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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALSO, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND "STEERING FAILED" WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (STUART POWELL FORD, INC., 225 S DANVILLE BYP, DANVILLE, KY 40422, (859) 238-1197) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS 15916495. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,940.

NHTSA ODI 11140840

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOME AND WAS LATER TAKEN TO NORRIS FORD (901 MERRITT BLVD, BALTIMORE, MD 21222, (410) 285-0200). THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PARTS REPLACED WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTING THEY COULD DO SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA AND FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,500.

NHTSA ODI 11139402

AT 61946 THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED. WHILE THE WIFE WAS DRIVING SHE NOTICED A DISTINCTIVE NOISE WHEN SHE TURNED AND IT PULLED SUDDENLY TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. UPON A INTERNET I FOUND THAT FROM 2008-2013 FORD EXPLORERS HAD HAD RECALLS DEALING WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. AFTER READING PREVIOUS YEAR COMPLAINTS, I CAN SAY THEY STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. FORD NEEDS TO KEEP THE RECALLS GOING.

NHTSA ODI 11132363

WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT HOME I FELT ON THE HIGHWAY I FELT THE STEERING WANTING TO BIND, WHEN I TURNED IT FELT AT AN INTERSECTION LIKE IT WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN. I CAME HOME AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE, WHEN I TURNED IT OFF AND STARTED AGAIN THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. THE DISPLAY SHOWED STEERING PROBLEMS PLACE IN PARK. ALSO TRACK CONTROL WAS DISPLAYED.

NHTSA ODI 11130825

STEERING BECAME HEAVY AND STIFF WITHOUT WARNING. TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROLS FAILED TO WORK CAUSING TROUBLE LIGHTS TO COME ON. TURN SIGNALS WILL NOT STAY ACTIVATED. STEERING FAULT INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT NORMAL SPEEDS ON A LEVELED CITY ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11124158

2014 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. ON AUGUST 12 AFTER DRIVING @ 1 HOUR, I BRIEFLY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. RESTARTED THE CAR WITHIN 5 MINUTES TO BACK INTO MY GARAGE AND RECEIVED A "STEERING ASSIST FAULT" WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AGAIN, LET IT COOL A WHILE, THEN WAS ABLE TO BACK IT INTO THE GARAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,022. THIS WAS THE 2ND TIME THE STEERING FAILED WITH THE FIRST INSTANCE ON AUG 2, 2018. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARIN FORD AUG 28 (6995 REDWOOD BLVD, NOVATO, CA 94945 (415-914-1118) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (EPAS) UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH @ COST OF $2500. THE MARIN FORD SERVICE ADVISOR, ROGER, INDICATED HE CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR BY ANY RECALL. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, IT APPEARS IT IS NOT UNCOMMON, CERTAINLY FOR OLDER MODEL EXPLORERS AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES WITH EPAS STEERING. IT SEEMS THERE MAY BE A KNOWN HEATING PROBLEM AFFECTING THE EPAS THERMAL CONNECTORS THAT FORD HAS TAKING SOME EFFORTS TO MITIGATE, BUT NOT CORRECT (HEAT SHIELDING, AIR CHANNELING, ETC). SEE LINKS FOR OTHER INFO. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=SZHMXWCP9FO HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/LOSE-POWER-STEERING-PROBLEMS.PHP

NHTSA ODI 11123485

MY WIFE DROVE OUR EXPLORER TO FT. WAYNE IN.(APRROX.20 MI.) TO GO SHOPPING. WHEN SHE GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE PARKING LOT SHE WAS UNABLE TO STEER IT. SHE SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISES WHEN SHE WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. MESSAGE CAME UP AS TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE AND TO PULL OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. I HAD TO DRIVE OVER IN ANOTHER VEHICLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE HOME. IT TOOK EVERY EFFORT I HAD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE HOME TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY FOR A TOTAL COST OF 1603.06$. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 61K MILES

NHTSA ODI 11123546

FORD EXPLORER LOOSES POWER STEERING. 2014 FORD EXPLORER LOOSES POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. SEVERAL CODES ARE GENERATED. THESE CODES MATCH THE CODES AND PROBLEMS WITH THE 2011-2013 FORD STEERING MODULES. I HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SAGNIFICANT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IV ATTACHED A PICTURE OF THE DIAGNOSTICS SCREEN FROM FORD.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEO KAYTES FORD (145 NY-94, WARWICK, NY 10990, (845) 986-1131) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,627.

NHTSA ODI 11118746

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (RUXER FORD LINCOLN, INC., 123 PLACE RD, JASPER, IN 47546, (812) 482-1200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING GEAR FAILED. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11115527

STEERING GEAR AND TIE ROD ISSUE. TIE RODS HAVE FAILED AND STEERING GEAR IS GOING OUT. DEALER RECOMMENDS COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. DIAGNOSIS IS THAT STEERING WILL LOCK UP WILL DRIVING ONCE STEERING GEAR COMPLETELY FAILS.

NHTSA ODI 11111194

THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE AND AS I WAS BACKING OUT, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE WARNINGS CAME. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO REBOOT. THE NEXT TIME I WAS JUST PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, BUT THIS TIME, THE CAR TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO FINALLY REBOOT. THEN I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE TO STOP AND TRY TO REGAIN POWER STEERING. THAT WAS VERY DANGEROUS! SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I TURNED ON THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AND NEVER WENT OUT ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING. MY QUESTION IS; WHY IS THIS EXACT PROBLEM A RECALL FOR 2011 2012 2013 EXPLORERS BUT NOT 2014? MY ACQUAINTANCE ALSO HAS AN EXPLORER AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. CLEARLY FORD IS AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION.

