2011 Ford Explorer complaints

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 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 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 SEVERAL OCCASIONS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WILL NOT FUNCTION, ITS STIFF AS A BRICK, WHEEL CAN NOT BE TURNED. SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. ONE OCCASION, WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AND THE WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. IT WAS MOMENTARY AND CORRECTED ITSELF. *TR

FORD "MYFORDTOUCH" SYSTEM HAS FAILED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IT HAS FROZEN, LOCKED UP, AND CONTINUOUSLY REBOOTED. WHEN THIS OCCURS, YOU LOSE ALL FUNCTIONALITY AND ABILITY TO CHANGE RADIO STATIONS, ADJUST CLIMATE CONTROL, USE NAVIGATION, HANDS FREE FUNCTIONS, ETC. WHILE THERE IS SOME MANUAL CONTROLS FOR BASIC OPERATIONS, IT DOES NOT ALLOW FULL CONTROL OF TALL SYSTEMS. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN THE MFT SYSTEM FAILS, YOU HAVE NO ABILITY TO TURN ON OR ADJUST THE REAR CLIMATE CONTROLS FOR REAR PASSENGERS. DEALER HAS TRIED UPGRADING SOFTWARE, RESETTING SOFTWARE, REINSTALLING SOFTWARE, AND REPLACING HARDWARE. WHILE THE PROBLEM IS NOT AS BAD AS IT HAS BEEN, IT CONTINUES WITH NO RESOLVE. *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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST BECAME INOPERABLE. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST INDEPENDENTLY RESET ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF THEN RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER SHOULD THE PROBLEM RECUR. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

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

THE STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 4 OCCASIONS IN MY BRAND NEW XLT. THE FIRST THREE TIMES IT HAPPENED I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT AND FIX THE PROBLEM. EACH TIME (THREE TOTAL) THE FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT RETURNED IT TO ME AND TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY STOP WORKING, WARNING CHIMES AND LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC", "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT", "TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT" AND TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHTS GLOWING WHILE IN MOTION. ALMOST CRASHED THE VEHICLE EACH TIME IT HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH MY GAS PEDAL POSITION NEVER CHANGED. WHEN IT HAPPENED THE 4TH TIME, I ALMOST WAS IN A FATAL ACCIDENT WITH A TRACTOR TRAILER AND REALIZED FORD MOTOR CORPORATION IS NOT INTERESTED IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM OR ADDRESSING THIS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE ALL LATE MODEL EXPLORER OWNERS ARE FACED WITH. FORD CLAIMED THEY KNOW NOTHING BUT SAME ISSUE ALL OVER INTERNET. THEY CLAIMED THE FIX WAS THEY REPLACED AN ANGLE SENSOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, ANOTHER TIME IT WAS THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REFRESHED AND ANOTHER SAID THERE WAS NO RECORD IN THE ONBOARD COMPUTER, NOTHING TO FIX. AS I AM NOT AN EXPERT, IT SEEMS LIKE THE COMPUTER IS FAULTY BECAUSE THE SYNC AND NAVIGATION NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. WAS THERE A CRASH? WAS THERE AN INJURY OR FATALITY? I BELIEVE IF IT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET, IT WILL. THE HEAD OF CUSTOMER SERVICE

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

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

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

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

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

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

A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TURN, THE FIRST TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO THE CURB AND RESTART THE TRUCK. THAT SEEMED TO MAKE THE LIGHT GO AWAY AND I WAS ABLE TO MAKE TURNS WITH EASE. THE OTHER TIME THE I LOST MY POWER STEERING, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY, IT WAS A STRUGGLE TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN FROM THE LEFT LANE. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID SOME CLOSE CALLS THAT DAY. I HAVE LOST THE POWER STEERING SEVERAL OTHER TIMES BEFORE, BUT THAT INCIDENT MADE ME SET UP THE TRUCK FOR SERVICE. I MADE MY CALL ON 7/20/12 FOR A 7/28/12 SERVICE, THE FORD SERVICE CENTER CUSTOMER REP. TOLD ME THE PART IS BACK ORDER AND THEY DON'T KNOW THEY WILL HAVE THE PART IN STOCK, ALSO THEY KEPT THE TRUCK AND GAVE A FORD FOCUS TO DRIVE. NOT GOOD CONSIDERING I USE MY TRUCK FOR WORK. *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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A WARNING BELL SOUNDED DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE AWAITING THE AVAILABILITY OF PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND CARPOOLING WITH 2 OTHER COWORKERS. I HAD EXITED OFF THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. ALL OF THE SUDDEN, I RECEIVED A MESSAGE, "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT", AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP. LUCKILY I WAS ON THE STRAIGHT PART OF THE ROAD HEADING TOWARD A STOP SIGN. ONCE THERE, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF, AND THEN RESTARTED IT. THE ERROR WAS GONE AND MY STEERING WHEEL WORKED AGAIN. I TOOK IT IN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT TOOK A WEEK FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. ON JULY 19, 2012, JUST 3 MONTHS AFTER THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, I TOOK OFF FROM A RED LIGHT GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND AGAIN I RECEIVED THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" MESSAGE AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP AGAIN. I HAD MY CHILDREN WITH ME IN THE CAR AND THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS NOBODY BEHIND ME AND I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT AND THE ERROR WAS GONE AND I COULD DRIVE MY CAR AGAIN. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AWAITING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN. READY TO GET RID OF THIS VEHICLE AS IT POSES A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD! *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. 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.

