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

DRIVING ON FREEWAY 70 MPH ALERT LEFT SIDE OF DASH BRIGHT RED STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE STOP CAR SAFELY . LOSS OF POWER TO STEER THE VEHICLE . NO CONTROL , TRACTION . ANOTHER ALERT IN YELLOW SYSTEM FAILURE SERVICE ASAP . ALERT RED AGAIN STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE STOP CARE SAFELY . UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. TURNED CAR OFF TRIED TO RESET UNABLE NO STEERING MECHANISM . HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED UNABLE TO DRIVE. STEERING WHEEL SEEMED LOCKED AND NOT ABLE TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT. CODE FROM DEALERS SAID 3500 BUCKS TO FIX STEERING MECHANISM FAILURE. NO WAY TO OVERRIDE OR RE PROGRAM . CAR FAILED WHILE DRIVING . SCARY

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WORSENED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY CLOSE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,415.

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I STARTED TO LISTEN A NOISE WHEN I TURNED RIGHT WITHOUT ANY ADVICE ON BOARD. CAUSE THE NOISE (IT WAS INCREASING) I DECIDED TO GO TO FORD SERVICE CENTER (FORCENTER) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO CHANGE ALL STEERING SYSTEM WITH A COST OF USD 3000. THIS KIND OF FAILURE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR OF THESE SKILLS, MY CAR HAS ONLY 55.000 KMS AND ONLY IT WAS USED ON THE CITY AND WHEN THE MAIN ARGUMENT OF SALE IS THE SAFETY. READING OTHER USERS, IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THAT A FAILURE LIKE THAT IT MUST CONSIDERED ONLY AN USER PROBLEM.

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WHEN DRIVING, THE WHEEL WOULD BE HARD TO TURN SOMETIMES. IT STARTED OCCASIONALLY BUT NOW THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND IT IS THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED ON ALL NEWER MODELS OF THE FORD EXPLORER EXCEPT 2014. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2014 FORD EXPLORER AS AT SOME POINT, THE STEERING STOPS WORKING COMPLETELY. FORD HAS HEARD COMPLAINTS FROM SEVERAL OWNERS WITH NO RESPONSE. THIS IS A $2500.00 FIX THAT I CAN'T AFFORD. I HAVE A WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE, HOWEVER THIS PART IS NOT COVERED, OF COURSE. A $20,000 VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT PUTS ME AND MY CHILDREN IN DANGER.

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING TOOK MUCH MORE MUSCLE TO MANEUVER, AND WAS A LOT LESS RESPONSIVE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON THE DASH THAT ANYTHING OCCURRED. IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY KICKED IN AND BACK OUT, MAKING IT HARD TO STEER CONSISTENTLY AND REQUIRING MUCH MORE ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE HAS STILL NEVER PROVIDED ANY INDICATION THAT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. IN READING ABOUT THIS FAILURE IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF THIS VEHICLE WERE RECALLED FOR STEERING FAILURES AS WELL.

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WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP WHEN STARTING THE CAR TO DRIVE. LIGHT CAME ON STATING STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 69,306.7 MILES ON IT AND IS ONLY USED TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2014 AND NOW IT IS MARCH 2019. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RACK AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD COST ME OVER $2,000.00 TO FIX. IT HAS TO BE FIXED BECAUSE ITS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS VEHICLE IS USED TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND RECALL DUE TO BEING A SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP, OR IF MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER THAT JUST GOT HER LICENSE AND IS AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER WAS DRIVING THIS CAR AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP?THIS COULD BE FATAL.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BANNER FORD (1943 N. CAUSEWAY BLVD, MANDEVILLE, LA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE INTO A DRIVEWAY AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

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WHILE DRIVING MY EXPLORER DOWN A CITY STREET AT APPROX 45MPH, THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT. A WARNING LIGHT SAYING 'STEERING ASSIST FAULT' CAME IN AND THEN THE 'TRACTION CONTROL OFF' LIGHT CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY AFTER BOTH OF THOSE LIGHTS CAME ON A RED LIGHT CAME ON SAYING 'STEERING FAILURE SERVICE REQUIRED' CAME ON AND I COMPLETELY LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE SUV. I MANAGED TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD SAFELY AND STOPPED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP NEAR ME AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL ON 2011-2013 AND 2015-2017 FORD EXPLORERS BUT NOT THE 2014 AND WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OTHER MODELS YEARS UNDER RECALL. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE 2014 EXPLORERS FOR THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY AS WITH THE SURROUNDING MODEL YEARS. HAD I BEEN A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH AND COULD HAVE INJURED OR KILLED MYSELF OR OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. THE FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS TO NOT ONLY THE DRIVER BUT TO OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER ASSIST FAILURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME. COURTESY FORD (6393 US-98 W, HATTIESBURG, MS 39402, (609) 264-5555) WAS CONTACTED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,902.

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2014 FORD EXPLORER STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MOTOR BUT BAD "ELECTRONIC" NOISE IF YOU TURN WHEEL EITHER WAY. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT WILL START UP AND STEER NORMALLY, BUT THEN MANUAL STEERING, THEN LOCKED UP AGAIN. NO CODE. WIFE WAS ON HIGHWAY WHEN IT WENT OUT, SAYS SHE WONT DRIVE IT AGAIN. I FOUND OUT NOW THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEARS HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE,... FORD, OWN UP AND HELP WITH THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR.

