What 2,224 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

FORD HAS A RECALL CASE 14S06 FOR THE POWER STEERING ON 2011-2013 FORD EXPLORERS. IN THIS RECALL IT NOTES THAT INDIVIDUALS WILL EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. MY 2013 EXPLORER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL BUT, IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. AT SLOW SPEEDS YOU CAN HARDLY TURN THE WHEELS...MAKING IT A HAZARD ON THE ROAD. MY WIFE CAME GOT OUT OF WORK AND WENT TO MAKE THE 5 MILE DRIVE HOME WHEN SHE NOTICED SHE COULD HARDLY STEER THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. A MESSAGE CAME ON NOTING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. MY WIFE IS A VERY SMALL AND STRUGGLED TO TURN THE WHEEL BUT, MANAGED TO GET IT HOME. IN TALKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD CUSTOMER CARE, THEY NOTE THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE HER VEHICLE AS IT WAS MADE AT A DIFFERENT TIME OR IN A DIFFERENT BATCH AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME ISSUES EXPERIENCED BY THOSE THAT HAD LOSS OF STEERING IN THE RECALL. FRUSTRATED THAT FORD IS ALLOWING VEHICLES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THIS TO BE ON THE ROAD. AT THE TIME OF FILING THIS COMPLAINT, THERE WERE 1339 COMPLAINTS ON THE 2013 EXPLORER AND 481 OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON THE STEERING, THE MOST OF ANY CATEGORY, AND YET FORD IS NOT STANDING BEHIND WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE IN THAT YEAR AND MODEL. MY VEHICLE HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT. MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SIMILAR ISSUE AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER.

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WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND TURNING A CORNER, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY. THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND RESTART THE VEHICLE TO ENGAGE THE POWER STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE BUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THIS ISSUE WAS SUBJECT TO NHTA RECALL 14V-286 REGARDING 2013 EXPLORERS (RECALL NUMBER 14S06), BUT MY EXPLORER WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE ONES THAT WERE RECALLED. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER IS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT FOR ANOTHER MONTH SO I WILL TRY TO LOCATE AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT CAN FIX THE PROBLEM.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO TS&S FORD (1733 US-97, MADRAS, OR 97741) WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING MODULE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SHE WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,646.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED CEASED, PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

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I STARTED MY CAR AFTER WORK (THIS IS AFTER A 12 HR SIT TIME) AND SEEN I HAD A FAULT ON MY DASHBOARD, POWER STEERING ASSIST AND SERVICE ADVANCE FAULTS. SO IN SHORT, I DO NOT HAVE POWER STEERING, NOR DO I HAVE MY 4WD, AND FOR SOME REASON MY TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK FOR STEADY ON. THE TURN SIGNAL WORKS FOR LANE CHANGES BUT NOT FOR STEADY ON TURNING.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE "POWER ASSIST ERROR" WAS DISPLAYED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER MULLINAX-LINCOLN AUTOMOTIVE LOCATED AT 550 1ST ST NW, CLEVELAND, TN 37311 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INDICATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

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VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY HARD TO TURN. WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STUCK IN THAT TURNED POSITION ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT THINGS. VEHICLE DRIVES LIKE IT HAS MANUAL STEERING AND NOT POWER STEERING. NO WARNING LIGHTS SO FAR ON DASH. ISSUES HAPPEN DURING DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS ABLE DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT'S SON SPOKE WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ABOUT THE FAILURE WHO INFORMED HIM THE FAILURE WAS A RACK AND PINION ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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MY ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST KEEPS LOCKING MY STEERING WHEEL, AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS MADE AFTER THERE RECALL DATES IT WILL NOT BE COVERED TO FIX. YET IT IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.

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THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE LOST POWER STEERING ON HIS VEHICLE AND HIS VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL .THE CONTACT STATED HIS WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LOST POWER.

