What 2,429 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Explorer

I WAS PARKED AT THE AIRPORT. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR I RECEIVED A WARNING "STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED" THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT GREAT DIFFICULTY. I HAD TO DRIVE IT HOME AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN I GOT THE WARNING.

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ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR "STEERING FAULT" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD TO TURN. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND STARTED GOING HOME. JUAT AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVE WAY "STEERING LOSS" LIGHT CAME ON AMD I COULD NO LONGER TURN MY STEERING WHEEL. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.

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WHILE IN MOTION THE VEHICLES STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME "STICKY" AND MAKING A GRINDING SOUND. SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR BECAME HARD TO CONTROL WHILE IN MOTION BECAUSE IT HAD LOST POWER STEERING. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND THE REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AS WELL AS NOT GUARANTEED BECAUSE THE PART IS FATLY AND IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND RESISTANT WITHOUT WARNING. TED BRITT FORD OF CHANTILLY (FORD BUILDING, 4175 AUTO PARK CIR, CHANTILLY, VA 20151, (703) 454-0008) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED 5 TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

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I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AT 16,000 MILES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP EACH TIME, ONLY TO BE TOLD IT MUST BE GIVING A CODE SO THEY CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. MY EXPLORERS STEERING PROBLEM WOULD CORRECT ITSELF IF I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION & STARTED BACK. IN JULY 2019 AT 46,636 MILES I LOST ALL STEERING. I HAD THE EXPLORER TOWED INTO MY LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD IT IS A STEERING GEAR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES THAY I FEEL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE 'POWER STEERING FAULT ASSIST' MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE STRENGTH TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO MAGIC CITY FORD (51 NORTHRIDGE LN, LEXINGTON, VA 24450, (540) 463-3196) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART, WHICH WAS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON JULY 30, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL BECOME SHAKY AND UNCONTROLLABLE . I WAS FEELING UNSAFE AND MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE AND WITHIN SECONDS THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE UP AND WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON. I GLIDED TO THE SHOULDER. TURNED THE CAR OFF. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TURNING IT BACK ON BUT WARNING LIGHTS AND STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL LOCKED. HAD THE CAR TOWED.

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TURNING STEERING WHEEL MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. STEERING GETS STUCK WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND HAS TO BE FORCED BACK TO CENTER. DOES NOT RETURN ON ITS OWN. HAPPENS WHILE SITTING OR DRIVING. IF YOU MAKE A TURN ON THE STREET IT WILL SEND YOU OFF THE ROAD OR INTO ANOTHER LANE IF YOU DO NOT FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK. THE STEERING RACK IS BAD. 3 YEAR OLD EXPLORER. AFTER RESEARCHING MORE ALMOST EVERY OTHER YEAR OF EXPLORER IN THE TEENS HAS HAD A RECALL FOR THE STEERING GEAR EXCEPT 15/16. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FOR 2016 STEERING GEARS. ARE WE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED FIRST?

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MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 20MPH ON A CITY STREET AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED LOCKING UP. FOUND IT UNERVING AND DIFFICULT TO COME OUT OF THE TURN. THIS CAUSED ME TO MAKE A DANGEROUS STOP IN A ACTIVE INTERSECTION.

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DASH WARNING MESSAGE STATES "STEERING SYSTEM FAULT". POWER STEERING NO LONGER ACTIVE. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEEL. HAD TO MUSCLE CAR TO SAFE LANE. NOT DRIVE-ABLE.

