of the Ford explorer. The issue is essentially a rear suspension fracturing. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2016 Ford Explorer based on all problems reported for the 2016 Explorer. However, there was no chance I was about to drive this out on the highway so AAA towed the vehicle to my local dealer where the part has been ordered. Unreliable, service department is horrible to work with. And to note, we do take very good care of our cars. 1 Steering Noise problem Failure Date: 04/05/2021 Unfortunately, in some car models, you will also need to program the new steering angle sensor, which can often only be done by the dealer. Hydraulic vs Electric Power Steering Differences, Pros & Cons, Steering Wheel Hard to Turn? When I called the dealership to find out what was going on with my car, I learned that the Steering Gear Assembly was 'corroded' and needed to be replaced. Steve represents consumers, employees, and whistleblowers harmed by corporate misconduct in a variety of complex litigation cases. Ford isn't aware of any fatalities related to the faulty cars. The reports are all over the place, but most of them point to a coolant leak. Handles horrible on water or ice. The warranty that was offered with it had hidden exemptions that were not talked about or shown to me and things like a door hanging were not included. Ford just announced two recalls involving almost 775,000 Explorer SUVs and another for 2020-2021 Lincoln Aviator SUVs. Two weeks later it happened again in my driveway, unable to turn the wheel at all. Some drivers are inquiring about a Ford Explorer Power Steering Lawsuit. Bulky to drive, gets very bad gas mileage, has several blinds spots when looking back, the backup camera is a joke. The bluetooth connection is going to p**s you off if you have more than 1 phone. Do not know why it makes these noises and brakes squeak but there is a recall on the suspension that might have something to do with those noises. I took the vehicle to a licensed Ford Dealer and was told that the electronic steering rack would need to be replaced. This is absolutely insane and I plan on fighting it. Don't know if he would have had enough experience to handle loss of steering. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed her that the vehicle was not under recall or warranty. Please also check out the If not move on to the battery and check its voltage of it. Lets start with the fact that weve had steering issues from the start with this vehicle. The lemon I got at 2014 Ford Explorer and cannot buy another. They ended rotating the tires. A mechanic will place the vehicle on a lift, run it through a battery of tests and perform a thorough visual inspection. The failure code for the steering power assist module was detected. Complaints are similar and involve a sudden lack of power or rapid deceleration that requires owners to take their vehicles down to a Ford dealer for a full diagnosis of the issue. The dealership got Ford to reduce the cost of the part from 1300 to 1000 and Ford agreed to $400 of assistance. It becomes much more difficult to handle your car, and it can even result in an accident if you are not able to maneuver the car fast enough. Drove the car for a year feeling like something was wrong under the hood. Vehicle was towed to dealership and reprogramming was attempted with no success. Exposure to exhaust fumes can lead to drivers feeling light headed and even passing out at the wheel. 2017 Explorer is not as good as my old 2005. Late the following morning I got a call saying they found the problem, failed "Power Steering Rack". Thankfully, rate of incidence is fairly low compared to the steering issues in earlier models. Most 2017 Explorers no longer carry a valid Ford-backed warranty. The service experience has been horrible. Issues. Slush covered roads, driving and manually needing to turn my vehicle was almost impossible. Made it to a Ford dealership who indicated that a new rack and pinion assembly is required at $2,900. The vehicle was driven to flagship Ford (850 fern drive, baldwin, wisconsin 54002, (715) 684-4520) where it was diagnosed that the power steering unit was faulty and needed to be replaced. Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. I have turned in a complaint to Ford and it has not helped no calls back from Ford. If you want something a little older, pick up a 2005 model for less than $5,000 to tinker on as a project car. The radio would turn off and all hands free devices wouldn't work. I will be turning the vehicle and there is a pop sensation underneath. When I turned the vehicle off and back on, the power steering worked perfectly and there were no error warnings. I had the truck towed to Quirk Ford in Quincy Ma. Everything is being disassemble in parts. In some models, this isnt that difficult to do. Rent a vehicle when we have an almost brand new vehicle in the garage with a $500 a month car payment?!?! To avoid this, listen closely for any grinding of popping noises while test driving and ensure that the steering is able to fully lock in each direction easily as well. If all recall work has been completed, its time to test drive the vehicle to ensure it is mechanically sound. I was handed a bill of $2.750 for a new rack install. Urge all who have experienced this to file a complaint with NTSB..potential fatal failure. and according to the dealer this is a known, common problem. I was luckily able to get it off the road but had I been going any rate of speed it could have caused a major crash as you cannot steer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Maybe I should have given it 1 star. Of 575 total complaints, 110 are for the engine, 38 are for the power train, and 27 are for the fuel/propulsion system. A number of drivers have described their experiences online: The auto defect attorneys at Gibbs Law Group have over 20 years of experience representing drivers against major vehicle manufacturers such asHonda,General Motors,Hyundai,Toyota,Kia, andFord. Know how and what you can negotiate. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. RELATED: 5 Symptoms of a Bad Wheel Alignment (Why you should fix it). Before you start troubleshooting anything electrical with your car, you should always read the fault codes with an OBD2 scanner. Since 1990, the Ford Explorer has been the vehicle of choice for millions of families. The gas cap won't stay shut. The vehicle has not been inspected besides the dealer. / CBS Pittsburgh. If my wife or daughter had been driving the truck, they wouldn't have been able to steer the truck over to the breakdown lane. Since the part is on backorder, they couldn't give me a date I'd have my car back. Vehicle History's team of automotive experts brings you the most accurate and up-to-date used car information. The steering locked up and I nearly hit the side of the house. You dont want to drive with these problems. Look no further. You can even get immediate notifications when a vehicle youre interested drops in price, or when new vehicles become available that meet your requirements. Symptoms prior to failure - I bought the car used from a dealership. Street driving, hard acceleration, highway speeds - all of it. But its more money than youd expect to spend on an SUV youve just driven off the used car lot. The next morning, Dec 23, 2022 while heading down my driveway the faults appeared and I was unable to steer. In addition, the power supply issues and traveling on snowy roads cause this issue. Common engine defects among Explorers, notably the 2016 Explorer, include illuminated CELs/MILs; loss of power (TSB 16-0122); fluid and oil leakage (TSB 18-2255; SSMs 47000 and 46253); squealing noises (SSM 48001) or fan noises (SSM 45932); difficulty starting . Along I-95 in South Carolina at about 11pm the steering seized with our family in the car. In most car models, you will need to remove the steering wheel in order to access it. Drove the truck to Ford (3 miles away) and they had the truck all day when they called to tell me they were unable to retrieve any error codes, but would like to keep it over night to do a little more to see if they would be able to find out the cause of my problem. And newly designed toe-links will be installed which should preclude any further issues. Bringing my out of pocket to roughly $1k. The power steering on my 2016 Ford Explorer completely stopped working while driving with two children in the vehicle. Learn how to find a dealership you can trust. I have had to put it in the shop for 4 different things since I purchased it in Fed of 2016. This article explains what a power steering assist fault means and some fixes to get you back on the road again. Had the power steering replaced FOUR times, twice due to recalls and twice they refused to admit were recalls so had to pay over $5,000 each time. & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. However, there are many models that make it difficult to change the belt. The auto company said the recalls were for the 2013-2017 models of the Explorer. It does this by using a hydraulic pump to create a force on the steering wheel that assists in turning the car. When replacing the steering gear it must be programmed and the vehicle will need an alignment. Also radio screen tends to go blank and have to restart car to fix. They replaced the hub bearings, but said there were no additional errors for the vehicle. the rack and pinion on my truck that I purchased from the dealer. Tl the contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. My 2013 Explorer was barely out of warranty when I went to them and they gave me no help at all. Although you can drive with a power steering failure, it is definitely not recommended. The vehicle was not repaired. This steering issue