2011 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FAIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT RESUMED NORMAL FUNTION. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO WAIT UNTIL THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE AND ONLY GOT ABOUT 6 FEET OUT OF THE GARAGE AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER STEERING - THERE WAS A MESSAGE SHOWING ON THE DASH "POWER STEERING MODULE FAULT". 2 DAYS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS A VERY HARD SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. YOU COULD SEE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SHAKE. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT WAS CAUSED BY A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT. AND ALSO SAID THAT FORD IS AWARE OF PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT ALSO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE TRAIN MANAGEMENT MODE WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL AND ALL OF THE GEAR BOX LIGHTS ON FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE STEERING RACK FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN THE PAST TWO WEEKS THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. THE MOST RECENT EVENT OCCURRED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SHE SAID THE CAR WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AND SHE HAD TO BRAKE TO A STOP IN THE TRAVEL LANE. THE PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED TEMPORARILY BY SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION AND POWER AND RESTARTING, BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY A RECURRING ISSUE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWERSTEERING FAILED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CRASHING. HOWEVER IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME AND I SLIGHTLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND ENDED UP IN THE GRASS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

TRAVELING AT 55 MPH AND RECEIVED AN ALARM AND WARNING MESSAGE OF A POWER STEERING FAULT. VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. RESTARTED VEHICLE WITH ALL MESSAGES CLEAR AND VEHICLE DROVE OK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. AWAITING OUTCOME. *TR

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN VEHICLES IN MOTION SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST AND MADE IT HARDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE DASH BOARD INDICATED "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND "SERVICE ADVANCETRACK". THIS HAPPENED THREE TIME AND AFTER SWITCHING OFF THE POWER AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.. WHEN STEERING LOCKED UP I ALMOST HIT THE CURB AND TELEPHONE POLE. SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR HAVE NOT MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT. *TR

ON JULY 31,2012 I WENT TO DRIVE THE EXPLORER AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING CAME ON. IT RESET ITSELF. ON AUGUST 2,2012 I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER BUT THE SYSTEM WAS WORKING. LATER THAT DAY THE SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN WITH TWO ADDITIONAL CODES. FORD AGREED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. TODAY I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WILL COST ME HALF OF A $1500 REPAIR BILL. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON OUR FORD EXPLORER. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS NOT A GOOD SITUATION. WE ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHUT THE CAR OFF. EVENTUALLY RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUED ON OUR TRAVELS. WHEN WE RETURNED HOME FROM VACATION WE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY NOW HAVE OUR EXPLORER IN THEIR SHOP AND WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING A RENTAL CAR FOR 2 WEEKS. SEVERAL WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE TO BACK IT OUT OF THE GARAGE THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER SEEMED TO WORK FINE. I HAD NO OTHER ISSUES WITH IT UNTIL THE 7/28/12 INCIDENT DESCRIBED ABOVE. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE ON 2011 FORD EXPLORER WHILE TRAVELING IN NEIGHBORHOOD. STARTED THE VEHICLE WITH REMOTE START TO COOL VEHICLE IN HOT, HUMID HOUSTON, TEXAS ABOUT 3 TO 4 MINUTES BEFORE ENTERING IT. WE DROVE 1.2 MILES TO AN ACQUAINTANCE'S RESIDENCE TO CO-SIGN A CHECK FOR NON-PROFIT PAYMENT. LEFT VEHICLE RUNNING FOR +/- 3 MINUTES IN HIS DRIVEWAY. BACKED OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY AND DROVE 1/2 MILE WHEN LOST POWER STEERING AND NOTICED TWO MESSAGES ON THE DASH. ONE SHOWED "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND OTHER "SERVICE AUTO TRACKING". STOPPED ON THE STREET, SHUT OFF ENGINE, AND RESTARTED THE CAR. NO MESSAGE. DROVE 1/4 AND THE EVENT RECURRED AS DESCRIBED. RETURNED HOME AND PARKED CAR AT OUR PERSONAL RESIDENCE. CALLED RUSSELL & SMITH FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 5:03PM AND LEFT MESSAGE. SUSPECT IT IS AFTER HOURS AND WILL NOT HEAR FROM THEM UNTIL MORNING OF JULY 26, 2012. THE MESSAGE IS NOT IN OWNER'S MANUAL. SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND NOTICED NHTSA INVESTIGATION AND CHOSE TO CONTRIBUTE AND PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION. *TR

SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST AND MADE IT HARDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE DASH BOARD INDICATED "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND "SERVICE ADVANCETRACK". THIS HAPPENED TWICE AND AFTER SWITCHING OFF THE POWER AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *TR

WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND WAS TURNING INTO THE PARKING LOT AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SUDDENLY SHOWED "POWER STEERING DEFAULT" AND THEN THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY HARD. VEHICLE ACTED AS IF IT HAD NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. MADE IT TO A PARKING SPOT. TURNED OFF VEHICLE. GOT OUT CHECKED FOR LEAKS, CHECKED TO SEE IF POWER STEERING WAS LOW. (NO LEAKS, FLUID LEVEL WAS FINE) RESTARTED VEHICLE, THE COMPUTER SEEMED TO RESET AND STEERING SEEMED FINE. DROVE AROUND PARKING LOT STEERING FINE. HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 12,000 MILES 2011 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED 4X4, V6 MOTOR. *TR

VEHICLE OWNER WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING AND WHEN VEHICLE LET OUT A CHIME AND THE MESSAGE CENTER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST HAD FAILED. IMMEDIATELY, STEERING BECAME QUITE DIFFICULT, BUT THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DRIVER SHUT ENGINE OFF, WAITED A MINUTE, AND RESTARTED VEHICLE. SYSTEMS APPEARED TO BE RESET, MESSAGE CENTER WAS CLEAR, AND DRIVER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO WORK. DRIVER WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE OCCURRING IN 2011 FORD EXPLORERS AND WAS FORTUNATELY PREPARED FOR IT TO HAPPEN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN ON JUNE 5, 2012 WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. SHORTLY THERE AFTER A YELLOW ALERT MESSAGE APPEARED SAYING THAT A "POWER STEERING ASST FAIL" HAD OCCURRED. I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE CAR AND WAS FRANTIC HOPING THAT WE WOULD NOT BE HIT BY OTHER TRAFFIC. AS A LAST RESORT I TOTALLY SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON. THE CAR WAS THEN DRIVE-ABLE AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THE CAR SHOWED A VOLTAGE DROP. THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO AS THE TROUBLE SHOOTING STEPS WERE COMPLETE AND THERE WAS NOTHING VISIBLY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NOW JUST SHY OF 6 WEEKS LATER I WAS AGAIN DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WHEN THE VERY SAME "POWER STEERING ASST FAIL" ALERT CAME ON AS MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN. I TRIED TO YANK ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEE IF IT WOULD BUDGE OR IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE I COULD. REMEMBERING THE LAST SCENARIO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. THIS TIME, THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED AND NOTHING CHANGED. DESPERATE I TURNED THE CAR ON AND OFF AGAIN AND THE MESSAGE WENT AWAY AND I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD BE FEARFUL TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF IT AGAIN. *TR

