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

STEERING HARD WITH GRINDING NOISE. PARKED VEHICLE. UPON NEXT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK UNTIL HEAVY FORCE TO TURN WHEEL. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE WHICH HAD LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING LOW SPEED BUT AFTER STOP NO POWER ASSIST WORKED.

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2013 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING FAILURE. *LD *TR

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND CHANGING LANES TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE CAR TO GO OFF RIGHT SIDE OF FREEWAY. LUCKILY I WAS HEADING IN A REALATIVELY SAFE DIRECTION. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MODULE HAD LOST ITS POSITION AND FAILED. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND FORD MAY COVER REPAIR. HOWEVER THEY DID NOT. THIS VIN IS OUTSIDE OF THE CURRENT RECALL PERIOD FOR THE SAME ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THERE WERE ANY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DAVE LITTLETON FORD DEALER (1098 US-169, SMITHVILLE, MO 64089) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS RELEVANT TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,419. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

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ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE . WHILE DRIVE THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL

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2013 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE VIN NOT LISTED UNDER POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER HAS PREVIOUS COMPLAINT ON ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ARTEMIS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WOULD NOT ALWAYS FUNCTION ON INITIAL START UP. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A STEERING RECALL, BUT THE VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING ABILITY RETURNED TO NORMAL THE NEXT DAY. FOUR DAYS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AGAIN. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT BECAME LOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT CHAPMAN AUTO STORE (6744 E BLACK HORSE PIKE, EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ 08234, (609) 646-2000), BUT HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BONDY'S FORD LINCOLN, 3615 ROSS CLARK CIR, DOTHAN, AL 36303, (877) 858-3522) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NUT BECAME DISCONNECTED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART AND INSPECTED THE STEERING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12017 (STEERING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,517. *TT

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE AND THE DEFAULT STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,157.

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STEERING GOT REALLY HARD WHILE DRIVING, COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. FELT LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE POWER STEERING. DID IT SEVERAL TIMES ON WAY HOME TRYING TO TURN. NEXT MORNING STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND DELIVERED TO FORD DEALER. THEY SAID THE STEERING RACK (POWER ASSISTED) IS DEFECTIVE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I TOLD DEALER THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND THAT I WANTED THE DEFECTIVE PART BACK.

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SAME PROBLEM THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER FORD OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT, THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, THE WARNING POWER STEERING FAULT LIGHT COMES ON. HAD CHECKED AT CLASIC FORD IN SMITHFIELD, NC SAID THERE WERE 99 FAULK CODES LISTING THAT THERE WAS A LOSS OF MOTOR POSITION SENSOR SIGNAL, WHICH MENT THAT THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VERY SAME PROBLEM THAT THE 14S06 FORD RECALL IS FOR, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS BUILT AFTER THE APPROVED DATES ,BUILT AT THE SAME PLANT CHICAGO, FORD DOES NOT CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMER SAFETY THEY JUST WANT YOUR DOLLARS. DEALSHIP SAYS IT WILL COST $2500.00 TO FIX. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 59,000 MILES.

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY STEERING STARTED TO STIFFEN. I HAD TROUBLE TURNING AND CORRECTING MY STEERING. THERE IS A RECALL SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS ISSUE BUT MY TRUCK IS NOT COVERED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY.

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AFTER STARTING I NOTICED THE STEERING VERY HARD TO TURN. ALMOST LIKE IT HAD LOST POWER STEERING. WHEN TURNING, AT FIRST IT IS HARD TO TURN, THEN BECOMES EASY AND THEN GOES BACK TO BEING HARD TO TURN. CALL MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WA STOOD SOME 2013 MODEL YEARS ARE COVERED AND SOME NOT. IF NOT COVERED, THE COST TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC MODULE WOULD $1,800.00. VERY VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. HOW CAN SOME MODEL YEAR 2013 BE COVERED ON A RECALL AND OTHERS NOT>

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SHORTLY AFTER MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY I STARTED TO FEEL RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS "STICKING". WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STEERING WHEEL IS FELT AS IF IT STICK, THEN BREAK FREE. IT FELT LIKE I LOST FINE CONTROL OF MY STEERING. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WHILE DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEED I FELT THE SAME SENSATION. I COULD ALSO HEAR WHAT SOUNDED LIKE GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURN THE WHEEL BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT. THE PROBLEM ALSO GENERATED ALOUD GRINGING NOISE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT E STEERING RACK WAS FAILING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1900. THE VEHICLE IS 2013 FORD EXPLORER WITH 72,000 MILES. I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON MY MAKE AND MODEL YEAR BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.

