2016 FORD EXPLORER Steering Problems

Steering rack failure causing loud popping inside of the rack and pinion causing trouble steering, also abruptly pulling the vehicle or hard steering several reports of people almost wrecking.

With no warning, the steering began to grind with turns and was harder to steer. No warning lights ever appeared. The car was no longer safe to drive. The vehicle is 2016 with low milage, approximately 57,000 miles. The mechanic assessed the vehicle and said the rack and pinion needed replaced. He stated he has begun to see multiple 2016 Ford Explorers coming in with with issues of low milage yet needing the rack and pinion replaced. The car was then taken to a local Ford Dealership. They agreed with the mechanics assessment. The car has now been in the shop for 43 days with no available parts to repair.

On February 03, 2022 I took my to the Ford dealership in my area, I was told that rear toe link was replaced. After 8 months while I was driving the Explorer 2016, the car starts swerving from side to side, and lost the control. For few seconds I was struggling to stop the car, after I stopped the car I checked the tires, I saw the rear left passenger tire was loosen, and steering wheel wasn’t straight. Me and my friend were terrified and still not feeling alright. I lost the confidence in Ford Explorer.

Steering started making grinding noise and when parked steering froze. Restarted and steering unfroze and made grinding noise and slowly drove to repair shop. Checked for recalls and none on this vehicle. Repair shop said no parts are available form Ford for a repair. This has to be a factory defect and could lead to serious injury or death.

My wife was driving our kids home from school when she experienced a sudden loss of steering followed by inaccurate control with no type of indication for an issue on the dashboard. Once she was able to (thankfully) make it home, I drove the vehicle around and noticed that there was a considerable lack of power steering when turning and the steering wheel would not return to the center position as typical. We brought it to an auto shop that diagnosed the issue as being the electric power steering rack which appears to be a fairly common issue with these Ford Explorers regardless of mileage. Tried to address the issue but the part if back-ordered for weeks and we are unable to fix our vehicle. Looking online, it appears that this is a common issue with Ford Explorers that could potentially lead to serious complications if experienced driving at higher...

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Power Steering Assist Failed" was displayed. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and became extremely difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

I felt a thumping when turning the steering wheel and took it to the dealership who kept it for two days to attempt to replicate the same noise but they were unable to reproduce or replicate. Two or maybe three months later, the thumping noise turned into a clicking noise. Again, I immediately took it to the Ford dealership and fortunately a mechanic was still on duty. They test drove the vehicle and heard the same noise. They ask if I could leave the vehicle for more testing with their suspension specialist and they will contact me the next day. The next day they contacted me and I was told 'this is a common problem and Ford is aware of issue but has not issued a recall'. Concerned about the comment I took it to a second Ford dealership. The second dealership kept it for a day and of course...

Initially the steering on the vehicle appeared to be "notchy". It was holding the last steering wheel correction rather than returning to centered position. It appeared as if something lost lubrication. While driving the traction control and advance trac lights lit. Messages "Steering fault service now", "Service advance trac", "Hillstart assist not available", "Steering loss stop safely" appeared. After shutsown and restart "No steering" message appeared. There was no steering at this point. Code P07AE "Friction element" showed on code reader. If the vehicle was not stopped safely there could have been a serious accident of any variety. The vehicle is currently waiting for repair. This has been the case for over one month. The steering gear is on backorder. There has been no further inspection at this time.

A ticking/grinding noise coming from the steering column while turning at low speeds. When turning the steering wheel to the right or left, the steering wheel will not center and must be forced back to center/straight. If not manually forced back to center/straight the car would continue in the direction of the turn being performed. The force needed to center the steering wheel is unpredictable and varied. The vehicle was taken to two local mechanics who diagnosed that the rack and pinion is faulty and needed to be replaced.

Approximately 2 weeks ago, I received a warning for power assist fault- service soon. Once I turned my truck off and restarted it the warning went away and the truck drove fine. Then about 1 week ago, the warning came back and did not go off. The truck became extremely hard to turn almost locking up while I was driving in traffic. I took the truck to Ford dealership to learn that steering assembly had failed and it would cost $3,000 to fix! I’ve read where this has happened to several others with this same male truck. Luckily, I was not on the highway or this could have resulted in an accident possibly a fatality. This needs to be addressed as this is a very serious issue.