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

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.

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

"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, 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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING FAILED SEVEN DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

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

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.

THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SYSTEM CAME UP WITH A WARNING THAT SAID POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. THEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. I LOST FULL CONTROL OF THE STEERING AT THE TIME OF DRIVING. THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I TURNED ON MY HAZARDS TO SIGNAL OTHER CARS TO GO AROUND ME. AT THAT TIME, I HAD TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE AND RESTART IT TWICE BEFORE IT RESET THE SYSTEM AND ALLOWED ME TO CONTROL THE STEERING AGAIN. THIS WAS VERY SCARY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SAME SCENARIO. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT SO THEY TRIED RESETTING THE SYSTEM WITH A COMPLETE MASTER RESET. SINCE THEN, IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. THE THIRD TIME I WAS ACTUALLY TURNING IN A TURN LANE AND COULD NOT STEER STRAIGHT. LUCKILY THERE WERE NOT ANY CARS BEHIND ME. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THEY SHOULD NOT BE SENDING PEOPLE BACK OUT IN THESE CARS. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS FILED A REPORT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

I WAS STARTING TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND THE STABILITRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. THE STEERING GOT TIGHT AND THERE WAS LITTLE MOVEMENT TO TURN THE WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT. I PULLED A FEW FEET BACK IN THE PARKING STALL, TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND RESTARTED IT AGAIN. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE FOR A MILE OR SO AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. I GOT A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD TO ORDER AND REPLACE THE STEERING PUMP. THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME THREE DAYS AGO, ON 7/2/12. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO AGAIN REPLACE THE STEERING PUMP. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS SECOND TIME I HAD MY TWO 7-YEAR-OLDS IN THE CAR AND WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH DOWN A MAJOR STREET. THE SAME LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED. I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, BUT STILL HAD TO MAKE 5 TURNS. I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD THAT I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO BREAK IT. IT TOOK ALL MY ARM STRENGTH TO MAKE THE TURNS. I WOULD TURN THE SIGNAL ON AND IT WOULD BLINK ONCE AND GO OFF ALSO. IT IS SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS AND AS MENTIONED, I HAVE NO FAITH THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. AND THIS VEHICLE IS JUST NOW A YEAR OLD. *TR

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

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

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, GETTING READY TO EXIT. I HEARD A BEEP, INDICATING A WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A WARNING APPEARED STATING 'POWER STEERING ASSIST DISABLED.'. THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKED. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND MADE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES, AND STARTED CAR AGAIN. PROBLEM RESOLVED. *JS

LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT SLOW SPEEDS (MULTIPLE TIMES). "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" LIGHT ON DASHBOARD. POWER STEERING RETURNS AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING CAR. *JS

THERE WERE ACTUALLY 4 INCIDENTS; THE FIRST ONE I WAS BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, STARTED IT AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO PARK. THE NEXT DAY I WAS WAITING IN TRAFFIC & IT DIED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T WORK; WE THEN TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER & HE SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT. WE TOLD THEM THAT A MESSAGE FLASHED "POWER STEERING ASSAULT". EACH INCIDENT, THAT MESSAGE APPEARED. THE THIRD TIME I WAS DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, THEN THE CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN & HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED INTO THE DEALER. THEY SUPPOSEDLY 'FIXED' IT AGAIN. THEN WE WERE ON A TRIP, 600 MILES FROM HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. WE PULLED OVER, STOPPED. IT THEN STARTED AGAIN AND WE FINISHED OUR TRIP. THEN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE HE DID ORDER A NEW PART. WE GOT THE CAR BACK LAST WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012, AND TODAY IS JULY 1, 2012. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. *TR