2011 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS BEGINNING IN 2012 I WAS MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT AND TRACTION ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF. I WAS ONLY A GOING A FEW MILES PER HOUR. ON THE FIFTH OCCASION IN MAY 2013 I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH A SECURED GREEN LIGHT MAKING A LEFT TURN, PROBABLY GOING ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION ASSIST LIGHTS CAME ON. THE STEERING IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP AND THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF, ONLY THIS TIME I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED BY A CAR THAT WAS FOLLOWING ME THROUGH THE LIGHT. IT WAS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED AS A DRIVER AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WAS RAINING? I WOULD HAVE SURELY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A POLE THAT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE TAKEN MY 2011 EXPLORER TO FORD THREE TIMES AND ALL THREE TIMES THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK GOING ABOUT 55MPH GIVE OR TAKE 5MPH WHEN THE STEERING WENT STIFF AND MADE IT HARD TO STEER THROUGH THE TURNS. IT WAS WORSE WHEN I HAD TO MAKE SLOW TURNS. IF I HAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT QUICKLY I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE ABLE TO AVOID IT. WHEN I GOT TO WORK SHUT THE CAR OFF TURNED IT BACK ON AND I GUESS IT RESET BECAUSE THE STEERING CAME BACK. WHEN I T HAPPENED AGAIN I CALLED THE BREWSTER FORD AND SAID TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AND THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM I ROUGH THE CAR TO THE DEALER AFTER IF HAPPENED A FEW TIME BUT THEY SAID THEY WONT BE ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING SINCE THERE ARE NO ERRORS WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN IT HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN THE CHECK IT SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING AND THEN CHARGED ME ALMOST $200 IF FINALLY COMPLETELY WENT THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER A 1YR TIME PERIOD PUT A CALL INTO BREWSTER FORD AND CORPORATE STILL WAITING TO HERE FROM EITHER ONE THAT WAS ALMOST 2WEEKS AGO. *TR

WHILE DRIVING A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STATING I LOST POWER STEERING. I COULD NOT STEER MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. I SHUT OFF MY CAR AND RESTARTED IT AND POWER STEERING CAME BACK. *TR

DRIVING ON THE SIDE STREET WHEN STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY STIFF AFTER A VERY SLIGHT STEER TO THE RIGHT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RE-STARTING ENABLE STEERING AGAIN. SAME INCIDENT HAPPEN AGAIN WITHIN A WEEK, LUCKILY I AM DRIVING ON SIDE STREET AND SAME INCIDENT HAPPEN AGAIN. NEVER DROVE CAR ON FREEWAYS FOR FEAR OF LOSING STEERING CONTROL. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY. DEALER SAID FIX COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER DEALER SAID THEY FIX IT, SAME INCIDENT HAPPEN WITH MY WIFE DRIVING. THIS TIME STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT MOVE EVEN AFTER STOP/RE-START OF ENGINE. DEALER TOW CAR TO THEIR SHOP. *TR

ON OCT. 30TH THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 SOUTH GOING ROUGHLY 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE STEERING LOCKED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR THE WHEELS TO BE TURNED. WE WERE LUCKY IT HAPPENED ON A STRAIGHT PIECE OF THE HIGHWAY. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR IN TIME SO THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SLOWLY ENOUGH THAT SHE COULD KEEP IT ON THE BERM. THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND WHEN SHE TURNED IT BACK ON THE STEERING WORKED FINE. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH IN A PARKING LOT HEN AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED WHEN THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE12017 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,458.

ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 25TH, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2011 FORD EXPLORER AWD LIMITED TO WORK AND THE EPAS POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. SHE WAS LUCKILY CLOSE TO WORK AND NOT DRIVING IN ANY CURVY TERRAIN, AND WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE WITH GREAT EXERTION. I CAME OUT AND SWITCHED CARS SO THAT I COULD DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE EPAS WAS WORKING AGAIN WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY SAW THE FAULT WHEN THEY HOOKED THE CAR TO THEIR SYSTEM. AS OF TODAY, 11/14/12, FORD STILL HAS POSSESSION OF OUR VEHICLE, WAITING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS. *TR

PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT OFF OF A HIGHWAY POWER STEERING FROZE AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND ON AGAIN BUT STILL HAD SAME ISSUE AND COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. TURNED POWER OFF, TOOK KEY OUT OF IGNITION AND GOT OUT OF VEHICLE. WENT BACK IN AND RESTARTED VEHICLE AND STEERING SEEMED TO BE NORMAL AGAIN. DROPPED OFF AT DEALER THE NEXT DAY. IT HAS BEEN 10 WEEKS AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED, PART ON BACKORDER AND FEARFUL OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER IT IS FIXED. DEALER AND FORD REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] TELLS ME THERE IS NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON PART. IF THIS IS THE CASE THIS MUST BE A BIG PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE MALL PARKING LOT, POWER STEERING FAILED & SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP. I WAS IN PROCESS OF TURNING WHEN POWER ASSIST FAILED AND I ALMOST STRUCK A PARKED CAR. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED (POWER ASSIST WAS THEN WORKING). I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED I NEEDED A NEW STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS INCIDENT IS CONSISTENT WITH NHTSA CASE PE12-017. *TR

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL I COULD NOT. THERE WAS A WARNING LITE ON THE LEFT OF DASH THAT CAME ON SHOWING POWER ASSIST STEERING FAILURE. TURNED CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AND IT RESET AND WAS NOW WORKING. *TR

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER. LUCKILY THERE WAS A TURN LANE TO MY RIGHT I COULD MOVE INTO TO STOP THE CAR AND ATTEMPT TO RESET THE SYSTEM. I WAS LUCKY. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN ON A WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD. I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO THE CLOSEST DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PARTS AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1600.00 TO FIX. THIS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD. THE DESIGN OF THIS STEERING SYSTEM IS POTENTIALLY FATAL NO STEERING SYSTEM SHOULD EVER FAIL WITHOUT WARNING! *TR

I WAS TAKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND WAS ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND I LOST ALL POWER. THE POWERTRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE WRENCH SYMBOL. I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO A DRIVEWAY AND TURN THE CAR OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED IT EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. FIVE DAYS LATER I WAS AGAIN DRIVING WITH KIDS. THIS TIME I WAS GOING ABOUT 35 MPH ON A ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER. THE CAR LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND RESTART IT BEFORE I WAS REAR ENDED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS WRECK. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND THERE WAS NO HARD FAULT DETECTED BY THE CAR'S COMPUTER. SO I JUST GET TO KEEP ON DRIVING AND HOPING FOR THE BEST. *TR

INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING, THE ADVANCTRAK AND TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE "SERVICE ADVANCTRAK" WARNING APPEARED. AT THE SAME TIME, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO WORK, AND THE "POWER STEERING FAULT" WARNING APPEARED. THE TURN SIGNALS ALSO STOPPED WORKING DURING THESE EPISODES. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES SINCE SEPTEMBER 9, 2012, ALL WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING YESTERDAY. IN ALL CASES, I HAD TO TAKE THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE - UPON RESTARTING, THE WARNINGS DISAPPEARED AND THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE NOW, WITH NO ISSUES FOUND. I HAVE A 3RD APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TODAY. *TR

STARTED TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE AND THE STEERING WOULDN'T MOVE. CHIME WENT ON AND "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" APPEARED IN THE DISPLAY NEXT TO THE SPEEDOMETER. SHUT THE CAR OFF WAITED THEN RESTARTED THE CAR AND THINGS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. WILL CALL FORD DEALER AS THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS, STEERING WAS VERY, VERY HARD TO MOVE AND I'M A HEALTHY MALE IN THE MID 40'S. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY WIFE WOULD DO IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *TR

