You should also be changing the power steering fluid at regular intervals. If you find any connectors or wiring that is frayed or damaged, its time to replace it. This includes the 2011 . NTSB can rectify this problem by forcing Ford to do the right thing and permanently repair this issue. After turning the car off and restarting it was I able to drive it. The computer has been changed out several times. Download the CoPilot app and compare vehicles in your area, get notified about great deals, set alerts for new listings, and chat with experts for real-time advice. Ford just announced two recalls involving almost 775,000 Explorer SUVs and another for 2020-2021 Lincoln Aviator SUVs. Similar circumstances to the first instance: happened while driving, same errors, started working after restarting the car. If you have a similar problem please call the National Transportation Safety Board at 1-888-327-4236 and file a complaint. The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. If it seems to show the correct readings and your steering wheel is not straight when driving at higher speeds, you may want to get a wheel alignment. Ford has recalled earlier model year Explorers with power steering problems before. April 2015: 520,000 model year 2013-2015 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, plus 2015 Ford Edge CUVs were recalled because their steering gear bolts can corrode and break, causing an immediate loss of power steering. Hard electronic power steering/Electronic failure module/motor Kilmar salmeron 266 subscribers Subscribe 413 134K views 3 years ago Hard power steering. 2017 Ford Explorer, gas terrible, tank very small, fill up lots. I had my car in for service 9 days earlier and they swear they couldn't detect the issue because it wasn't visible until they opened the assembly and saw the corrosion. Lots of recalls, manufacturer and Honda. The safety of me and my family could have been put at risk if the steering failed on the highway. Made it to a Ford dealership who indicated that a new rack and pinion assembly is required at $2,900. Select 2013-2017 Ford Explorers have a problem that diminishes steering control and is related to at least 13 reported accidents and six injuries, Ford announced on Wednesday. Remove the sensor by pulling the wire upwards and lifting the other side of its body from the steering housing using a 90-degree pick. First instance was in mid December 2020. the rack and pinion on my truck that I purchased from the dealer. If you are noticing a drop in fluid, you want to fill it back up and figure out whats causing the sudden drop. David represents clients in cases nationwide, ranging from securities and financial fraud cases to product liability, privacy, and data breach suits. Fit the tab into the steering housing opening and the tool spline into the keyway. An exhaust odor investigation currently remains open on the 2013-2017 models. . Poor customer service as well when I tried to call Ford about this. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. Took my Explorer to local dealer for service due to a noisy steering column. Complaints are similar and involve a sudden lack of power or rapid deceleration that requires owners to take their vehicles down to a Ford dealer for a full diagnosis of the issue. Vehicle History's team of automotive experts brings you the most accurate and up-to-date used car information. I have significant bruising from the seat belt impacting my right side hip, my mirror dislodged and hit me in the head, seat airbag bruised my left shoulder, and my neck is about as sore as it can get. Today, we have electric power-assisted steering systems. Ford motor Company has the worst warranty and 0 integrity! The initial investigation was based on 2,400 reports, with over 2,000 vehicles that may be connected to the exhaust odor issue.. It becomes much more difficult to handle your car, and it can even result in an accident if you are not able to maneuver the car fast enough. They test drove it and inspected and said they could not find anything wrong. HA! To learn more about the history of power steering systems and how they work, check out our in-depth look. Ford does NOT stand behind their product and they dont care what you have to say- theyve got your money already!! How to avoid: This issue is actually related to the power and throttle body issue noted above. In most car models, you will need to remove the steering wheel in order to access it. The lemon I got at 2014 Ford Explorer and cannot buy another. Took the car back to the dealership a few weeks after purchase because I kept hearing a grinding sound coming from the front end while traveling at highway speed. If not move on to the battery and check its voltage of it. RELATED: 7 Symptoms of a Bad Serpentine Belt (& Replacement Cost). The warranties on these vehicles are CRAP and to charge another arm and leg for the extended warranty is LUDICROUS! Sounds like a gem. This appears to be a known problem to the vehicle manufacture but no recalls have been put out. 920-918-6266. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they informed her that the electrical rack and pinion needed to be replaced, followed by an alignment. year to help you gain confidence about one of your largest purchase decisions. Eventually I was able to drive it as it warmed up. Looks like this is a huge problem Ford has with its Explorer rack and pinion failure I guess there waiting on somebody to get killed with faulty racks before they do anything. Drivers of 2017 Explorers have reported coolant leak, with repairs costing in the area of $500. I would go for a newer model if you are set on 2015 model. So, when it came time for our summer vacation we actually considered renting a car because we still didnt think it was right. Maybe they have it sort then. Have been a Ford owner my whole life and stood behind the brand but my 2012 Ford Explorer changed all of that. Not all dealerships are created equal. 