What 1,669 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Explorer Gas

Thr manufacturer did not put rear tire links on my vehicle. I purchased brand new tires 3 months ago and my two rear tires are already showing sings of wear and tear. I went to a mechanic to see if I could get a full alignment on my vehicle. When they started on thr alignment, they informed me that they could not proceed because the vehicle was missing the manufacturer rear toe links. If I decided to let them order rear toe links and do the alignment, it would cost me almost $600. This is completely unacceptable for ford to drop the ball again and we the consumer are stuck paying for something that they should.

NHTSA ODI 11543671

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH and making a right turn, the steering wheel did not return to center. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed to respond normally while turning the steering wheel to center. Additionally, the contact stated that the instrument cluster went black, and the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over safely and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that the “System Communication Error" message was displayed on the infotainment screen after the restart. The contact later had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the wiring harness and the GWM harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired. The contact stated that after the repair, the battery had started to drain very quickly. The vehicle was towed back to the same dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 43,833.

NHTSA ODI 11537949

Power steering locked up during a drive around the block, had to turn off the engine and turn it back on. After the car was running again, no issue. If this issue persists or comes back again, drivers aside from myself will be put in danger on the road as the steering can lock up anytime during the drive. I was lucky enough to only have it happen during a short drive around the block.

NHTSA ODI 11538022

I bought the SUV Used in January/2023 from a Ford dealer. It had brand new tires on it. 6 months later and the outer tread of the tires are bald, that’s when I realized the toe angle was pointed in. I went to Discount Tire to get new tires and an alignment. They put new tires on and then they told me they couldn’t do the alignment on my truck because it has a recalled part on the rear suspension. The toe angle rods are not adjustable. He showed me what they are supposed to look like on his computer for him to do the alignment. He then proceeded to tell me how dangerous it was because if the rod cracks, my wheel will fall off. I called ford, but they are claiming there is no recall for that part, but that can’t be true.

NHTSA ODI 11537761

Tow links from my vehicle is going bad. Vehicle fish tails a little on the highway when traveling on uneven surface. Knuckles have been replaced and Link-Stabilizer on both side by my mechanic. Ford STATED they replaced in May 2022 (never did) I had the original parts that came with vehicle. Ford refuses to reimburse. I'm concern now that the tow links are going bad and vehicle will soon be unsafe to drive.

NHTSA ODI 11518145

Vibration or rough idle in drive and reverse. Shudder while driving Lack of engine RPM Low performance, lack of acceleration on take off. Mechanic found and replaced the following. Broken Transmission Mount, Replaced Front & Rear Engine Mounts. Transmission is not shifting correctly and the Mechanic stated that the oil was black and smelt burnt.

NHTSA ODI 11516701

In March of 2022, this vehicle was repaired for a rear suspension toe link recall. On Christmas evening, December 25, 2022, the toe link failed. The car fishtailed briefly before veering uncontrollably off the road. I had no warnings that this was going to happen aside from a slight "clunk" in the rear of the car a second beforehand. Fortunately oncoming traffic immediately stopped and avoided me and I was able (with much difficulty) to move the car to safety. I was only going about 35 mph; I cannot imagine how much carnage I would have created had I been on the highway I was headed to just 3 miles away. The car was flat-bedded to the Ford dealership that has always repaired the car the very next morning, December 26. While waiting for the wrecker, I walked the area where I heard a "clunk" just before the car's steering became inoperable and found a bolt which I brought with me to the dealership. In conversations on December 27, 28 and 29, the Ford service manager stated to me that he and the shop foreman were at a loss as to why the rear suspension toe link failed, but in examining the bolts, they believe they were machined/bored just a little too small allowing it the ability to unscrew itself from the toe link assembly and fall off the car. While the car was at the dealership, I reached out to Ford Motor Company's customer escalation team with the issue. My concern was not just for my own safety, but there are 600,000 other Ford Explorers on the road that might experience the same failure. On Friday, one of the team's members called me back to say that her investigation revealed that the bolt simply unscrewed itself. When I asked "well don't you think this is a huge recall issue?" she stated that investigation/issuing safety recalls are not the job of Ford. When I asked if the bolt unscrewing itself seemed plausible, she responded "I don't know." I have not yet picked up the car though the dealer replaced both toe link assemblies. I am GRAVELY concerned.