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WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE LEFT WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING LEFT AND THE RIGHT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING RIGHT WHILE HOLDING WHEEL STRAIGHT. VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THEN STEERING ASSIST FAULT MESSAGE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE OIL PRESSURE, STARTING SYSTEM FAILURE, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ENGINE COOLANT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (EXPRESSWAY FORD, 3800 HIGHWAY 62 W, MT VERNON, IN 47620, (812) 838-4366) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY OR RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,336.

NHTSA ODI 11104139

2014 EXPLORER SPORT - ISSUE STARTED AS SMALL CLICK/POP WHEN TURNING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEED AROUND 48K MILES. ISSUE HAS ESCALATED AT 51K MILES TO STEERING LOCKING UP MID-TURN, IN-MOTION STILL AT LOW SPEED FOR 3-5 SECONDS UNTIL IT RELEASES ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ODI 11103450

STEERING ASSIST FAULT MESSAGE CAME UP WHEN MY WIFE STARTED DRIVING OFF TO PICK UP OUR KID FROM SCHOOL AND STEERING WAS EXCESSIVELY DIFFICULT FOR HER TO SAFELY MANAGE. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 92,350 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11099071

WHILE DRIVING THE TRACTION CONTROL TURNED OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE ELECTRONIC STEERING TO TURN OFF. THE CAR JERKED TO THE LEFT SIDE (ALMOST HITTING A BOX TRUCK). I HAD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ALL MY STRENGTH TO GET THE CAR TO STEER CORRECTLY. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11096353

STOPPED FOR FUEL ON 5/13/18. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE I RECEIVED A WARNING STATING SERVICE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. NO LONGER HAVE POWER STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL, OR TURN SIGNALS. BRINGING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY. VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 10/2013.

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LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET. POWER STEERING CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND LASTED 3 DAYS BEFORE GOING OUT AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11091601

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR ABRUPTLY FAILED. PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. STEERING STOPPED AND RECEIVED LIGHT WARNING. ' STEERING LOSS STOP SAFELY' LOST ALL FUNCTION OF STEERING AND TRACTION. DEALERSHIP SAYS 2234.00 TO REPAIR. THIS WAS A RECALL ON THE 2013 VEHICLES AND OLDER. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN ON HIGHWAY THE DAY BEFORE WITH MY KIDS. IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERE ACCIDENT, TO LOSE STEERING AT 65 MPH.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE "POWER STEERING FAILED" WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. DOAN FORD IN BELMONT, OHIO WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PENDING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11078234

WHILE OPERATING MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER XLT, THE STEERING WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND WOULD SEIZE UP WHILE DRIVING AROUND TURNS. OTHER TIMES THE STEERING WHILE IS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN WHILE OPERATING AROUND TURNS ON BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAYS. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE IS WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 11067221

A INTERNAL FAULT IN EAPS STEERING RACK, FAULT CODE 58530. FORD HAD RECALL ON 2013 MODELS, MINE WAS SHIPPED TO DEALER JAN. 2014. STILL HAD SAME ISSUE AS 2013. HAS TO MORE OF THEM OUT THERE. DEALER DID NOT INFORM OF 2013 RECALL AT TIME OF REPAIR. STEERING WAS NOT OK WHEN TURNING LEFT MADE NOISE AND VIBRATED.

NHTSA ODI 11066434

ON DECEMBER 27, 2017 THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED SEIZED. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION (EVEN BY FORCE). THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT WAS UNOCCUPIED. IT HAPPENED WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, PUT IT IN GEAR, AND COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON 2/11/14 AND HAD 34,872 MILES. MY LOCAL DEALER ADVISED IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS LISTED. I FOUND PRIOR FORD RECALLS FOR MULTIPLE MAKES/MODELS AND SPECIFICALLY FOR EXPLORER MODEL YEARS '11 THROUGH '13 DEALING WITH STEERING ISSUES PERTAINING TO ELECTRONIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING [EPAS] FAILURES. [RECALL 14V286000 AND/OR 17S23] ATTACHED IS THE REPAIR BILL FOR $2,180.67 [NOTE THE TOWING SERVICE]. I HAD TO HAVE THE ELECTRIC RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY REPLACED. THE PART ALONE, EXCLUDING LABOR WAS $1,120.58. ON JANUARY 2, 2018 I PHONED FORD AT 800-392-FORD AND SPOKE WITH KIMBERLY. I WAS PROVIDED WITH REFERENCE # CAS1328239. AGAIN, I WAS ADVISED THERE IS NO RECALL ISSUED AND WAS TOLD TO HOLD ON TO MY RECEIPT SHOULD THERE EVER BE A RECALL. IN MY OPINION, THIS SHOULD NEVER HAD HAPPENED. I AM THANKFUL I WASN'T DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THE MATTER,

NHTSA ODI 11058033

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY APPROX 65 MPH IN RAIN. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD INDICATING CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM, THEN HILL ASSIST FAILURE, THEN WARNING MESSAGE THAT ALL ACCESSORY POWER WAS DISABLED TO CONSERVE POWER. THEN ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD LIT UP. LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN RAIN ON HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL AND BE INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT. SERPENTINE BELT WAS FOUND TO BE IN PROPER CONDITION, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME ALTERNATE ROUTE ALONG 35MPH ROADS. NO FURTHER PROBLEMS ASIDE FROM OCCASIONAL SQUEAK UNDER ACCELERATION. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED UP WITH SERVICE CALL, SERPENTINE BELL WAS IN GOOD CONDITION, BUT BELT TENSIONER SPRING HAD FAILED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 57,000 MILES. SEEMS EXCESSIVELY EARLY FOR THIS TYPE OF PART TO FAIL.

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