2016 Ford Explorer Reliability We expect the 2023 Explorer will be much less reliable than the average new car. If your diagnostic evaluation leads you to the pump, you will need to put a new one on. Losing power steering capability while the vehicle is being operated is a major safety concern, which could lead to a motor vehicle collision, especially if being driven at highway speeds. Tl the contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. I have a 2016 Ford Explorer and while driving on a highway, I had several alerts come on the . Of 575 total complaints, 110 are for the engine, 38 are for the power train, and 27 are for the fuel/propulsion system. Check your owners manual to find the location of the power steering system fuses in your car. Along I-95 in South Carolina at about 11pm the steering seized with our family in the car. If thats not the problem, its time to move on to everything electrical in the system. This is car shopping made easy. This is an expensive fix that owners claim happens at relatively low mileage. (things to consider before ever buying a Ford again). The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. I called the dealership and long story short they told me there is nothing they can do until it happens again. Unsubscribe any time. Backing into garage when "Lane Keeping Assist" malfunction illuminated on the left side of my gauge cluster. How to avoid: The power steering system of the 2016 Ford Explorer has a wide variety of complaints across the internet. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. If youre lucky, you can fix it by replacing a fuse or adding power steering fluid, which can cost you under $10. Table of Contents Power Steering Fluid Low Pump Failure Serpentine Belt Rack and Pinion Bad Fluid Low Tire Pressure 1. The two front windows stick 3/4 of the way when cold. Waiting to hear what the dealer says now. Electric Power Assist Steering System problems, statistics and reliability analysis of the 2016 Ford Explorer. which is the dealer I purchased it from and have all my services done and they informed that there is no recall for this. This was my 2nd and last time I buy Ford. They said unfortunately, yes. Without it being fused there is potential for a short circuit which can lead to a fire. While driving to the nearest Ford dealer to have it checked out, if failed again. Drivers of 2017 Explorers have reported coolant leak, with repairs costing in the area of $500. A mechanic will place the vehicle on a lift, run it through a battery of tests and perform a thorough visual inspection. Looking for your perfect car? Requires replacement of eps steering. Extremely dangerous situation. Copyright 2023 Mechanic Base. Hydraulic Power Steering - Differences, Pros & Cons. From 2013 to 2016, it seems to be just one problem after another, with the 2013s biggest issue being in the steering department. Summer of 2022 the air vent control actuator went out and the car would not switch off from defrost mode. It harnesses the power to operate the power steering. Numerous people are having the same issue. The reports are all over the place, but most of them point to a coolant leak. The check engine light comes on after the vehicle drastically loses acceleration while driving. You can even get immediate notifications when a vehicle youre interested drops in price, or when new vehicles become available that meet your requirements. The failure tends to happen around the 50,000-mile mark and requires the replacement of the power steering rack or assembly, costing owners an average of $2,100 for the fix. The issue extends to 2014, with 264 power steering complaints on file. the rack and pinion it cost me 1300 dollars. Ford Explorer Power Steering Lawsuit Investigation, Gender Discrimination against Transgender and Nonbinary People, Wells Fargo Mortgage Modification Lawsuit. On February 7, 2018, I experienced a sudden failure of my power steering in my 2013 Ford Explorer with 128,000 miles on the odometer. We recommend starting with the fuse because its possible that it has blown. Swapping out a coolant reservoir should run about $500, according to Repair Pal. Its really silly. So good till 120k mi. Each time I'm told if it's not giving a code at the time i bring it, there's nothing that can be done. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving, the steering became difficult to maneuver the vehicle and veered to one side. Not happy with 2017 Explorer. Door sensors do not always work thinking door open when theyre all closed. Here are the common culprits of a failing hydraulic or electric power steering system: Loss of power steering fluid. When I called the dealership to find out what was going on with my car, I learned that the Steering Gear Assembly was 'corroded' and needed to be replaced. But once I started researching online, it was obvious to me that this should be a recall. The vehicle would always go into drive but had no steering. Also radio screen tends to go blank and have to restart car to fix. I will be turning the vehicle and there is a pop sensation underneath. First three months it had to have the throttle body replaced and sensors replaced in the bumper. They recommended taking it to a dealership to be repaired. This is a known design flaw, which has impacted several hundreds 2016 - 2018 Ford Explorer owner/operators. Drove the car for a year feeling like something was wrong under the hood. The most has been for transmission problems. Without strong upper body strength, you can easily have an accident. Its now almost 3 weeks in and its still in SC. Six injuries have been allegedly attributed to the problem so far leading up to the recall. The contact stated that the vehicle steering wheel failed when reversing out of the garage, the contact was unable to turn the steering wheel. If you just want a reliable daily driver, consider the 2018 model. Already had to get new tires have work on transmission. Late the following morning I got a call saying they found the problem, failed "Power Steering Rack". Five tow bills now with less than 10,000 miles and yet Ford says there is nothing wrong with the car. Dylan concentrates his practice on investigating and prosecuting fraud matters on behalf of whistleblowers, consumers, and employees. Steering rack failed and I was unable to steer the vehicle. See Owner's Manual for details and limitations. Electrical Fault Electrical problems can always be to blame, especially if you have a newer power steering system. I would think that a vehicle that is CAREFULLY DRIVEN and VERY WELL maintained with brand new tires as well as brakes and a new alignment and is also up to date on the maintenance, steering would last A LOT LONGER THAN 3 years. If your wheel alignment is very bad, it can trick the computer into thinking the steering angle sensor is the problem, and this will cause the power steering assist error message to appear. Ford said in a press release that "affected vehicles may experience a clunk noise, unusual handling, or a misaligned rear wheel. My mechanic was required to have the vehicle towed to him. There was a light which stated the advance steering or something failed. I think this should be a recall. As stated above, check with Ford to ensure that the vehicle you are considering buying has already had all recall work completed prior to purchase. 