2011 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

I WAS DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WHEN A SIGNAL CAME ON DASH " STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" AND I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. WAS JUST COMING OFF HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO RAMP AND HAD TO PULL OFF ON MEDIAN IN MIDDLE OF BUSY EXIT RAMP. STOPPED AND THEN RESTARTED CAR WHICH TEMPORARILY FIXED PROBLEM NOW DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE NEEDS REPLACED - WILL COST ME $600 !!!!!:( VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD AS THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS ! *TR

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON LOCAL ROAD, POWER STEERING GAVE OUT AND VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO EFFECTIVELY STEER AND PULL OFF ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC ONTO SHOULDER. AFTER PULLING OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD, TURNED OF ENGINE AND RE-STARTED. STEERING CAME BACK AND WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME. NEXT DAY, SUV DID SAME THING 2X AND ADDED A NEW ERROR MESSAGE REGARDING TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAULT ALONG WITH POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAULT. FORD HAS A SECTION IN THEIR OWNERS MANUAL WARNING THAT FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL EFFORT TO STEER THE VEHICLE, BUT THE DRAMATIC CHANGE FROM POWER STEERING TO THIS SCENARIO IS STARTLING. MY HUSBAND REVIEWED ON LINE AND DISCOVERED A RE-CALL FOR THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM HAD BEEN ISSUED IN JANUARY. WHEN CONTACTING FORD DEALER THEY STATED THIS RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE OUR CAR SINCE THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR VEHICLES THAT HAD REPAIRS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE (DONE IN A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD). IF THIS ISSUE HAD HAPPENED WITH A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER (IE OUR 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO DRIVES THIS CAR FREQUENTLY) THE ISSUE WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE CAUSED HER TO PANIC AND DUE TO DIMINISHED MANEUVERABILITY MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I AM SURPRISED THE RE-CALL IS ONLY FOR A PART THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED TO MAKE A REPAIR WHEN THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM THIS REPAIR WAS BEING MADE FOR HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. IT APPEARS THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

THE VEHICLE WHEN SHIFTED INTO PARK WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, WITH THE VEHICLE NOT SEEING THE SHIFTER IN PARK. ON INSPECTION IN SEPTEMBER 2014, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER WAS FAILING, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SLIP OUT OF PARK AND MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY. FORD INDICATED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THIS AT THIS TIME AND WOULD NOT COVER ANY REPAIR WORK FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE POWER STEERING WAS FINE. I WENT HOME AND CAME BACK OUT TO THE CAR TO GO ON AN ERRAND THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK. WE CALLED A WRECKER ON MAY 17 TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER. *JS

I PURCHASED A "CERTIFIED" USED 2011 EXPLORER BASE WITH 3500 MILES IN MARCH 2014 FROM FORD DEALER. AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN MAY AND STAYED ON STEADY...DEALER REPLACED MASTER MODULE (UNDER WARRANTY) AFTER A WEEK OF WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. AT THE TIME, THEY TOLD ME WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON, IT INDICATED THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND THEY WOULD NOT LET ME HAVE THE VEHICLE BACK WHILE THEY WAITED FOR THE PART, A CLEAR INDICATION OF HOW SERIOUS THEY CONSIDERED THE PROBLEM. LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON THREE MORE TIMES SINCE (EVERY 6-8 WEEKS). EACH TIME SINCE, DEALER HAS "GREASED" ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS WHICH CAUSES THE LIGHT TO GO OFF ONLY TEMPORARILY. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON, WE ARE USUALLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOT PROTECTED BY THIS CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM. ASIDE FROM THE EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION THIS POSES TO MY FAMILY, IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER EVERY SEVERAL WEEKS TO HAVE THEM ONLY TEMPORARILY FIX THE ISSUE. BASED ON OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I EXPECT THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR ME UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRES AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM ANY LONGER. I APPROACHED THE DEALER'S GENERAL MANAGER AND MY REGIONAL FORD REP ABOUT BUYING THE VEHICLE BACK BUT THEY BOTH TOLD ME THEY WOULD ONLY GIVE ME WHAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORTH (WHICH WOULD PUT ME IN A LARGE FINANCIAL HOLE)... *JS