DURING A LATE AFTERNOON DRIVE ON THE LOCAL FREEWAY AND UNDER DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER AT APPROX. 70 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE LUXURY OF POWER STEERING VANISHED. IMMEDIATELY, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON SURFACE STREETS AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTS TO PARK. WITHIN MOMENTS OF THE POWER STEERING GOING AWAY, A POP-UP WINDOW APPEARED ON MY DASH BOARD INSTRUCTING ME OF A POWER STEERING PROBLEM AND INVITING ME TO BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. I REACHED MY DESTINATION AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, I TURNED ON THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS, I WAS AGAIN DRIVING THE LOCAL FREEWAY AT 70 MPH UNDER DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE SAME EXPERIENCE OCCURRED. I AGAIN REACHED MY DESTINATION, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND ATTENDED TO MY DUTIES. AGAIN, AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, I TURNED ON THE CAR AND FOUND NO POP-UP WINDOWS ON THE DASH BOARD OR POWER STEERING DIFFICULTIES. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW STEERING GEAR, WHICH IS PRESENTLY ON ORDER AND SHOULD BE IN WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. *TR

DRIVING SLOW SPEED WITH 1YEAR OLD AND 3 YEAR OLD BABIES POWER STEERING FAILED. WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. GLADLY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WILL SEE WHAT FORD SAYS TOMORROW. *TR

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. CANNOT DRIVE CAR. ERROR MESSAGE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT". *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HWY WHEN I LOST THE ABILITY TO PROPERLY STEER THE VEHICLE AT 55 MPH, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A LOT OF EFFORT. AT THE TIME MY 4 YEAR OLD AND 4 MONTH OLD WERE IN THE VEHICLE AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. I CALLED MY HUSBAND IN A PANIC AND HE CAME TO PICK ME UP. WHEN HE GOT THERE THE POWER STEERING FAULT LIGHT WAS ON AND THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON THE STEERING CAME BACK BUT THE WARNING LIGHT WAS STILL ON. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT WHAT IS WRONG. *TR

AS COASTING TO A STOP LIGHT FROM APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DOWN TO 5 AND MAYBE EVEN COMPLETELY STOPPED, THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN NOTICED POWER STEERING WAS NEARLY LOST. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A SIDE STREET, STOP AND RESTART THE CAR, AND THEN IT DROVE FINE. TAKING IT INTO A DEALER FOR EVALUATION TODAY AND HAVE NOTIFIED A FORD PERSON VIA ONLINE MESSAGE BOARD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY PARENTS AND MY TODDLER DAUGHTER BACK FROM VISTING A SIBLING (APPROX. 5 HOUR DRIVE) WHEN WE STOPPED BRIEFLY TO TAKE A BREAK ABOUT 2 1/2 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR UP AGAIN, I RECEIVED WARNINGS RELATED TO A POWER STEERING FAILURE AND ADVANCE TRAC FAILURE. THE CAR HAD NO POWER STEERING AND THERE APPEARED TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BLINKERS AS WELL. ON TUESDAY, FOLLOWING LABOR DAY) I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT FOR REPAIR. MORE THAN A WEEK LATER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER WITH FORD UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST AND THAT THERE WAS A WAITING LIST TO GET THE PART AND THERE WERE ALMOST 1000 PEOPLE ON THE WAIT LIST AHEAD OF ME. I'M GREATFUL THAT I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, HOWEVER, EVEN UNDER THE WARRANTY THEY ONLY HAVE TO PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR FOR 10 DAYS. I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND KEEP ME IN A CAR UNTIL SOMETIME IN HOPEFULLY OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER WHEN THEY CAN REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. THIS APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND IS BOTH A SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL AS POSSIBLY A DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE. *TR

WHILE PULLING INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION (ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT AT A T INTERSECTION) THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I RECEIVED ERRORS ON THE CLUSTER STATING THAT POWER STEERING AND STABILITRAK HAD FAILED. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR INTO TRAFFIC; LUCKILY THERE WAS A DRIVEWAY A FEW DEGREES OFF CENTER FROM THE T AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL IN THERE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE STEERING GEAR SHIFT WAS REPLACED. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO DAYS LATER. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE STEERING GEAR SHIFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,500. ..UPDATED 01/30/13 *BF 02/01/2013 *JS