NHTSA ODI 11499664

I bought the car from modern Corp s in Fort Myers Florida and the brakes are bad the catalytic converters are melted the steering makes noise sounds like it's just going to break in half we have a warranty and they will not honor any of it after they said they would we had to put it in the shop not even a week of having it because of the AC and the only thing the warranty covered was the sway bars ball joints and a couple other things I drive this car every single day I just feel like this car is not going to make it nobody wants to honor the word about anything and I see there is a recall for the roof rack one side of it is missing if anybody can help me that would be great because I would love to get my vehicle repaired the right way

NHTSA ODI 11496699

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was swaying and became difficult to control with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V537000 (Steering). The dealer had been notified on multiple occasions of the issue and informed the contact that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11487221

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to make a left turn, the steering wheel failed to respond. The contact shifted to park(P) and then shifted back into drive(D). The vehicle then regained steering functionality. The contact was able to continue driving however, the failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on three occasions; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 30,676.

NHTSA ODI 11483519

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist would fail to operate as needed. The contact stated that excessive force was required to steer the vehicle due to the failure. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the tires and battery were the cause of the steering failure. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V530000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

NHTSA ODI 11479967

April 5th 2022 I took my 2017 ford explorer limited to City Ford here in Columbia City Indiana because the steering was sticking. It had been sticking slightly at times for several weeks prior to this. They couldn't find any problem. So in June 2022 my wife and I load up and leave for Virginia for vacation. The slight sticking got worse after several hours on the road, and finally the driver assist went out completely. making it most difficult to steer. A dangerous situation. Also I had no hill descent, no 4 wheel drive, park assist, cruise control. A multitude of warnings. I took it to Barton Ford in Suffolk Va. and was told it needed a rack and pinion steering which cost me over $3100.00 and over $600.00 for a rental during the time it took to complete the job. I noticed that I was charged for new bolts also. I researched and found that there was a previous recall on a select few of these explorers due to bolt failure. My explorer should have been selected, but there is no open recall on this explorer. Barton Ford told me that my vehicle wasn't effected by the recall. I believe Ford Motor Company should reimburse me for what it cost me.

NHTSA ODI 11472103

I drove the suv to the store, with my kids. On the way back home , the steering wheel stop working and it was hard to steer the suv. We took it in to the dealership in inverness Ford, but they couldn't find anything wrong with the suv. Two days later it turn hard to steer again, but no codes.

NHTSA ODI 11454758

INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH

NHTSA ODI 11445173

The rack and pinion failed; these parts were replaced by Ford at my expense and Ford kept the old parts. The safety of myself, my passengers, and other drivers was put at risk because the steering would catch while in a curve and cause the driver to be unable to steer momentarily. This caused me to almost drive head-on into a semi tractor-trailer, as the steering was not responding to my turning the wheel, but did just in time to avoid the collision. This steering catch also caused over-steering as a result of the steering not responding. The problem was reported to Burns Ford of York and the rack and pinion were replaced on 10/21/21. The vehicle was only inspected by Burns Ford of York. The catch in the steering first started in July of 2021 and progressively got worse. As the symptoms worsened, the loss of traction warning light would often come on when the steering caught.

NHTSA ODI 11440388

The car sways when changing lanes on parkway

NHTSA ODI 11430059

*VEHICLE MAKES POPPING NOISE *JERKS, LOSS OF POWER WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD, HARD TO STEER, PUSH ON GAS AND WILL NOT GO. ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH COME ON. CALLED DEALER WHEN FIRST HAPPENED WAS TOLD TO TURN OFF BACK ON TO RESET. HAVE WORKED WITH DEALER AND MANUFACTURE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS WILL BE AT LEAST THE FOURTH TIME BACK IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. IN ADDITION TO SEVERAL CALLS.

NHTSA ODI 11404305

WE BOUGTH THE CAR ON AUGUST 2019 WITH 4700 MILES. IN NOVEMBER 2019 THE CAR STARTED OCCASIONALLY (3 TIMES DURING 3 MONTH PERIOD) TO SOUND THE REVERSE ALARM SENSOR WHILE DRIVING. THEN CAR DIDN'T START, SO WE CHANGED THE BATTERY. IN MID MARCH, AFTER TAKING MY 3 KIDS (OUR DAUGHTER 6 AND THE TWINS WERE 2) TO THE PARK, THE CAR WILL START BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT TURNING. IT WAS JUST STOCK AND HARD TO MOVE. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. WE COULDN'T TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC (WE DIDN'T WANTED TO EXPOSED OURSELVES TO ANY OTHER PEOPLE). FINALLY IN SEPTEMBER, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY CALLED THE FOLLOWING DAY AND EXPLAINED THAT TO REPAIR WILL COST US $ 1790. PLUS OTHER REGULAR ITEMS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE FOR A TOTAL OF $2098. WHILE I DO UNDERSTAND THAT MANUFACTURING ERRORS DO HAPPEN, STILL I CAN'T COMPREHEND THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS 50519 MILES AND ALREADY NEEDS THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSE A VERY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT TO MY FAMILY. THIS IS OUR FAMILY CAR! I DRIVE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND TO THE PARK EVERY DAY. HOW COME SOMETHING THIS SERIOUS IS NOT PUT ON A TEST BEFORE PUTTING A CAR INTO THE MARKET (?). BUT, MORE THAN BEING VERY DISAPPOINTED AND SHOCKED FROM WHAT HAPPENED AND I FIND THE SITUATION VERY IRRITATING. NEW CARS SIMPLY DON'T DO THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR FAMILY CAR AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ENSURE THIS WONT HAPPEN AGAIN, I AM SCARED OF DRIVING MY FAMILY IN THE CAR AND EXPOSE THEM TO SOMETHING LIKE WHAT HAPPENED. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? SHALL WE GIVE WARNING TO OTHER CAR OWNERS? THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!