THIS IS THE 4TH TIME MY VEHICLE HAS LOST ITS POWER STEERING. I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING. I HAVE TO FIND A PLACE ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO PULL OVER AND TURN MY CAR OFF AND WAIT A WHILE THEN RESTART IT AND SOMETIMES IT FIXES THE PROBLEM AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. THERE IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN GOING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED AND CAUSE INJURY OR WORSE! FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ASAP! *TR

MY WIFE, AND THREE CHILDREN WERE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED OUT AND SHE COULD NOT CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR HER TO GET PULLED OVER. SHE TRIED TO CALL ME FOR HELP BUT NO FUNCTIONS OF THE SYNC SYSTEM WORKED. SHE PULLED OVER AND WAITED FOR ME. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS RESET. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. TODAY IS SUNDAY SO I WILL ARRIVE THERE TOMORROW AND HAVE IT EVALUATED. VERY HAZARDOUS AND SCARY FOR MY WIFE AND THE CHILDREN. UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED TO CAPACITY, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED ONLY A HALF OF A TANK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND SERVICE TRACK WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,801. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

AS I WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND, AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WAS A CAR COMING UP TO THE STOP SIGN WHERE I WAS TURNING. I USED ALL THE FORCE I COULD TO TURN THE WHEEL BECAUSE IF I COULDN'T TURN, I WAS GOING TO HIT THE OTHER CAR. AS IT WAS, I BARELY MISSED THEM AND FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO TURN RIGHT AND THEN THE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH - I STILL HAD TO FIND A PLACE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SO I WENT INTO THE CHURCH PARKING LOT FIGHTING THE STEERING ALL THE WAY. I FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF IMPENDING FAILURE OF, AS IT TURNED OUT, AT THE FORD GARAGE, THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING GEAR. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I DOUBT IF I WOULD BE HERE TODAY. *TR

2 TIMES WITHIN A WEEK, SATURDAY APRIL 26, 2014 BEING THE MOST RECENT, AS I WAS DRIVING MY POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER XLT FWD. WARNING LIGHTS SAYING "POWER STEERING FAILURE" LIT UP AND MY POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER OPERATING. I HAD TO PULL OVER USING MANUAL STEERING TO TURN THE EXPLORER OFF AND START UP THE POWER AGAIN TO BRING THE STEERING BACK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE. IT APPEARS THAT MANY OTHER 2011 TO AT LEAST 2013 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM POSING A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY SITUATION. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT FORD DOES NOT THINK IT IS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO BE RESEARCHED FURTHER. *JS

ABOUT MONTHS AGO MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ALONG AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A WARNING SOUND AND THE "ASSIST POWER STEERING FAULT" MESSAGE CAME UP AS WELL AS SERVICE "ADVANCE TRAC." THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND WE HAD POWER STEERING AGAIN. WE TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND NOTHING FOUND! LAST NIGHT MY ENTIRE FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. VERY SCARY. LOOK ONLINE, FOUND A POWER STEERING RECALL IN THE 2011 EXPLORERS, CALLED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND CONVENIENTLY OUR VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS RUDE AND WOULD NOT EXPLAIN THE OTHER RECALL TO ME BECAUSE MY VIN DIDN'T GET RECALLED AS IF IT WAS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. I FEEL THIS IS A BILLION DOLLAR COVER UP BY THE FORD COMPANY. THEY DO NOT WANT TO CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY UNTIL SOMEONE DIES. *TR

STEERING POWER ASSIST WARNING LIGHT CAME ON; LOSS OF POWER STEERING. TURNED OFF CAR, THEN RESTARTED AGAIN, PROBLEM WENT AWAY. HAS RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. *TR

THIS IS THE 5TH TIME MY POWERING STEERING HAS FAILED!!! FORD HAS REPLACED THE PART, AFTER I HAD TO SPEND $1800.00!!! THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED AND POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR FORD TO FIGURE THIS ISSUE OUT. *JS

WHILE DRIVING MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND LIGHTS ON MY DASH INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL WERE NO LONGER WORKING. I WAS FORCED TO ATTEMPT TO PULL OVER WHICH WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO MY POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKING. I TURNED MY VEHICLE ON AND OFF 2 TIMES (GIVING IT TIME BETWEEN TO RESENT ITSELF) BEFORE IT WOULD WORK PROPERLY HOWEVER THE LIGHTS INDICATING THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING REMAINED ON. I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT FORD REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FORD! FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE START TO LOSE THEIR LIVES!

THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK WARNING APPEARED FOLLOWED THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING TOTALLY WENT OUT. THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS HAD I BEEN TURNING SHARPLY AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND MANY HAVE REPORTED IT. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS KNOWN ISSUE RESULTS IN A FATALITY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND LIGHTS ON MY DASH INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL WERE NO LONGER WORKING. I WAS FORCED TO ATTEMPT TO PULL OVER WHICH WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO MY POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKING. I TURNED MY VEHICLE ON AND OFF 5 TIMES (GIVING IT TIME BETWEEN TO RESENT ITSELF) BEFORE IT WOULD WORK PROPERLY HOWEVER I CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH IT THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT FORD REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FORD! FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE START TO LOSE THEIR LIVES!

THE STEERING POWER ASSIST FAULT WAS LITE UP AND THEN I LOST ALL STEERING AND ALL I COULD DO WAS TURN MY FLASHERS ON TO AVOID BEING HIT AND DRIVE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TT

RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPER SEIZED, CREATING SMOKE AND EXTREME HEAT TO WHEEL AREA. CALIPER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SAME ISSUE WITH LEFT REAR CALIPER ON 5-1-15 AT 42K MILES. LEFT CALIPER REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, AS IT WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD. SAME ISSUE WITH RIGHT REAR CALIPER AGAIN ON 5-26-15 AT 44K MILES. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE CALIPER WAS OK AFTER CLEANING THE AREA. THERE APPEARS TO BE CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH THESE REAR BRAKES ON BOTH SIDES.

WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHERE THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP AND WE WOULD GET A "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT". SO FAR, SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR THEN RESTARTING HAS CLEARED THE ISSUE. WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY; THIS HAS OCCURRED ONLY AT LOW SPEEDS (BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE OR IN A STORE PARKING LOT). TOOK THE CAR TO GET CHECKED TODAY AND IT IS GOING TO COST $2,000 TO REPAIR THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING (EPAS) GEAR. HAVE TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JS

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE A WARNING APPEARED ON THE DASH STATING THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAD FAILED. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT CLEARED THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT IN FOR SERVICE IN AUGUST OF 2014 THERE WAS A RECALL FROM FORD (14S06) THAT REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER MODULE. AFTER THE SERVICE THERE WERE STILL INTERMITTENT OCCASIONS WHERE THE WARNING APPEARED, BUT IT ALWAYS WENT AWAY WHEN CYCLING THE ENGINE OFF THEN BACK ON. ON APRIL 27. 2015 THE WARNING AGAIN APPEARED, BUT WOULD NOT DISAPPEAR WHEN THE OFF/ON CYCLE WAS COMPLETED. ATTEMPTED THIS MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT THE WARNING PERSISTED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE PURCHASING DEALERSHIP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACTS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BREAKS WOULD CONSTANTLY SQUEAL EVEN WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INDICATED THAT THE CALIBER, ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70 MPH, AN ELECTRICAL LIGHT CAME UP ON THE DASH AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER STEERING. MY FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR AND IT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING. I WAS ABLE TO MUSCLE THE CAR OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AT WHICH POINT, POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN AROUND 20 MINUTES LATER AND THEN RECTIFIED ITSELF AFTER A MINUTE OR SO. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND COULD NOT "REPLICATE THE ISSUE". THIS WAS THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL. I AM NOW LEARNING THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BACK IN JANUARY AND HAS ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

