What 821 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

STEERING ASSIST FAULT

NHTSA ODI 11155782

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 NHTSA 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. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11153313

WHILE DRIVING THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE WHEEL GOT TUFF.

NHTSA ODI 11152055

STEERING GEARS LOCK STEERING SYSTEM ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH WITH MY 11 YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11150170

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.

NHTSA ODI 11141184

"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.

NHTSA ODI 11123392

MY VEHICLE HAS FAILURE ON THE ELECTRONIC POWER ATEERING ASSIST, AS NOTED ON RECALL CAMPAIN 14V286000 BY NHTSA 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.

NHTSA ODI 11121555

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.

NHTSA ODI 11103030

SUDDEN GRINDING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. SUSPECT IT IS RELATED TO A PREMATURELY FAILING STEERING GEAR BOX. OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY

NHTSA ODI 11083650

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

NHTSA ODI 11082146

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.

NHTSA ODI 11074049

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

NHTSA ODI 11066748

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

NHTSA ODI 11064244

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.

NHTSA ODI 11062606

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT, LOSE OF STEERING AT LOW SPEED LOST CONTROL AND HIT CURB

NHTSA ODI 11053402

GEAR STEERING ASSY PROBLEM. STIFFNESS IN STEERING

NHTSA ODI 11052898

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.

NHTSA ODI 11052656

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.

NHTSA ODI 11051246

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.

NHTSA ODI 11048224

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.

NHTSA ODI 11033385

GEAR SHIFT MESSAGE - 'SHIFT TO PARK' AFTER PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK AND IGNITION IS TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11033282

I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSECTION THAT DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND THE CAR INDICATED CHECK MANUAL AND ORANGE WRENCH CAME OUT... AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN CAR STOP & I TRIED STARTING IT BUT IT WOULD IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE... I WAS ON 342 N. SAN FERNANDO RD., LOS ANGELES, CA 90031 AROUND 2:00 PM

NHTSA ODI 11011372

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT SHOW UP AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO MOVE. I START AND TURNED OFF A COUPLE TIMES NOTHING HAPPENS. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME THIS HAPPEN. THE FIRST TIME START WORKING AGAIN BUT NOW HAVE 2 WEEKS IN MAY GARAGE WITHOUT BE ABLE OF MOVE THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10994054

IMMEDIATELY AFTER IGNITION IS TURNED ON, POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT COMES ON AND STEERING WHEEL CAN BARELY TURN. TURN OFF IGNITION AND BACK ON AGAIN AND IT IS GONE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 10993678

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY FAILED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED IN 2013, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 10944980