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

WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE STEERING FREEZES AND CAN NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. SHOWS "STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION SERVICE REQUIRED". TURN OF AND ON WILL COME BACK ON, (LAST 4 TIMES). THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH 2011-2013 AND 2015-2017. FOR SOME REASON NO RECALL ON 2014. HEARD THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT ON PEOPLE WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THIS IS MY WIFES CAR. IF IT HAPPENS TO HER I AM SURE SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROLL THE CAR. ANY ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS REPORTED BECAUSE OF THIS? TOOK TO DEALER BECAUSE I ALWAYS HAVE IT SERVICED AT DEALER. THEY SAID IT "NEEDS POWER STEERING RACK AND STAB LINKS". COST TO REPAIR $2,365.77!!!!!! WHY ARE 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 AND 2017 COVERED WITH RECALL BUT 2014 NOT COVERED??????????? HELP!!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11301429

WHEN DRIVING THE 2014 EXPLORER, COKING OVER A HILL AND BEGAN BRAKING. CAR LOST BRAKING CAPABILITY AND BEGAN TO SPEED DOWN THE HILL, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. ONE MIDDLE OCCUPANT ON 2ND ROW CAME UNBUCKLED AND DIDN'T SURVIVE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING TRIAL FOR 3 YEARS AND RECENTLY INFORMED THAT NO INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE EDR/CDR. NO POST VEHICLE INSPECTION HAS BEEN PERFORMED, NO MEDICAL REPORTS HAVE BEEN PULLED. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY FOR 3 YEARS INQUIRED FOR HELP ON THIS MATTER AND HAVE FORWARDED QUESTIONS REGARDING INFORMATION OBTAINED. I KNOW WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT I AM NOT LIABLE FOR THIS ACCIDENT AND HAVE WORKED FOR 3 YEARS TRYING TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I WAS COMING DOWN THE HILL THE CAR SEEM TO BE INCREASED IN SPEED - THE REPORT DOES SHOW THAT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE REPORT AND NO GAS WAS APPLIED. I TURNED AS FAR AS I COULD WITH THE WHEEL AND THE STEERING BARELY STEERED AS WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO SAVE A LIFE SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE AS THIS HAS CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER. THE OCCUPANT ON THE 2ND ROW PASSED AWAY THAT DAY FROM SEAT BELT COMING UNATTACHED. MEDICAL REPORTS SHOW HE WAS WEARING A SEATBELT. IF THERE WAS SOMEONE WILLING TO LOOK INTO THIS - WOULD BE A LIFE CHANGING SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 11292202

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT IT DID NOT RETURN TO NORMAL. DAVE SMITH FORD, LLC (4045 TRANSIT RD, WILLIAMSVILLE, NY 14221, (716) 634-2000) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000(STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11291506

LOSE OF POWER STEERING IN COLD WEATHER; NEEDS 50 DEGREES OR MORE FOR POWER STEERING TO WORK. NO WARNING LIGHTS WHEN POWER STEERING IS LOST.

NHTSA ODI 11289271

STEERING WHEEL FAULT ASSIST

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WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING OF THE CAR BEGAN TO BE UNRESPONSIVE. IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS I REDUCED THE SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE MY RETURN TO HOME. AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, I RESTARTED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. WHEN THE CAR WAS BEING LOADED ON THE TOW TRUCK, THE FRONT WHEELS COULD NOT BE STEERED AT ALL. DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COMPUTER BUT I WAS TOLD THE MECHANICAL STEERING MECHANISM HAD FAILED ALSO. NO ONE WAS HURT OR ACCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT THE CASCADING PROBLEM CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 11287491

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH WARNING LIGHTS.VEHICLE WAS ON I-77 DOING 70 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11286325

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING MADE A CLINKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEWIS FORD (888-314-4824, LOCATED AT #3373 NORTH COLLEGE, FAYETTEVILLE, AR 72703) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS24964944 AND WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,500.

NHTSA ODI 11282243

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE STEERING CONTROL ARM; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE THE STEERING MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11278663

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME OFF OF A CITY STREET. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON STATING TRACTION ASSIST AND POWER STEERING FAULTS. THIS HAPPENED WITH OUT WARNING AND MADE THE VEHICLE VERY HARD TO STEER.

