What 1,747 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Explorer

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THEN RETURNED TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CROUSE FORD (11 ANTRIM BLVD, TANEYTOWN, MD 21787, (877) 782-7280) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

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I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING STRUTS ISSUES IN THE FRONT AS WELL AS A SWAY BAR. HOWEVER I FINALLY GOT AN APPOINTMENT AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY A FAILING ELECTRONIC STEERING RACK. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAVE 42,524 MILES ON IT AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ALREADY. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY FAIL CAUSING YOU TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE MAKES THE NOISE WHEN TURNING SLOWLY TO THE RIGHT OR WHEN BACKING UP. IT WILL ALSO MAKE THE NOISE WHEN YOU ARE STATIONARY AND TURN THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. THE QUOTE I RECEIVED FOR THE REPAIR WAS $1,770. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED ON A 2015 VEHICLE WITH LOW MILEAGE.

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LANE KEEPING STEERING ASSIST IS ELECTRIC MOTOR ASSIST. THE RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED, LEAVING THE STEERING WITHOUT ANY ASSIST, RESULTING IN MANUAL (EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER) STEERING. IN THIS CASE, NO CRASH RESULTED, BUT REQUIRED RACK & PINION REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. REPLACEMENT COST ~$2200.00 AT A FORD DEALERSHIP.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE 'LANE DETECTION FAILURE' MESSAGE SUDDENLY APPEARED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND DIAGNOSTIC CODE: C200D AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JONES FORD OF NORTH CHARLESTON (5757 RIVERS AVE, NORTH CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA), BUT THE CODE WAS NO LONGER PRESENT AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

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DRIVING TO WORK AND RECEIVED A "STEERING ASSIST FAULT/SERVICE REQUIRED" WARNING MESSAGE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, WHERE THEY REPAIRED A FAULTY STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.

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MAKING SLOW RIGHT HANDED TURNS, CLUNKING SOUND WAS DETECTED IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORD DEALER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 61000 MILES ON IT AND THE COST WILL BE $1950.

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WHEN I DRIVE AT SLOW SPEEDS TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT, GARAGE, TURN INTO A DRIVE WAY AND REVERSING OUT OF THESE SPOTS, THERE IS A LOUD CLUNK NOISE. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT.

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80,000 MILEAGE STARTING WITH STEERING NOISY AND CLICK NOISY SOMETIME . POWERTRAIN LOOSES WHEN PARKING AND HARD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE.

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WHILE DRIVING RECENTLY MY CAR WOULD 'SPUTTER' WHILE AT A LIGHT ETC. WELL TODAY IT COMPLETELY DIES WHILE DRIVING (ABOUT 20MPG). IT EVENTUALLY RESTARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO MY MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVE OF THE MECHANIC WHO WILL TAKE A LOOK ON MONDAY. ALSO, HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING UNIT THAT FORD SAID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SAID THAT WOULD COST US ABOUT $1100 FOR A NEW MODULE. AT THAT TIME THE CAR HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT. CURRENTLY HAS 72,000. MY HUSBAND WAS GOING TO BY A F150 NOW SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING GOING WITH TOYOTA. HE'S HEARTBROKEN AS WE BOTH THOUGHT THE EXPLORER WOULD BE A RELIABLE CAR.

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ON 4/14/19 WE LEFT FOR VACATION AND DROVE1,100 MILES FROM ARLINGTON, VA TO KEY LARGO, FL AND WHEN WE GOT TO FL, THE STEERING STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AND GOT STUCK WHEN WE WERE MAKING A U-TURN. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I COULD TELL IT WAS THE STEERING, COULD GIVE OUT WHEN DRIVING AND WAS A SERIOUS REPAIR THAT COULD NOT WAIT UNTIL RETURNING HOME IN A WEEK TO GET IT REPAIRED. WE DROVE TO LORENZO FORD IN HOMESTEAD, FL. ON 4/16/19. LORENZO FORD KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE STEERING. OUR EXPLORER HAD 41,339 MILES ON IT AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE STEERING TO GIVE OUT. HE ACTUALLY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM BUT NOT A RECALL. THE REPAIR TOTALED $2,335.91. I THOUGHT WE WERE DRIVING A DEPENDABLE AND SAFE CAR ON OUR VACATION, BUT WE GOT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME GETTING OUR CAR REPAIRED ON OUR VACATION. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS FORDS, AND HAVE ALWAYS CALLED MYSELF A FORD PERSON. SADLY, I DON'T LIKE THE DIRECTION FORD IS GOING AND THIS MAY BE MY LAST ONE. THANKS FORD FOR NOT MAKING QUALITY JOB #1 AND WRECKING MY VACATION. YOU NEED TO RECALL THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT ALMOST CAUSING HER TO WRECK. SHORTLY AFTER A "STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED" MESSAGE POPPED UP. AFTER SEARCHING THROUGH FORUMS AND GOGGLE IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT FORD REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE.

