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

WHILE DRIVING, FORD EXPLORER DASH WRENCH LIGHT INDICATOR TURNS ON THEN SUDDENLY YOU LOOSE POWER AND CONTROL AND BRAKING, TECHNICAL DISABLED. YOU HAVE TO COME TO A ROLLING STOP. THEN TURN ON CAR AGAIN TO REMOVE WRENCH LIGHT.

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 FORD EXPLORER SPORT ON A ROAD. SUDDENLY, THE CAR SHOWED AN ERROR STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO ROTATE AND I AVOIDED THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AND BECAUSE OF THIS, THE TURN INDICATOR KNOB HAD SOME ISSUES. I HAD TO KEEP HOLDING THE INDICATOR KNOB IN ORDER TO TURN ON RIGHT/LEFT INDICATION. I HAD TO PUT SO MUCH EXTRA FORCE TO ROTATE THE STEERING WHEEL DURING TURNING. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO. I STOPED THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT, TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND WAITED FOR 5 MINUTES TO TURN ON. AFTER THAT THE CAR WORKED WELL FOR FEW MORE MINUTES. THE SAME ERROR AND ISSUE STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN AFTER FEW MINUTES SO I TOOK THE CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY CHECKED THE CODE AND FOUND STEERING GEAR ISSUE, FAILURE CODE U2011:49. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE RELATED TO SAFETY. IT CAN CAUSE FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF UNCONTROLLABLE STEERING WHEEL ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS AGGRESSIVELY TURNED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WORLD FORD PENSACOLA (6397 PENSACOLA BOULEVARD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505) TO BE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000.

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DRIVING AT 20MPH OVER A BRIDGE, MY TOE LINK SNAPPED, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND VEER OFF THE ROAD LOSING CONTROL. I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OVER MY STEERING AND TIRES REMAINED TURNED, LOSING ALL CONTROL AND ABILITY TO DRIVE. THE TOE LINK WAS SERVICED BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL. HOWEVER, THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE TOE LINK WAS FIXED ON THIS VEHICLE. NOW, ONLY MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE REGARDING THE TOE LINK AND BUSHINGS. FORD AND DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO COVER THE CHARGES BECAUSE RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED TEMPORARILY FOR A FOURTH TIME AND WILL SNAP AS I AM GOING FASTER SPEEDS THAN THE 20 MPH I INITIALLY LOST CONTROL AT. THERE NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER RECALL ON MY ALREADY RECALLED PART, OTHERWISE THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY SAFE DRIVING DISTANCE IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

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STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIKE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS HURT. BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY FOR MYSELF, GRANDDAUGHTER AND ANYONE ELSE AROUND. THERE WAS NO WARNING. NO SOUNDS NOTHING. I SEE FORD HAD RECALLS FOR UP UNTIL 2013 FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY FOR 2015. AND FROM READING INFORMATION IT HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS INJURING PEOPLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ON THIS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARRIAGE FORD INC (908 E. LEWIS AND CLARK PKWY, CLARKSVILLE, IN 47129, (612)284-4444) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE STRUT BEARINGS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $2,300. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

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POWER STEERING STOPPED WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS NOT A TYPICAL POWER STEERING PUMP, IT IS ELECTRONIC. WHEN A NORMAL ONE FAILS, YOU CAN STILL STEER EASILY WHEN MOVING. IT ONLY BECOMES HARD WHEN STOPPED OR MOVING SLOW. THE ELECTRONIC ONE GETS EXTREMELY HARD EVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH DIAGNOSED IT AS THE RACK AND PINION. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THAT THERE ARE MANY THAT HAVE FAILED WITH THE SAME ISSUE FOR MULTIPLE YEARS FROM AROUND 2011 ON WHICH TELLS ME IT IS FAIRLY COMMON EVEN ON VEHICLES WITH LOW MILEAGE. *TR

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FRONT END POPPING NOISE WAS NOTICED AFTER 50,000 MILES. WAS TOLD TO DISREGARD, IT WAS NORMAL. AT 67,000 NOISE BECAME LOUDER, SENSATION IN STEERING WHEEL FELT, LOSS OF STEERING MOMENTARILY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN SITTING STILL, WHILE DRIVING AND ESPECIALLY WHILE MAKING SHARP TURNS. FORD JUST QUOTED $2100 TO REPLACE. I'VE SEEN MANY MORE COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND A RISK FOR ANYONE WHO DRIVES THE VEHICLE. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ISSUED YET? *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329176

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 45 IN ILLINOIS IN MY 2015 FORD EXPLORER AND WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED AND A WARNING CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY STATING "STEERING ASSIST FAULT " SERVICE REQUIRED. I WAS THREE BLOCKS FROM THE FORD DEALER AND DROVE THERE. STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE SO CLOSE TO THE DEALER. A TECH DID A PIN POINT INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE AND THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS CORROSION IN THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE TERMINAL CONTACTS. GREASE WAS APPLIED AND I WAS CHARGED $323.00 . I WAS ADVISED THAT IF THIS HAPPENED AGAIN THAT I MAY NEED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE ON THE VEHICLE AND THIS WOULD COST $2300.00. THIS VEHICLE HAS 33500 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGE KEPT WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE . I ASKED WHY THE TERMINAL CONTACTS WEREN'T CHECKED DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE WHICH WAS DONE THREE MONTHS AGO AND WAS TOLD IT IS NOT PART OF THE INSPECTION .

