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

LAST YEAR MY POWER STEERING ON MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER FAILED. IT WAS PARKED AND WHEN I WENT TO TURN IT ON IT SAID POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT A RECALL I WAS TOLD MY CAR DID NOT FALL UNDER THE SPECIFICATIONS, SO I HAD TO PAY TO GET THE POWER STEERING REPLACED (ROUGHLY $1,400). NINE MONTHS LATER MY POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN, THIS TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

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WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ADVANCETRAC LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DASH STARTED FLASHING SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW AND SERVICE ADVANCETRAC NOW

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN AURORA ROAD AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL

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THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS ON STARTING AND GIVES ERROR MESSAGE (STEERING ASSIST FAULT) THE VEHICLE IS 76K MILES

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED BACK INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND TOWED TO MARSHALL FORD LINCOLN (4200 EAST END BOULEVARD, MARSHALL, TX 75672, (800) 419-5762). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO JERK WHILE MAKING A TURN. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. EVERGREEN FORD LINCOLN (1500 18TH AVE NW, ISSAQUAH, WA 98027, (425) 651-2465) INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE INDICATING AN INTERMITTENT FAULT AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

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THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. WHILE DRIVE 55 MPH THE STEERING WENT OUT THE CAR CROSSED CENTER LINE ALMOST HITTING AN ONCOMING CAR. MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE IN THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE. FORD HAS A RECALL ON THE SAME VEHICLE MODEL YEARS AS MINE 2011-2013 RECALL L#14S06. THIS CAR WAS MADE AT THE SAME TIME IN THE SAME PLANT IN CHICAGO, YET THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS $2,000 PROBLEM.

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STEERING STICKS AS YOUR TURNING, IN ANY DIRECTION OR SPEED INCLUDING STATIONARY. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO STEER SMOOTHLY AND FREQUENTLY CAUSES IT TO CROSS THE CENTERLINE AND OFF ROAD! NOT SAFE!

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POWER STEERING DOWN. WARNING MASSAGE SAID 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT' 'SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC' 'TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT'. IT IS TOO HARD TO STEER. CONTROL MODULE INTERNAL FAILURE, CODES U3000-49, U3000-96, U3000-71.

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FAILURE OF STEERING GEAR. STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT AND ATTEMPTS TO HANG AFTER A TURN. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2013 EXPLORERS FOR SIMILAR REASONS, BUT ONLY CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ON LINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY FORD DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND HAS REFUSED TO EXTEND THE RECALL. REPAIR COST $1850.

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WHEN I START MY VEHICLE I GET A WARNING THAT SAYS, "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND I CAN NOT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL WHATSOEVER. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ALTHOUGH THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO TURN AT ALL ANYMORE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND AFTER 3-5 ATTEMPTS OF STARTING AND STOPPING THE ENGINE THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO LEAVE, AS I PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY THE WHEELS WOULDN'T TURN AND MY VEHICLE WENT STRAIGHT BACKWARDS. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT FOR SEVERAL HOURS THE ISSUE WAS SELF RESOLVED. THE THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED WHICH WAS THE MOST RECENT I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND GOT THE WARNING AGAIN AND CHECKED THE WHEELS AND THEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. THE VEHICLE IS NOW STUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WILL ONLY GO FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS AS THE WHEELS DO NOT TURN AT ALL. NOTHING SEEMS TO BE RESOLVING THE ISSUE NOW. NOT EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS DO I GET THE WARNING ON THE DASH FIRST, ONLY AFTER IT HAPPENS DO I GET A NOTIFICATION ON THE DASH. I AM JUST GLAD THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR.

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POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHEN I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. STEERING WHEEL WAS REALLY HARD TO TURN. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ALSO. ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR. THE DASH DISPLAY SAID 'POWERING STEERING FAULT'. DROVE TO DEALER LIKE THIS AND PAID $2279 TO GET FIXED. WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS. ALSO, CALLED FORD CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME AFTER I TOLD THEM THIS SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL. THEY SAID HOLD ON TO RECEIPTS IN CASE IN THE FUTURE THERE WAS A RECALL SO I COULD GET REIMBURSED. MILEAGE 77,033.

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POWER STEERING BECAME VERY INTERMITTENT NO LIGHTS COME ON NO WARNING THEN NO POWER STEERING STILL HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL WHEEL TO TURN ALL WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE

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RACK AND PINON IN THESE MODEL VECHILES AS WELL AS INNER AND OUTER TIRE RODS ARE FAULTY. THE RACK AND PINION CAN SIEZE MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL IN OPERABLE.