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AFTER FUELING UP AT THE GAS STATION I STARTED DRIVING HOME WHEN THE STEERING GOT HARD AND COULDNT MAKE TURNS EASILY, ON THE DASH IT SAID 'STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED', THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND THERE WASNT MUCH TRAFFIC BUT I WAS VERY SCARED FOR A FEW MOMENTS, I HAD A 1YR OLD AND A 6YR OLD WITH ME

NHTSA ODI 11267553

STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED MESSAGE POPPED UP WHEN I STARTED MY CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN EITHER DIRECTION. LUCKILY I WAS IN OFFICE PARKING LOT AND IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OR I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN TO AVOID OTHER CARS. I MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE CAR TOWED, BUT WHEN I STARTED IT UP AGAIN THE STEERING WORKED AS NORMAL. I DID NOT WANT TO CHANCE IT HAPPENING AGAIN SO I PUT IN THE SHOP. IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITHIN THE STEERING SHAFT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS LUCKY THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, BUT WANTED TO REPORT IN CASE IT HELPS OTHERS.

NHTSA ODI 11266196

WHILE DRIVING 2014 EXPLORER VERY NEAR HOME, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK HOME BUT CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE 'CODE' SAID RESET COMPUTER. THIS WAS DONE BUT DURING TEST DRIVE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN. SINCE NO CODE IS PROVIDED, I AM TOLD THE ONLY THING THAT IS LEFT IS JUST TO DRIVE IT AND SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS JUST SEEMS VERY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY IF MY WIFE IS DRIVING AND UNABLE TO HANDLE THE CAR TO A STOP OR WE ARE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 11258211

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO PURCHASE FORD/LINCOLN (1352 US-45, MAYFIELD, KY 42066) ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11257331

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY A WARNING LIGHT ALERT CAME ON SAYING STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED. AT THE SAME TIME THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AS I WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH. I COULD ONLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL A 10TH OF A TURN IF THAT. I SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I THEN TURNED OFF THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR HOPING IT WOULD RESET THE SYSTEM SO I COULD MAKE IT TO THE LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP. UNFORTUNATELY IT WOULD NOT RESET SO I LIMPED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AS SAFELY AS I COULD. HAD I BEEN TURNING WHEN THIS HAD HAPPENED I WOULDNT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A TURN AT THE SPEED I WAS GOING (70MPH).

NHTSA ODI 11256498

APPROXIMATELY 68,000 MILES. GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM RACK WHEN TURNING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT AT LOWER SPEEDS AND ON SHARP TURNS. THE WHEELS DO NOT STRAIGHTEN OUT OR RETURN TO CENTER WHEN EXITING A TURN...DRIVER MUST MANUALLY RETURN THE WHEEL TO THE MIDDLE. I WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THE RECALLS FOR THE 2011-2013 FOR THE MALFUNCTIONING POWER STEERING GEARS (OR RACK AND PINION) WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO ROYAL OAK FORD (ROYAL OAK, MI), THEY DETERRMINED THAT THE RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT FORD WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. QUOTED $1650 FOR RACK AND $550 FOR LABOR FOR A TOTAL OF $2200. THEY WERE NOT ALSO ABLE TO DISCLOSE WHAT WAS THE ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE RACK, ONLY STATED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE RACK, P/N: STE633RM, WAS USED IN THE 2011-2015 FORD EXPLORERS. THE SAFETY RECALL IS ONLY FOR 2011-2013. I HAVE A 2014 EXPLORER WHICH IS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. PARTS.FORD.COM STATE THAT THIS IS A REMANUFACTURED RACK WHICH RETAILS FOR $1417.09. THERE IS A 2 YEAR WARRANTY INCLUDED WITH THIS PRICE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE "PLEASE MAKE A SAFE STOP" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WAYNE AKERS FORD (2000 10TH AVE N, LAKE WORTH, FL 33461, (800) 749-8875) WHERE IT WAS CURRENTLY WAITING TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI 11255878

TURNING AT A RED LIGHT MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP WITH A WARNING ON THE SCREEN STATING STEERING ASSIT SERVICE REQUIRED. I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON AND THE STEERING UNLOCKED. SINCE THE CAR IS MAKING A WHINING NOSE. I SEE MULTIPLE RECALLS FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL FOR POWER STEERING ISSUES BUT MY VIN NUMBER ISNT LISTED.