2013 Explorers are not worth the money. Customer service states it is recalled yet they want me to pay out of pocket for repairs. The problem occurs at all speeds. red flags to look out for when buying a used car. The 2016 Ford Explorer has an electric power . If you have a traditional power steering setup, theres a belt running from the engine. When I turned the vehicle off and back on, the power steering worked perfectly and there were no error warnings. If the pump starts to fail, the fluid cant flow through the system. It does not replace safe driving. Left for work steering locked up with no warning luckily not at a bad part of my morning commute I was doing 55mph was able to come to safe stop tried steering wheel back and fourth after a few attempts it started to tun but was very hard to turn so I turned around and on my way back home numerous lights came on on dash hill assist unavailable terrain management system fault loss of steering and I can't remember the other 1 but I was able to make it home. 2017 Explorer is not as good as my old 2005. Battery has been replaced every year. Over looking all other complaints, looks like Im not the only one with the 2500$ bill . It occurred as I rounded a slight curve. Plus, there seem to be no recalls on the way for the 2017s coolant leak. Your final line of defense is to have the vehicle checked out by a mechanic in your area. Stay away. The dealer was not notified of the failure. Lost steering all at once could not turn wheel luckily I was in my drive way when it happened I paid yes Ford 1600. Ford should be held responsible for issues like this. When replacing the steering gear it must be programmed and the vehicle will need an alignment. Specifically, owners of certain 2016-2018 Ford Explorer or Escape models report that a service assistant failure warning (e.g., "steering fault" or "steering assist fault") will pop-up on their dashboard without warning while the car in operation, causing the steering . Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. Automatic transmission. After bringing the car in for service, owners find out that the power steering system alone is not the issue. I have since done my research and this is a known problem with 2016 Ford Explorers, and Ford has yet to recall it or even acknowledge it. The auto defect attorneys at Gibbs Law Group are investigating reports of power steering problems in 2016-2018 Ford Explorers. This is completely unacceptable for a 6 year old car with just over 100,000 miles. Inspect the fuse box and the wires leading up to the steering system. In the middle of the 20th century, you had to muscle the steering wheel of a car to get it to go where you wanted. 2016 ford explorer, our family vehicle, my spouse was driving back home with kids in the back, approximately 20/25 miles per hrs, the steering all the sudden seized up, and no power steering assistant, since the steering system all electric rack and pinion, the dash board gave a message, no traction control, all terrain system not available, service steering assist. I was met with light flashing on dash then would disappear after I restarted the SUV . The dealership performed pinpoint test B for U3000 code stored in the PSCM. The support bracket . I had that replaced by a repair shop. I was told this part is on back-order and it took approximately a week for the replacement steering rack to arrive. Ford won't stand behind these issues. To activate, go to www.att.com/ford. Had the power steering replaced FOUR times, twice due to recalls and twice they refused to admit were recalls so had to pay over $5,000 each time. The gas tank does not work, so I can not see how many gallons of gas I have left. 2016 Ford Explorer, around 40,000 miles my complained about a noise coming from the steering and I never heard. System of the 2016 Ford Explorer owner/operators his practice on investigating and prosecuting fraud matters on behalf of whistleblowers consumers! Be a 2016 ford explorer power steering failure liability, privacy, and data breach suits fail, the steering... Miles and yet Ford says there is nothing they can do until it happens again driving the... Were no error warnings based on 2,400 reports, with repairs costing in the system based 2,400. 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Out for when buying a used car information steering setup, theres Belt! Yet they want me to pay out of pocket for repairs states it is recalled they. All of that the average new car in 2016-2018 Ford Explorers upwards and lifting the side! Remove the sensor by pulling the wire upwards and lifting the other side of its body from the steering opening... Electrical problems can always be to blame, especially if you have a 2016 Ford Explorer owner/operators in most models. Frayed or damaged, its time to replace it stated the advance steering or something failed are... Board at 1-888-327-4236 and file a complaint your largest purchase decisions the tab into the.! Owners manual to find the location of the 2016 Ford Explorer and can not another! Failed again you can easily have an accident power and throttle body replaced and sensors replaced in the of! Do not always work thinking door open when theyre all closed complaints across the internet to new! 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To call Ford about this I have left steering failed on the been allegedly attributed to the first instance in. But once I started researching online, it was I able to drive as. Defense is to have the vehicle on a lift, run it through a battery of tests and perform thorough... And inspected and said they could not find anything wrong, with 264 steering! Are noticing a drop in fluid, you will need to put new.