO DEALER WITH NO POWER STEERING AND DEALER RESET COMPUTER AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. JANUARY 17,2014 (21808 MILES) WAS DRIVING 35 MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT, TRACTION LIGHT WENT ON WOULD NOT RESET BY TURNING ON AND OFF. DROVE TO DEALER WITH NO POWER STEERING. DEALER RESET COMPUTER AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. *TR

THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING MAKING PULLING OVER AND STOPPING VERY DIFFICULT FOR A MATURE MALE DRIVER. I FIND IT DIFFICULT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS THIS COULD BE FOR MY WIFE OR ANY SMALLER OR LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING REGULAR DRIVING ON FAIRLY SMOOTH SURFACE NORMAL CONDITIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE ADVANCE TRACKING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. *TR

THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM REPORT ONE 8/10/13 19,000 MILES: POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE <15 MPH AND BACK CEILING LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULDN'T GO OUT. FORD: 8/13/2013 SAID CEILING LIGHT SHORTENED OUT BATTERY AND CAUSED POWER STEERING TO GO OUT - ORDERED LIGHT BULB CAME BACK IN 3 DAYS TO REPLACE LIGHT BULB - THEY SAID POWER STEERING WAS FIXED. REPORT TWO 9/23/13 23,891 MILES: POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE PARKED. FORD: DID DIAGNOSTIC SAID THE ISSUE WAS MOST LIKELY WIRING AND SAID ISSUE WAS FIXED AND I LEFT WITH CAR REPORT THREE 10/02/13 24,280 MILES: POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 65 MPH, PULLED OFF HWY. REPORTED INCIDENT TO FORD. FORD: RAN DIAGNOSTIC, SAID ISSUE WAS MOTHERBOARD. ORDERED PART AND I RETURNED IN A FEW DAYS TO REPLACE...

STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME EXTREMELY HARD AND STIFF TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD NOT MAKE A TURN OF MORE THAN 10% AT ANY SPEED. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY GOING 25MPH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT SO I WAS ABLE TO GRADUALLY GUIDE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BRINGING IT TO A FULL STOP. I TRIED RESETTING THE "ERROR CONDITION" BY RESTARTING THE CAR, BUT THE STEERING BECAME ONLY MARGINALLY BETTER. I WAS HOWEVER ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR DOWN THE SIDE STREET AT 5-10MPH TO MY HOUSE WHICH WAS A FEW SHORT BLOCKS AWAY. SINCE THE CAR WAS UNDRIVABLE, I HAD IT TOWED TO ALL AMERICAN FORD IN PARAMUS NJ, FOR SERVICE. WHERE THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY HAVE ONLY HEARD OF ONE OR TWO CASES SUCH AS MINE. I DIRECTED THEM TO THIS SITE TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR RESEARCH, WHICH THEY OF COURSE THEY WERE...

POWER STEERING FAILED DURING A TURN MAKING CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT. WARNING LIGHTS FOR POWER STEERING ASSIST, TRACTION CONTROL AND TERRAIN MONITOR CAME ON. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE PROBLEM WAS CLEARED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND A MESSAGE APPEARED "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED". VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO STEER BUT I MANAGED TO TURN ON FLASHERS, REDUCE SPEED AND STEER SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. WHILE WAITING FOR HELP I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TO TRY TO MANEUVER TO A SAFER ROADSIDE POSITION. AT THAT TIME THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE WORKING AGAIN SO I DROVE CAREFULLY HOME. I THEN VISITED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE NO ERROR CODES OR ERROR HISTORY WAS FOUND AND THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. *TR

POWER STEERING FAULT WITH ADVANCE TRAC AND TERRAIN MANAGEMENT FAULTS. POWER STEERING WAS LOST. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AT LOW, MEDIUM AND HIGH SPEEDS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED AND THE FAULTS WERE GONE AND POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. *JB

POWER ASSIST FAULT, SERVICE ADVANCETRAC, TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT. DISABLES POWER STEERING AND TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER AND VERY DANGEROUS. HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TT

