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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 9 of 16)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #141

Feb 252019

Explorer

  • 130,400 miles

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

Power steering locks up and needs replacement. Ford dealer claims this is not covered under recall, and VIN search indicated no open recall for this vehicle. Dealer has reset vehicle computer and that may be why no open recall shows up. Internet searches indicate that this is a very common problem and should have been covered under a previous recall, but there is no evidence that the vehicle ever had recall work done. So far the problem only presents itself upon initial startup while the vehicle is stationary. However, internet searches show that others have had steering lock up while in motion, causing vehicle accidents.

- Durant, OK, USA

problem #140

Feb 242019

Explorer

  • 100,100 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. Approximately two and a half years after the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 14V286000 (steering), the steering ability failed and the power steering indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to junge cedar rapids (319-393-6500, located at 1200 boyson rd, hiawatha, ia 52233) where it was diagnosed that the power steering gear failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,100.

- Cedar Rapids, IA, USA

problem #139

Feb 232019

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 150,700 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. While operating the vehicle, the power steering failed, which made the steering wheel very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to watson quality Ford (6130 I 55, jackson, ms) where it was diagnosed that the electric power steering was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Electric steering gear was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,700.

- Brandon, MS, USA

problem #138

Jan 252019

Explorer

  • 78,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. While pulling out of the driveway at an unknown speed, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the power steering assist fault warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the control module needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was called, but the contact did not speak with anyone. The failure mileage was 78,000.

- Saint Charles, IL, USA

problem #137

Jan 042019

Explorer

  • 100,295 miles
While driving on a rural road warning lights came on. Pulled over, turned vehicle off. Turned back on. Complete power steering failure. Appears to be same issue as previous recall.

- Caldwell, TX, USA

problem #136

Jan 122019

Explorer

  • 106,000 miles
Start car and epas steering does not work. Restart a couple of times was able to drive just once. The next day even restarting the car did not work. I see that their was a recall for this issue. I hope Ford fixes this issue under the recall.

- Aiken, SC, USA

problem #135

Dec 182018

Explorer

  • 175,405 miles

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

In 2014 there was a recall for my vehicle. It was not fixed because when checked my car did not show any problem. Now I cannot drive my car due to power steering assist fault. I called the dealership and was informed they cannot fix my car based on warranty because it previously checked out fine. This car is not safe to drive and quite expensive to fix. Why can't the recall still apply to my car. My car was in my driveway when it happened so thankfully no one was hurt. But the danger remains if I have to drive it anywhere without being able to get it fixed.

- Rougemont, NC, USA

problem #134

Dec 192018

Explorer

  • 1 miles
Power steering fault. The power steering just stopped work while I was driving with now warming until it was completely inoperable. I nearly crashed it to an on coming car in the parking lot of my gym. I notice there was a recall for this make and model but when I did a VIN search my truck was not registering a recall.

- Mountainside, NJ, USA

problem #133

Dec 152018

Explorer

  • 150,950 miles
Our power steering failed completely on 12/17/2018. Exact symptoms as described in former recall 14V286000 - somehow Ford was able to change this recall to an extended warranty which lapses at 150,000 miles. Our vehicle failed at 150,950 miles - rendering it extremely dangerous and impossible to control. Repair costs over $2300. How the NHTSA can accept such an agreement as an extended warranty in place of a blanket recall demonstrates the power of the auto-maker lobby at the extreme detriment and danger to the american public. Ford and NHTSA should be ashamed.

- Nazareth, PA, USA

problem #132

Dec 062018

Explorer

  • 1 miles
While I was about to make a turn at a four-way stop, the power steering assist notification came on and my steering wheel locked. I ran up onto the sidewalk. Had there been any pedestrians, they would have gotten hit.

- Bay Saint Louis, MS, USA

problem #131

Dec 032018

Explorer

  • 99,250 miles

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

Steering assist fault

- Radcliff, KY, USA

problem #130

Nov 182018

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 158,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. While driving 70 mph, the power steering seized and the "service power steering", traction control, and "service now" warning indicators illuminated. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to keystone Ford (301 walker road, chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17201, (717) 264-5104) where it was diagnosed that the power steering was faulty and needed to be replaced. The dealer located diagnostic trouble codes U2011-49 and C200B2F-2F. The vehicle was repaired at owners expense. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided the contact with case number: 16436064. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 14V286000 (steering) on May 29, 2014. The contact stated that the manufacturer issued a memorandum on July 1, 2015 in reference to the recall, stating that it was subject to a warranty extension conversion. The contact stated that the manufacturer replaced the recall with a 150,000 mile warranty coverage extension under 15N01. The diagnostic trouble codes located earlier by the dealer were consistent with the warranty coverage; however, the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not eligible for the 150,000 mile warranty extension program. The failure mileage was 158,000.

- Greencastle, PA, USA

problem #129

Nov 162018

Explorer

  • miles
While driving the stability control lights came on and the wheel got tuff.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #128

Nov 062018

Explorer

  • 152,000 miles
Steering gears lock steering system almost causing a crash with my 11 year old son in the car.

- Taylorville, IL, USA

problem #127

Oct 172018

Explorer

  • 125,000 miles
While driving and going into turn power steering warning came on causing total loss of control of vehicle. Was able to stop and have vehicle towed to dealership.

- Merrimack, NH, USA

problem #126

Aug 102018

Explorer

  • 70,000 miles
"power steering assist failure" warning when starting the car can usually be resolved by restarting the car and has been intermittent for the life of the vehicle, however the power steering (which is completely electronic--no pulley or hydraulics) is now failing while driving making the car nearly impossible to turn and especially at lower speeds because you're fighting through the electronic motor in the epas system.

- Murfreesboro, TN, USA

problem #125

Aug 212018

Explorer

  • miles
My vehicle has failure on the electronic power ateering assist, as noted on recall campain 14V286000 by NHTSA for this vehicle but my vehicle was not on recall list. Vehicle has experience loss of power on electronic power steering making ateering hard. Today when driving on highway problem happened for the third time, had some trouble getting out of highway, I need to mive to the side of the road and turn off vehicle for some time and turned back on to restart the electronics.

- Sunland Park, NM, USA

problem #124

Jun 212018

Explorer

  • 120,000 miles
The vehicle at start up has disabled power steering causing the vehicle unable to be steered. The vehicle was in a driveway and was about to place into drive gear when the warning light came on and could no longer turn the steering wheel.

- Kennedale, TX, USA

problem #123

Apr 042018

Explorer

  • 106,000 miles
Sudden grinding in the steering wheel. Suspect it is related to a prematurely failing steering gear box. Occurred while vehicle was stationary

- Plainfield, IN, USA

problem #122

Mar 292018

Explorer

  • miles
Sometimes my steering wheel will lock and I can not move and I am driving with my children and that scared me I've called the tow truck twice taking it to the dealership for them to find nothing. Now my vechile is starting to shake when I'm driving and I'm tired of taking to the dealership for nothing. I've taken to 2 dealership and they say the same thing. It's always when I'm driving. It's all I the dealership papers. I'm sick and tired of this. It started about 1 year after I got it. I would not buy another Ford

- Mcallen, TX, USA

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