Power steering locks up and needs replacement. Ford dealer claims this is not covered under recall, and VIN search indicated no open recall for this vehicle. Dealer has reset vehicle computer and that may be why no open recall shows up. Internet searches indicate that this is a very common problem and should have been covered under a previous recall, but there is no evidence that the vehicle ever had recall work done. So far the problem only presents itself upon initial startup while the vehicle is stationary. However, internet searches show that others have had steering lock up while in motion, causing vehicle accidents.
2012 Ford Explorer steering complaints
Page 9 of 13: complaints 221 to 250 of 361, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. Approximately two and a half years after the vehicle was repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v286000 (steering), the steering ability failed and the power steering indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to junge cedar rapids (319‑393‑6500, located at 1200 boyson rd, hiawatha, ia 52233) where it was diagnosed that the power steering gear failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,100.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. While operating the vehicle, the power steering failed, which made the steering wheel very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to watson quality ford (6130 I 55, jackson, ms) where it was diagnosed that the electric power steering was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Electric steering gear was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,700.*bf
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. While pulling out of the driveway at an unknown speed, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the power steering assist fault warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the control module needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was called, but the contact did not speak with anyone. The failure mileage was 78,000.
While driving on a rural road warning lights came on. Pulled over, turned vehicle off. Turned back on. Complete power steering failure. Appears to be same issue as previous recall.
Start car and epas steering does not work. Restart a couple of times was able to drive just once. The next day even restarting the car did not work. I see that their was a recall for this issue. I hope ford fixes this issue under the recall.
In 2014 there was a recall for my vehicle. It was not fixed because when checked my car did not show any problem. Now I cannot drive my car due to power steering assist fault. I called the dealership and was informed they cannot fix my car based on warranty because it previously checked out fine. This car is not safe to drive and quite expensive to fix. Why can't the recall still apply to my car. My car was in my driveway when it happened so thankfully no one was hurt. But the danger remains if I have to drive it anywhere without being able to get it fixed.
Our power steering failed completely on 12/17/2018. Exact symptoms as described in former recall 14v286000 - somehow ford was able to change this recall to an extended warranty which lapses at 150,000 miles. Our vehicle failed at 150,950 miles - rendering it extremely dangerous and impossible to control. Repair costs over $2300. How the federal safety agency can accept such an agreement as an extended warranty in place of a blanket recall demonstrates the power of the auto-maker lobby at the extreme detriment and danger to the american public. Ford and the federal safety agency should be ashamed.
Power steering fault. The power steering just stopped work while I was driving with now warming until it was completely inoperable. I nearly crashed it to an on coming car in the parking lot of my gym. I notice there was a recall for this make and model but when I did a VIN search my truck was not registering a recall.
While I was about to make a turn at a four-way stop, the power steering assist notification came on and my steering wheel locked. I ran up onto the sidewalk. Had there been any pedestrians, they would have gotten hit.
Steering assist fault
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. While driving 70 MPH, the power steering seized and the "service power steering", traction control, and "service now" warning indicators illuminated. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to keystone ford (301 walker road, chambersburg, pennsylvania 17201, (717) 264-5104) where it was diagnosed that the power steering was faulty and needed to be replaced. The dealer located diagnostic trouble codes u2011-49 and c200b2f-2f. The vehicle was repaired at owners expense. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided the contact with case number: 16436064. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v286000 (steering) on may 29, 2014. The contact stated that the manufacturer issued a memorandum on july 1, 2015 in reference to the recall, stating that it was subject to a warranty extension conversion. The contact stated that the manufacturer replaced the recall with a 150,000 mile warranty coverage extension under 15n01. The diagnostic trouble codes located earlier by the dealer were consistent with the warranty coverage; however, the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not eligible for the 150,000 mile warranty extension program. The failure mileage was 158,000.
While driving the stability control lights came on and the wheel got tuff.
Steering gears lock steering system almost causing a crash with my 11 year old son in the car.
While driving and going into turn power steering warning came on causing total loss of control of vehicle. Was able to stop and have vehicle towed to dealership.
"power steering assist failure" warning when starting the car can usually be resolved by restarting the car and has been intermittent for the life of the vehicle, however the power steering (which is completely electronic--no pulley or hydraulics) is now failing while driving making the car nearly impossible to turn and especially at lower speeds because you're fighting through the electronic motor in the epas system.