NHTSA ODI 11403228

MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME VERY STICKY. I WOULD MAKE A TURN AND THEN WHEN I WOULD GO TO TURN THE WHEEL BACK, IT WOULD STICK. IT ALMOST THREW ME INTO A TRACTOR TRAILER YESTERDAY. I NOTICED IT MORE AT HIGH SPEEDS AND MOST TIMES IT WAS SOMETHING I COULD 'DEAL WITH', PLANNING AHEAD WHEN TURNING, SLOWING MY SPEED, ACCOUNTING FOR OVER CORRECTING THE WHEEL, BUT YESTERDAY WAS VERY SCARY. I FELT LIKE I HAD TO MAKE CONSTANT LITTLE TURNS WITH MY WHEEL EVEN THOUGH I WAS GOING PERFECTLY STRAIGHT. I PULLED OFF AND TURNED MY CAR OFF AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WAS AS NOTICEABLY NOT AS BAD. I TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I'VE HAD IT FOR LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AND THEY INFORMED ME I NEED A NEW STEERING GEAR BOX. I WAS CONSTANTLY AFRAID OF OVER CORRECTING MY WHEEL TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE STICKINESS OF IT AND ENDING UP IN THE OTHER LANE OR OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11373117

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND ROTATED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, AN ABNORMAL BOOMING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE RELEASING OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ORANGE PARK FORD LOCATED AT 7700 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244 HOWEVER, THE FAILURES WERE NOT DUPLICATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11364613

THE EPS UNIT SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND ALMOST CAUSED US TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. FROM DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE FORD CREATED THE EPAS SYSTEM. WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME IT FAILED. RESTARTING THE CAR DID NOT TEMPORARILY FIX OUR ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS NOW WITHOUT RESULT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11351316

SLOWING DOWN HARD SHIFT @ 40 AND @20. STEERING FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO PULL WHEN DRIVING ON A CURVE OR WHEN TURNING.

NHTSA ODI 11341637

WHEN GOING LOW SPEEDS UNDER 50 THE CAR WILL JERK TO THE RIGHT AND IT'S LIKE SOMEONE ELSE HAS CONTROL OF THE WHEEL THEN YOU HAVE TO JERK IT BACK ON THE ROAD. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND ONCE WHEN MY HUSBAND DROVE. WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING STRAIGHT IN A DITCH. HELP THIS IS NOT SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326983

POWER STEERING JUST STOPS WORKING AND ALMOST CAN NOT TURN THE WHEEL AND TRACKING CONTROLS STOP WORKING. THIS IS POLICE VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET JUST BEFORE A TURN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323478

AS I WAS DRIVING THE EXPLORER THE CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT SENSORS WENT HAYWARE, THEN THE NAVIGATOR, RADIO, HVAC, AND EVERYTHING ELSE FROZE DID COMMANDS ON ITS OWN. THE PART ASSIST MODE CAME ON IT OWN, STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WOULD NOT WORK AND CAR STARTED TO TAKE CONTROL. VERY SCARY AS THE CAR WAS TAKING COMMANDS I COULD NOT CONTROL. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE ACCESSORY PROTOCOL INTERFACE MODULE (APIM). MY VEHICLE IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD NOT HELP. VERY DANGEROUS, COST ME $1,200. FORD HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM ON EARLIER MODELS AND RECALLED, BUT NOT ON MINE. THIS FAILURE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND IF NOT FIXED COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL. FORD WAS NO HELP TO ME, VERY DISAPPOINT IN FORD AND THEIR NEGLECT TO MINE AND MY FAMILIES STAFEY.

NHTSA ODI 11321932