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THE POWER STEERING FROZE WHILE DRIVING ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS. THE FIRST WAS WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE SECOND TIME WAS WHILE TURNING TO MERGE ONTO A BUSY TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND THE THIRD TIME WAS WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION IN ALL THREE CASES AND HAD TO BE PUT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF BEFORE STEERING CAME BACK. MY WIFE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED TO HER BECAUSE SHE WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO OVERCOME THE FORCE.

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POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING SUDDENLY; DUE TO FACTORY MISTAKE OR FAULTY PARTS OR MANUFACTURING. POSSIBLY CAUSING LOSS CONTROL AND CRASH OCCURRENCES. UNLESS YOU HAVE UPPER BODY EXTREME STRENGTH YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO THIS DEFECT. THERE HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS RECALLS BUT NOT FOR THIS YEAR OR MY VIN NUMBER DESPITE THE ISSUE BEING THE SAME. FORD REFUSES TO PAY TO REPAIR IT. ALSO, THIS ONCE REPAIRED CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.

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THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX 42,000 MILES AND HAS STARTED EXHIBITING THE CLUNKING NOISE AND DIFFICULT TURNING AT LOW SPEED, SPECIFICALLY IN TURNING RIGHT, AS REPORTED IN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. LOOKING AT A $2K FIX AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE WITH WITH SO MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IS DISTURBING AND AMAZING WHY FORD IS NOT FIXING THIS.

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SLOW SPEED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. IN MOTION AND STATIONARY ON ALL SERVICES

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POWER STEERING FAILED AS I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A GAS PUMP AFTER REFUELING. POWER ASSIST WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL UNLESS I USED A GREAT AMOUNT OF FORCE. LUCKILY I WAS STILL IN THE GAS STATION PARKING LOT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,100.

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2015 FORD EXPLORER XLT, ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED DURING DRIVING. A "STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED" MESSAGE ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. EACH TIME THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND BEGINNING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS 98,734. APPOINTMENT MADE AT LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR SERVICE.

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I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE DOWN THE ROAD I WENT TO MAKE A TURN AND MY VEHICLE MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL ACTED LIKE IT DID NOT WANT TO TURN. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY RACK AND PINNION WAS BAD. I ONLY HAVE 57,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND I AM CLEARLY NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS COMPLAINT. IT'S VERY STRANGE THAT ALL MODELS ARE COVERED EXCEPT MINE.IF MY CHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT BECAUSE OF A FAULTY VEHICLE WHERE NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED.

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THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM WENT ON THE FRITZ WHEN IT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HOT OUTSIDE. THIS CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO FALTER AND THE CAR TO BE ESSENTIALLY INOPERABLE. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, AND IT SEEMED TO HAPPEN ON EXTREMELY HOT DAYS. IT WOULD ALWAYS OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT OTHER MOTORISTS AS WELL. AT HIGH SPEEDS WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT THE CAR WAS HARD TO CONTROL, AND GOT EVEN WORSE AS MOMENTUM WAS LOST.

