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2015 Ford Explorer steering problems

348 complaints (19% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 60,000. 4 crashes reported.

owner complaints
348
of this car's complaints
19%
typical mileage
60,000
crashes
4
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Electric power assist system
    5
  • Rack and pinion
    4
  • Steering control module
    1
  • Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Ford Explorer steering problems in other years

19911995200020052010201520202026

Specific symptoms reported on the 2015 Ford Explorer steering

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Power steering loss 129Steering lock-up 46Steering noise 36

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2015 Ford Explorer owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 26, 2026 · Steering · CA

Out of nowhere the steering assist quit when i turned on the car in question on to go work in the morning. Luckily for everybody it did not happen while on the road like many of the cases i have read about. Now i’m facing a $3,000 bill to repair a very common problem Ford refuses to recall.

Filed Sep 30, 2026 · Steering · 99,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving into a parking lot at approximately 20-25 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering assist functionality. The message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed after the failure. The contact was able to continue driving and pulled into a parking space, where the vehicle remained overnight. The vehicle was in the process of being towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing and repair. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

Filed Sep 29, 2026 · Electrical, Steering · OH

Intermittent locking of steering wheel while driving for about 8 months. Now it has complete loss of power steering. [XXX] says service advance trac and complete steering loss pull over safely. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 6, 2026 · Steering · WI

Power-assisted steering fails repeatedly. No warning lights, codes, or alarms are presented or shown. Steering reverts to manual control only and becomes very difficult to turn. This presents a potentially serious safety issue. Power-assisted steering returns to normal operation but fails again intermittently and repeatedly. Ford has not issued a recall and the price is exorbitantly expensive for consumer. additionally , only a dealer can replace or program the failing parts, consumer cannot replace them on their own using standard automotive repair tools. this is a serious safety risk and a known issue from Ford, and a clear violation of consumer protection acts. Ford's corporate behavior in this matter is inconscionable. I would not have purchased the vehicle had I known that Ford does not support warranty for this very common issue. it is a design flaw and a serious safety risk. consumers will soon be dying due to this problem, if they have not already.

Filed Aug 6, 2026 · Steering · MA

I was driving at 65 mph on the highway when the light for the steering came up and the power steering shut down. I had a hard time to turn the steering wheel until I was able to exit the road. I shut the car down and restarted and everything was ok, but there is a problem because the light came up again. More cars with same problem.

Filed Jul 28, 2026 · Brakes, Steering · NE

ABS module has failed. Causing a number of other safety systems to be deactivated. Power steering, traction control, drive mode selection, and braking. All these lights are illuminated on dash. Independent auto repair shop verified this ABS module has failed and there is no replacement parts from Ford.

Filed Jun 26, 2026 · Steering · VA

Total loss of Power Steering ! Warning light display: "Steering Assist Fault", "Service AdvanceTrac", turn signals unable to lock and release. Hard Fault codes present: U3000 96-C8, C200D, 49-48 C1B00, 64-48. This problem started somewhere in the last quarter of 2025, it started with intermittent and sudden loss of power steering, while driving, which is very much a safety issue, especially when my wife does not have a lot of strength in her arms while trying to maneuver a vehicle with manual steering only. It has happened to me as well. It used to be that when you get to a save pull over point, shut vehicle off and do a restart, it would reset back to normal operation, most of the time, until it would go into fault mode again. As of about XXX, 3 weeks now, the (EPAS) steering, has been in permanent fault or fail mode and will not reset. With all my research on this, I can't believe Ford has not extended model year and or VIN's, from the previous recalls on this very same issue that the Explorer has. Again, based on research, it appears the complete steering rack would need replacing. That is a very very expense repair, that is just not in our budget. So we still drive it, because we have to, I try to drive it mostly other than my wife, but it is still a bit scary. We have had this vehicle since new, it now has 112000 miles. Thank you for reading and accepting my compliant on this issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 24, 2026 · Steering · 123,000 miles · MN

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the power steering feature was intermittently inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. A technician attempted to diagnose the vehicle, but no diagnostic trouble codes were retrieved. The contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure had progressively worsened, causing the power steering to become inoperable. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

Filed Jun 15, 2026 · Steering · MI

This 2015 Ford Explorer XLT - The power steering goes out. Multiple times. No recall with many many of these vehicles reporting to have the same problem. I was 200 miles away from home when this happened. The steering becomes extremely stiff and jerks. Making it very dangerous.

Filed May 25, 2026 · Steering · KY

My Ford Explorer has less than 97,000 miles on it and im experiencing popping noises and slight play in steering. upon inspecting the tie-rod I found that the rack and pinion had play in it. the vehicle hasn't been wrecked so there's no reason I should be losing my steering rack under 100k miles.

Questions about the 2015 Ford Explorer steering

Does the 2015 Ford Explorer have steering problems?

Owners have filed 348 complaints about the steering of the 2015 Ford Explorer, 19% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2015 Ford Explorer steering problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 60,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2015 Ford Explorer steering?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Ford Explorer have bad steering?

The Ford Explorer model years with the most steering complaints are 2013 (837 complaints), 2011 (743 complaints) and 2016 (532 complaints).

Other 2015 Ford Explorer problems

Body 412Engine 289Driver assistance 174Fuel system 94Electrical 93Transmission 86Airbags 84Suspension 83Visibility 45Seat belts 38Brakes 34Lights 17Acceleration 16Seats 16Wheels 15Tires 3Locks 1

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