AFTER HAVING MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING FAILING WHILE DRIVING OUR 2012 FORD EXPLORER, THE POWER STEERING FINALLY GAVE OUT COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS NO POWER STEERING AND IS VERY HARD TO DRIVE. THIS HAS ALSO AFFECTED THE ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD, SO THIS IS VERY UNACCEPTABLE. FORD NEEDS TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND SOME IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OFF. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN 24 HOURS. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER RIGHT AWAY. I AM GLAD THAT MY 16 YEAR OLD DRIVER WAS NOT AT THE WHEEL WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A ONE-YEAR OLD NEW CAR. SAFETY MUST COME FIRST. REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED AT $2200. PLEASE LOOK INTO A RECALL, AS I HAVE HEARD THIS IS VERY COMMON. PLEASE WORK WITH FORD TO REMEDY THIS OBVIOUS MECHANICAL FLAW. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AS THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WENT STIFF AND SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND STRUGGLED TO STEER THE VEHICLE OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I CALLED THE DEALER THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE NEW EXPLORERS AND THAT IF I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT WOULD RESET THE SYSTEM AND TO BRING IT TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER (AFTER IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME) WHERE THEY INFORMED I WOULD NEED A NEW RACK AND PINION. I DON'T MIND PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART BUT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IF I HAD BEEN GOING THROUGH A TURN AT THOSE SPEEDS, MY KIDS AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. IF THE DEALER AND FORD KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN...

LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING - SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC & TERRAIN MGMT SYSTEM FAULT WARNINGS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. PROBLEM CLEARS AFTER RESTARTING CAR. WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF MY WIFE OR KIDS WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2011. IN JUNE OF 2013 THE POWER STEERING GAVE OUT. WE DROPPED IT OFF AT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 18. TWO DAYS LATER THE MECHANIC INFORMS ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG AND HAD TO CALL FORD MOTOR COMPANY DIRECTLY. THEY INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT OUR VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING RACK (EPAS) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THEY CHARGED US NEARLY $2000 TO FIX THE CAR. WHICH WAS APPROX. 5% OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS UNDER 2 YEARS OLD AND ONLY 53K MILES. WE FEEL RIPPED OFF AND USED. WE ARE LOYAL FORD CUSTOMERS WITH THIS BEING OUR 3RD FORD IN 10 YEARS. WE FEEL IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER EITHER A POWERTRAIN OR MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING GARAGE AND THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING SYSTEMS BECAME DISABLED. THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE ONCE THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST. WHEN I PARKED THE CAR, SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING APPEARED TO BE BACK BUT THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CONTINUED TO SHOW AN ERROR. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER TODAY. I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LISTED HERE - I HOPE FORD IS ADDRESSING APPROPRIATELY. *TR

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2012 FORD EXPLORER, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE "SERVICE TRAK SYSTEM" ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED. SHE WAS ON A MAJOR FREEWAY AND HAD TO MANUALLY PULL OFF THE FREEWAY TO SAFETY, WHICH WAS VERY DIFFICULT WITH OUT THE POWER STEERING. ONCE SHE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, THE ERROR WENT AWAY AND POWER STEERING WAS NORMAL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVING ON A MAJOR FREEWAY AT OR ABOVE 55 MPH. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND SERVICE TRAC SYSTEM ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED. VEHICLE WENT INTO MANUAL STEERING, WHICH WAS SO STIFF, MY WIFE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. AFTER CYCLING THE IGNITION, THE CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL. THIS CONCERNS ME AS THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WAS AT STAKE. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2011 AND UP EXPLORERS. FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES, AS THEY POSE A SAFETY RISK. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER IN JANUARY 2012, AND HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. RECENTLY, WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" WARNING STARTED COMING ON. AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RE-STARTING THE ENGINE, THE WARNING WENT AWAY AND I REGAINED POWER STEERING. ABOUT 6 DAYS AGO, I DROVE 15 MILES TO WORK, AND THE SAME "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" WARNING CAME ON AND STAYED ON - EVEN AFTER RECYCLING THE ENGINE. THE "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC" WARNING ALSO STAYED ON AND I LOST THE POWER STEERING. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE, THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE "POWER-STEERING GEAR BOX", AND THE PART IS TWO DAYS AWAY. I SAW SOMEONE POSTED THAT FORD DOESN'T CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU CAN STILL STEER IT. IF I HAVE TROUBLE STEERING IT, I HATE TO THINK WHAT MY WIFE OR DAUGHTERS WOULD EXPERIENCE. THIS VEHICLE...