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DOOR PANELS OUT OF LINE. RPMS DROP TO 0 WHILE SITTING, CARBON MONOXIDE, FRONT END NOISE, SEAT BROKE, BACK VENTS POURED WATER IN, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BLINKER SWITCH REPLACED, MODULAR REPLACED, BACK UP CAMERA SYSTEM REPLACED. FRONT END WORKED ON MORE THAN 7 TIMES.

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TAKATA RECALL MY POWER STEERING SYSTEM ERROR HAS POPPED UP 2 TIMES NOW TO WHERE I AM UNABLE TO STEER MY CAR. THIS TOOK PLACE RIGHT AFTER I TURNED MY CAR ON AND STARTED DRIVING AWAY. I WAS LUCKILY IN A PARKING LOT WHEN IT TOOK PLACE SO I STOPPED PUT MY CAR IN PARK TURNED MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. I HAVE TALKED TO AN AUTO MECHANIC AND HE HAS INFORMED ME THAT IT IS THE SENSOR THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS NOW. THIS COULD PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN EXTREME DANGER!!!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING AND TRAC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, BUT NO FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND. THE CONTACT CALLED TOMBALL FORD (22702 TOMBALL PKWY, TOMBALL, TX 77375, (877) 359-7182) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

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SO, IT WAS -17 DEGREES THE OTHER DAY IN MINNESOTA AND WE PACKED OUR CAR TO LEAVE TOWN. WENT TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT CAME ON. ALONG WITH SERVICE ADV. TRAC FAILURE AND TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, IT HAS HAPPENED THREE OR FOUR TIMES. EXCEPT USUALLY WE CAN SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTART IT AND "WALLA" IT WORKS FINE. EXCEPT THIS TIME:( (SAD FACE)! I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING IT TO THE FORD DEALER IN ORDER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT HOWEVER LIFE GOES ON (I'M EX MILITARY). THE WIFE DROVE THE F350 I DROVE THE EXPLORER. WE "FIST BUMPED" SHE WISHED ME LUCK AND WE DROVE 12 MILES WITHOUT KILLING ANYONE. YIPPEE . $47.48 LATER THEY TOLD ME THE COMPUTER IS READING BLA BLA BLA.. DOLLAR SIGNS ARE GOING THROUGH MY HEAD. ($1910.42) IS THE ESTIMATE. HMMM... IM THINKING MAYBE THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS. I FOUND THE RECALL!!! SO I THOUGHT! MY CAR WAS A FEW MONTHS TO NEW??? (WHAT THE) WELL, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE OR (CENTS) (IT DOES FOR FORD) I CONTACT THE NHTSA AND FORD TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE SO I DONT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS OUT OF MY POCKET. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE FORD CONSUMER AND TOLD HER THAT WE NEED TO DRIVE THIS CAR IF FORD CANT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE GIRL ON THE OTHER END BLESS HER HEART, TOLD ME WE WILL JUST HAVE TO DRIVE IT THE WAY IT IS. WHAT??? I DON"T THINK SHE UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM AT HAND! WHAT IF THE STEERING KICKS IN AT 60 MILES AN HOUR? (UMM NOT GOOD)!!! IM HOPING FORD READS THIS BLOG AND UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ME STRENGTH TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND THE REFLEXES IT MAY TAKE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THANKS FOR NOTHING AT THE MOMENT FORD. I DO BELIEVE IN YOU!!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF TO RESET THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PARK RAPIDS FORD, 1205 PARK AVE S, PARK RAPIDS, MN 56470) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