developed on a particularly cold day in December (less than 20 degrees out), however, it is unclear if this issue was related to the colder weather. The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. I was unable to move the steering wheel at all! If theres a leak, you need to repair this problem before you refill the system. Time to trade for sure. Six injuries have been allegedly attributed to the problem so far leading up to the recall. At least two people were injured by this steering problem, according to Car Complaints. The most recently reported issues are listed below. They refused to do anything. If youre in the market for a 2016 Ford Explorer, you may be concerned about common issues that other owners have experienced. At approximately 102,000 miles, vehicle started making loud grinding noise when turning the steering wheel in either direction, very noticeable both inside and outside the vehicle, both when stopped and when driving. Don't get a Ford Explorer. The 2016 Ford Explorer has an electric power . (Heres What Causes it). You need to call around. When I restarted the car, I had no power steering and a new indicator; "Steering Loss Stop Safely". Todays vehicles especially those that are hybrid have an electric pump instead that runs off of the battery. This is INDEED my LAST TIME purchasing a vehicle that is FULL of ELECTRICAL EVERYTHING, INCLUDING the POWER STEERING!!! Not the original dealership that we purchased the vehicle from. My mechanic was required to have the vehicle towed to him. Either the joint or knuckle will be replaced if cracking is found. My Explorer has 65000 miles on it and it looks like this is a common failure for this vehicle. I initially tried to identify if the steering wheel locking mechanism was to blame, but this was ruled out since the vehicle was actively in "drive" and no other issues were noted with the steering wheel. If that had happened on the interstate, no telling what could have happened. year to help you gain confidence about one of your largest purchase decisions. 2016 Ford Explorer, around 40,000 miles my complained about a noise coming from the steering and I never heard. Making up 323 complaints out of 1,214 total, steering issues are the leading cause of concern for 2016 Ford Explorer drivers.Reading through the complaints you'll find the same story over and over again: the owner is driving on the highway when suddenly the wheel becomes very stiff. We will see what else happens but so glad we spent 3k on a bumper to bumper warranty for 7yrs or 70k mi from date of our purchase. I inquired if there were any recalls or safety bulletins issued regarding premature failure of the power steering in which they indicated there wasn't. Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the. I took it to my mechanic and they will have to replace the power steering rack. Craftsman ship lacking. Select 2013-2017 Ford Explorers have a problem that diminishes steering control and is related to at least 13 reported accidents and six injuries, Ford announced on Wednesday. From 2013 to 2016, it seems to be just one problem after another, with the 2013s biggest issue being in the steering department. You may have to spend some money up front, but peace of mind truly has no price. The computer has been changed out several times. If the light is on the dashboard, you can use your code scanner for hunting down the problem. While driving 70 mph on I81 in VA, the power steering on our 2016 Ford Explorer with less than 70,000 miles died. 2014 Explorer: the cons on a highly recommended vehicle. statistics and reliability analysis of the 2016 Ford Explorer based on all problems reported for the 2016 Explorer. The lights also came on saying terrain assist and hill assist disabled (was not using) I am really shaken up. Todays advanced safety features run off of the power steering, which is why the system is so important. 6 months later, it had to go back to Ford several times, because the backup camera would turn on when driving. Door keeps falling apart. At the end of our guide, we cover the approximate costs of repairing the system based on what must be dealt with. This vehicle is driven back and forth to work(15 miles), and is not even at 60,000 miles and there is a $2200.00 price tag on the repair. I brought it to a Ford dealership and the parts needed are on backorder with no lead time! Makes too much of an odd noise when driving. This includes the 2011 . I have since done my research and this is a known problem with 2016 Ford Explorers, and Ford has yet to recall it or even acknowledge it. We located one at a dealership in Upstate NY that's being shipped to us. 2016 ford explorer, our family vehicle, my spouse was driving back home with kids in the back, approximately 20/25 miles per hrs, the steering all the sudden seized up, and no power steering assistant, since the steering system all electric