What 1,671 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

I had recently reported a catastrophic failure of the power steering system while driving this 2014 Ford Explorer. After researching the issue with the recalls for 2011-2013 Explorer (recall 14V286000) the same component, the PSCM steering module failed with our vehicle (which was the reason for the recall on these vehicles). After the dealership replaced the rack and pinion steering system, the technician contacted me to say that the vehicle was still not working properly and that they had contacted Ford for tech support. Ford had informed the dealership that they had to re-program components which included the PSCM. The failure of this component led to the failure of our steering system. Why was the 2014 Explorer NOT included in the recall for this issue that is still a problem? Many are experiencing this same dangerous issue with the 2014!

NHTSA ODI 11426771

The power steering assist on the vehicle produces a loud grinding noise when the steering wheel is turned in either direction. Additionally, the steering assist is sporadic during lane changes and turning corners. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic shop and they were able to replicate the same issues with the steering, namely loud grinding during the steering process and sporadic steering assistance. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealership at this point and the independent mechanic advised to have a Ford dealership repair the vehicle since they have to complete some computer programming. Currently there has not been any warning lights or messages displayed and problem began about 2 weeks ago.

NHTSA ODI 11426694

Power steering is hit and miss. At time’s, near impossible to turn the wheel and other times it’s fine. (This is all within full rotation of the wheel). 100% chance of the steering almost locking up and 100% it will be fine in certain spots. This problem arose rather quickly, within about 2 weeks. Looking online, these same symptoms are causing others to have their steering completely lock up due to the electronic steering fail. I’ve had this vehicle about a month and a half and I would say the steering is about 15% power steering and 80% no power.

NHTSA ODI 11426563

Power steering is failing but no codes or any indication of what is failing other than tight steering and grinding noise.

NHTSA ODI 11426399

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 3 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the power steering assist failure message was displayed. The vehicle was towed and was diagnosed but not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) however, the Vin was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was informed that the Vin was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11426125

Vehicle started making a grinding noise when turning and a slightly throbbing feedback through the wheel. We stopped driving immediately. According to the dealership the power steering module is failing needs a total replacement. Parts are on back order do to so many others needing same issue. 12-13 and 15-17 Explorers all had recalls do to this same part. However the 2014 models were not because of this I am out the $2700 even though Ford knows there is an issue. I am a single customer and have no power to show how bad for safety this is.

NHTSA ODI 11425651

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel stiffened while making a turn with a screeching sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the electronic steering rack and pinion was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.

NHTSA ODI 11425458

While driving down the road a message popped up that said: Fault Service Required, Service AdvanceTrac, and Terrain System Fault. The vehichle lost power steering unexpectedly and was very difficult to maintain on the roadway. I pulled over and shut off my vehicle and when I restarted it the power steering was back. I have seen that this is a common issue with the 2014 Ford Explorer and it seems to be the same type of power steering system as the other years that have been recalled but the 2014 has been left out. I would just like to report this as I feel it is a very big safety issue if someone is driving in a turn when this happens or are not in a spot they can pull over when it happens. Thank you for your time.

NHTSA ODI 11424382

My wife was driving on the highway and lost power steering completely!! The power steering assist light came on. She almost lost control of the vehicle! She was able to manage it off the highway. We had the car towed to the dealership. They had said that the power steering gear had failed! After researching the problem, I was SHOCKED to see this issue is not an anomaly. There was a recall on this issue for 2011 - 2013, but not for 2014. Yet, the complaints and horror stories for the 2014 model still continue. I called Ford and they documented my call (#CAS32404801) and suggested that we submit a claim from the dealership to Ford after the repar. I am really dumbfounded as to why this frightening issue with the steering has not been fixed!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11423957

Passenger side tierod end broke off at rack and pinion assembly.

NHTSA ODI 11423146

We were returning from a visit with my son in Ohio. Suddenly a notice appeared on the dashboard about steering control and it was extremely hard to turn the wheel. We tried several methods suggested to correct the problem such as disconnecting the battery and also checking the fuses but no success. Since it appeared I could drive the vehicle, we drove home but had to really work at steering. We finally arrived back at our home without further incident other than being extremely tired from turning the steering wheel. It was like driving a car which was never equipped with power steering but even harder. After returning home, I took the vehicle to the local Ford dealership. They checked the vehicle and said the steering column had to be replaced. Total cost is going to be $2384.73 plus tax.

NHTSA ODI 11422733

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING FAILURE.. WHEN IT FAILED IT DINGED AND A MESSAGE CAME UP BUT FAILURE WAS WHILE DRIVING. NO OTHER PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. ONLY 44750 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11422701

Electrical power steering pump in failure. It's hard to steer and steering wheel gets stuck in a certain position. My wife wife was heading Into oncoming traffic, it allowed the steering to free up and be corrected right before she could have hit another vehicle head on. It is headed to our local dealership for a recall this week and we plan on having them confirm this, if we make it there. the bad part is there was no warning or dash indication light to let us know this was in failure and could have seriously hurt my wife and or kids IF they were in the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11421490

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at 55 mph, the service advanced track and power steering assist warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was parked and the vehicle loss power steering functionality. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the electronic power steering unit failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

NHTSA ODI 11421135

The steering wheel suddenly became stiff while driving-and a power steering failure light came on-we had to park and be towed-and the Power steering rack and pinion/motor needs replacement. There are hundreds of people with the same problem-90,000 miles and barely driven

NHTSA ODI 11421039

2014 Ford Explorer, steering wheel gets very hard when turning. Started four days ago, has not stopped since. Was not moving when the issue started. Ford dealership told me it is a very very very common issue with the rack and pinion on this year, and wanted to charge me $4000 to replace it. There is a recall on the power electric steering system of the 2011 through 2013 Ford Explorers, and apparently it is just as common on the 2014, so I’m wondering why it is not included in the recall. I absolutely am not paying out of pocket to get this fixed. if I die on the road, Ford is the cause..