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DRIVING 55MPH ON I-94 LAST NIGHT IN A STEADY RAIN AND CHECK BATTERY MESSAGE CAME UP IN THE LEFT IP DISPLAY. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS I LOST THE POWER STEERING, THEN THE CENTER CONSOLE ENTERTAINMENT/INFO SCREEN, THEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLACK WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH WERE ON HIGHEST SETTING SLOWED BUT CONTINUED TO OPERATE ONLY WHILE IN THE HIGHEST SETTING. THIS SCENARIO CONTINUED OFF AND ON FOR THE NEXT 30 MILES WITH INTERMITTENT ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILURE, INTERNAL IP AND CONSOLE SCREEN FAILURE AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILURES. WE PULLED OVER EACH TIME AND WITHIN A VARIED AMOUNT OF TIME FROM A FEW SECONDS TO A FEW MINUTES, A SOUND SIMILAR TO A SQUEALING BELT WOULD BE HEARD AND THE SYSTEM WOULD "REBOOT" AND ALL FUNCTIONING WOULD BE RESTORED FOR A LIMITED TIME. WE LIMPED THE VEHICLE HOME OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT HOUR AND A HALF FOR 35 MILES AS I WAS NOT LEAVING THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY OR IN DETROIT IF I COULD SAFELY AVOID IT. THIS MORNING (SUNDAY) I TESTED THE BATTERY AND HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED UNDER LOAD AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOTH WERE WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS. BELT LOOKED GOOD WITH VISUAL INSPECTION AND 1 HOUR OF IDLE AND DRIVE TIME CLOSE TO HOME IN DAMP PUDDLING ROADS COULD NOT GET ANY ADVERSE SYMPTOMS TO REAPPEAR. IT WILL GO TO THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT OUR LOCAL DEALER TOMORROW FOR A THOROUGH INSPECTION. THIS IS MY WIFE'S DAILY DRIVER AND IF NO ISSUE CAN BE FOUND WE WILL BE REPLACING THE CAR AS SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN EXTREME DANGER WITHOUT STEERING, LIGHTS AND IP, ESPECIALLY ON A SATURDAY NIGHT DRIVING THROUGH THE CITY OF DETROIT'S I-94 EXPRESSWAY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED MORE THAN ONCE. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, LOW BATTERY MODE, AND OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OFF THE ROAD, SHUT OFF, AND RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. BRUCE WALTERS FORD (302 S MAYO TRAIL, PIKEVILLE, KY 41501, (606) 444-2200) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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WE HAVE OWNED MANY FORDS IN THE PAST BUT AFTER OWNING A 2015 FORD EXPLORER SPORT IT MAY BE THE LAST. MY EXPLORER HAS ONLY BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. AS SOON AS IT WENT OUT OF WARRANTY THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LINK SO THEY SAID. MAYBE IT WAS'T A LINK AFTER ALL. THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE UNDER MY CAR WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. NOW LESS THAN A YEAR LATER THE CLUNKING NOISE IS HORRIBLE AND THE POWER STEERING EVEN WENT OUT TEMPORARILY. THAT'S SCARY. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD PLACE TODAY AND THEY WANT $3000 TO FIX THE STEERING GEAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE YOU ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING GEAR????? I SEE THERE ARE ALREADY 94 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE STEERING ISSUE. YOU NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING GEAR. THIS IS SERIOUS. AND $3000 IS RIDICULOUS. I WANT SOME KIND OF DISCOUNT AND THIS ISN'T THE LAST YOU WILL HEAR FROM ME ON THIS MATTER IF I DON'T GET ONE.

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OVER A PERIOD OF A FEW DAYS, I NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY TIGHT AS I MERGED INTO OTHER LANES OR MADE TURNS ON BOTH THE LOCAL ROADS AND HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS TO INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL I COULD HAVE IT EVALUATED BY THE FORD DEALER. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND SAID THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT LOST POWER STEERING. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON STATING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT THIS IS NOT NEW TO FORD EXPLORERS APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL 2011-2014. MY VEHICLE IS A 2015. IT IS A SHAME THAT FORD OR NATSA WOULD ALLOW THIS RISK TO CONTINUE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO RECALL ANY VEHICLES IN ALL YEARS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK ALREADY AND WHEN THEY TOLD ME THREE OTHER FORD EXPLORERS WERE FIXED LAST WEEK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM I GASPED THAT THIS IS NOT PART OF A RECALL.

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