2018 Ford Explorer: loss of power steering

Filed Aug 4, 2026 · Suspension · MI

On March 25, 2026, an authorized Ford dealership in Florida performed a safety recall involving the rear suspension toe links. The recall addressed a condition that Ford states can result in loss of steering control and increased crash risk. After the recall was completed, I drove approximately 1,200 miles home believing the safety defect had been corrected. After returning home, I began experiencing rear-end instability. The vehicle would sway when driving over even small bumps. I took the vehicle to another authorized Ford dealership, which confirmed the original recall repair had not been performed correctly. The dealership found problems with the rear suspension and alignment that required extensive corrective repairs, including replacement of rear suspension components and correction of the rear suspension alignment. Both rear tires had also developed severe, uneven wear and were determined to be unsafe, requiring replacement despite being only about two months old. No warning lights or messages appeared before or during this condition. I was unaware that the recall repair had been performed incorrectly and unknowingly drove approximately 1,200 miles with a compromised rear suspension after being told the safety recall had been completed. I am submitting this complaint because an improperly performed safety recall repair may have exposed me, my passenger, and others to the same safety risk the recall was intended to prevent.

Filed Oct 21, 2025 · Steering, Suspension · MI

On Saturday 10/18/2025 the rear drivers side tow link of my 2018 Ford Explorer XLT snapped while driving 70 mph under normal driving conditions on a 4-lane section of i-75 in Detroit, MI. This caused a loss of steering, and my family and almost hit the median concrete wall when it sharply veered to the left completely unexpectedly. There were no warning sounds or symptoms and happened at random on a straight away. We then spun out doing multiple 360 spins on 2 wheels, almost flipping completely, and landing in the middle 2 lanes. We had a semi truck and another vehicle narrowly miss us. I was able to then move fast enough to the side of the road and avoid being hit by more oncoming traffic. We called 911 and AAA for towing to Suburban Ford of Troy who did an inspection and found the drivers side rear tow link has snapped due to a seized knuckle. There is a recall for the exact same known issue in the 2011-2017 Ford Explorers. My wife’s 2017 explorer has the same parts as my 2018 and has the recall for the tow links and ball joint due to this known issue, yet Ford is refusing to acknowledge the issue is still affecting later model years. My Explorer only had 74,000 miles on it and never any accidents or abnormal driving conditions/hard driving. My family and I are extremely lucky to be alive after such a catastrophic failure. This type of issue should never happen on any vehicle and is a totally unacceptable engineering failure. Ford needs to inspect this issue on the later models beyond 2017 as this will cost lives. This will kill people and we are actually in shock that we lived through this. Ford should take responsibility and pay for this repair, as well as the other side the same as they do the years the recalled.

Filed Jun 10, 2024 · Steering · MD

Power Steering Assist Fault warning flashed briefly on 6/1/2024, everything has been fine until 6/8/2024 I went out and started my car the Power Steering Assist Fault warning came on again so I turned the car off and turned it back on the warning was still there. My husband came out and did the same thing, still there. He noticed that the steering wheel was locked and would not turn easily. So we took it down to the Ford Dealership and it is the steering rack needs replaced. My car has 21,000 miles on it. Going to be in shop for 4 days to fix.

Filed Mar 14, 2023 · Electrical, Fuel system · NE · crash

Around 4:45 , was unable to access cruise control the message rapidly flashed., loss of headlights and all lighting for a few seconds. Was going 70 mph. I exited the interstate to turn around and go to my work on southbound the wrench light came on and I lost power steering, power, acceleration in my turn on the on ramp and proceeded off the road onto the incline somehow avoiding a rollover and teetering sideways. Meanwhile no power to open my window etc. at an angle where I couldn’t open the door, took a minute to get out of the seatbelt. Suddenly got my window able to open and crawled out. The cops, and tow truck couldn’t believe I didn’t roll. The car was at a dealership the previous week for loss of power and terai. System problems/ no power steering and they replaced the throttle body 3 days before this happened. I’ve had multiple electrical/exhaust/power failures. I am terrified to drive this vehicle. It’s been to different dealerships and the ford ones and ford don’t care (only the dealership I purchased it at tries) it is at a fifth one now. We have forscan reports of the failures also. Multiple images at scene also. Car wouldn’t drive correctly and terrain management fault, unloaded itself from trailer too.

Filed Jul 7, 2022 · Steering · MI

Warning light appeared and immediately power steering went out while I was driving.Even though I have a bad right arm, I was able to pull off into residential neighborhood and turn off vehicle. Dealer replaced steering gear. My explorer is a 2018. I understand there was a recall on this issue in the 2016 and 2017 explorers. Appears the 2018s are having same problem.

Filed May 20, 2022 · Steering · 470,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was operating the vehicle, the hill assists and traction control warning lights illuminated. The power steering failed to cause the steering wheel to become extremely difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering column was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 47,000.

Filed May 19, 2022 · Steering · 50,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while parked in a parking lot and attempting to start the vehicle, the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000. The vehicle has since been repaired.

Filed Mar 11, 2021 · Steering · 35,000 miles · PA

Power steering went out twice. Dealership said no problems. Now make noise. Dealership still says no problem. Blamed it on age. It is a 2018 SUV. Should not be happening.

Filed Nov 25, 2019 · Suspension · 31,000 miles · FL

Vehicle was traveling at approximately 45 MPH on a smooth strait stretch of road when a loud back was heard and a sudden loss of steering resulting in striking the curb as it came to a stop. Upon inspection it appears the lower control arm failed just before the balljoint and had broken in half. This appears it's an issue across a range if explorers that utilize the same control arm.

Filed Mar 8, 2019 · Steering · 9,339 miles · WI

Electronic power steering failure twice. The car was stationary and it was cold outside.

Filed Apr 10, 2018 · Airbags, Brakes · 749 miles · TX

During startup on cold mornings (not always) I have received multiple failure warnings. When this happens the vehicle has no power steering, turn signals, or windshield wipers. The warnings are: 4wd off, check parking aid, see manual, service advancetrac, steering assist fault, ABS light, airbag light, parking brake light is on even though parking brake is not on. Also the climate control still sees the temperature as the last temperature from the previous drive. So if it was 80 out and now 40, the A/C blows cold air even though it is cold out. This happened twice, once at 749.3 miles (3/12/2018) and the second time at 1440 miles (4/2/2018). First time dealer did not find the problem. The dealer has had the vehicle for over a week and still can not locate the problem.