DRIVING AROUND A CURVE AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. WE SWERVED INTO THE OTHER LANE AND LUCKILY DIDN'T GET HIT. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT NOTIFICATION CAME ON. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE "POWERSTEERING ASSIST FAILURE" MESSAGE POPPED UP. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY BUT HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT AGAIN; THE STEERING WHEEL WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE; I HAVE CHILDREN AND DEPEND ON MY VEHICLE DAILY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR STREET DURING HEAVY AFTERNOON TRAFFIC. THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR ADVANCED TRACTION FAILURE AND POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT CAME ON. I ALSO NOTICED THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT CONTROL WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE ROAD INTO THE DRIVEWAY BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I AM A REASONABLY STRONG ADULT WOMAN AND HAD TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL EVEN SLIGHTLY WHILE SLOWLY MOVING. WHEN I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR INTO A SAFE PLACE I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED AGAIN, IT RETURNED TO NORMAL AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT. THREE DAYS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH ANOTHER DRIVER WHILE I WAS A PASSENGER. THE OLDER MALE DRIVER HAD SIMILAR DIFFICULTY STEERING AND TURNING THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THEY REPAIRED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING FOR AN ESTIMATED COST OF OVER $2000. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,400 MILES SO ABOUT 400 MILES PAST THE WARRANTY. WE WERE ABLE TO GET FORD TO REDUCE THE COST TO APPROXIMATELY $750, SOME OF WHICH WAS FOR THE ALIGNMENT THAT WAS NECESSARY FOLLOWING THE REPAIR. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE WITH DEVASTATING RESULTS. I AM A MOM AND GIRL SCOUT LEADER AND TRANSPORT CHILDREN FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT I HAD 4 CHILDREN IN MY VEHICLE. *TR

BOUGHT USED-AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME-- KIRK FORD FIXED IT AT DEALER COST FROM BARKSDALE CADILLAC WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED.. AIR BAG LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND WHEN I TALKED TO THEM THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE CAUSING IT. . HUSBAND FIGHTIN G CANCER AND I COULD NO GET THR RECALL ON DOOR HANDLE FIXED. HUSBAND PASSED AWAY AND I DONT HAVE FUNDS TO GET AIRBAG LIGHT FIXED..I DONT KNOW THE BRAND OF AIR BAG.SO I DONT KNOW IF IT IS TAKATA

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL.

THE CAR BASICALLY SHUTS OFF AND YOU LOSE POWER STEERING. NO WARN LIGHTS JUST CUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD US THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE POWER STEERING SENSOR AND THAT IT WOULD COST $2,000 TO FIX. I TOOK TO THE INTERNET AND SEARCHED THE ISSUE TO FIND OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY OPENED A CASE FOR US. THEY CAME BACK WITH $1,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BUT IT WILL STILL COST US $1,000 FOR SOEMTHING I FEEL IS NOT A PART THAT "WEARS OUT". IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF REPLACING THE PART BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT. *JS

WHEN ACCELERATING UP INCLINES OR HILLS OR WHEN ENTERING THE HIGHWAY FROM THE ACCELERATION LANE OR ACCELERATING TO PASS A STRONG ODOR OF EXHAUST GAS CAN BE DETECTED IN THE PASSENGER CABIN. THE SMELL IS SO STRONG THE WINDOWS HAVE TO BE LET DOWN TO EVACUATE THE CABIN OF THE EXHAUST GAS.

POWER STEERING FAIL LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING. AFTER KILLING THE CAR, LETTING IT SIT THEN RESTARTING IT I STARTED BACK WORKING. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY RECEIVED A WARNING FOR STEERING FAILURE,SHORTLY AFTER POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED.RESULTING IN VERY HARD STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.VEHICLE TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHO RESET COMPUTER FIXING PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR EXPLAIN WHY IT HAPPENED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT 55 MPH WHEN THE 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT' DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERIOR DISPLAY. THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP & I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE & DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID CRASHING & TURNED THE CAR OFF. ONCE I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON THE FAULT WAS NO LONGER THERE & I DROVE HOME. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP & MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE VEHICLE CHECKED THE NEXT DAY. LATER ON THAT SAME DAY, MY WIFE & I HAD AN APPOINTMENT. HOWEVER, WHEN WE STARTED THE VEHICLE UP, THE SAME FAULT WAS IMMEDIATELY DISPLAYED & THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I KEPT TURNING THE CAR OFF & TRYING TO RESTART, BUT THE FAULT WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I HAD TO GET MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY FORD OWNER THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM. SEVERAL OTHERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THIS FINDING PROMPTED ME TO LOOK ON THE FORD WEBSITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL BUT THERE IS NONE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME FOR AN 'AIR BAG SAFETY FAULT', ELECTRICAL & VALVE MALFUNCTION, AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE 'AIR BAG FAULT' NEVER DISPLAYED DUE TO THE OTHER FAULT. THE ESTIMATED COST WAS OVER $3,000. ALSO, I HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE IN THE INTERIM. I ASKED ABOUT RECALLED PARTS & LEGAL ACTION WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT NO ONE HAD ANY INFORMATION. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE, THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE RENTAL & THEY MADE CONTACT WITH FORD COMPANY. THE FORD COMPANY ALLEGEDLY EMAILED THE FORD DEALERSHIP & TOOK $1,000 OFF THE TOTAL COST. I HAVE A WIFE & A BABY. THIS IS OUR ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IN THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE & I WOULD LIKE FOR FORD TO INVESTIGATE THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE FURTHER & RECALL ITS PARTS. PLEASE HELP US & ALL OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY EXPLORER WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT SUDDENLY, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER TO SAFETY. A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT I WAS TOO BUSY TRYING TO STEER TO SAFETY TO MEMORIZE WHAT IT SAID. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

