2015 Ford Explorer: steering wheel locks up

Filed Dec 23, 2025 · Steering · MN

on 8/1/25 service steering assist light came on, vehicle was driven to the auto repair shop with no hard codes to diagnose. Vehicle was driven towards home on 8/6/25 and lost all steering within a matter of seconds while on the highway at 60 mph. Steering assist light came on and stabilitrac light flashed. Vehicle had to be towed and rack and pinion needed replacing. Once fixed the vehicle was driven until 9/23/25 infrequently when the steering assist fault came back on and vehicle would not move as steering locked up and the rack and pinion needed to be replaced again. 12/13/25 steering assist light came on while backing up and steering locked up. This is terrifying to say the least.

Filed Dec 12, 2025 · Steering, Transmission · OH

I am filing an official safety complaint regarding my 2015 Ford Explorer Sport 3.5L due to a dangerous and sudden power-steering failure that occurred while I was driving with my children in the vehicle. There were no warning lights, alerts, or symptoms leading up to the failure. The power steering went out instantly and without any indication that something was wrong. The moment it failed, the steering wheel locked up and became extremely difficult to turn, nearly causing multiple accidents. I had children in the car at the time, and this situation created an immediate and severe safety hazard for everyone in my vehicle and on the road. After this happened, I contacted (by phone) Ford directly. Without any inspection, hesitation, or further explanation, I was immediately told that the vehicle “needs a new steering rack and pinion.” The quoted repair cost exceeds $3,000, on a vehicle I am still paying $500 a month for. I have since discovered that there are thousands of other Ford Explorer owners reporting the exact same issue, with the same model years, same sudden failure, and the same required repair. This is clearly not an isolated incident. This pattern strongly indicates a widespread manufacturing or component defect that poses a significant risk of injury or death. I am deeply concerned that Ford has not issued a formal recall for a problem that can cause an immediate loss of steering control at highway speeds and in everyday driving conditions. The number of publicly documented complaints online demonstrates that this is a systemic and dangerous failure that should not be ignored. I am requesting that the federal safety agency fully investigate this issue and require Ford Motor Company to issue a recall for the defective steering rack/power steering system in the 2015 Ford Explorer Sport 3.5L ecoboost w/o park assist, as well as any related model years or trims using the same components. Vehicle is available for inspection.

Filed Jun 26, 2025 · Steering · WA

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver before the steering wheel seized. The contact stated the message 'Steering Wheel Default" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact was able to pull over to the side. The contact turned the vehicle off and after a few minutes, the vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle functioned normally for the rest of the drive. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to costs. The failure was progressively worsening, and the vehicle was no longer being driven. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V286000(STEERING). However, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

Filed Jun 11, 2025 · Steering · 92,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his mother was driving and stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The contact stated an unknown message was displayed on the instrument panel before the steering wheel seized. After several attempts, the vehicle was restarted, and the vehicle returned to normal functionality. The vehicle was taken to Jamie Tires; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while her sister was driving the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the most recent failure. The contact became aware of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

Filed Mar 13, 2025 · Steering · PA

I experienced and continue to experience intermittent sudden loss of Electric Power Steering while driving. The sudden loss of Electric Power Steering (EPS) is not accompanied by any warning light or alarm indicating there may be a problem. EPS returns intermittently. Other model years of the 5th Gen Explorers have been recalled for similar issues with the EPS system, but my vin has not been included in those recalls. My personal safety and the safety of other drivers was put at risk because the steering wheel seized up and became very hard to turn resulting in me losing control of the vehicle for a few moments the first time it happened. The most dangerous part of this situation is that the sudden loss of the EPS happens unexpectedly; I almost drifted into the right lane while executing a turn from the left lane due to the steering wheel transitioning from fluid to very stiff. I've scheduled to have the local dealership run a diagnostic, but this issue has not yet been evaluated in any local professional capacity.

Filed Feb 11, 2025 · Steering · 150,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The contact stated an unknown message was displayed on the instrument panel before the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle functioned normally. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Aug 8, 2024 · Steering · 63,450 miles · NV

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel seized, causing the vehicle to become difficult to maneuver. The message “Service Advance-trac” was displayed, and the traction control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering rack and module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure was mileage was 63,450.

Filed Aug 1, 2024 · Steering · 100,000 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed. Additionally, the "Steering Fault Assist" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the mechanic could not determine the cause of the failure. The contact continued driving the vehicle until the ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The steering wheel seized, and the vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Jul 24, 2024 · Steering · NM

I had just pulled out of my driveway when I heard a "clunk" and the power steering seized up. Dash lights indicated "Steering Asist Fault Service Required" and "Service Advance Trac". I had to drive around the block (pulling very hard on steering wheel) to get it back in my driveway. It was frightening not having full control of the car. There is a Recall for Ford Explorer Steering Issues (the federal safety agency CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 and the federal safety agency CAMPAIGN# 21V537000) "Cross axis ball joint to seize" but my VIN is not in the recall but should be. This is a SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE that needs to be addressed by Ford Manufacturing.

Filed Jun 8, 2024 · Transmission · 131,953 miles · TX

When driving the vehicle, my check engine light will come on, the car will shake, start to slow on its own, the steering wheel locks up. If I am on the highway, I better be able to steer the wheel quickly to pull over or else I will be in the middle of the highway. All of this happpens within a minute. The car forces you to turn it off or it will shake uncontrollably. Once you turn it off you have to remove the key, open a door and then start the car again and it drives like nothing is wrong with it. It is like there is a default in the computer system that is powering the vehicle. This has happened to be four times. It’s very scary and extremely unsafe

Filed Mar 11, 2024 · Seat belts, Seats · 126,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that there was an abnormal grinding noise detected while making a turn. There was a crunching noise detected while entering the driveway. The contact stated that the passenger's front seat was not moving. The driver’s side rear inflator seat belt failed to latch. The rear seat belt warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who informed the contact the seat belt buckle needed to be replaced. The track on the seat needed to be replaced. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the steering failure. The vehicle was not repaired. While driving at unknown speeds, the steering wheel seized. While making a turn, the driver had to pull the steering wheel to correct the steering. The steering power assist fault message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the seat failure was due to the motor. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

Filed Nov 9, 2023 · Steering · CA

Clients steering locked up driving down the road. Had to stop and get a tow. Looking at the issue, found the electronic steering rack and pinion was locked, able to break it free but grinds bad. See other recalls for earlier and later years but not the 2014, seems to be the same issue, client could have been killed or killed others on the highway with no warning for a faulty part.