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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,908 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Ford Explorer steering problems

steering problem

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2012 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 10 of 16)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #121

Feb 142018

Explorer

  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. While starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized and failed to maneuver as the power steering assist warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (lugoff Ford, 979 highway 1 South, lugoff, SC 29078), but the failure was unable to be duplicated or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Lugoff, SC, USA

problem #120

Jan 112018

Explorer

  • 69,044 miles
Service power steering. Advance trac light came on. Unable to steer vehicle while on highway doing 55mph. We are unable to get this car repaired due to high cost to ship car 572miles out of town. Told us that we need to pay for the repair and will get reimbursed at later date. However after explaining we don't have money to ship it they offer little to no help. There is a local shop that does warranty repairs but we have to pay out of pocket up to $1,600 not including labor costs of repairs done to vehicle. Ford then said 'repairs and services would be our responsibility' explained in photo documentation

- Juneau, AK, USA

problem #119

Jan 012018

Explorer

  • miles
My vehicles is expediting recall 14S06 and has happened 2X and for dinner is as saying my VIN number is born unser the recall. Help

- Spencer, MA, USA

problem #118

Jan 102018

Explorer

  • 77,390 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Steering wheel locks up while driving. I have to turn the car off in order to unlock the steering wheel. Very dangerous. Dealer made me buy a new battery and "reprogrammed" vehicle, but the problem came back.. it's happened multiple times. Most recently on 1/10/18.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #117

Dec 042017

Explorer

  • 125,000 miles
Power steering assist fault, lose of steering at low speed lost control and hit curb

- Coweta, OK, USA

problem #116

Nov 272017

Explorer

  • miles
Gear steering assy problem. Stiffness in steering

- Hickory, NC, USA

problem #115

Dec 052017

Explorer

  • 70,100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

A few times at slow speeds the 'power steering assist fault' light would come on and it was very difficult to steer. If the engine was turned off and back on, it would clear the issue. This last time it happened the 'service advancetrac' light also came on and the issue could not be cleared. The car was too difficult to steer and had to be towed to the dealership. All of these happened at slow speeds.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #114

Nov 202017

Explorer

  • 158,000 miles
Our power steering system finally went out on our 2012 XLT. In fact, the wife was driving on the interstate with our two toddlers at 75mph when it went out. She pulled over and I had to meet up with her and drive it home (not easy). We would have been eligible for the recall if this happened 8K miles ago, but since we are over the 150,000 limit, I get to pay $1940 to get it repaired(getting repaired as this is typed). Its sad really, because when I was at 120K, I was having issues with the power steering and was hoping to get it replaced at the dealer, however at the time, they were "unable to replicate the issue" so no action was taken. I am disappointed, because it takes a complete failure (and endangerment to lives) for the recall to be initiated. I wonder if GM's ignition recall is the same way? I could repair it myself as its not too bad of a job, but due to being busy, it would probably take a week or two for me to do alone and this is our primary family vehicle. My service adviser has been nothing but helpful but have to say that I am disappointed in Ford approach to the failure of a major component of the vehicle.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #113

Nov 102017

Explorer

  • 100,000 miles
After starting the car while parked the 'service advance trac" warning came on. After driving approx. 100 feet the warning went away. There was a slight hardness in the steering at this time. That went away when the warning went away. This occurred on Nov. 10, 2017. The second problem occurred on Nov. 23, 2017. While parked overnight and all day in our garage I started the car and the "power steering assist fault'' warning came on. I could not turn the steering wheel at all. I turned off the engine and within 10 to 15 seconds I started the car again. No warning came on and the power steering worked O.K. I started the car again this morning and no warning or problem.

- Twain Harte, CA, USA

problem #112

Oct 142017

Explorer

  • 95,000 miles
Power steering quit working in the parking lot. Has no power steering. Has had a software update to fix the steering and was told the steering needed replaced but the part was on back order and then was told the vehicle didn't qualify to have the steering rack replaced and now it has failed.

- Georgetown, OH, USA

problem #111

Sep 022016

Explorer

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Gear shift message - 'shift to park' after putting vehicle in park and ignition is turned off.