rack and pinion, the dash board gave a message, no traction control, all terrain system not available, service steering assist. Hard electronic power steering/Electronic failure module/motor Kilmar salmeron 266 subscribers Subscribe 413 134K views 3 years ago Hard power steering. Amy has built a reputation in the plaintiffs bar for delivering results to consumers and sexual assault survivors in class actions and mass torts. This is completely unacceptable for a 6 year old car with just over 100,000 miles. The fix might include simply adding power steering fluid or repairing an electrical fault, but it could also be due to a more serious issue. Anything could go wrong after many years of use. I was unable to turn the steering wheel in any direction as if it had completely seized. RELATED: 4 Signs of a Bad Steering Angle Sensor. If you find any connectors or wiring that is frayed or damaged, its time to replace it. Its actually a complete failure of the steering rack, and it requires a complete replacement. However, you should never work on the hydraulic or electric power steering system if you arent sure what you are dealing with. It was the steering that didn't feel right, so I drove directly home. Download the CoPilot app to find great quality used cars that are sorted based on a variety of factors, including reliability and quality. nearly-new cars at significant discounts off MSRP, Here Are The Chevy Avalanche Years To Avoid, The Top 3 Least and Most Reliable Car Brands, The Most Common Problems with Used Ford Explorers (And Which Year Models to Avoid), Nissan Frontier Towing Capacity: What To Know. Not enough room even though it seats 7. 2016 Ford Explorer Front by Vauxford - CC BY. He tried to drive however, the steering became hard to steer. Make sure you run the HVAC system, play the stereo, adjust the seats etc., as these are all things that can cost you some serious money in the long run to repair. Power Steering Failure Causes. You must bring your Aviator to your local dealership to inspect the wiring harness and AC compressor pulley. We are lucky the family was not traveling fast on a highway. Transmission issues, compute ecu issues, Power takeoff unit replaced. The most recently reported issues are listed below. But complaints continue to roll in. Theres a horrible blind spot in front passenger side. Ford Explorer Power Steering Lawsuit Investigation, Gender Discrimination against Transgender and Nonbinary People, Wells Fargo Mortgage Modification Lawsuit. It has been in & out of my local ford service center 6 times for steering issues. They said unfortunately, yes. Again, should you have concerns contact your local Lincoln dealership, Fords recall website, or the NHTSA site. The 2013 kicks off a bad stretch for the Ford Explorer, with the nameplate not really making a full recovery until the launch of the 2018. The fix involves Ford dealership technicians inspecting the cross-axis ball joint. I took it in to a repair shop where they said to fix it would require the rack to be replaced and programmed. A loose battery cable can contact the air conditioner compressor pulley. My issue again is with Ford for knowing they have an issue and not stepping up to Own it. So good till 120k mi. I will never purchase another Ford. Without strong upper body strength, you can easily have an accident. We loved the look and feel of this vehicle. It covers over 36,000 models in North America. Can you drive with a power steering fault? I was angry after a 10 second search to find that the Explorer has a history of this failure. Ford doesn't stand behind obvious design flaws. It also recalled 40,995 of its 2020-2021 Lincoln Aviator vehicles with 3.0-liter gas engines because they may have improperly secured battery cable wire harnesses which could result in a short circuit and potential fire. Troubleshooting an electrical fault isnt always simple. Any leaks should be dealt with promptly. The power steering leak's main causes deal with the breakdown of parts and lack of lubrication in your car's internal systems. Took the vehicle to the dealer, and they determined that we would need to replace the entire steering gear assembly, at a significant cost. The explorer's in this year range have had many problems with the steering gears having internal failures that require the rack and pinion to be replaced. There was a light which stated the advance steering or something failed. Otherwise, take it to a local auto repair shop for additional assistance. They test drove it and inspected and said they could not find anything wrong. This was my 2nd and last time I buy Ford. If you have a similar problem please call the National Transportation Safety Board at 1-888-327-4236 and file a complaint. $ 400 of assistance required to have the vehicle towed to Quirk Ford in Quincy Ma saying they found problem. 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