I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A SERVICE DRIVE TO GO ON THE EXPRESSWAY. AS I WAS COMPLETING THE TURN I LOST THE POWER STEERING & THE CAR STARTED TO DECELERATE. I GOT 2 MESSAGES ON THE DASHBOARD, THE ONLY ONE I PAID ATTENTION TO WAS "SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK", I THINK THE 2ND MESSAGE WAS ABOUT A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. IF IT WAS, IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE ADVANCE TRACK BREAKING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD & STOP THE CAR. SHUTTING THE CAR OFF & RESTARTING DID NOTHING TO CLEAR THE PROBLEM. WHEN I LOOKED UP ADVANCE TRACK IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT EXPLICITLY SAID IF THE ADVANCE TRACK BROKE THE CAR WOULD DECELERATE & POWER STEERING WOULD BE LOST & THE CAR WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED, IT SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN IF THIS HAPPENED. I THEN CALLED THE DEALER & WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. WHEN I CALLED THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD THE PART HAD BEEN ORDERED & SHOULD BE IN ON WED & THEN IT WOULD BE INSTALLED. WHEN I CALLED ON WED I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS ON A 2 WEEK NATIONAL BACKORDER; WHICH MEANT THE PART WOULD NOT BE IN UNTIL AUG 9. IT IS NOW AUG 20 & THE PART HAS STILL NOT BEEN RECEIVED, I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE DEALER EXPECTS DELIVERY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT IT & I AM DRIVING A RENTAL CAR, PAID FOR BY FORD, UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETE. EARLIER IN THE YEAR I HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BOOT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED & I WONDER NOW IF THE 2 PROBLEMS ARE RELATED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD FAIL AND CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,400.

2011 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED EXHIBITING VARIABLE POWER STEERING FAILURE CODE . WHEN FAULT OCCURS, POWER STEERING IS LOST ON CAR UNTIL CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. FAILURE HAS OCCURRED MORE THAT 12 TIMES IN LAST MONTH AT SPEEDS UP TO 35 MPH. DEALER CANNOT RECOGNIZE FAULT OR RECOMMEND FIX AS THE COMPUTER RESETS ITSELF AND CLEARS THE FAULT CODE UPON RESTARTING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHEN TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AND HAS OCCURRED AT BOTH STOP AND AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH. WHEN OCCURS, THE CAR HAS NO POWER STEERING UNTIL OWNER CAN PULL OVER TO RESET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ADVANCE TRAC AND POWER STEERING WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 22,000. UPDATED 8/31/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AFTER A MONTH. UPDATED 09/11/2012 *JS

WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING THE DASH ANNUNCIATOR CAME ON AND, IN SUCCESSION, INDICATED "TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT", "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC" AND THEN "POWER STEERING ASSIST OFF". THIS LAST ONE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AS THIS CAR IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER/TURN WITHOUT POWER ASSIST. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST STOPPED COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. IF I WERE AT HIGH SPEED, AT A CURVE, OR HAD TO AVOID ANOTHER CAR OR PERSON, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN BIG TROUBLE. SOME TIME LATER THE CAR CORRECTED ITSELF. THEN IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME 9/10/2012. *TR

I WAS CROSSING TRAFFIC AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAD TO STOP TO TURN THE WHEEL SO I COULD MAKE MY TURN. I WAS SO LUCKY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC COMING AND I WASN'T GOING ANY FASTER BECAUSE I COULD HAVE HIT A TREE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND AS A RESULT, BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRACTION WARNING AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

"TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT", AND "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" BOTH POPPED UP ON LEFT HAND SCREEN AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY AND ONCE AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. 2 DAYS AFTER GETTING IT BACK FROM THE DEALER IT HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES. TAKING IT BACK BUT I HAVE TO WAIT 2 WEEKS FOR A COURTESY RENTAL CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSSITANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,800. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TURNING INTO PARKING LOT, POWER STEERING ABRUPTLY CEASED,I HAD TO MUSCLE CAR OUT OF WAY OF ANOTHER CAR,NARROWLY ESCAPING ACCIDENT.LIGHTS LIT UP, POWER STEERING FAILURE,TERRAIN MANAGEMENT FAILURE. *TR

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE WARNING CAME ON AS I LOST STEERING. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY THEY REPROGRAMMED EPAS MODULE WHICH OBVIOUSLY WASNT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE 7/27/2012 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN...I WAS BARELY ABLE TO STEER THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED COMPLETELY. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT THREE MINUTES. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

WHILE PARKED WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING, THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND IT WORKED FINE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING. *TR

AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN HOME FROM WORK THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. A WARNING LIGHT ALSO APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING THAT THE POWER STEERING WASN'T FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THAT SPECIFIC WARNING MESSAGE DISAPPEARED FROM THE DASH. HOWEVER, UPON RESTART, ADDITIONAL DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL APPEARED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE BY EXITING TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A NATIONAL SHORTAGE ON THE COMPONENT FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN MULTIPLE WARNINGS OCCURRED. "TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT", "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT", AND "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC" POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. UPON STOPPING AND RESTARTING VEHICLE POWER STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES IN THE NEXT 4 DAYS. FORTUNATELY I WAS TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE EACH TIME AND WAS ABLE TO STOP AND RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN. SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE FIFTH DAY AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE POWER STEERING WORKING AGAIN. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND THAT THE NECESSARY PARTS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY. IT WOULD BE 6 TO 8 WEEKS BEFORE THEY COULD GET THE PARTS. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY 11 YEAR OLD SON AND HIS FRIEND, I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. WHICH MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SHOULDER THRU TRAFFIC. THIS COULD OF CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND HARMED ALOT OF PEOPLE NOT JUST THE PEOPLE IN MY CAR! I GOT THE EXPLORER TO THE DEALER SHIP AND IT HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE, THIS IS NOW 7 WEEKS AND COUNTING. FORD STATES THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. I AM NUMBER 560 AND LAST COUNT 2 WEEKS AGO THERE WERE OVER 800 OF THIS PART ON BACK ORDER. THIS IS OBVIOUS A RECALL ISSUE IF THAT MANY CONSUMERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE! WHY HAS THIS NOT BE PUT INTO RECALL YET. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT BEFORE THE SAFETY OF THE CONSUMERS IS HANDLED. I HAVE BEEN IN A RENTAL CAR FOR 7 WEEKS AND I AM CONCERNED THAT WHEN THEY PUT THE NEW PART IN THAT THIS WILL ONLY HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE FORD DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS ISSUE. PLEASE LOOK AFTER OUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD AND FORCE FORD TO MAKE THIS RECALL. *TR

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE ALERTS FOR FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL CAME ON. WE THEN REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED AND HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF AT AN EXIT. TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER NOT CLEAR AS TO WHAT HAPPENED AND PART TO REPAIR IS ON BACK ORDER FROM FORD. INTERNET RESEARCH DEMONSTRATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2011 FORD EXPLORERS. *TR

ON JULY 4, 2012, WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GETTING READY TO EXIT IN ABOUT 100 YARDS, AS I WAS DECREASING SPEED I HEARD AND FELT A LIGHT BANG, THE CAR SEEMED TO SURGE LIKE IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES WERE PULSATING, AND HAD NO POWER STEERING. CAR PULLED SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT ALMOST HITTING THE GUARD RAIL, COULD NOT STEER. JAMMED ON BREAKS, FORTUNATELY IN THE SLOW LANE, AND PULLED OVER. POWER STEERING LIGHT AND HILL DESCENT CONTROL FAULT CAME ON, SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON POWER STEERING THEN WORKED BUT THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON CENTER CONSOLE DID NOT WORK UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. DEALER KEPT CAR FOR 2 DAYS, RETURNED IT TO ME WITH NO FOUND NO FAULT. ON SUNDAY, JULY 22, 2012, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AT 30 MPH, FELT THE CAR JUMP FORWARD THEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT AND HILL DESCENT LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS ANOTHER LIGHT (I TOOK PICS OF THE ERROR MESSAGES). THIS TIME WHEN I PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED IT, IT DID NOT WORK, LET THE CAR SIT FOR 15 MINUTES STILL DID NOT WORK, CALLED THE TOWLINE AND NO ANSWER, SO DROVE THE CAR 3 MILES TO HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING OR TRACTION CONTROL. NEXT DAY CALLED DEALER CALLED DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT TAKE ME IN FOR ANOTHER WEEK, ALSO STATED THEY NEVER HEARD OF THESE ISSUES, SO I GOOGLED AND FOUND THIS WEBSITE WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE TRACTION CONTROL HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES (AT LEAST 10) AND THE POWER STEERING TWICE WITHIN 18 DAYS. *TR