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WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND STARTED TO HEAR GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS OUT OF POWER STEERING FLUID. SHE DID RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THERE IS NOT POWER STEERING THAT IT IS ELECTRONIC CONTROL. FORD KNOWING THERE IS ISSUES WITH EARLIER YEARS THAT THEY HAD RECALLS ON 2011-2013 MODEL YEARS. BEFORE IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT. DROVE IT TO OUR MECHANIC TO REPAIR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. SHE HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE STRENGTH TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO COLUMBIA FORD OF TENNESSEE (115 S JAMES CAMPBELL BLVD, COLUMBIA, TN 38401, (931) 388-2463) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, BUT PLANNED TO BE REPAIRED IN A FEW DAYS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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THE STEERING FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND I BROUGHT TO DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THE STEERING BUT THE BATTERY PUTTING OUT THE WRONG VOLTAGE AND CAUSED THE SENSOR TO COME ON. TODAY I ACTUALLY LOST STEERING ON THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES ON A LOCAL STREET. THE STREET CURVED AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. THE STEERING FAULT LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR SAID THAT THE TERRAIN ASSIST AND HILL ASSIST WAS DISABLED (WAS NOT USING). I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY HAZARDS ON, AND STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING TO PULL OVER. I ONLY HAVE 42000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, INCLUDING REPLACING THE APIM. I HAVE A 16 YEAR OLD, THAT JUST STARTED DRIVING WITH ME IN THIS CAR, AND I DO NOT THINK IT IS SAFE. I TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS SOME WIRING PROBLEM OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT FORD IS IGNORING. I SEE MANY PEOPLE POSTING THIS SAME DANGEROUS STEERING FAULT ISSUE, AND IT NOT GETTING FIXED.

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THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME IN A COUPLE OF YEARS THAT MY STEERING ON MY CAR HAS JUST QUIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. I WAS, LUCKILY, SITTING IN A PARKING LOT, PARKED. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE AND TURNED MY WHEEL MY STEERING ABILITY WAS SUDDENLY WAS GONE AND I HAD THE "HILL ASSIST DISABLED" LIGHT TO COME ON, "ADVANCE TRAC CONTROL LIGHT" FLASHED, AND THE STEERING LOSS LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD NO CAPABILITY TO TURN MY WHEEL WITHOUT PUTTING ENORMOUS EFFORT. IT'S AS IF ALL MY POWER STEERING DIED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.

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I TOOK IT TO FORD FOR A RECALL ON A SUSPENSION ISSUE AND THEY FOUND THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED REPLACED AS WELL AS IT WAS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE. I DO RECALL A CLUNKING NOISE WAS MADE SPORADICALLY WHEN TURNING INTO PARKING SPACES PRIOR TO TAKING IT TO FORD. I FIND IT ODD THAT A VEHICLE THAT IS 3 YEARS OLD IS HAVING SUCH AN ISSUE.

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THE EXPLORER HAD 39,000 MILES ON IT AND THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR HAD A 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY AND FOR THEM TO COVER SOME OR PART OF THIS REPAIR, BECAUSE IT IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR THESE PARTS TO FAIL AT SUCH A LOW MILAGE. THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY OUTSIDE OF THE 36,000 WARRENTY. BUT AFTER I GET IT FIXED I CAN BUY AND EXTENDED WARRENTY THROUGH THEM. THIS REPAIR WILL COST ME 2,400 DOLLARS .

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STEERING FAULT ALARM 3 TIMES OVER 2 WEEKS, DEALER SERVICE SEES ERROR CODE C200D, COULD NOT SAY WHATS WRONG, ADVISED TO REPLACE STEERING RACK. STEERING FAULT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TWICE AND ONCE BACKING IN DRIVEWAY. MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS ONLINE, FORD SHOULD BE DOING A RECALL TO FIX. 67886 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. COST TO REPLACE STEERING RACK AROUND $2000.00.