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POWER ASSIST FAILED, FORD REPAIRED BUT CHARGED ME $2,100. TOLD NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM

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I RECIEVED A LETTER STATING THAT MY VEHICLE WAS IN RECALL FOR THE REAR TOE LINK SUSPENSION. THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS RECALL IS HAPPENING TO MY VEHICLE BUT IT'S NOT THE REAR IT'S THE FRONT THAT'S DESCRIBING ALL THE SYMPTOMS. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

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MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER EXPERIENCE AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY A FORD DEALER AS HAVING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM AS LIKE VEHICLES COVERED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NHTSA 14V286000. THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING AND A STEERING ASSIST FAILURE WARNING OCCURS WHILE MOVING. MY VEHICLE IS NOT WITHIN THE SAME MFG DATE RANGE AS THE VEHICLES COVER IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER IS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, AND THE SAME PART IS DEFECTIVE.

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MY FORD EXPLORER STEERING FAULT WARNINGS CAME ON AND HAD TO TOW IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. NOW I HAVE TO PAY 2800.00 TO FIX IT, SAW A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE BUT DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT NO RECALLS ARE ON MY VEHICLE. SO MANY FORD EXPLORERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, AFTER PAYING SO MUCH FOR VEHICLE AND NOW HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX IT.

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MY EXPLORER WAS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS AS IN THE RECALL 14S06 AT LOW SPEEDS THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WOULD FAULT CAUSING IT TO BE MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER IN SHORT BURST IT WOULD COME AND GO AS WELL AS MAKING A WHINING SOUND. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM ENDED UP BEING THE STEERING GEAR/RACK AND PINION IT COST ME ROUGHLY 2,000 TO HAVE IT REPLACED WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT THIS RECALL THEY SAID MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER RECALL 14S06 BUT MY VEHICLE HAD THE EXACT SYMPTOMS OF SAID RECALL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE A CRASH WITH INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS. ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS IN THE CAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE WITH NO HELP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS FAR AS PARTS AND LABOR COST

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I WAS ON THE STREET TURNING LEFT AND I LEFT MY VEHICLE SLOW THE SPEED AND THE WHEE GOT REALLY HARD. I WAS ABOUT TO BE IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME ANYMORE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO ANYMORE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ORR FORD STONEWALL (251 US-171, STONEWALL, LA 71078, (318) 925-3333) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. INVALID VIN.

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MY CAR STARTED MAKING A POPPING NOTICE EVERY TIME I TURNED MY WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE RACK N PINION AND ALSO SUSPENSION ON MY FORD.

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MY VEHICLES POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING ABRUPTLY. THE SCREEN READS POWER ASSIST FAULT. I CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL WHATSOEVER. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST OVER 2K TO REPAIR. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH IT IS NOTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE EXPLORERS.

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VEHICLE STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE IN MOTION NEARLY CAUSING A HEAD ON COLLISION. VEHICLE IS 2 MONTHS OUTSIDE BUILD DATE OF PREVIOUS RECALL FOR STEERING FAILURES. VEHICLE STEERING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEELS IN ANY DIRECTION

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WHEN STARTING CAR THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP MAKING IT HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL: THE FEAR THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, USUALLY I CAN TURN OFF ENGINE AND RESTART CAR. TODAY HAPPENED TWICE.

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EXPLORER VEERED OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WHILE IN MOTION ON US ROUTE 322 AND COULD NOT BE STEERED BACK ONTO THE ROAD. IT WAS REPAIRED AT CORNELL AUTO BODY. CHIP CORNELL NOTICED A SUSPICIOUS BREAK AND A CRACK IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AS DID MY BROTHER, TOM GREEN, WHO IS A RETIRED WELDER AT JOY MANUFACTURING WITH (42) YRS. EXERIENCE. TOM TOOK THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO GRIFFIN-PHILLIS FORD, 2582 PA-257 SENECA, PA 16346 FOR THEM TO SHOW IT TO A FORD REPRESENTATIVE.

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UPON STARTING MY CAR AN ALARM CAME ON AND SAID MY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. SO I SHUT THE CAR OFF THEN RESTARTED IT AND THE ALARM WENT AWAY. TWO DAYS LATER THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE I DID THE SAME THING , SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING, THE STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS AND SEVERAL OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DUNCAN SUZUKI (1001 E MAIN ST, PULASKI, VA 24301) AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL AND WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,000.

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