My 2012 Explorer is making a clicking noise when turning steering wheel from left to right and when driving and turning. When engine started up the steering wheel is stiff and won't turn sometimes, then I get a warning on powering steering assist then it will clear and it will be alright. But it did that more than once. I took it to ford to see if there was a recall but no recall. I think ford should do something about it, because it is a safety issue and many others have the same complaint with the same model and year auto.

J.B.

upper strut bearings (brackets) binding, steering chatter

It is my opinion that this problem could develop into A. tires wearing. B snapping off the strut shaft .C Bending other suspension parts. D. Causing steering problems. E. Eating away at my wallet every 4 years or 14,000 miles. This explorer gets driven approx. 50 miles a week and is in a dark cool garage for 99.8% of the time. It has been very well taken care of and has been babied when driven ( by my wife). It is either a poor design problem or I am just a really lucky Guy. There is a "you tube video about a 2012 explorer with front steering clicking ( no verbiage in video, just clicking sounds) I feel this is the same problem as mine. I took this to Ford because it was a month after I had the Steering gearbox recall and I thought for sure ir was the gearbox. It was not and Ford charged me 73.20 to tell me it was the front strut upper bearings binding. I paid over 36,000 for this car, so far (in theory) it has cost me more than 3.00 per mile. I will think twice before I buy another new car. This is my opinion.