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I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW IN 2012. I HAVE A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THERE WAS A RECALL #14S06 IN 2014 THAT DID NOT INCLUDE MY CAR, WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME YEAR. THE CARS STEERING ISSUE IS A MECHANICAL MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM TOLD THAT "BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NOT LISTED WITHIN THE DATES LISTED WITHIN THE YEAR 2012 THAT THE RECALL WAS ISSUED". DESPITE NOTICES, THERE IS STILL A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT I WAS TOLD THAT FORD WOULD NOT RESOLVE. THIS DEFECT IS THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 100K ON IT. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT JUST SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T EVEN TURN AND BECAME INOPERABLE. I WOULD JUST LIKE FORD TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT OR REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE REPAIRS. I AM NOT TRYING TO GET THEM TO BUY ME A NEW CAR. THE DEALER IS CHARGING $2500+ TO REPAIR IT. I BELIEVE THAT FORD KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT ONLY BE LIMITED TO CARS THAT WERE WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME, RATHER, THEY KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE ISSUE COULD EXTEND TO OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME TYPE THAT WERE MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE SAME YEAR.

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MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF A RECALL (RECALL # 14S06) FOR OTHER 2013 FORD EXPLORERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED 5 MONTHS EARLIER. AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHILE TURNING, THE VEHICLES STEERING STICKS AND IS NOW MAKING A ROARING SOUND THAT'S COMING FROM THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.

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2013 FORD EXPLORER MANUFACTURED 02/13. I WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. THE STEERING BECAME JERKY WHEN TRYING TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND STRAIGHTEN BACK OUT. DEALERSHIP FOUND FAILURE OF THE INTERNAL GEARS OF RACK AND PINION AS WELL AS THE STEERING CONNECTING SHAFT. $2200.00 NOT COVERED BY A RECALL. OTHER MANUFACTURE MONTHS OF 2013 MODEL YEAR ARE COVERED FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. NO PRIOR WARNINGS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG AND NO DASH WARNINGS GIVEN WHEN POWER STEERING FAILED. ONLY 81,000 MILES ON VEHICLE WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN HAD NO AFFECT ON THE ISSUE. THIS MODEL WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CAB WHICH IS NOW WORSE AFTER THE RECALL FIX. OTHER ISSUES ON THIS VEHICLE THAT CANT BE FIX: WINDSHIELD WIPERS START/STOP WORKING RANDOMLY, PIN HOLE RUST SPOTS ALL OVER THE BODY OF THE CAR.

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POWER STEERING ASSIST. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. MAKING THIS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT OTHER DRIVERS ALSO. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE JUST NOT MY VIN. PLEASE EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE MY CAR BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. THANKS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. SECONDS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANDERSON FORD (124 S SANGAMON AVE, GIBSON CITY, IL 60936, (217)784-4119) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,200.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,420. *TT CONSUMER STATED A MECHANIC HAD TO REMOVE AND REPLACE RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY. *JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, THE STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY. OTHER TIMES, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO UPPER MARLBORO FORD (5701 CRAIN HWY, UPPER MARLBORO, MD 20772, (301) 627-5600) WHERE THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DECLINED DUE TO THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

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I SHOW FORD HAS A RECALL #14V286000 DATED 5/29/14 FOR STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM FAILURE. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THE STEERING ASSIST FAIL TWICE WHILE I'VE BEEN DRIVING AND THIS RECALL DOES NOT SHOW UP UNDER MY VIN. I FIND IT IRONIC THAT THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, MODEL VEHICLE HAS THIS RECALL ISSUED, AND THE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE, YET THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY SPECIFIC VIN. I JUST SPENT $1,700 AT NORTH COUNTY FORD IN VISTA CA TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED, THE PARTS ALONE WERE $1,350. I ASK THAT THE NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS RECALL FURTHER AND ASSES WHETHER THERE WERE VEHICLES MISSED IN THIS RECALL. I'D BE HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE FURTHER. I CAN BE REACHED VIA CELL PHONE [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

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DRIVING POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON ALMOST CRASHED COULD NOT TURN WHEEL. CALLED FORD SAID NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL BUT ALL OTHER FORDS ARE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MILES THIS NEED TO BE COVERED UNDER THE POWER STEERING RECALL

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ISSUE ALREADY REPORTED.SEE NHTSA LD.NUMBER 11174395.VEHICLE IS AWD. CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT AXIL AREA ONLY. CURRENT MILAGE86644.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SOFTWARE WAS PREVIOUSLY UPDATED AT BLAKE UTTER FORD (215 US-75, DENISON, TX 75020, (800) 481-9321). THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND DID NOT OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

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