DRIVING AT 35MPH WHEN A BEEP AND NOTIFICATION POPPED UP IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I RECEIVED A WARNING FOR "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND HAD A "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC" WARNING. I LOST POWER STEERING TO THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD IN TRAFFIC. I ALSO LOST THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FUNCTION. AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RE-STARTING THE ENGINE, THE WARNING WENT AWAY AND I REGAINED POWER STEERING. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE TAKING IT IN. THE DEALERSHIP REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. THIS SEQUENCE HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER THE REPROGRAM, AND THE REPLACED MY STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND REPROGRAMMED AGAIN. I HAD TWO MORE FAILURES AFTER THIS WAS DONE AND THE VEHICLE IS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP TODAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER HEATED SEAT WAS ACTIVATED AND IT BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 28,261. UPDATED 01/07/14*LJ UPDATED 1/22/2014 *JS UPDATED 03/17/15*LJ THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE CASE RE-EVALUATED. UPDATED 8/18/2015*JS

UNFORTUNATELY, FOR SUCH A GREAT TRUCK, THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED THREE TIMES ON MY VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY JUST OVER 14K MILES ON IT. IT OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME AROUND THE 11K MILE POINT IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING FAILED FOR NO REASON GOING ~40MPH. THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYED A MESSAGE STATING "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT." THIS IS THE SAME MESSAGE THAT WAS DISPLAYED ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS. UPON TURNING THE TRUCK OFF AND BACK ON, EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THE FAULT OCCURRED AGAIN AT 13837 MILES (I HAVE A PICTURE) AND AGAIN JUST TODAY AT AROUND 14100. AFTER THE INITIAL FAULT, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST AS THE ONBOARD COMPUTER DOES NOT 'DOCUMENT THE ISSUE'. I WAS ADVISED TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING AND CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP WHO WILL THEN TOW THE TRUCK TO ITS LOCATION. EASIER SAID THAN DONE WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR THREE LANE ROAD IN THE DC SUBURBS. IT'S MOST CONVENIENT TO WRESTLE THE TRUCK TO THE NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND RESTART WHICH RESOLVES THE ISSUE. I AM OBVIOUSLY VERY FRUSTRATED WITH IT - I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN LATE JULY 2011 FOR $48,000 (STICKER PRICE). SO FAR I HAVE NOT HAD ANY TODDLERS IN THE CAR DURING THESE INCIDENTS BUT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. HOPING FOR SOME GUIDANCE AND GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM FORD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS CURRENTLY AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE12017 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,500. UPDATED 7/31/12 *CN ON JULY 12, 2012, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED. A CODE WAS DETECTED IN THE PCM. FROM THAT CODE, IT WAS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A RACK AND PINION. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/01/12

WHILE SLOWING MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER AT AN INTERSECTION, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND THE WHEEL FELT LOCKED. AN ERROR MESSAGE SHOWED 'POWER ASSIST FAILURE'. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TURN IT OFF. ONCE RESTARTED, THE ERROR MESSAGE CLEARED. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN 3 WEEKS AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE 1 YEAR. IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 8,600 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS BEGAN TO OCCUR. *TR

THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW ABOUT 3 WEEKS APART FROM EACH OTHER. WE ARE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL. AN ALERT ON THE DASH WILL SAY POWER STEERING FAILURE. ONCE WE TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT THE POWER STEERING ENGAGES AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND SINCE THE COMPUTER DIDN'T SUBMIT A CODE AND THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM THEY SENT ME HOME WITH IT. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE, IF WE HAPPEN TO BE TURNING WHEN IT ALL THE SUDDEN GOES OUT WE WOULD HAVE ENDED UP GOING OFF THE ROAD OR IN TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THESE CARS ARE MAINLY OWNED BY FAMILIES WITH KIDS SINCE IT HAS THREE ROWS OF SEATS, CAN SOMETHING BE DONE BEFORE IT RESULTS IN MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES? *TR