NHTSA ODI 11420452

Power steering. Experienced a loss of power steering. It required me to use extra steering effort. Was traveling on the highway was able to pull over to breakdown lane.

NHTSA ODI 11419446

At approximately 75,000 miles the steering on my 2014 Ford Explorer became sluggish and unresponsive making the vehicle difficult and unsafe to drive. This problem occurred at all speeds whether stopping at a stop sign or driving on the highway. The vehicle was brought to an authorized Ford dealer/service center at which time it was confirmed the power steering rack, electric pump and shaft assembly were defective and needed to be replaced at great expense to owner. There were never any warning lamps, signals or messages generated by the vehicle. The vehicle was serviced on 4/19/21 (and again on 5/17/21) with symptoms commencing approximately 4 days prior. Upon researching, owner determined there had previously been a Ford safety recall for same issue on similar model(s) but only for years 2010-2013.

NHTSA ODI 11418632

The car drove fine - no prior issues. Went to leave for a wedding and the dash board lit up with the following errors: Steering Assist Fault Service Required, Service AdvanceTrac, and Terrain System Fault. The vehicle was nearly impossible to steer. It took all my strength to even move the wheel slightly to be able to pull back into the driveway and off the road. I researched this online and found there are 100's of other people that have had the same issue, yet ford refuses to do anything. They have issues recalls for 2011-2013 and 2015-2017 explorers for the same issue but not 2014. We did the diagnostics and had to order a new rack and pinion however the part is not in stock and on backorder because so many people are having this issue. This should be an obvious sign to Ford that something is wrong. I am including links to other sites showing other people have had the same issue. I know others have also filed a report with you. I tried talking to ford and opened a case with them but they aren't taking any responsibility. The only thing I am thankful for is that unlike some of the others who weren't so lucky, I wasn't on a major highway or going 60+mph when the steering went out. This is a huge safety concern and it is unfortunate that it appears it will take someone losing their life before Ford decides to admit their at fault. These are just a few of the sites showing similar reports - all with 2014 Ford Explorers. https://m.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Explorer/2014/steering/power_steering_failure.shtml https://robinettelaw.com/blog/2014/08/ford-explorer-recall-for-power-steering-defect/

NHTSA ODI 11418432

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing out of the driveway, the steering wheel was firm making it difficult to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that the power steering intermittently failed to perform as designed. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 14V286000 (Steering). The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11418290

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS WIFE WHO OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED WITH THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY RETURNED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. MIKE REICHENBACH FORD LINCOLN (600 N COIT ST, FLORENCE, SC 29501) AND SANTEE FORD (2601 PAXVILLE HWY, MANNING, SC 29102) WERE CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11416162

MY STEERING WHEEL IS GETTING HARD TOAKE TURNS AND THE STEERING WHEEL GET STUCKS SOMETIMES WHILE MAKING A TURN.

NHTSA ODI 11415749

THE INTERMEDIATE SHIFT BRACKET SHEARED OFF/BROKE AT THE TRANSITION WHERE IT MOUNTS TO ENGINE. VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHILE BRAKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS... LESSER MOVEMENT AT SLOWER SPEEDS WHILE BRAKING. I HAD JUST REPLACED MY BRAKES AND DONE THEM SEVERAL TIME WITH ROTORS TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THINKING IT WAS SOMETHING I HAD DONE. FINALLY FOUND IT WHEN GREASING FRONT CALIPERS HOPING TO CURE THE PROBLEM YET AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11414980

THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME HARD TO TURN. CHECKED ON RATHER WEB AND FOUND OVER 100 COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING AND IN SOME CASES FREEZES THE STEERING WHEEL KEEPING IT FROM TURNING. THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE 2013 EXPLORER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT IT DOES NOT COVER THE 2014 UNIT. SHOULD THE STEERING GEAR FAIL WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE BECOMES UNSTEERABLE. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE RESEARCHED ON THE WEB BY LOOKING UNDER FORD RACK AND PINION FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11414117

AT APPROXIMATELY 88,000 MILES; THE POWER STEERING FAILED ABRUPTLY - CAUSING THE VEHICLE'S STEERING TO LOCK WHILE IN A TURN. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND EXTREME FORCE APPLIED TO THE STEERING TO CORRECT, THE STEERING "POPPED" AND WAS ABLE TO BE CORRECTED. THE STEERING EXUDES A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE COLUMN. THERE IS NO ASSOCIATED WARNING OR CAUTION LIGHTS. THERE WAS NO MAINTENANCE PERFORMED IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS ON THE MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11413645