NUMEROUS REPAIRS TO AIRBAG SYSTEM. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND PREVIOUS REPAIRS INCLUDE, SEATBELT TENSIONER, SEVRERAL JUMPERS AROUND THE CONNECTION UNDERNEATH DRIVERS SEAT, AS WELL AS SOME KIND OF PROGRAMMING IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. IVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW AND IT HAS BEEN IN DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES FOR AIIRBAG ISSUES. PLEASE DO A FULL INSPECTION OF THE AIRBAG SYTEM INCLUDING FAULTY WIRING HARNESS!!!

POWER STEERING FAILED. *TR

UPON MEDIUM TO HEAVY ACCELERATION, SUCH AS ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE CABIN IS FILLED WITH EXHAUST FUMES FROM THE ENGINE. THIS INJURES THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM OF THE PASSENGERS. THEY ARE WORKING ON A FIX (AFTER MY FAMILY HAS BEEN BREATHING POLLUTED AIR FOR ALMOST TWO AND A HALF YEARS). FORD HAS FINALLY ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND SEND ME A LETTER THAT SAID. [XXX] FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION MARCH 7, 2014 [XXX] [XXX] SUBJECT: CUSTOMER CONCERN - EXHAUST ODOR ON 2011-2014 EXPLORER, EDGE OR MKX WE THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DISCUSS THE CONCERN OF EXHAUST ODOR IN YOUR VEHICLE. TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERN ABOUT EXHAUST ODOR, WE HAVE PERFORMED SEVERAL INSPECTIONS AND SEALING ACTIONS WHERE APPLICABLE ON YOUR VEHICLE TO HELP MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF ODOR COMING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WITH THESE CHANGES YOU MAY STILL EXPERIENCE ODOR UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS SUCH AS, WHEN PERFORMING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (WOT) ACCELERATIONS WITH THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IN RECIRCULATION MODE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY ENGINEERS HAVE EVALUATED THE AIR ENTERING THE CABIN DURING WORST CASE DRIVING CONDITIONS (SEVERAL WOT ACCELERATIONS WITH THE CLIMATE SYSTEM IN RECIRCULATION MODE). TEST RESULTS INDICATE CABIN AIR QUALITY LEVELS ARE WELL WITHIN THE AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY VARIOUS GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCIES SUCH AS THE U.S. EPA, OSHA, THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA PRESIDENCY OF METEOROLOGY & ENVIRONMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT OF DUBAI ENVIRONMENT HEALTH AND SAFETY DIVISION. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [XXX] CUSTOMER RELATIONS ANALYST PLEASE HELP ME, FORD DON'T WANT TO HELP [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE TURNING RIGHT AT ABOUT 6 - 10 MPH THE STEERING FAILED AND VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL. LUCKILY NO DAMAGE OR INJURY, WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY UNSAFE IF HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEED. *TR