STARTED VEHICLE AND RECEIVED TERRAIN MANAGEMENT WARNING, POWER STEERING FAULT AND TRACTION CONTROL FAULT. VEHICLE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING NOT WORKING AND TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ALSO DISABLED. WILL HAVE TO DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP WITHOUT POWER STEERING. SHUT OFF VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES AND RESTARTED. SAME WARNINGS AND RESULT. *TR

I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A STRIP MALL AND THE WHEEL DIDNT TURN AT ALL UNTIL I PUT BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL AND FOUGHT THE WHEEL WITH BOTH ARMS TO TURN. A MESSAGE ON MY LCD SCREEN SAID POWER STEERING FAILURE. I HAD TO TURN THE TRUCK OFF AND BACK ON AND THE STEERING WAS FINE, I THOUGHT. ABOUT 20 MILES LATER THE TRUCK DID THE SAME FAILURE AGAIN. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND BACK ON. IT JUST HAD A COOLING FAN TSB PERFORMED AT FORD YESTERDAY, DEALER SAYS THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS, BUT THIS EXPLORER IS ONE BIG COMPUTER SO IM NOT TOO SURE SINCE THEY TOLD ME A RE-PROGRAM WAS DONE FOR THE FANS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AS THIS IS WILL CAUSE A HUGE ACCIDENT AT SOME POINT FOR SOME EXPLORER OWNER. I AM TAKING THIS BACK TO THE DEALER MONDAY FOR A LOANER. *TT

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE DASH MESSAGE CENTER SHOWED A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. THIS HAD HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE PAST BUT TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON SOLVED THE PROBLEM ON PRIOR OCCASIONS. THIS TIME THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO FAIL AFTER MULTIPLE TIMES OF TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. THIS MALFUNCTION MADE THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND MANEUVER. *TR

I PURCHASED THE 2011 FORD EXPLORER ON 6/10/12. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CAR WAS STARTED AND POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK BUT WAS ABLE TO BE REMEDIED BY TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SET UP TO HAVE CAR SERVICED. ON TWO MORE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AFTER APPOINTMENT WAS MADE POWER STEERING WAS LOST WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS RANGING 55 TO 65. ON JULY 3RD ONCE AGAIN WHILE CAR WAS BEING STARTED THE POWER STEERING WOULDN'T WORK AND WAS UNABLE TO BE REMEDIED BY TURNING OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND STILL AWAITING BACK ORDERED PART THAT I AM TOLD MAY TAKE A LONG TIME. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. TRACTION ASSIST CONTROL ALSO FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING BROUGHT THE POWER STEERING BACK BUT NOT THE TRACTION CONTROL. THE TRACTION CONTROL BEGAN FUNCTIONING AGAIN AFTER THE TRUCK SAT FOR ABOUT 8 HOURS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 20 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED BACK ON. THE WARNING LIGHTS REAPPEARED AND THE POWER STEERING STILL DID NOT WORK. ONCE THE CAR WAS PUT INTO DRIVE, THE WARNING LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE INSTEAD TURNED RIGHT, ALMOST CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TERRAIN WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,200.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE STEERING RACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED LOSS IN THE POWER STEERING WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE ALL TRAC SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABRUPTLY ENGAGED TO AVOID HITTING SEVERAL PEDESTRIANS IN THE PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND AN UNKNOWN PART RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,100.

THE CAR'S POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AROUND 10 MPH PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION. THE SCREEN SAID IT WAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE. TURNED CAR OFF AND TURNED BACK ON AND IT WENT AWAY, HOWEVER IT HAPPENED ONCE MORE LATER AROUND 5 MPH. *TR