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

2013 FORD EXPLORER LTD STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING. WARNING ICONS CAME UP ON LOWER RIGHT DASHBOARD, SHOWING LACK OF TRACTION CONTROL, THEN TEXT WARNINGS "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" AND "SERVICE ADVANCED TRAC". AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO USE IT AGAIN FOUND STEERING ESSENTIALLY LOCKED. STEERING WHEEL CAN BE TURNED WITH A LOT OF EFFORT, BUT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. CONTACTED FORD TO FILE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT. THEY MAINTAIN THEIR OFFICIAL LINE THAT VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER, HAVING BOUGHT THE 2013 MODEL AROUND OCT 2012. HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 177,000 MILES, BUT IS CURRENTLY USELESS, AS I CAN'T EVEN SELL IT IN CURRENT STATE. FORD REP'S ONLY RESPONSE (AT 1-866-436-7332) WAS TO HAVE IT TOWED TO NEAREST FORD DEALER, WHOM WILL THEN CHARGE ME $135 TO "DIAGNOSE" A PROBLEM THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND DEMAND AROUND $2K TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE'S A CHANCE FORD WILL DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET KILLED DRIVING THEM. I WOULD HAT TO HAVE TO THROW AWAY OVER $40,000 INVESTED IN THIS CAR.

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I WAS HEARING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. IT GOT TOO LOUD AND TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION HAS TO BE REPLACED. IT GOT SO BAD THAT I COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE STEERING CONTROL WHEN DRIVING. I'M CONCERNED THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS FAILURE SHOULDN'T HAPPEN IN THIS LOW MILEAGE. I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 77K MILES ON MY EXPLORER AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING IT GENTLY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME INOPERABLE.THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION AND THE "POWER STEERING ACCESS FAILURE" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PAOLI FORD (100 WEST LANCASTER AVE, PAOLI, PA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SCCM MODULE AND STEERING GEAR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER (CAS-24160629) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,480. *AS*DT *TR*JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHAPMAN FORD (1255 COLUMBUS AVE, MARYSVILLE, OH 43040, (937) 642-0015) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO KEEP ALL RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIR IN THE EVENT THAT HER VEHICLE BECAME INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. ON AUGUST 21, 2019, THE STEERING WHEEL ASSIST AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WOOLWINE FORD-LINCOLN (LOCATED AT 3080 US 49, COLLINS, MS 39428, (601) 765-4461) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. *TR

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LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOWER SPEEDS OR WHEN STATIONARY WITH THE STEERING LOCKING OUT AT HIGHER HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL

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2013 FORD EXPLORER SPORT - MY VEHICLE IS HAVING DANGEROUS STEERING ISSUES. MY VEHICLE IS APPEARS TO BE EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THERE APPEARS TO BE STEERING LOSS. THERE ALSO APPEARS TO BE LOSS OF STEERING WHEN AT DIFFERENT STEERING ANGELS. IT APPEARS TO SHUT DOWN THE POWER THAT IS BEING SENT TO THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. THIS FAULT HAPPENS WHEN IN ANY LOCATION, HIGHWAY, PARKING LOT, LOCAL STREET, CITY STREET, ETC. THE ISSUE HAPPENS RANDOMLY AT ALL SPEEDS AND SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. THE MOST DISCOURAGING ASPECT OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS THAT FORD HAD RECOGNIZED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE OF MINE, THAT WERE ONLY BUILT JUST MONTHS BEFORE MINE. IT IS ALSO DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THAT FORD IS NOT EVEN LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE (AS TOLD BY CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES).

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FRENCHIES FORD (216 EAST ORVIS ST, MECCENA, NY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY AND STEERING SHAFT WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT TO LEFT AND NOTICED A VERY LOUD ABNORMAL, WINDING NOISE. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. TERREBONNE FORD LINCOLN (339 ST CHARLES ST, HOUMA, LA 70360, (985) 876-5100) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

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VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH 4 STEERING RACKS EACH TIME IT IS REPLACED THE VEHICLE HAS LEFT THE SERVICE SHOP ONLY TO RETURN IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. STEERING TIGHTENS UP RENDERING THE VEHICLE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. DASHBOARD DISPLAYS WARNINGS SUCH AS POWER STEERING FAILURE, SERVICE POWER STEERING, POWERTRAIN LOCK, ETC. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. ONCE I WAS ON A BACK ROAD, ONCE ON A HIGHWAY AND ONCE ON A SERVICE ROAD JUST MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP

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THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED. COOK COUNTY FORD (1000 S HUTCHINSON AVE, ADEL, GA 31620, (229) 896-7411) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WOULD BE NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. *TT

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POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET.