AFTER STARTING THE CAR, A WARNING OCCURRED FOR THE FIRST TIME SAYING POWER STEERING NEEDED SERVICE "SOON". WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. THE NOTICE DID NOT APPEAR AND MY ENTIRE FAMILY CONTINUED TO OUR DESTINATION. DURING THE COURSE OF OUR RIDE, WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANOTHER WARNING. THEN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN WE VEERED INTO THE OTHER LANE NEARLY CRASHING INTO ANOTHER CAR.DUE TO POWER STEERING LOSS. THE SITUATION WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE SHIFT TO PARK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SHIFT TO PARK SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED CLEARLY DISCERNIBLE EXHAUST GAS LEAKS INTO THE CABIN OF THE 2011 EXPLORER, WHICH ARE MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP RECENTLY, AND THEY IMPLEMENTED A TSB FROM FORD THAT INVOLVED ADDING SMALL VENTS IN THE REAR DOOR AREA. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT TELL US IF THIS WOULD ACTUALLY RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AND WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE THAT TIME, SO DON'T YET KNOW IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED BY THE TSB IMPLEMENTATION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS AT NIGHT, PROCEEDING UP A STEEP AND ICY GRADE, THE VEHICLE GAVE A WARNING SIGNAL ABOUT A POWER STEERING PROBLEM AND IMMEDIATELY THE POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED. THE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STEERING CAPABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE DURING THIS FAILURE, FORCED US TO CREEP ALONG A MAJOR HIGHWAY TO FINISH THE EIGHT MILES TO THE NEAREST TOWN. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I STUMBLED ONTO THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND DISCOVERED THE 2011 EXPLORER OBVIOUSLY HAS A SAFETY FLAW AND A DANGEROUS ONE AT THAT! MY VEHICLE IS IN A FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOW AND THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS IS " THE CAR RECEIVED A FALSE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL AND SHUT DOWN THE POWER STEERING". SERIOUSLY, A FALSE SIGNAL SHUT OFF THE POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES???!!! THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A "10 PAGE CHECKLIST/RE-BOOTING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM OF MY VEHICLE AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONFIDENCE THIS WILL SOLVE A FUTURE PROBLEM OF POWER STEERING CAPABILITY LOSS, ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM ON MY FOURTH MAJOR COMPUTER FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE. FYI FORD ENGINEERS; THE STEERING FUNCTION OF A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO AN ELECTRONIC SIGNAL THAT CAN DEACTIVATE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE!! *TR

DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE LOCKS UP. VERY SCARY SITUATION BECAUSE I COULDN'T CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW??? *TR

I WAS PARKED AT A STORE PARKING LOT. I GOT IN THE CAR TO BACK UP AND THIS MESSAGE "POWERSTEERING ASSIST FAILURE" POPPED UP ON THE SCREEN AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT...THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. *TR

I WAS ROUNDING A CURVE IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER . I MANAGED TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND I NOTICED THE TRACTION CONTROLS WERE LIT UP ALONG WITH THE STEERING FAILURE WARRING CAME ON. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST ON MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER HAS JUST STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. BOTH TIMES HAPPENED IN PARKING LOTS AND THE STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. I'M REPORTING THIS BECAUSE THE FORD DEALER WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX IT SINCE IT RESET ITSELF AND IS NOW WORKING AGAIN. HOWEVER, RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL AND THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED TO PREVENT A FUTURE TRAGEDY. I WILL LIKELY GET RID OF THIS CAR NOW BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON BUSY HIGHWAYS. *TR