I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED. THE STEERING IMMEDIATELY BECAME VERY HARD TO OPERATE AND THE ENGINE APPEARED TO LOSE POWER. INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE STEERING JERKED. THE LIGHTS SAID "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC" AND "TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT". I HAD TO PULL OF THE ROAD AND JUST TRYING TO MAKE TO LEFT TURNS TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT TOOK ALL THE STRENGTH I HAD IN BOTH ARMS. MY TURN SIGNALS WOULD ALSO NOT WORK. I EVEN TRIED TURNING THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE KNOB, AS I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING ON THAT AS WELL AND NOTHING WOULD LIGHT UP OR SHOW UP ON THE DASH SCREEN. I TURNED OFF THE CAR WHILE I PULLED OUT MY OWNERS MANUAL TO LOOK UP INFORMATION ON THESE INDICATORS. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A WHILE, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE INDICATOR...

MY WIFE WAS GETTING ON THE FREEWAY WITH LEFT BLINKER ON TO MERGE LANES AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND THEN THE POWER STEERING QUIT. MY WIFE WITH A FULLY LOADED CAR WITH KIDS ON BOARD WAS THANKFULLY ABLE TO SLOWLY MUSCLE THE CAR ON TO THE SHOULDER. SHE THEN POWERED THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT WHICH SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. LUCKILY THIS INCIDENT DID NOT HAPPEN ON CURVY ROAD OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. FORD, PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM. WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE GET HURT AND THE EXPLORER NAME DAMAGED ALL OVER AGAIN DUE TO ANOTHER VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON ROUTE 322 IN PA. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE, THE CAR JUST TURNED OFF AND THE POWER STEERING FAIL LIGHT CAME ON ALSO THE SYSTEMTRAC ERROR LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD NO STEERING. I HAD TO PULL IN FRONT OF A SEMI IN ORDER TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I ALMOST GOT KILLED. IT IS CURRENTLY AT SLOAN FORD IN COLUMBIA TN. THEY SAY IT IS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. THE CAR IS 1 YEAR AND 6 MONTHS OLD. HOW DOES THE STEERING TO SO SOON? THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 1900. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY FORD EXPLORERS FROM 2011 AND 2012 WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. WHY HASN'T IT BEEN DONE YET? *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN IT TURNED OFF AND I RECEIVED A POWER STEERING FAULT WARNING. I HAD TO PULL OF THE ROAD AND ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I GOOGLED THIS AND NOTED THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT: THIS IS FROM THE HUFFINGTON POST: FEDERAL SAFETY REGULATORS ARE INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS THAT THE POWER STEERING CAN FAIL ON 2011 AND 2012 FORD EXPLORER SUVS. FIFTEEN DRIVERS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THE POPULAR EXPLORER CAN SUDDENLY LOSE ITS POWER STEERING ASSIST, MAKING IT HARDER TO STEER THE SUVS. IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. FORD REFUSES TO COVER IT BECAUSE IT HAS NOT OFFICIALLY BEEN RECALLED. I AM LUCKY I DIDNT GET KILLED. *TR

LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. TWO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON-TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC. POWER STEERING RETURNED AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OF AND RESTARTING. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND TWO WARNING CODES ON THE COMPUTER, BUT FORD SAID PROBLEM HAD TO BE REVERIFIED BEFORE THEY COULD REPAIR IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND BOTH THE POWER STEERING AND POWER ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE RACK AND PINION, WHICH FAILED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE RACK AND PINION WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. ... UPDATED 02/27/13 *BF THE STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 03/04/13