On 5/15/2024 I pulled my Ford Explorer into a convenience store to pick up a few items. When I came back out to my car, it started normally but I couldn't turn the steering wheel. I'm 81 years old and in poor health (cancer) so I had an extremely difficult time driving the car to my mechanic (located 2 miles away). I was able to manipulate the car into his garage and shut off the engine. I was shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. When he came out, the car started normally and the power steering was fine. I left the car overnight and he was not able to detect any problem since the power steering is now functioning normally. Now I'm really worried. What happens next time the power steering decides to turn off while I'm driving 60 or 70 mph in traffic?

I rate this problem as extremely dangerous and serious enough to justify an immediate recall.

Family vacation to Disney in Orlando from West palm Beach, 10 mins from our destination, we stop for fuel and snacks. When we go to leave and we had an indicator light come onto the dash display and issue starting the SUV, attempted 3 times to get going and the power steering went out. I googled the closest Ford dealer 6 miles away and was able to muscle the wheel and drive to the dealer which we dropped off the car and called an uber to take us to our hotel.

The next day we get a phone call that the service department had to replace the entire steering column and would cost us $2600 for the non-warranty covered issue. The cost of our repair basically ruined our once a year vacation given the issue doubled our vacation budget in which had to cut short to afford the repair.

Ford is supposed to be a reliable purchase in which we acquired as our family vehicle, at that point the car started to have several other issues which seem to be a scam given if Ford knew they installed faulty parts then they would not only be able to make extra income on replacement parts but also gain in labor costs to install faulty parts which only Ford Motor Company has replacements. At this point the realization is that Ford has a monopoly of repair revenue. this has to be a violation of the law 15 U.S. Code § 2 monopolizing a trade a felony.

My wife was traveling on the highway alone. She pulled over to get gas. Started the vehicle back up and the power steering assist warning came on. NO POWER STEERING!!!! I looked up the problem and was surprised to find there are several issues with owners on the 2014 Explorer with this same problem. Further angered by the recall on 2011-2013 Explorers. WHY WAS 2014 EXCLUDED???!!! This problem has obviously not been corrected. This is a DEADLY situation!!!!

Update from Jul 28, 2021: After having the vehicle towed to the dealership, the dealership had to replace the failed rack & pinion steering ($2500). The technician contacted me to say that after replacing the part, the vehicle still would not perform. He was perplexed and had contacted Ford for tech support. Ford told the dealership that they had to REPROGRAM THE PSCM POWER STEERING MODULE. This was the same issue with the recall for the 2011-2013 Ford Explorer (recall # 14V286000)

This problem with the module has not been fixed! I have updated my report to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Admin). (report #11426771). I have also contacted Ford and documented the issue. The dealership has also submitted the repair information to Ford. I would encourage those with the issue to contact the NHTSA. THE 2014 EXPLORER NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR PSCM MODULE.

Update from Jul 31, 2024: Jul 31-lower steering shaft ford explorer 2014 went bad. The steering on these vehicles is extremely poor quality!!! Absolutely TERRIBLE vehicle. NEVER WILL BUY A FORD AGAIN!!! It is one thing after another! $1000 fix. FORD = JUNK!!!!!

I was driving our Ford Explorer through some windy roads here in Germany when the power steering went out in the middle of a turn and guess what happened at the most inconvenient time!!! You guessed it, the power steering went out, and I ran off onto the shoulder before almost overcorrecting because for no warning and no reason I lost power steering! Had my wife been driving it could have been the end of her, she was supposed to drive the car the next day on a winding German road to work and I would rather have it go out on me than her. I am 6'2 and 260 pounds, I can drive the car even though it is a pain in the ass, she however can't turn the steering wheel.

I would be lost without my wife, this may very well be the last Ford I ever own seeing as they only care about profits and only fix things when they absolutely have to. I took it to the dealership and they confirmed that it is the power steering and I can expect to pay about a thousand bucks for the part, plus any labor associated with the install... this after finding an EXHAUST leak coming into the cabin (I will report separately) Ford Motor who are you trying to kill?? Words can't describe how pissed off I am at Ford and this car right now for trying to kill my family!!

At the parking lot, luckily driving at slow speed, the light came on "Power Steering Assist failure, service required". The steering turned hard as rock (considering also the -32C we had that day) and was very hard to park it.

I had to tow it and the repair is $4,036 as it needs the power steering rack replaced. My extended warranty won't cover it.

What a piece of s***... I had the toes link already replaced 4 times before they own the issue and repair the root problem (a recall came after).

This is so common and Ford does nothing.