I WAS GETTING READY TO TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT .. WHEN 2 SETS OF LIGHTS CAME ON ..THE SYSTEM INDICATORS CAME UP .. ONE INDICATING THE POWER STEERING ERROR AND ANOTHER INDICATING THE POWER STEERING LOCKED ... THEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN .. MAKING SO VERY HARD TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE .. SOMEONE HAD TO PUSH ME INTO THE PARKING LOT OUT OF THE WAY .. LATER TO CALL FORD DEALERSHIP DOESN'T WANT TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS PROBLEM ... I DRIVE A 2011 FORD EXPLORER .. THE CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD . I REVIEWED OTHER CONCERNS OF THIS MATTER .. IS THERE A RECALL ... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING AND IT BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER RESET THE POWER TRAIN COMPUTER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN ACCELERATING HARD (IE, TO MERGE ON THE FREEWAY ETC). HAVE NOTICED THE ISSUE SINCE WE FIRST BOUGHT IT (USED) IN 2013).

WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING ASSIST ABRUPTLY FAILS, AS DOES ADVANCE TRAC STABILITY CONTROL. THE VEHICLE BECOMES MUCH HARDER TO CONTROL. IF THE CAR IS IN A TURN WHEN THE STEERING FAILS, THE STEERING WHEEL LURCHES AND TRIES TO RE-AIM THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT AHEAD, DISRUPTING THE TURN. DASHBOARD WARNINGS CONFIRM THE STEERING AND ADVANCE TRAC FAILURES. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL SUSTAIN FAILS, SO USING THE TURN SIGNAL REQUIRES CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE SIGNAL ARM. ON AVERAGE, THIS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED EVERY 2000 MILES, AT ANY SPEED. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING "FIXES" THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY UNTIL THE NEXT FAILURE. TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR EXAMINATIONS HAVE RESULTED IN NO ANSWERS - BOTH TIMES THE RESULTS OF LEAVING THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS HAVE BEEN SHRUGGED SHOULDERS AND "WE COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THERE IS NO TROUBLE CODE. IT WORKED FINE FOR US." AS IS NOTHING EVER WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, AND EVEN IF THERE WERE SOMETHING WRONG, THERE IS NO WAY TO REPAIR IT! HOW THE NHTSA AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY CAN ALLOW THESE VEHICLES TO ROAM OUR HIGHWAYS WITH NO RECALL, OR EVEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, KNOWING THERE IS A CHANCE THE DRIVERS MAY LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH, AS SOME ALREADY HAVE, IS A CRIME AGAINST VEHICLE SAFETY AND AGAINST THE VERY MISSION STATEMENT OF THE NHTSA. I WILL BE COPYING THIS COMPLAINT TO MY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, WHO IN THE PAST HAS PROVEN TO BE FAR MORE INTERESTED IN MY SAFETY THAN FORD OR THE NHTSA. *TR

THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, WHEN THE CAR COMPLETELY LOSES ALL POWER, CANNOT TURN THE WHEEL, CANNOT ACCELERATE AT ALL AND YOU ARE COMPLETELY UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN EVERY TIME TO BE SERVICED, THEY SAY THAT THE COMPUTER SHOWS THAT NOTHING IS WRONG, NO CODES SHOW UP. THIS PAST TIME I WAS 1 FOOT OVER TRAIN TRACKS WHEN THE CAR DIED. AN ONCOMING TRAIN PASSED BEFORE I HAD TIME TO RESTART MY CAR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL AND IF MY CHILDREN WHERE IN THE CAR I WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT OF THE CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED AT AN INTERSECTION AND DRIVING 40 MPH DOWN A BUSY STREET, HAPPENED TAKING A LEFT TURN ON A BUSY STREET. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS THAT IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT LITERALLY JUST STOPS WORKING. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT ON THIS CAR THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE A FAMILY IS KILLED. *JS

POWER STEER ASSIST DEFAULT SHOWN ON DASH. VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHILE IN MOTION. IT WAS RESET BY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE BECOMING FULLY DISABLED ON MAY 18, 2014. VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHILE IN MOTION AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE 5 MPH AND UNDER. *TR