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

VEHICLE BECAME INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO STEER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH. IT COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A VEHICLE COLLISION. INDICATOR MESSAGE ON THE DASH STATED A STEERING FAULT. I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME AND LATER THE STEERING STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND NOW THE ERROR MESSAGE READS STEERING LOSS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO DIAGNOSED A STEERING GEAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $3,000. THIS STEERING LOSS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN INJURY OR DEATH, NO QUESTION. VEHICLE IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD AND 2011-2013 FORD EXPLORERS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000) BUT THIS YEAR OF MANUFACTURE, 2014, IS NOT COVERED, ALTHOUGH IT IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11340775

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAITED 5 MINUTES BEFORE STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED O. C. WELCH FORD LOCATED AT: 4920 INDEPENDENCE BLVD, HARDEEVILLE, SC 29927, (843) 288-0100, TO NOTIFY THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS 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. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11340352

ON 7-09-2020, WHILE MAKING A TURN ON A COUNTY ROAD DOING APPROXIMATELY 4 MPHS, MY STEERING LOCKED UP AND BUT BRAKES MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GO OFF ROADWAYINTO INTO A FIELD. THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING CAUSED A HORRIBLE SCREECH AND WAS HARD TO TURN. AFTERWARDS WHEN I WAS STOPPED TWO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON DEALING WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL . ALSO MY TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING. GOING SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY 10:30 P.M. AND A DISTANCE OF 10 MILES. I USED MY CODE READER AND A CODE OF P 135 OR 6 CAME UP. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT WALDORF FORD ON 7-14-2020 . [XXX] IS THE SERVICE WRITER WHO CALLED ME [XXX] .AT WALDORF FORD AND AFFIRMED IT WAS THE RACK N PINON. I READ ON VARIOUS ON LINE SOURCES THAT THE RACK N PINON WAS THE CAUSE WITH THE SAME SIDE EFFECTS. THIS PART WAS RECALLED FOR THE FOLLOWING YEARS: 2011,12,13,15,16 AND 2017 . INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11339381

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY POWER STEERING HAS QUIT SUDDENLY! THE FIRST TIME I REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION MYSELF AND ALL IS FINE FOR BOUT A YEAR AND IT JUST DID IT AGAIN!! I PULLED UP TO GET GAS AND KILLED MY CAR AND WENT TO GET BACK IN AND LEAVE AND I DIDN'T HAVE STEERING ANYMORE! NO WARNINGS!

NHTSA ODI 11339222

THE STEERING STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN WHEEL TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. EVENTUALLY STEERING BECAME TIGHTER AND TIGHTER AND UNRESPONSIVE. AT LOW SPEEDS IT WAS WORSE. AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329519

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MILES AN HOUR ON THE GREAT RIVER RD WHICH IS WINDY AND NARROW. I WAS MAKING A SLIGHT CURVE WHEN I NOTICE THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHT AND NOT MOVING. I LOST THE STEERING AND HAD A HECK OF A TIME JUST TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. MY HUSBAND HAD TO COME AND TOW THE EXPLORER BACK TO THE HOUSE. WE TOOK IT TO THE THE KIELER GARAGE IN DICKEYVILLE WI. ROSS SAID IT IS THE COMPLETE ELECTRIC STEERING ASSEMBLY THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE ONLY HAVE 79,848 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE SITUATION HAD IT BEEN ON A CURVE. I WAS NEVER SO SCARED IN ALL MY LIFE. I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY 2 GRANDKIDS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS CAUSE THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. MY VIN LABEL SAID MY EXPLORER WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2013. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2011-2013. IF THEY ARE USING THE SAME PARTS FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT, THEN 2014 SHOULD BE RECALLED ALSO. I AM LOOKING AT ABOUT 750.00 - 900.00. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS FOR ME.

NHTSA ODI 11326680

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ELDER FORD OF TROY (777 JOHN R RD, TROY, MI 48083), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,300.

NHTSA ODI 11325519

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT-SERVICE REQUIRED WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11324970

2014 EXPLORER LIMITED WITH 103,587 MILES WAS BEING DRIVEN AT VEHICLE WAS DRIVING IN CITY CONDITIONS AT 20 MPH WHILE TURNING. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT CAME ON. MANAGED NOT TO HIT THE CAR IN THE ONCOMING LANE BY WRESTLING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTED TO FIND THE PROBLEM HAD ABATED. THIS OCCURRED ON OR ABOUT THE 20TH OF APRIL, 2020. THE SECOND TIME THE POWER STEERING FAILED, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY STRAIGHT. I LOOKED DOWN ONLY BRIEFLY AND THERE WERE SEVERAL MESSAGES DISPLAYED OF WHICH I CAUGHT THE FIRST "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" IS THE ONLY ONE I RECOGNIZED. I WAS AGAIN ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK ON. THIS EVENT OCCURRED MAY 14TH 2020. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324681

I STARTED THE CAR STARTED TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY IN THE PROCESS IT FELT LIKE I HAD NO POWER STEERING AS I PUT INTO DRIVE AS TO PULL OUT INTO THE ROAD THE STEERING FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO RETURN AND KIND OF PULLED. AS I DROVE DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF HANDLING DIDN'T RESPOND VERY WELL.THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2011-2013 MODELS MY CAR HAS A BUILD DATE OF 8/2013 KIND OF THINKING IT COULD FALL UNDER THAT RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324034