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VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEN DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO TURN LEFT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO SCANNED THE STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM AND TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE CODE SHOWED RACK INTERNAL FAILURE AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RACK. TOTAL QUOTED COST IS $1942 + TAX. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THIS HAD BEEN THE TOPIC OF A RECALL, HOWEVER THE YEARS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DO NOT INCLUDE THE 2014. WILL BE CONTACTING THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO DISCUSS FURTHER ACTION THIS SHOULD BE COVERED, AS IT IS THE SAME ISSUE OF THE PREVIOUS RECALL, DESPITE BEING A LATER MODEL AND A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE LOSS OF THE SENSOR COULD CAUSE THE WHEELS TO STEER IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM.

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STARTED LOOSING POWER STEERING THEN LOST ALL ASSIST COMPLETELY VERY UNSAFE TO OPERATE HAD TO RETURN HOME I COULDN'T CONTROL THE VEHICLE I HAVE TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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WHILE DRIVING OUR 2014 FORD EXPLORER, THE SERVICE STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE ACS FAULT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. AT THAT TIME, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE COULD STILL BE STEERED MANUALLY BY A PHYSICALLY STRONGER PERSON, BUT NOT BY THE AVERAGE PERSON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, WHERE WE WERE INFORMED THAT A NEW RACK AND PINION WOULD BE NEEDED. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THIS REPAIR HAS BEEN COVERED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR 2011-2013 EXPLORERS, HOWEVER, THAT MY PARTICULAR MODEL WAS NOT COVERED. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH, THE STEERING GOING OUT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL LATE MODEL FORD EXPLORERS. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF FORD HAS NOT RESOLVED THIS ISSUE IN LATER MODEL EXPLORERS, THERE WILL BE ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM THIS MALFUNCTION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRYDEN FORD (303 N. CENTER ST, DURAND, IL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

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STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. THEREFORE, THE POWER STEERING SHOW POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON. SO WHILE DRIVING IT GOES OUT IT IS HARD TO DRI E AND CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT.

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LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DOING OVER 55MPH. TOOK TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, THEY FIXED IT, THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING RACK... WORKED FOR 3 WEEKS AND NOW IT IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. AGAIN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE ROAD THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT.

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER ALONG THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 70 MPH AND STARTED SMELLING AN ODOR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND A BELL STATED BEEPING. A MESSAGE ON THE LEFT BLINKED ON STEERING FAILED PARK SAFELY AND STEERING TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON . THE CAR WAS HARD TO STEER. I HAD TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER QUICKLY. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OFF THE FREEWAY. WE SAT THERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPEN AND IF WE COULD POSSIBLY DRIVE IT HOME. BUT OF COURSE WE COULDN'T AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED. NOTHING WE COULD DO BUT CALL A WRECKER TO TOW THE CAR HOME. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN THE FAR LEFT LANE, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A DANGEROUS POSITION TO GET HIT AS THE CAR LOST POWER ALL OF A SUDDEN. LAST NIGHT WHILE CHECKING FOR RECALL INFORMATION, I FOUND THIS WEB SITE AND LEARNED THAT ALMOST A HUNDRED OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT FIND A RECALL NUMBER. I GOING TO VENTURE A GUESS THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS YET. WE WERE QUOTED OVER $1800 TO REPAIR OUR CAR. WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO SAY ENOUGH, ALL THESE SAME PROBLEMS ON THE SAME CAR HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S FAILURE. THE CONSUMERS NEED HELP NOW. IS ANYONE LISTENING TO US?

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WHINING, SQUEAKING NOISE FROM STEERING COLUMN UPON TURNING OR MOVING THE WHEEL AT ANY SPEED, LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER SAYS THE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY AND COMPUTER HAS TO BE REPLACED TO PREVENT STEERING FAILURE IN THE FUTURE, AT THE COST OF $1900. I SEE OTHER RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN YEARS 2011-2013 AND 2015-2017. I HAVE ALSO READ A LOT OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER 2014 EXPLORERS.

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NOTICED LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE TURNING RIGHT DRIVING LESS THAN 10MPH. NO LIGHTS HAVE COME ON YET. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING RACK IS FAILING AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I NOTICED THAT THE 2011,12,13 RECALLED BUT DOESN'T COVER THE SAME PROBLEM THAT 2014'S ARE HAVING.

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CAR DID NOT FEEL RIGHT AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. A FEW MILES AFTER SEVERAL WARNINGS CAME ON TELLING ME THERE IS A STEERING FAILURE AND TO STOP AND GET IMMEDIATE SERVICE. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED AND IT'S AT THE DEALER NOW.

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NOTICED LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE TRAVELING AROUND 40MPH. NO LIGHTS HAVE COME ON YET. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING RACK IS FAILING AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. FORD QUOTED ME ROUGHLY $1500 FOR THE RACK AND LABOR, THIS IS CRAZY THAT THE 2011,12,13 RECALL DOESN'T COVER THE SAME PROBLEM THAT 2014'S ARE HAVING.

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THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PERIODICALLY GOES OUT, THE DASH LIGHTS BLINK OFF AND ON, ALRMS GO OFF WITH MESSAGES THAT STATE THERE IS A FAILURE OF TERRAIN, MANAGEMENT, ABS SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING, THEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT IMMEDIATELY , DASH IS BLACK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS , IT SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD WHEN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE. SOMEONE CAN WRECK AND DIE WITH THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE

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