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POPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM RIGHT SIDE WHEEL. TOOK TO FORD DEALER TO BE SERVICED AND THE TOLD ME THE GEAR STOP IN THE RACK AND PINION AS BROKEN OFF AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WOULD PUT ME AT $2100. THEY ALSO TOLD ME IF I DID NOT WANT TO REPLACE IT AT THIS TIME I COULD LEAVE IT ALONE AND CONTINUE WITH THE POPPING SOUND OR THEY COULD CUT IT OFF BUT THEN I WOULD NEED TO BE CAREFUL AND NOT OVERLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

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STARTED HEARING POPPING SOUND ON PASSENGERS SIDE WHEN BACKING AND TURNING AND NOW IT HAS ADVANCED TO STEERING FEELS LIKE IT CATCHES OR BINDS FOR A SECOND WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD. *TR

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AFTER SITTING FOR 1 MONTH, I WENT TO START AND BATTERY WAS DEAD. AAA GOT CAR RUNNING, AND BATTER WAS RECHARGED. SORT TIME AFTER, POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERABLE AND HAS BEEN FOR 6 WEEKS. STEERING NOW MANUAL AND VERY STIFF. *TR

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MY DAUGHTER IN LAW WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT CAME ON THE SCREEN AND STEERING BECAME VERY HARD. SHE WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AROUND 30 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE RESTARTED IT THE FAULT WAS GONE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. I FOUND THAT THERE WERE MANY CASES OF THIS HAPPENING ON THE INTERNET AT SPEEDS FROM SLOW TO FAST. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE STEERING GEAR HAD TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY FORD EVEN THOUGH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WERE ON THE WEB. THEY ARE ORDERING THE PART FOR IT AND THE PARTS AND LABOR ARE OVER 2000$. WILL FORD WAIT TIL SOMEBODY GETS KILLED BEFORE THEY RECALL THE VEHICLES?

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I HAVE RECENTLY HEARD A POPPING SOUND WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. I HAVE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT MY VEHICLE AND STATE THAT THE RACK SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THERE IS A CHANCE THE STEERING CAN LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE ARE RECALLS ON FORD EXPLORERS FOR 2011 TO 20014 BUT NOT 2015. WHY? IT IS THE SAME ISSUE JUST A DIFFERENT YEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11307259

STEERING STARTED MAKING A "KNOCKING" NOISE WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS OCCURS WHILE IN PART OR IN MOTION. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOT AND MY 2015 EXPLORER WITH 45K MILES ON IT NEEDS TO HAVE THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED AT A COST OF $2100. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND APPARENTLY NO RECALL FOR THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 11302557

I LEFT MY 2015 EXPLORER WITH JUST 31000 MILES ON IT PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR 10 DAYS. WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN, THE 'CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM ' LIGHT CAME ON JUST FOR A MOMENT AND CLEANED. I TRIED TO PULL THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. EVENTUALLY IT UNLOCKED. WHEN I STARTED DRIVING IT, A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT NEED TO BE MOVING FOR CONCERN TO HAPPEN. TOOK IT TO CHARLES GABUS FORD IN DES MOINES IOWA, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT A STEERING GEAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO ELIMINATE THE NOISE. THEY INSTALLED THE NEW STEERING GEAR, BUT IT COST ME $2234.00. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR FROM THE SHOP, THERE WAS ANOTHER EXPLORER WAITING TO BE PICKED UP AS WELL. I ASKED MY SERVICE ADVISOR WAS WRONG WITH THAT ONE, AND HE TOLD ME 'THE STEERING'. I AM A VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD THAT THEY DIDN'T RECALL THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY ON 2015 EXPLORERS YET. THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINS ABOUT IT. MAYBE THEY ARE WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO GET A VERY BADLY INJURED OR KILLED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

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DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY ROAD APPROXIMATELY SPEED OF 60 MPH AND WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON "STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" AND A COUPLE OTHERS. LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF STEERING WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT FREMONT FORD OF FREMONT MICHIGAN SAID TO OF HAD A FAULTY STEERING RACK AS ITS ELECTRONIC WHEN IT FAILS IT FAILS. WELL 2100$ LATER ITS REPAIRED.