I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, WHEN THE WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON LETTING ME KNOW THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED" AND THEN LOST ALL POWER FOR STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, STOP & RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING UNIT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE 'RACK & PINION' ATTACHMENTS. I TOW A BOAT FROM TIME TO TIME AND THIS COULD HAVE DEVELOPED INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS CLOSE TO A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME AND I WAS ABLE TO PERFORM THE RESTART. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE (20+) POWER STEERING FAILURES. IT TYPICALLY OCCURS WHILE I AM DRIVING ON THE TACONIC STATE PARKWAY, A 55 MPH ROAD IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURS QUICKLY WITH LITTLE TIME FOR THE DRIVER TO REACT. YOU SIMPLY GET A SMALL CHIME WITH AN INDICATOR ON THE DASH STATING "POWER ASSIST FAILURE' FOLLOWED BY A MESSAGE STATING 'POWER STEERING FAILURE'. BY THE TIME YOU READ THE MESSAGE, YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED AS YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING THE MOMENT THE CHIME IS HEARD. THE LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED AS I WAS TURNING OFF THE EXIT RAMP FOR THE TACONIC STATE PARKWAY ONTO A LOCAL ROAD TO GO HOME. HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND I ALMOST DROVE MY CAR INTO ANOTHER CAR AT THE INTERSECTION. WITH MY STRENGTH, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL TO COMPLETE THE TURN. OTHERWISE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HEAD ON COLLISION INTOP A CAR STOPPED IN THE INTERSECTION. HAD THIS BEEN MY PREGNANT WIFE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SCARY RESULT. THIS CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER (PLEASANTVILLE FORD) SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TO HAVE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED. THEY CLAIMED AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS DUE TO A CROSSED WIRE THAT WAS FIXED. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR, AND THEY PRESENTLY HAVE A NEW RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM ON ORDER FROM FORD TO TRY AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE. BASED ON THE LATEST OCCURRENCE, AS WELL AS A SLEW OF OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, I AM DROPPING IT AT THE DEALER TODAY AS I NO LONGER DEEM IT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET WITH FORD AND THEIR PRODUCT OVER THIS ISSUE. *TR

AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST AND A CHIME SOUNDED WITH A MESSAGE STATING"POWER ASSIST FAILURE" AND THEN ANOTHER MESSAGE OF "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC" WERE SHOWN IN THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN JUNE OF 2012, BUT I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS WEBSITE TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. I ALSO DID NOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR IT TO BE LOOKED AT AS IT SEEMED LIKE A RARE EVENT. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING APPROX 60MPH WHEN AN ALERT FROM THE DASH SOUNDED, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND 2 MESSAGES APPEARED ON THE ONBOARD MESSAGING SYSTEM: 1) "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND 2) "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC". AT THAT TIME I LOST ALL POWER STEERING ABILITY. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD AT THE TIME AS I AM UNSURE IF I COULD HAVE KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM GOING OFF OF THE ROAD. I PULLED OVER AT A GAS STATION AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I RESTARTED THE CAR APPROX 5 MIN LATER AND IT HAD NO WARNINGS AND THE POWER STEERING HAD BEEN RESTORED. THE NEXT DAY, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED, EXCEPT I WAS GOING APPROX 10MPH TURNING LEFT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO LET THEM LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME TODAY THAT THEY NEEDED TO ORDER A NEW "RACK" AND THAT THE PART WAS "BACKORDERED" AND HAD A DELIVERY DATE OF NOVEMBER (TODAY'S DATE IS 8/27/12). *TR

A WARNING MESSAGE SAYING "SERVICE AUTOTRAC" CAME ON, FOLLOWING QUICKLY BY A POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE. AT THAT POINT, I COULD NO LONGER STEER THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO CONTINUE DRIVING. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STEEP AND CURVY ROAD AND THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE ALL TERRAIN ASSISTANCE FAILURE LIGHT. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ... I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE FAILURE LIGHT REMAINED FOR BOTH THE POWER STEERING AND ALL TERRAIN. I TURNED THE CAR OFF WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND THE FAULT CAME BACK ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME. I HAVE AN 8 MONTH OLD CHILD AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE ... ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE SYNC SYSTEM TOTALLY CRAPPED OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING AT THE DEALER FOR ABOUT A MONTH. WE PAY ABOUT $700 A MONTH FOR THIS ON A LEASE AND CAN'T WAIT TO TURN IT BACK IN. *TR