NHTSA ODI 11252696

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING WAS STICKING AS I MOVED THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE EXPLORER DISPLAYED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE, "STEERING LOSS STOP SAFELY" AND "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC". AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER TURNED OFF THE STABILITY CONTROL AND TURN SIGNALS. I WAS ABLE TO REACH MY DESTINATION, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE COMPUTER DISPLAYED A MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE AND I COULD NOT GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO BUDGE. I CALLED FOR A TOW AND IT WENT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACTED ME LATER IN THE DAY AND STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK COMPLETELY FAILED AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST OF STEERING RACK AMOUNTED TO $2173.75. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FORD HAS RECALLED 2011-2013 AND 2015-2018 MODELS, BUT NOT MY MODEL YEAR OF 2014.

NHTSA ODI 11251913

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED THAT IS WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN CORNERS. APPONTMENT WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR A FEW DAYS TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AND IT WAS PARKED WHILE WAITED FOR APPOINTMENT. WHEN I DROVE IT TO DEALERSHIP, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE WHILE TURNING AS WELL AS THE DIFFICULT TURNING. WAS TOLD THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN DOING RESEARCH, THIS WAS RECALLED ON MANY OTHER EXPLORERS BUT NOT THE 2014 YEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11245978

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GERVAIS FORD(5 LITTLETON RD, AYER, MA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. PREVIOUSLY, WHILE MAKING SHARP TURNS, A GRINDING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ODI 11245431

WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE (IN PARK) I GOT A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT SAID "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT". I TRIED BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE AND TURNING AND THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11244124

THE ELECTRICAL STEERING CONTROL MODULE WENT OUT ON MY CAR (63K MILES) AND HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT MY COST FOR $3300. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ANY SPEED, WORSE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR STARTED GRINDING WHILE SWITCHING LANES AND TURNING WITHOUT ANY FAULT LIGHTS ON. IT DID NOT FEEL LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE BUT WAS SCARY AS [XXX]. WHEN PARKED AND I WOULD TURN THE WHEEL IT WOULD MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE. I GOT IT HOME AND STOPPED DRIVING IT UNTIL I COULD GET IN TO AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER A COUPLE DAYS LATER. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK BECAUSE THE PIECES OF THE RACK ARE NOT SERVICEABLE - 3K AFTER THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT - HOW CONVENIENT FOR FORD! THEN I GO DIGGING ONLINE AND FIND THEY HAVE RECALLED THIS UNIT IN OTHER EXPLORERS AND ESCAPES BUT NOT THE 2014. BOGUS! I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR WHERE THE STEERING WENT OUT, BUT KNOW [XXX] WELL A NEW STEERING PUMP OR MECHANICALS IN A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WOULD BE $200-$500 MAX. THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO INDICATES IT IS LIKELY AN ENGINEERING FLAW IN THE DESIGN AND FORD WON'T COVER OR FESS UP TO THEIR OWN ENGINEERING FLAW THAT CREATES HIGH HEAT IN THE STEERING MECHANICS AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO MITIGATE FOR EFFECTIVELY - HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=SZHMXWCP9FO. SO ANGRY. AND I FULLY EXPECT THIS PROBLEM TO RECUR AT MY EXPENSE AGAIN, WHO KNOWS WHEN BECAUSE OF THIS ENGINEERING FLAW. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS *TR

NHTSA ODI 11241810

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING HOME FROM MYRTLE BEACH AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO BECOME STIFF. WE PULLED OVER INTO A HOTEL PARKING LOT TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING UNUSUAL. I PROCEEDED TO START THE CAR AND THE DASH READ 'STEERING LOSS'...'SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC'. I HAD TO GET TOWED TO FORD, WHICH THANK GOD WAS ONLY 2MILES AWAY.. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD DIED SUDDENLY AND THAT IT JUST HAPPENS SOMETIMES. THE TOTAL WAS $1771. I'M SOOO DISAPPOINTED WITH GORD. I'VE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND I'VE ONLY PUT 23,000 ON IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT PREOWNED WITH 43,000...

NHTSA ODI 11241298

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO O. C. WELCH FORD LINCOLN (4920 INDEPENDENCE BLVD, HARDEEVILLE, SC 29927, (843) 288-0100). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE SAME THING AS THE DEALER AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART TO REPAIR THE POWER STEERING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

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