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THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ABOUT 9MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65MPH THE CAR LOCKED UP STEERING THE WHEEL. THE CAR WAS MOVING ALL DIRECTIONS ON THREE LANES AND IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO ATEMPT TO STEER AS THE WHEEL WAS VERY TIGHT. IT FINALLY WENT DOWN TO 0 MPH AND I PULLED OVER THANKING GOD I DID NOT CRASH. THE LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING ALL OVER. ATTEMPTED TO TRADE AT A DEALERSHIP REGOR DYKES IN TEXAS BC I WAS SCARRED TO DRIVE IT. THEY FIXED IT AS A TRADE THEN GOT SUED AND RETURNED IT BACK TO ME AND TOOK MY NEW CAR BACK. THEN YESTERDAY I LEFT HOME TO TAKE ALL MY KIDS TO SCHOOL 3. AND GOT TO 40 MPH AND IT DID IT AGAIN LUCKILY WE WERE NOT ON A HIGHWAY. THIS TIME WHEN IT HIT 0 MPH IT WAS STILL DRIVEABLE BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 40. I'M SCARRED FOR MY LIFE IN THIS CAR AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT. IT IS NOW PARKED AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, A METAL ON METAL GRINDING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEN GARFF FORD (145 W. HILTON DR, ST. GEORGE, UT) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

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WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR SOMETIMES THE " CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM " LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN IT DOES THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND YOU CANNOT TURN THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART THE CAR AND HOPE THAT THE " CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM" LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. I IT DOES NOT COME ON THE STEERING WILL NOT LOCK. THE STEERING LOCKS ONLY WHEN YOU TURN ON THE CAR AND THE " CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM" LIGHT COMES ON. HAVE TAKEN IT OVER AND OVER TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT IT IS THE BATTERY, HAVE CHANGED THE BATTERY TWICE. THEN THEY SAY IT IS THE ALTERNATOR, HAVE CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR ONCE. I JUST TOOK IT AGAIN AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY AND THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT WILL COST ABOUT 2,000.00. THIS HAS HAPPEN MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT THE 3 YEARS WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR.

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MADE A COMPLETE RIGHT TURN LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY WITHIN 1000 FEET THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO USE EXTREME FORCE TO MANUVER STEERING WHEEL TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO TURN AROUND TO GET BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY. THANKFULLY I WASN'T ON A HIGHWAY DOING 70 MPH WHEN IT OCCURED.

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WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FROM A MINI VACATION AT 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN OUR 2015 FORD EXPLORER WHICH ONLY HAD 45,000 MILES LOGGED BEGAN TO LOSE STEERING POWER. WE ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE NEXT TO US ON I-94 GOING AT A VERY RAPID SPEED OF 70 MILES PER HOUR. IMMEDIATELY MY HUSBAND BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND TRIED TO MOVE TO THE FURTHEST RIGHT LANE. HE WAS HAVING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DIFFICULTY AS OUR CAR WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO STEER. HE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE EXIT LANE. AT THIS TIME WE NEEDED TO PULL OFF OF THE HWY AND GET A FRIEND TO TOW US HOME. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY NEEDED TO RECALCULATE OUR COMPUTER AT THE FEE OF $100. WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE SAME PROBLEM BEGAN TO HAPPEN AGAIN. WE TOOK OUR EXPLORER BACK TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. WE WERE NOW TOLD THAT IT IS A RACK AND PINION PROBLEM AND IT COULD BE UPWARDS OF $2,000 TO REPAIR. IT IS NOT COVERED IN OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE UPCOMING RECALL THAT WE HAVE SCHEDULED TO REPAIR WHICH IRONICALLY IS A REAR SUSPENSION REPAIR WHICH IF NOT FIXED WILL CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH STEERING. IN MY OPINION THIS PROBLEM WILL SERIOUSLY HARM OR EVEN KILL THE OWNER AND FAMILY OF A VEHICLE THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN TO AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL YOUR VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. I HOPE THAT THIS ISSUE WILL BE RESOLVED BY FORD AS THIS VEHICLE IS VERY POPULAR FOR FAMILIES DUE TO ITS SIZE AND THIS COULD BE A FATAL MISTAKE TO DRIVE THIS CAR IF THIS ISSUE HAPPENS.

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STEERING FAULT WARNING LIGHT COMES ON THEN THE CAR LOOSES ITS STEERING LIKE NO POWER STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 OR 5 TIMES NOW

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LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHEN PARKING CAR OR AT A SLOW SPEED, TURNING. TOOK INTO FORD DEALER TODAY AND IT WILL COST $2200 TO REPLACE.

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STEERING STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AT 55K MILES. SOUND IS MOST PRONOUNCED WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP AND LOCAL SHOP CONFIRM STEERING RACK AND PINION NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ADVISED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORERS. DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED 1 MONTH AGO.

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