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WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY WIFE TO STEER THE CAR. POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH ADVANCE TRAC LIGHT. THIS HAPPENED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY AND THE SECOND TIME SHE WAS PARKING IN THE GARAGE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO PARK THE CAR STAIGHT IN THE GARAGE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO HERMAN FORD IN LUVERNE, MN TO BE REPAIRED. WE WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM IN THE STEERING GEAR. THROUGH MY RESEARCH FORD HAS RECALLED OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD IS TELLING ME THAT MY CAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. THIS PROBLEM CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN IT OCCURS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. FERRARIO AUTO TEAM (LOCATED AT 2472 CORNING RD, ELMIRA, NY 14903, (855) 468-5337) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

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WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES, USUALLY OVER AN HOUR, THE WARNING FOR POWER STEERING AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC COMES ON. THE POWER STEERING WILL LOCK UP AND WILL BE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED AND ONCE ITS STARTED BACK UP AGAIN.

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DRIVING THE CAR SATURDAY THE 20TH OF JULY, RUNNING REGULAR ERRANDS, THE CAR WAS FINE. WOKE UP SUNDAY MORNING TO GO TO CHURCH AND THE STEERING STARTED GRINDING WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE STEERING GEAR AND ONLY FORD CAN FIX THAT, BUT WHO HAS 1600.00.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. SHORTLY AFTER THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE EPS WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED, INDICATING A POWER STEERING FAILURE. WILSON FORD LINCOLN (328 MAIN ST, LOGAN, UT 84321) SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT FOR AUGUST 5, 2019. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12017 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

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WHILE TRAVELING IN A FORWARD DIRECTION ON A CITY STREET, AN ALERT FOR POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION APPEARED. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. A QUICK RESEARCH OF THE FORD EXPLORER POWER STEERING RESULTED WITH A LARGE FORUM OF PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STATED I WAS THE SECOND ONE IN A WEEK. A RECALL WAS DONE FOR THIS SPECIFIC ITEM WAS DONE, BUT FOR ALL WHEEL/4 WHEEL DRIVE ONLY. I FEEL THIS PARTICULAR PRODUCT IS UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

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WHILE OPERATING 2013 FORD EXPLORER ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE RIGHT WHEEL SUDDENLY TURNED 45 DEGREES RIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY VEER TO RIGHT TOWARDS CURB AND PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY. A VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED THE OUTER TIE ROD DISCONNECTED FROM OUTER TIE ROD CONNECTOR WITHOUT WARNING. MECHANIC DETERMINED THE MALE THREAD ON OUTER TIE ROD "WORKED" IT'S WAY OUT OF THE FEMALE OUTER TIE ROD CONNECTOR. THE METAL THREADS ON THE END OF THE TIE ROD WERE STRIPPED ALLOWING OUTER TIE ROD AND TIE ROD CONNECTOR TO SLIDING IN AND OUT FREELY WITHOUT ANY ROTATION(LOOSENING/TIGHTENING) OF TIE ROD END. FORTUNATELY NO PERSONAL INJURY WAS SUSTAINED BY ANYONE INVOLVED. AT TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION RECEIVING REGULAR SERVICE. I BELIEVE THE OEM EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND RUNS THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF IT WERE TO FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO EXPLAIN INCIDENT AND THEY SIMPLY STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY DID NOT SEEM TO BE INTERESTED IN THE DETAILS OF MECHANICAL FAILURE AS THEY DID NOT CONNECT ME WITH A TECHNICIAN. CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME IF THEY WOULD MARK IT AS A SIMPLE TIE ROD FAILURE AND IF ENOUGH PEOPLE "COMPLAIN" THEY WOULD CONTACT ME. OUT OF ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION I REPLACED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS AND TIE ROD ENDS TO PREVENT FURTHER FAILURE. REPAIRS COST INCLUDING LABOR EXCEEDED $750 PHOTOS OF FAILED PARTS ATTACHED PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION/QUESTIONS.

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THE STEERING BECAME SO BAD IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED A BAD ACCIDENT. I DID NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT. LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP SAID IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE IN THE STEERING SO I DROVE IT UNSAFELY TO FORD DEALER WHO TOLD US IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING GEAR. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN A 2013 VEHICLE WITH A LITTLE OVER 100K MILES

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MY 2013 EXPLORER LOSSES POWER STEERING DUE TO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAD FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, MY VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL 14V286000 WHICH WAS NOTED MAY 29, 2014. I REPAIRED THE CAR AT THE COST $2,600.00. I CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING.

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POWER STEERING FAULT TWICE WHEN MAKING SHARP TURN

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DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 75MPH WHEN WE GOT A POWER STEERING FAULT ERROR. WE LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL. VERY SCARY WITH OUR 3 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESSWAY. CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT WHILE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, OUR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE SINCE IT IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT MODELS UNDER THE RECALL ARE EXPERIENCING. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ASAP. WE PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE FAULT WENT AWAY AND WE REGAINED POWER STEERING. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NOT MUCH TRAFFIC OTHERWISE WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT.

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MALFUNCTION REGARDING "STEERING ASSIST FAULT" KEEPS SHOWING UP. LOSS OF POWER STEERING ALL OF THE SUDDEN THAT ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. I SEE RECALLS ABOUT STEERING ASSIST FAULT BUT MINE IS NOT LISTED. IT HAS HAPPENED IN MOTION AND WHEN FIRST STARTING UP THE VEHICLE.

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