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I BROUGHT MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER SPORT INTO LHM DRAPER ON APRIL 29TH WITH SOME SERVICE CONCERNS. THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM WAS A CLUNKING/KNOCKING/BUCKLING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. AFTER LEAVING THE CAR FOR 12 DAYS I DISCOVERED THEY DID NOT FIX ANYTHING. FOR THE NEXT 9 DAYS AS I DROVE THE CAR I NOTICED THAT THE CLUNKING NOISE WAS STILL VERY MUCH PRESENT AND HAPPENING EVERY SINGLE DAY. THERE WASN'T A SINGLE DAY THAT I DIDN'T HEAR THIS NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN ON MAY 24TH AGAIN FOR A CLUNKING/KNOCKING NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED. ALSO A WHINING/WINDING NOISE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON JUNE 4TH ONLY TO DISCOVER IT STILL WASN'T FIXED. I HAVE SENT SEVERAL MESSAGES TO THE DEALER WITH NO RESPONSE. THE CAR MAKES THIS NOISE DAILY. TO MY DISMAY, I DID SOME GOOGLE SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET YESTERDAY FOR POTENTIAL CAUSES OF THIS KNOCKING NOISE AND DISCOVERED THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORERS!!! THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS!!! I ALSO UNDERSTAND FORD RECALLED EARLIER MODEL YEAR EXPLORERS WITH POWER STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THIS SAME KNOCKING NOISE. I AM CONCERNED THAT I AM NOW OUTSIDE OF MY WARRANTY PERIOD. I KNOW ALL TOO WELL ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE A 2006 FORD F350 WITH ONLY 55,000 MILES SITTING ON THE SIDE OF OUR HOUSE THAT HASN'T BEEN DRIVABLE FOR YEARS. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK, WE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING AND ONE DAY IT STARTED BLOWING WHITE SMOKE. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS PARTICULAR TRUCK HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE EGR COOLER. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, BUT SOMETIME AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IT BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND FORD WASHED THEIR HANDS OF IT. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WILL COST OVER $10K TO GET IT FIXED. SO THERE IT SITS! THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH 33,000 MILES.

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I WAS DRIVING BACK TO WORK FROM MY BREAK WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO PARK MY CAR THE POWER STEERING GOT LOCKED SUDDENLY. THANKS TO GOD I WAS NOT IN FULL MOTION OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN MESSED UP EVERY WAYS. THIS CAR IS JUST DRIVING ME CRAZY EVERYDAY I NOTICE SOME KIND A STUPID NOISE. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NOT TOO LONG AGO. THE DEALER KNOWINGLY GAVE ME FAULTY CAR RIGHT NEXT DAY I TOOK IT BACK TO FIX THE CARBONMONOAXIDE PROBLEM AND NOW THE STEERING LOCKED ON ME.

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HAD THE RACK AND PINION STEERING FAIL AT 30,000 MILES ,WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN SLIGHTLY IT SOUNDED LIKE METAL WAS GRINDING.

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VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING POPPING NOISES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT ALSO HAPPENS WHILE BRAKING THE POPPING IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS IN THE FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS EXHIBITED EXTREME VIBRATION ENOUGH TO MAKE THE OUTSIDE DRIVER REVIEW MIRROR SHAKE. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS ALSO BEEN STUCK IN THE LEFT TURNING POSITION TWICE WHILE TRYING TO STRAIGHTEN WHEELS BACK OUT.

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BROUGHT TRUCK IN FOR DIAGNOSIS, PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING. WE WERE TOLD THE STEERING COLUMN OR RACK IS FAILING AS WELL AS THE GEARBOX. THE TRUCK IS ONLY TWO AND HALF YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IT ONLY HAS UNDER 108K MILES ON IT. THE REPAIR WOULD COST NEARLY $2,200. UNACCEPTABLE! I ALREADY HAVE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION.

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STEERING FAULT WARNING CAME ON THREE TIMES. THE THIRD TIME, STEERING ALSO FROZE UP AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON; I TURNED OFF THE MOTOR AND THEN BACK ON AND THE STEERING WORKED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID AN SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE NEXT DAY, THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE MECHANIC READ THE CODE FOR THE WARNING AND IT IS C200D-49.

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THE STEERING HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT AND A NOISE OF A 'GRATING' SOUND IS OCCURRING. THIS MORNING I HAD TROUBLE KEEPING IT STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50K MILES - OWNED IT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROX 50 MPH WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND AUTOMATICALLY PULLED ME TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO FORCEFULLY PULL OFF OF THE ROAD. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE EPAS IS BAD. FROM DOING RESEARCH I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS ACTUALLY A COMMON ISSUE. IT WAS TERRIFYING FOR ME, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MY 2 YO AND 3 MONTH OLD CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE IS ONLY 61K MILES ON THIS VEHICLE THAT WE HAVE ONLY HAD FOR 7 MONTHS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE THERE ARE FATALITIES- IF THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ALREADY!!!

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