Issue with the power steering in the vehicle. Loud grinding when turning vehicle.

We own a 2016 Ford Explorer with only 23,000 miles on it. While driving down the road the steering began to make a noise when trying to turn and shortly after it became very hard to keep control of the car (not a power steering issue). We were only a half mile from a dealer when the problem began and we drove it there so they can diagnose the problem. The dealer found that the steering rack needed to be replaced. No warning lights or any messages came on the dashboard prior to issue nor when the issue started.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that his while his son was driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The driver was unable to control the vehicle and the vehicle went across two lanes of traffic to the right. The contact stated that numerous unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact's son was able to steer the vehicle to the residence however, excessive force was needed while steering the vehicle. The contact stated that the steering wheel then seized and the vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the power steering rack needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Steering wheel started making a rubbing sound. Then it started loud grinding/scraping noise. Steering wheel ‘catches’, hard to turn, or locks up. No warning light/s for service were presented. 2 weeks for an appointment by Ford Co. I have had Ford mechanic inspect, & diagnosis is a Electronic Steering Box, Steering Rack. The vehicle has 60, 005 miles. The Ford service rep did not say anything about not driving it. I parked it, afraid of an accident! Waiting on parts. I have read there have been 2,000 complaints filed. How many have not been officially filed?

I was driving on the interstate and the power steering stopped work. No signs or anything till it stopped working. I had to pull over asap and it was very hard to turn. Now there is no way of getting the part for my car to fix it because of national back order

Steering makes occasional clunking/popping noises at very slow speeds backing out and turning form my driveway. It also occurs occasionally making slow speed turns like on a roundabout or U-turn. On one occasion we had a loss of power steering mid corner and jerking sensation. I had it towed to my local Ford dealer as it is a safety concern and they said they could find no noise and no codes stored. There were no warning lamps indicated. I demonstrated it to t he technician and they said it was "normal". No way is this normal and it is a safety issue as I can feel the clunking and my steering wheel fighting me when it happens. I have read others have experienced similar issues. We purchased the Explorer new and have had no accidents.

The power steering on my 2016 Ford Explorer failed at 73,000 miles. I had a total loss of power steering and had to be towed to the dealership who, upon investigating the cause, said it was corroded but wasn't visible until they opened the Steering Gear Assembly. After doing some web searches on the topic, I found that this is becoming a common issue with Ford Explorers. There have been many reports of people who have lost power steering while driving. The replacement part is currently on backorder and Ford is in the process of releasing 250 within the next week but they said most have been claimed already. Again, indicating that my experience was not an isolated issue. This is a safety issue.

I drove it Wednesday to an apt one hour away with no issues but the next morning the steering wheel would hardly turn at all and made a constant knocking noise. If this had happened to me while on an interstate or highway, I am certain that I would have crashed since I had no control. I did inquire with Vogler service dept. about it having anything to do with the last recall we took care of since it warns of possible loss of steering control but was told it did not. I understand that the whole steering assembly (for lack of parts jargon) has to be replaced and reprogrammed and that this will be difficult to get and also Vogler said they are short staffed so it will take a while. The recalls I am referring to are 20S62 and 21S32

Vehicle (2016 Ford Explorer) returned from the dealer following standard maintenance and a recall repair for the rear toe link. Operator noted the vehicle’s steering seemed somewhat stiff. Vehicle sat parked for two days and when driven again the steering was incredibly stiff require a great deal of effort to turn the wheel in either direction. Steering continues to be stiff and difficult whenever the vehicle is operated. Dealer was contacted and vehicle was brought back in for assessment. Dealer diagnosed the problem as the Steering Rack and advised it would need to be replaced. Per dealer the part is on national backorder and no time frame is available for when the part may be available. Dealer was unwilling to provide alternate transportation because the vehicle is no longer under warranty and part is on national backorder.

July 28,2022 while driving on the highway at 55mph the power steering began to fail. It didn't fail completely but the steering felt awkward. I slowed up considerably. Fortunately I was less than 2 miles to my home. As I was getting home a power steering warning light illuminated and then went off. Not sure exactly what it said as I was too busy driving. At that point the power steering hadn't failed completely but still felt awkward (I would say the steering alternated between smooth steering and like the steering wheel was starting to lock in place). I managed to get to my driveway. I shut the suv off and called the local Ford dealership. They advised restarting the suv and to see if the power steering returned. It didn't. It was completely locked up at that point and I couldn't even turn the steering wheel. I called a...