(MY WIFE AS ON HER WAY TO OUR DAUGHTER'S ONE MONTH DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. SHE HAD JUST BEGAN MOVING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN A BUNCH OF LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER (FOUND TO BE STABILI-TRAC ERRORS AND FAULTY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING). SHE MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT HARM. AFTER READING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, SHE FOUND THAT WITH THIS ISSUE, TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON MAY "CLEAR" THE ISSUE. IT DID TAKE CARE OF THE STEERING ISSUE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DOCTORS. FORD LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND HAS ORDERED ANOTHER STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE SAME FAULT HAS HAPPENED AN ADDITIONAL FOUR TIMES SINCE THE FIRST DAY. THAT IS A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS ONLY BEEN ABLE TO TELL US THAT THE PART IS ON BACK-ORDER BECAUSE FORD ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON A REVISED PART TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE SHE HAD BOTH CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THANKFULLY SHE WAS ABLE TO STAY IN AN EXTENDED SHOULDER AFTER THE MERGE LANE ENDED. TURNING THE VEHICLE HAS CORRECTED THE ISSUE EVERY TIME SO FAR. *TR

DRIVING ALONG AND THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED THREE TIMES. TURN CAR OFF AND RESTART AND IT WORKS AGAIN. TAKING TO FORD DEALER ON AUGUST 27 FOR REVIEW. SAME AS INHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12017. *TR

"TERRAIN MANAGEMENT ASSIST FAULT" AND "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" WARNING LIGHTS POP UP AND STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HARD TO REGAIN CONTROL OF STEERING AND HAVE TO MUSCLE CAR OVER TO CURB AND TURN OFF ENGINE AND RESTART CAR TO GET DRIVABLE THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS. VEHICLE AGAIN AT FORD DEALER. FIRST OCCASION LAST WEEK AND DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE ISSUE, REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER AND RELEASED US. PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MORNING AND CAR TAKEN TO DEALER. *TR

DRIVING AROUND A FAIRLY SHARP CURVE OF 2-LANE COUNTRY HIGHWAY WITH NO SHOULDER AND DEEP DITCHES AT ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN CAR SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE PULLING ME OFF THE ROAD. LOOKED AT INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SAW LIGHTS INDICATING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND LOSS OF TRACTION CONTROL. VERY HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE ON ROADWAY, BUT LUCKILY WITH NO ONE BEHIND ME, I LET MY SPEED REDUCE AS I ASSESSED THE SITUATION. GOT VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND STARTED READING OWNER'S MANUAL. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES, I RESTARTED IT TO FIND THE DASHBOARD WARNINGS WERE CLEARED. CONFIRMATION FROM THE MANUAL SAID THAT STEERING MAY RESET AFTER A RESTART. POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. A CALL TO THE DEALERSHIP RESULTED IN THEM TELLING ME IT WAS PROBABLY JUST A FLUKE INCIDENT AND TO CONTINUE ON MY TRIP, BUT TO BRING IT BY THE NEXT DAY WHEN BACK IN TOWN. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE COMPUTER CODES, THEY WOULD NOT RELEASE THE VEHICLE TO ME BECAUSE OF ITS DANGER TO DRIVE. THIS WAS ALMOST 2 MONTHS AGO AND THEY STILL CANNOT TELL ME WHEN THE PART WILL BE IN FOR MY VEHICLE REPAIR. FORD TELLS THEM I AM ON A LIST, BUT CAN'T TELL THEM WHERE ON THE LIST. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THERE IS NO RECALL, BUT THERE IS EITHER A VERY LONG LIST WAITING FOR THIS PART OR FORD CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG AND WHY IT IS FAILING IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM CORRECTLY. AFTER WAITING 4 MONTHS AFTER ORDERING TO FINALLY GET MY VEHICLE, YOU'D THINK FORD WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT RIGHT BEFORE LETTING THEM GO OUT. *TR

THE MANAGEMENT TERRAIN AND POWER ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THEN I HAD NO POWER STEERING. IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED 3 TIMES AND AT A DEAD STOP 3 TIMES. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESET BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RE-STARTING. *TR