I OWN A 2014 FORD EXPLORER HAD A LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST RECENTLY. ALSO THE TRACTION CONTROL, TERRAIN MANAGEMENT WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE TURN SIGNALS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THIS SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURRED ON 2011-2013 AND 2015-2017 FORD EXPLORERS WHICH THERE WAS A RECALL BUT NO RECALL FOR 2014 MODEL. THIS SEEMS VERY ODD.THE COST OF REPAIR WAS $2,100. I FILED A COMPLAINT TO FORD FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT THEY DENIED IT SINCE IT WASN'T PART OF A RECALL AND PROVIDED NO OTHER EXPLANATION. THE STEERING STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE TRACTION CONTROL AND TERRAIN MANAGEMENT LIGHTS CAME ON, AND TURN SIGNAL NOT WORKING. WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED THE STEERING LOSS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR HAS 102,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11322177

STEERING POWER ASSIST IS NOT CONSISTENT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. THIS TOOK PLACE WHEN TURNING AND CAUSED AN UNDERSTEER WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT IF THERE WAS AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS JUST IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE THAT DAY AND CHECKED OUT FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11321498

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FREDERICK MOTOR COMPANY LOCATED AT 1 WAVERLEY DR, FREDERICK, MD 21702 WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11320936

APRIL 3, 2020 DRIVING HOME COUNTY ROAD 45MPH STEERING ASSIST WARNING CAME ON WAS THAN MILE LATER COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING OCCURRED. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY MADE IT TO DRIVEWAY. ALSO TRACTION SELECT FEATURE DOESN'T WORK. VEHICLE MILEAGE 62725. NEEDS RECALL BEFORE DEATHS START BEING REPORTED.

NHTSA ODI 11320234

WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME TO HARD FOR HER TO STEER. WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SAYING ANTI SKIDDING FAILURE. SHE MANAGED TO GET TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WARNING LIGHT LIGHT CAME ON SAYING FAILURE STOP SAFELY. SHE COULD HAVE WRECKED OR HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. I ARRIVED AND MOVED THE CAR TO SAFELY. I AM A BIG MAN AND IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REPAIR THEM AS LOSS OF STEERING IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF LIFE.

NHTSA ODI 11319801

ON FEBRUARY 18, 2020, AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, A WARNING APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ 'STEERING FAULT SERVICE NOW'. WHEN I EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO PARK TWO WARNINGS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ 'STEERING LOSS STOP SAFELY' AND 'SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC'. ONCE I WAS STOPPED THE STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE EXPLORER EVEN AFTER THE 2011-13 RECALL.

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LOSS STEERING WHEEL ASSIST WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH. CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THIS COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE DRIVING IN 2 WAY ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11318536

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V245000 (SUSPENSION) AND 19V435000 (SUSPENSION), AND THE STEERING MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO SOUTHGATE FORD LOCATED AT ((16501 FORT ST, SOUTHGATE, MI 481195), (734)282-3636), WHERE THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11317486

VEHICLE IS EXHIBITING SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS 2013 MODELS UNDER RECALL, STEERING GEAR PROBLEM, WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED BY A FORD DEALER. CAR WAS BUILT JULY 2013. FORD REFUSES TO CONSIDER REPAIRING EVEN THOUGH PROBABILITY IS VERY HIGH THAT IT CONTAINS 2013 PARTS AS THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT ENGINEERING CHANGES FROM 2013 TO 2014 AND IS A VERY EARLY MODEL YEAR BUILD. CONTACTED FORD ON TWO OCCASIONS AND WAS TREATED BADLY BY CUSTOMER RELATIONS. REQUESTED ESCALATION OF COMPLAINT AND WAS NEVER CALLED BACK EVEN THOUGH THEY CLAIM THEY TRIED.

NHTSA ODI 11316700

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND NEGOTIATING A TURN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORK AND QUIT ASSISTING IN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY I WAS DRIVING AND WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO RIGHT THE VEHICLE AND AVOID LEAVING THE ROAD. MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY FOR MY WIFE. TOOK IT TO LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THE POWER STEERING GEAR NEEDS REPLACED AND THAT THIS MODEL/YEAR DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR ANY STEERING RELATED RECALLS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT 2011-2013 EXPLIRERS HAVE A POWER STEERING ASSIST RECALL. MULTIPLE SHOPS CLAIM THAT THIS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE NEWER FORDS. AT THE TUNE OF 2700 BUCKS FOR PARTS AND LABOR I AM HOPING A RECALL CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S ISSUE WITH THESE GEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11311855

I LOST ALL ABILITY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. POWER STEERING, TRACTION ASSIST, BLIND SPOT MONITORING, STABILITRAC, COLLISION AVOIDANCE, AND TURN SIGNALS. LIMPED THE VEHICLE HOME AND REACHED THE ISSUE... COMMON FAILURE KNOW BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ROLL OVER OR FATALITY. VEHICLE CURRENTLY AT DEALER RESOLVING ISSUE. DOCUMENTS TO FOLLOW.

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STEERING GEAR FAILING WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI 11308982

WHILE STOPPED WITH ENGINE IDLING A WARNING CAME ON "STEERING LOSS STOP SAFELY". POWER STEERING GONE. TOW TRUCK WAS AFTER SOME TIME ABLE TO STEER IT ONTO THE FLAT BED. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE POWER STEERING RACK. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE 2011-2013 & 2015-2017 EXPLORER. BUT NOT THE 2014? HOW MANY BODIES DOES IT TAKE TO ISSUE A RECALL $$$

NHTSA ODI 11309025

POWER STEERING RANDOMLY FAILED WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON TO PULL IT OUT OF GARAGE, POWER STEERING ASSISTS FAULT OR SOMETHING, UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR EASILY. READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR, CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, ALL SURROUNDING YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED ALREADY. WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD OR COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT AS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STEER THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11302441

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING CEASED WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. KOONS FALLS CHURCH FORD (1051 E BROAD ST, FALLS CHURCH, VA 22044 (703) 241-7200) WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $3,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

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