Steering gear asy replaced.

My 2016 Ford Explorer only has 26,815 miles. Was driving vehicle when suddenly started to have steering issues. One of the message(s) was: Steering Fault Service Now.

The rack and pinion failed and need to be replaced.

Power steering tends to go out at random. When car is turned off and then restarted, power steering goes back to functioning normal until it goes out at random again. Rack and pinion unavailable for replacement.

When driving my vehicle my steering wheel sticks to the right and left when making a turn and also making a slight turn. I have to pull the wheel back into place hard. I have tried to call the manufacturer but they stated that there is no recall and I could bring it in for 170 dollars to get it looked out. I have read online that the same year, make, and model of the vehicle has had the same recall. It scares me to drive it but unfortunately I don’t have a choice I have too.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while at a stop, the steering wheel seized with the "Power Steering Failure - Drive Slowly" message displayed on the instrument panel. The contact was unable to notify a dealer due to the national holiday. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not towed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

Upon driving the steering locked up and was stiff to turn and maneuver. It locks up and fault steering sign comes on .It happened on freeway . I am attempting to try and get it fixed but having difficulty with company going back and forth with my extended warranty. It is used for my wife to transport my grandkid. Unfortunately no resolution yet and this seems to be a continuous issue for this vehicle this year 2022. Ford should as previous years take care of this dangerous issue. This is my 3rd and last Ford car.

Steering wheel locked up going 40mph.Received warning for steering fault and for lane keeping system. Restarting vehicle did not help.

I was driving through a residential area with my 3 kids in the backseat when the steering wheel stopped working and I was unable to turn it past 1/2in at either direction and my tires were not turning either. I had to use strong incredible force to get it to turn. We were stopped in the middle of the road. The steering wheel stopped turning while I was driving WITHOUT any warnings or signs indicating this was going to happen. It just completely locked, all I could do was go forward or back. Now I am getting on my dash board “Steering Assist Fault-Service Required” “Terrain management system fault” “Service Advance Tract” and “Hill Start Assist Not Available” warning lights illuminated. All ford dealerships are booked out until 2-3 months out so now I’m left without a car or transportation. Clearly this is an issue with a lot of Ford...

Steering while driving thru town or on highway is loosing power steering assist randomly and causing major steering and control issues

I took my vehicle to 2 mechanics and they notated a rack and pinion issue on my vehicle. I have attempted to take it to my local Ford Dealership (Woody Anderson) but they claim there are no appointments available for months. I googled and found there was a recall on Ford Explorers including 2016 for Rack and Pinion, but it was not associated with my VIN. I believe this should be covered under the recall and would like for there to be an assessment to get this recall to cover my vehicle. The rack and pinion is causing shaking in the steering and posing a safety issue.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph when attempting to make a left turn when the vehicle's power steering had failed. The contact had difficulty getting the vehicle to straighten back up while accelerating. The contact stated the steering wheel had emitted a grinding and humming sound whenever they would turn the vehicle left or right. The contact also noticed there was fluid leaking from underneath the front end of the vehicle. The contact contacted the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the power steering gearbox failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact was told their failure related to NHTSA campaign number: 14v286000 (STEERING) however their vin was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 60,025.

Have 2016 Ford Explorer which my son had while at college and at 72,940 miles on 09/15/2021 the steering malfunction which made steering very difficult and safety hazard. Ford dealership looked into the issue and stated it needed a new steering gear assembly which cost $3,493.92. Ford dealership stated that there was no recall for this repair and when ask the dealership how this does happen, they stated, "I DO NOT KNOW". I had the repaired made and decided to talk to Ford on the issue. Made two calls on 11/29/2021 & 01/13/2022 to the Ford Customer Service and received case#CAS35022773 but received no solution in having Ford pay for this repair.

Driving to work through mountain passes as I live in northern Montana, warning lights came on in dash. Lost power steering ran off road, regained control, took it to ford dealership they said $2200 to fix, I've only had the car just over a month, I pay $750, and now the car sits

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The steering. No, it has been repaired at a local Ford dealership. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? No, the problem occurred when starting the vehicle in the morning after it sat all night. Had this problem occurred while I was driving it certainly would have put myself and others in danger. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, it was repaired at my local Ford dealership. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, it was repaired at my local Ford dealership. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes, the following: Service advance trac Steering assist...

