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

PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. POWER STEERING WAS FROZEN, POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. PULLED BACK INTO DRIVEWAY WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY DUE TO NO STEERING ASSIST OR POWER STEERING. THE NEXT DAY, NO WARNING LIGHT OR PROBLEM. TOOK TO LOCAL GOODYEAR, THEY DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM AFTER RUNNING AND DRIVING IT FOR A FEW HOURS. THERE WAS NO LIGHT OR CODE THAT SHOWED UP FROM PREVIOUS DAY'S ISSUE. ONCE PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE RACK N PINION THAT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

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WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE A SYSTEM ERROR COMES UP 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILER' AND 'AUTO TRACTION SYSTEM NEEDS SERVICING'AND MY TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS TINTED IN AS WELL. I'VE TRIED TURNING MY VEHICLE IN AND OFF AGAIN AND EVEN TRYING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. THERE WAS A FACTORY RECALL FOR MY MAKE AND YEAR MODEL VEHICLE IN 2014 BUT I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WAS CORRECTED AS I LURCHED THE VEHICLE USED FROM A FORD DEALER IN 2017.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. KRAPOHL FORD & LINCOLN (1415 EAST PICKARD ROAD, MOUNT PLEASANT, MICHIGAN 48858, (800) 772-5974) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. *DT *JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON BUT FAILED TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. COURTESY LINCOLN (4010 AMBASSADOR CAFFERY PKWY, LAFAYETTE, LA 70503, (337) 504-7341) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DECLINED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,475. *TT *JB

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STARTED WITH A LOAD GRINDING NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THIS PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO OCCASIONALLY LOSING POWER STEERING. LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, THE CURRENT RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VIN, ONLY MODELS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED JUST A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE WAS NOT REMEDIED ON LATER MODELS (2013, 2014 AND EVEN 2015'S). SHAME ON FORD! THEY MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND EXTEND THE CURRENT RECALL OF THEIR FAULTY PART TO LATER EXPLORER MODELS.

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STEERING FROZE UP AND DIED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE BACKING UP FROM A PARKING SPOT. I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR REPORTS JUST LOOKING AT THE LAST FEW DAYS WORTH. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ABILITY SEIZED AND THE POWER ASSIST FAULT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CURRIE MOTORS FORD OF FRANKFURT, 9423 W LINCOLN HWY, FRANKFURT, IL 60423) ON AUGUST 19, 2018 FOR THE SAME FAILURE, AND THE DEALER UPDATED THE SOFTWARE FOR THE POWER CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. .*DT *JB

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LOSS OF POWER STEERING. STARTED WITH A LOAD GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE PROBLEM WORSENED TO THE POINT OF WHILE DRIVING, WE LOST STEERING CONTROL. AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE CURRENT RECALL OF THIS EXACT ISSUE APPARENTLY DOES NOT APPLY TO OUR VIN NUMBER. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE RECALL MUST BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE VIN NUMBERS. HELP!

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WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN FROM PARKING SPOTS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING CAME ON. LOST ALL POWER STEERING.THE DEALERSHIP SAID ITS THE EPAS, ELECTRIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY BECAME DIFFICULT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AND A HALF AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-50964197. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. *DT CONSUMER STATED REPAIR WAS DONE. UPDATED 11/30/18 *JB *TT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11140343

FORD ANNOUNCED A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT RECALL ON CERTAIN 2011-2013 FORD EXPLORER VEHICLES. MY 2013 HAD THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT GO OUT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AND WHEN SEARCHING UNDER MY VIN, NO RECALL... TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO TELL ME THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH RECALL AND THAT IT'S GOING TO COST $2,200 TO FIX. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE CONSIDERING THE ISSUE AND IT BLOWS MY MIND THAT THE SAME EXACT ISSUE CAN OCCUR ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS A RECALL ISSUED AND MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE DOESN'T APPLY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNABLE TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE DEALER (FAIRWAY FORD, 1350 E YORBA LINDA BLVD, PLACENTIA, CA 92870, (877) 476-8261) WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR PRODUCE A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