The car drove fine - no prior issues. Went to leave for a wedding and the dash board lit up with the following errors: Steering Assist Fault Service Required, Service AdvanceTrac, and Terrain System Fault. The vehicle was nearly impossible to steer. It took all my strength to even move the wheel slightly to be able to pull back into the driveway and off the road. I researched this online and found there are 100's of other people that have had the same issue, yet Ford refuses to do anything.

They have issues recalls for 2011-2013 and 2015-2017 explorers for the same issue but not 2014. We did the diagnostics and had to order a new rack and pinion however the part is not in stock and on backorder because so many people are having this issue. This should be an obvious sign to Ford that something is wrong. I am including links to other sites showing other people have had the same issue. I know others have also filed a report with you. I tried talking to ford and opened a case with them but they aren't taking any responsibility. The only thing I am thankful for is that unlike some of the others who weren't so lucky, I wasn't on a major highway or going 60+mph when the steering went out. This is a huge safety concern and it is unfortunate that it appears it will take someone losing their life before Ford decides to admit their at fault. I submitted a complaint with the NHTSA (complaint number 11418432) and I encourage all others who have experienced this issue to do the same!

Here is the link to submit your claim: https://www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem#index

While driving the car the steering became hard to turn. I had to rock the steering wheel back and forth just to turn the corner. I was on my way to pick up the grand kids. I live in a small rural area and to go to get the kids I would have been on the Great River Road. Narrow and no where to pull over. It could have been terrible. I am now waiting for the mechanic to locate a part and give me a quote.

Kieler Garage in Kieler Wisconsin said it was the Complete Electric Power Rack and Pinion Assembly that needs to be replaced. Estimated cost between 700.00 - 800.00 dollars.

Why hasn't this been recalled? I seen on another site that 79 people complained of the same issue.

I had no idea there was a recall for the electronic steering rack until I googled the problem and found out that it only covered up to 2013 year models. Even though mine is a 2014 Explorer Limited, it clearly states the manufacture date as 11/2013, I doubt that this problematic part was replaced on the early 2014's. But the service advisor wouldn't do anything but say "sir your VIN doesn't fall under the recall", and that it would cost over $2200 to fix and he would have to order the parts as they don't keep them in stock. Now I have a car that had a sticker price of 45K dollars and is now worth about 12K in six years. I will never buy another Ford again and I will urge anyone and everyone I know not to buy a Ford as they are putting lives at risk for profits. Ford USA wants to ignore this problem yet they have already had to pay out hundred of millions to previous owners. The class action lawsuit was dropped by a judge who was probably paid off by Ford, and if anyone wants to begin another class action lawsuit I think we should all ban together through social media and make them pay for this very dangerous problem. They waiting for lives to be lost due to their engineering defect, sad. Shame on you Ford. DO NOT BUY FORD! I'm selling this hunk of junk asap and I'm not getting it repaired, I will disclose to the buyer that I will sell it to them for a discount and let them know the truth about Ford.

I filed a complaint with NHTSA and am posting the same info I sent over to them, as this is a serious issue and need to be addressed before there is a fatality from this issue. I am still shaking thinking of what could have happened.

While driving down a major highway with my family and with no warning the power steering went out along with a notification saying, "steering loss stop safely" and "service advance trac". Had my girlfriend been driving we probably all would have been killed by a semi coming through the curve as I was struggling to steer the vehicle and keep it in our lane as there was no place to pull to the side of the road. I finally managed to stop the vehicle and pull to the side of the road after struggling through the curve.

I called a friend to pick up my family and manage to get the vehicle back home driving very slow struggling with the steering with hazard lights on. After a little research I found there were recalls for the same issue on 2011-2013 and 2015-2017 Ford Explorer 's but not the 2014! Even though 1000's have reported the same issue with the 2014. This is ridiculous its almost as if people have to get killed before they do something about about this.

2014 Ford Explorer as mentioned by over 79+ on this site alone. Without warning signs on the dashboard the power steering fails. Car feels and acts like it has no power steering. Car also pulls to the left and making turns is difficult to mostly to the left. Which I do see has also been mentioned. 2011-2013 and 2015-2017 have recalls for this issue. Not sure why 2014 is not listed.

Have contacted Ford Customer service directly have only received standard answers on Highway and safety has not provided Ford with the need for a recall on this model. Have placed 2 claims again with Ford attempted to escalate to a supervisor, was on hold for 10 minutes to then only be told a supervisor was not available, more frustration. While waiting to continue to escalate the call was dropped. I did get to provide my cell phone number however, have no idea if anyone will ever call me back. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE is an understatement.

This is such a severe safety issue and if we have to wait for a serious injury for Ford to then take a proactive look at this that would just be horrific.