My vehicle has failure on the electronic power ateering assist, as noted on recall campain 14v286000 by the federal safety agency for this vehicle but my vehicle was not on recall list. Vehicle has experience loss of power on electronic power steering making ateering hard. Today when driving on highway problem happened for the third time, had some trouble getting out of highway, I need to mive to the side of the road and turn off vehicle for some time and turned back on to restart the electronics.
The vehicle at start up has disabled power steering causing the vehicle unable to be steered. The vehicle was in a driveway and was about to place into drive gear when the warning light came on and could no longer turn the steering wheel.
Sudden grinding in the steering wheel. Suspect it is related to a prematurely failing steering gear box. Occurred while vehicle was stationary
Sometimes my steering wheel will lock and I can not move and I am driving with my children and that scared me I've called the tow truck twice taking it to the dealership for them to find nothing. Now my vechile is starting to shake when I'm driving and I'm tired of taking to the dealership for nothing. I've taken to 2 dealership and they say the same thing. It's always when I'm driving. It's all I the dealership papers. I'm sick and tired of this . It started about 1 year after I got it. I would not buy another ford
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. While starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized and failed to maneuver as the power steering assist warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (lugoff ford, 979 highway 1 south, lugoff, sc 29078), but the failure was unable to be duplicated or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
Service power steering. Advance trac light came on. Unable to steer vehicle while on highway doing 55mph. We are unable to get this car repaired due to high cost to ship car 572miles out of town. Told us that we need to pay for the repair and will get reimbursed at later date. However after explaining we don't have money to ship it they offer little to no help. There is a local shop that does warranty repairs but we have to pay out of pocket up to $1,600 not including labor costs of repairs done to vehicle. Ford then said 'repairs and services would be our responsibility' explained in photo documentation
My vehicles is expediting recall 14s06 and has happened 2x and for dinner is as saying my VIN number is born unser the recall. Help
Steering wheel locks up while driving. I have to turn the car off in order to unlock the steering wheel. Very dangerous. Dealer made me buy a new battery and "reprogrammed" vehicle, but the problem came back.. It's happened multiple times. Most recently on 1/10/18.
Power steering assist fault, lose of steering at low speed lost control and hit curb
Gear steering assy problem. Stiffness in steering
A few times at slow speeds the 'power steering assist fault' light would come on and it was very difficult to steer. If the engine was turned off and back on, it would clear the issue. This last time it happened the 'service advancetrac' light also came on and the issue could not be cleared. The car was too difficult to steer and had to be towed to the dealership. All of these happened at slow speeds.
Our power steering system finally went out on our 2012 xlt. In fact, the wife was driving on the interstate with our two toddlers at 75mph when it went out. She pulled over and I had to meet up with her and drive it home (not easy). We would have been eligible for the recall if this happened 8k miles ago, but since we are over the 150,000 limit, I get to pay $1940.00 to get it repaired(getting repaired as this is typed). Its sad really, because when I was at 120k, I was having issues with the power steering and was hoping to get it replaced at the dealer, however at the time, they were "unable to replicate the issue" so no action was taken. I am disappointed, because it takes a complete failure (and endangerment to lives) for the recall to be initiated. I wonder if gm's ignition recall is the same way? I could repair it myself as its not too bad of a job, but due to being busy, it would probably take a week or two for me to do alone and this is our primary family vehicle. My service adviser has been nothing but helpful but have to say that I am disappointed in fords approach to the failure of a major component of the vehicle.
After starting the car while parked the 'service advance trac" warning came on. After driving approx. 100 feet the warning went away. There was a slight hardness in the steering at this time. That went away when the warning went away. This occurred on nov. 10, 2017. The second problem occurred on nov. 23, 2017. While parked overnight and all day in our garage I started the car and the "power steering assist fault'' warning came on. I could not turn the steering wheel at all. I turned off the engine and within 10 to 15 seconds I started the car again. No warning came on and the power steering worked o.k. I started the car again this morning and no warning or problem.
Power steering quit working in the parking lot. Has no power steering. Has had a software update to fix the steering and was told the steering needed replaced but the part was on back order and then was told the vehicle didn't qualify to have the steering rack replaced and now it has failed.
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