- Vernon, CT, USA

problem #110

Jul 282017

Explorer

  • 82,900 miles
I was driving on an intersection that dashboard lights started flickering and the car indicated check manual and orange wrench came out... and all of the sudden car stop & I tried starting it but it would it was in the middle of nowhere... I was on 342 N. san fernando rd., los angeles, ca 90031 around 2:00

- Baldwin Park, CA, USA

problem #109

May 242017

Explorer

  • 69,000 miles
Power steering assist fault show up and the steering wheel is very hard to move. I start and turned off a couple times nothing happens. This is my second time this happen. The first time start working again but now have 2 weeks in may garage without be able of move the car.

- Fountain, CO, USA

problem #108

Apr 252017

Explorer

  • 50,000 miles
Immediately after ignition is turned on, power steering failure light comes on and steering wheel can barely turn. Turn off ignition and back on again and it is gone. This has happened 5 times in the last 2 months.

- Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

problem #107

Jan 052016

Explorer

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. While driving various speeds, the power steering assist suddenly failed and caused the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who indicated that the power steering was faulty. The contact indicated that the power steering assist software was updated in 2013, but the failure still occurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Shaver Lake, CA, USA

problem #106

Nov 282016

Explorer

  • 95,000 miles
Power steering on the vehicle has failed on and off. I find out tomorrow what kind of service bill I am going to be hit with when they attempt the recall. This recall has been around since 2014 and I was never notified of it! if this had happened while my wife was actually driving the car it could have caused a major accident!

- Herrin, IL, USA

problem #105

Nov 082016

Explorer

  • 131,400 miles
Drove about 2 miles in the morning while turning onto the interstate ramp the steering locked up would not go over 30mph, SUV started to smoke while the temperature gauge never changed inside of the vehicle. Lucky to not have caused a major accident. After having vehicle towed, per the mechanic the computer system is fried, motor valves melted, and all spark plugs need to be replaced. This SUV is only a 2012 and should not have this major of problems when it has been well taken care of. Ford really needs to look further into this so this does not happen to someone else.

- Henryville, IN, USA

problem #104

Oct 222016

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 152,600 miles
Takata recall I purchased this vehicle in January 2016, on October 22, 2016 while driving in elberton Georgia my car alerted me that the power steering needed to be serviced. About 2 miles down the road my turn signal wouldn't stay on when being used to turn. A few hours later when ready to head home I could not get my car to steer without major effort on my part. I am a mother of 3 and I refuse to put my kids in an unsafe vehicle. The issue has to do with the power steering control module and I was informed by Ford that they would not fix the issue at no charge because the recall 14S06 has expired and I had exceeded the mileage warranty by almost 3000 miles. I don't feel that I am responsible for the charges to get this issue fixed being as I was not aware of the recall. I'm not happy that I'm expected to cover charges on something I wasn't aware was a problem with my vehicle until the service alert appeared. This is my 1st Ford vehicle and I absolutely love it, however, if this is the customer service that I am going to receive I will not ever buy another Ford vehicle and I will not recommend anyone to purchase from Ford. I have been without a vehicle for 2 days as of right now, which makes it very difficult to get my kids to daycare/school and get to work. My husband has had to ask about changing his schedule in order to help me since I don't have a vehicle. Sincerely, unhappy mother of 3

- Winterville, GA, USA

problem #103

Oct 102016

Explorer

  • miles
Vehicle has been driving perfectly fine and out of no where it shows 2 warnings. One indicting to service power steering, and the other indictating to service advance trac system. The steering fluid is full and there are no damaged to the hose or power steering system. This is showing the same signs of the recalled Explorer yet this one has not been recalled.

- Lilburn, GA, USA

problem #102

Sep 102016

Explorer

  • 66,000 miles
Vehicle has 66,000 miles. The service power steering now and advancetrac warning lights came on Saturday evening (9/10/16). Vehicle drove with no issues that evening. Sunday morning (9/11/16) the same indicator lights came on and the power steering did not work. Checked for leaks, fuses, etc. And no apparent issues. As dealerships were closed on Sunday, autozone ran diagnostics and showed zero error codes, even with warning lights on. This vehicle is not covered under the existing 2012 Ford Explorer recall regarding the same issue that seems to be occurring in the same year, make and model of car.

- Ankeny, IA, USA

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