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LOSS OF POWER STEERING BOTH WHEN IN MOTON ON A STREET (TWICE)AND WHEN FIRST TURNING ON IGNITION IN DRIVEWAY. OCCURED THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS15367203. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. *TT UPDATED 12/18/18*JB

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DRIVING VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING SCRATCHING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL. EVERY TIME WHEEL IS TURNED EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT IT MAKES SAME NOISE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL POWER STEERING ABILITY WAS LOST. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL WITH FORCE AND COASTED THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CROSSROADS FORD (2333 WALNUT STREET, CARY, NORTH CAROLINA, 27518, (919) 335-4612) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING ASSEMBLY GEAR (PART NUMBER: DB5V3504NE) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING ABILITY AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,700.

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HAD PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING NOT WORKING OVER SEVERAL YEARS (VERY INTERMITTENT, MAYBE 1-2 TIMES/YR). RESTARTING THE VEHICLE TYPICALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN PERMANENTLY AT 125K MILES (AFTER GOING OUT TWICE THE DAY BEFORE). THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED ON VEHICLE STARTUP (IE. NEVER HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION). SAW ISSUES WITH OTHER FORD EXPLORERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE; HOWEVER, MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED.

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I WAS DRIVING ONE DAY IN 8/2018 AND I BEGAN HEARING THIS CLICKING SOUND AND THEN MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN IF I WAS AT A LOW RATE OR SPEED. I TRIED BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND MY STEERING WHEEL JUST LOCKED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC DONE THAT COST $130.00 TO BE TOLD THAT MY CAR NEED A POWER STEERING RACK AND MY ESTIMATE WAS FOR $2500.00. MY TOTAL CAME TO $2424.05 AFTER I ALSO NEED A BATTERY. THE COST FOR THIS PART IS CRAZY $1564.92. THIS PROBLEM SHOWS THAT THEY RECALLED IT BEFORE AND NOW THEY DON'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT FOR MY CAR. IT A 2013 FORD EXPLORER AND I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAITS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

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LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE SERVICE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND MANUAL STEERING WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD FALL UNDER THE POWER STEERING RECALL.

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I STARTED THE VEHICLE, PUT IT IN REVERSE, I DID NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE ONLY ENGAGED THE TRANSMISSION TO REVERSE AT THAT TIME A CHIME WENT OFF AND THE VEHICLE NOTIFIED ME THAT THERE WAS A POWER STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT.I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. WENT INSIDE TO LOOK ON INTERNET TO SEE POSSIBLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THERE IS A RECALL FROM FORD FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, HOWEVER MY VEHICLES VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH THE RECALLED VEHICLES SUNRISE FORD FORT PIERCE FL STATED THEY PROBABLY COULD NOT FIND THE ERROR UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING

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I WAS DRIVING ON A TOLL ROAD, STARTED TO NOTICE MY STEERING WHEEL BECOMING TIGHT, MY SERVICE POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON. I PROCEEDED TO EXIT AND WHEN I TURNED MY WHEEL LOCKED UP AND MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO FORD SERVICE CENTER. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT WAS LOCKED UP. I AM WAITING FOR DIAGNOSTIC BUT DEALER HS ALREADY STATED MY VIN IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL. CONTRARY TONWAIT YOU HAVE POSTED IN THIS SITE MY YEAR MAKE MODEL HAS BEEN RECALLED. PLEASE ADVISE MY CARE IS AT 66000 MILES AND THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT . SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH A THE REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING COMING INTO YOUR WEB SITE .

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON SAYING "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THESE CARS WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE BUT MY CAR WAS 3 MONTHS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL DATES

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I WAS DRIVING MY WIFE'S VEHICLE WHEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I WAS DRIVING ON A 45 MPH ROAD HEADED TOWARDS THE THRUWAY. LUCKILY I HAD TIME TO AVOID THE ON-RAMP AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. CALLED MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD TO DRIVE 15 MIN SO HE COULD SCAN FOR CODES, IT WAS A LONG LIST. HE CLEARED THEM AND I DROVE IT HOME,IT SEEMED OK. MY 2013 EXPLORER IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AT THIS TIME.

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