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact stated that power steering functionality returned without restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,237.

For the least 4 or five days I've noticed increased resistance and a "stickiness" when turning the steering wheel. Its not constant but each time I turn the wheel is have to manually assist the wheel with making the turn or getting back to its preturn starting point. Ive learned in this vehicle, since there is not steering fluid the issue may be electronic.

I was driving the vehicle when the steering suddenly locked up. There was virtually no steering except with very heavy struggles. Fortunately I was able to pull over but had to be towed. Vehicle indications showed power steering failure and all-wheel drive failure. Dealership indicated the Rack and Pinion must be replaced at a cost of about $2,300. They indicated it is a huge problem and they don't know where to get replacement parts. I can't find any anywhere. Salvage yards are out and all parts stores can't get them. I need a vehicle to drive.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while his wife was making a left turn and then attempting to straighten the steering wheel, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The driver stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to continue driving to her destination. The driver stated she experience the failure multiple times. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the parts being on backorder. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH and making a turn, the vehicle lost power steering and the steering wheel turned all the way to the right inadvertently, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle spun out. The contact depressed the brake pedal, which caused the vehicle to stop. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle by forcefully steering the steering wheel. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was diagnosed but not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 95,400. Estimate from the dealer confirming that the problem is rack and pinion, otherwise known as the power steering rack.

I have a 2016 ford explorer and like most of the other complaints on locked up steering. My explorer steering wheel has lock up with now warning lights and no codes. My ford dealership to get my vehicle in the mechanic bay had to call a tow truck. Luckily my vehicle was already at ford for other unrelated issues. After reading all of these incidents. Ford is really lucky no one has been killed or seriously injured.

My rack and pinion steering column and power steering pump went out causing a hefty cost to replace and it is starting to fail again creating hazardous conditions while driving. I do believe there is a steering issue in these models. Also my power lift gate in the back closes without stopping automatically while I’m loading the rear or unloading. There is NO STOPPING SAFETY SENSOR, I HAD THE BACK CLOSE ON ME MULTIPLE TIMES AND ALMOST CRUSH ME. there is no safety sensor to stop the power lift gate from closing on you, I have had to crawl in my rear end to avoid being crushed by my liftgate! This is not safe!

My wife was driving to work and the steering wheel just locked up on her and almost caused a serious accident out of nowhere

Steering gear assembly completely failed, causing a total lock up of the steering wheel and loss of control. Happened at highway speeds, could barely pull off to side of road. Nearly crashed as there was no warning or indication of total steering loss. Ford dealer replacement cost of $3000. I was told this is a common issue with the Explorer, but there was no remedy offered by Ford.

I was driving down the highway at approximately 60mph when my steering wheel became extremely stiff and hard to turn. The vehicle became very hard to handle. The steering wheel ended up locking up completely and I had to have it towed to the dealership. After diagnostics it was determined that the entire steering gear had failed. The cost to fix is $2200.00. Keep in mind that there is only 26,000 miles on the odometer! There were also no warning lights on the dash. No recall or warranty coverage.

About 2 weeks ago I heard a noise and from that point it sounded like my steering wheel was grinding. Steering is tight at slower speeds and it is making that same grinding noise. I took it to a dealership to get checked out and was told the steering gear had failed and that it needs to be repaired however the parts are on back order with no foreseeable ship date, but that it was ok to drive, just may be a little hard to steer at low speeds. This morning my steering wheel was totally locked up and could not turn in either direction. There are no warning lights or other indication of an issue. My concern is could this have happened while driving? What caused it to break in the first place and why did it ultimately seize up completely after being told it could be driven?

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while making a turn, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the steering gear replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Steering rack failure on 2016 and 17 Explorers at 55,000 mile, haven't had the vehicle in a month due to acquiring parts because there are so many of these parts failing and was told by ford they can't release the vehicle until its repaired because the steering could lock up and it is also a $3000.00 dollar repair. Wouldn't this be a recall due to the low mileage, amount of failures and and result of the failure

When I turn right there is a popping noise. Sometimes the steering wheel gets stuck and I have to pull it hard to go back straight. It’s very scary, especially going around a curve.

My steering felt very out of control had to have car towed to dealer and they replaced rack and pinion there was internal damage to steering rack they had to replace it