POWER STEERING ASSIST DISABLED AND ASSOCIATED WARNING LIGHT ENABLED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN STOPPED WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND IN GEAR. DISABLE OCCURRED WHEN I STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD. PROBLEM CORRECTED ITSELF AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING VEHICLE. CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE. OCCURRED A SECOND TIME, APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK LATER, WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE. POWER STEERING WAS AGAIN ENABLED BY TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING ENGINE. PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK UNTIL IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE DIAGNOSIS WAS STEERING GEAR NEEDED REPLACING. NO REPAIR PERFORMED TO DATE, APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER. REPORTEDLY THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. *TR

I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND GETTING INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE. THE LIGHT WAS GREEN SO I STARTED TO TURN LEFT AND THE TRACTION LIGHT SYSTEM CAME ON, BOTH LIGHTS, AND THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE ALERT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND ALMOST HIT A POLE. IT WAS A NICE DAY, NO RAIN OR MOISTURE. THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED ON VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IN ORDER TO RESOLVE FAILURE MOMENTARILY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 10/17/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE LAST TIME THE FAILURE HAPPENED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING UNIT AND REPROGRAMMED THE CONTROL MODULE. UPDATED 10/18/12

STARTED PARKED EXPLORER AND WENT TO BACK UP. THE POWER ASSIST STEERING FAULT LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AS THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC LIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE AT ALL.TRIED BACKING UP AND GOING FORWARD BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE. NEXT I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON. THE FAILURE LIGHTS WOULD NOT CLEAR AND THE STEERING WAS STILL LOCKED. CALLED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY ME TRY RESTARTING SEVERAL TIMES. EVENTUALLY THE PROCESS WORKED AND THE STEERING CAME BACK.DEALER ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN RIGHT AWAY.LOCAL DEALER PROVIDED A RENTAL CAR. DEALER CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND SAID OUR EXPLORER WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER ORDERED REPLACEMENT STEERING RACK. PROJECTED DATE FOR REPLACEMENT PART IS NOVEMBER 9. OUR DEALER HAS BEEN GREAT. I AM NOT SURE EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS REPAIRED WILL I TRUST IT. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 10-15 MILES PER HOUR. THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING AND THEN THE POWER STEERING FAULT LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH BUT WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING DID NOT RETURN. I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF A SECOND TIME AND LET IT SIT FOR 60 SECONDS AND THE SECOND TIME THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. TWO DAYS LATER WHEN DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN, I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT AFTER 60 SECONDS AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. *TR

DRIVING MY EXPLORER AT A SPEED OF 45 MPH A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. WHICH IT HAD. ALSO RECEIVED WARNINGS MY TRACTION CONTROL HAD FAILED. STOP VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE PROBLEM RESET IT SELF. THIS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN 5 DAYS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED MESSAGE CAME ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANY TURNS OR MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER POWERING OFF AND RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO FILED A REPORT AND DID NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,472 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,600. UPDATED 09/21/12*LJ THE CONSUMER THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL FAILURES AND RELATED MESSAGES APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL'S MESSAGE CENTER. THE DEALER FOUND A DIAGNOSTIC CODE FOR THE SPEED SENSORS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 09/27/2012 *JS *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED IN MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE SAFELY BUT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH MY 2 YOUNG BOYS IN THE CAR. *TR

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THREE WARNINGS CAME UP, ALL REFERRING BACK TO THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND SEEM TO RESET. WE THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT STILL SITS. *TR

I WAS SLOWING TO STOP FOR A STOP LIGHT AND A LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH THAT THE ADVANCE TRACTION FAILED. SECONDS LATER, A LIGHT CAME ON SAYING THE POWER STEERING FAILED, I TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING LIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN SEIZED AND THE CONTACT WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY FORD EXPLORER AND I GOT A WARNING ALARM THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER AND WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING BUT THEY ARE GOING TO FIX IT. *TR

STARTED CAR AND PROCEDED TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY. POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. A WARNING SHOWED ON DASH SCREEN "POWER STEERING ASSIST" OFF FAILURE. STOPPED CAR / RESTARTED AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. DROVE 5- 10 MILES, NO OTHER FAILURE. *TR