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DEADLY CONSEQUENCE INVOLVING POWER STEERING IN FORD EXPLORERS. THIS IS A "KNOWN ISSUE" THAT FORD CONTINUES TO HAVE ISSUES WITH. THE STEERING GOES OUT UNEXPECTEDLY, MAKES AWFUL NOISES AND MAKES IT HARD TO TURN. FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS BUT MANY FOLKS CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING GOING OUT WHICH COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS EVENTS AND/OR TRAGEDY ON HIGHWAYS. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TRAINED TO TELL CUSTOMERS THAT ITS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY THE $2,000 TO FIX IT. I AM FULLY CAPABLE AND OK WITH PAYING FOR CAR REPAIRS FROM WEAR AND TEAR BUT I DONT THINK POWER STEERING GOING OUT IN THOUSANDS OF CARS, MANY WITH MILES WELL BELOW 60,000 SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM! FORD KEEPS HAVING TO UPGRADE THEIR SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE BECAUSE THIS PART IS PROBLEMATIC. AT LEAST THEY COULD OFFER TO PAY FOR THE PART OR LABOR BUT IT IS EASIER FOR THEM TO HAVE THE NHTSA FORCE THEM TO DO IT THAN TO DO IT VOLUNTARILY. THUS, THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG. DISAPPOINTING.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN REQUIRED EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO OPERATE NORMALLY AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. BARTON FORD (1600 N MAIN ST, SUFFOLK, VA) DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000(STEERING) DUE TO THE MANUFACTURED DATE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

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ELECTRIC ASSIST STEERING HAS STARTED TO FAIL. THIS CAUSES PERIODIC, SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST. WITHOUT ASSIST, THE STEERING IN VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE AND REPRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL, BUT FORD CLAIMS ALL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL WERE FIXED A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO OUR BUILD DATE. APPARENTLY NOT. NOW THEY WANT 10% OF THE VALUE OF THE CAR FOR REPAIR.

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AFTER NORMAL STARTUP OF THE VEHICLE, POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC MESSAGES APPEARED ON THE INFO CENTER ON THE LEFT OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT WERE BOTH ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER STEERING. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER HOWEVER THE PARKING LOT WAS SNOW COVERED MAKING IT SOMEWHAT EASIER. DRIVER WAS VERY STRONG AND ATHLETICALLY FIT SO THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER IT THE 8 MILES TO THEIR RESIDENCE. CALLED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT MY VEHICLE BUILD DATE WAS NOT WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL BUILD DATES, SO NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED IN TERMS OF A RECALL. DEALER FURTHERMORE MADE THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE WITH A GENUINE FORD PART PURCHASED BY THE OWNER, BUT INSTALLED BY THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EPS FAILED TO FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO TIGHTEN AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THREE DEALERS (BELK FORD, (800) 696-4661), (HALLMARK FORD, (662) 563-7684), AND (METRO FORD, (662) 841-1000) WERE CALLED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE EPS. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE EPS RECALL AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE CONTACT WAS EXPECTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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POWER STEERING TO THIS VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH A CAR AND SQUIGGLY LINE SIGNAL, INDICATING "SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK". PROBLEM IS, IF I WERE DRIVING ANY FASTER, I CLEARLY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT! THANKFULLY, I JUST PULLED ONTO MY STREET SO MY MPH WAS 10. ADDITIONALLY, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MIDAS (MY LOCAL SERVICER), ONLY TO RECEIVE A CALL THAT MY VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE SERVICED BY FORD DEALER DUE TO IT BEING THE "ELECTRIC POWER STEERING". I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD SERVICER, WHO COUNTERED ME WITH A $110 JUST LOOK AT MY VEHICLE FEE, WHICH WILL THEN BE ADDED TO WHAT EVER GOD KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO CHARGE ME FEE. IF THIS MATTER IS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE, FORD DEFINITELY HAVE SOME EXPLAINING TO DO.

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