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.
Power Steering Assist Fault. We drove the vehicle from Detroit to the Florida Keys and back. We were on mountain roads and small bridges along the way. As we pulled into the driveway at home the Power Steering Assist Fault message dinged and displayed on the dashboard. The steering is locked straight forward, and the vehicle is stuck in the driveway until a tow truck can pull it out and deliver to a dealer for repairs. A recall exists for many other Flex and Ford vehicles with the same steering. This vehicle MUST be included for free repairs as well. My wife has had nightmares since the return of us jumping the Seven Mile Bridge or diving off a cliff in West Virginia and we would be dead along with the cousins riding with us and any other vehicle we hit with completely locked steering. We were exceedingly lucky this time. There can not be a next time.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while her father was driving at 10 MPH and attempting to complete a left turn, the vehicle suddenly jerked to the left. As a result of the failure, the vehicle struck the curb. Several weeks later, the failure reoccurred, causing the vehicle to strike the sidewalk, and severely damaging the suspension. The traction control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Safety Recall 15S18. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was unknown.
No warning lights, electric steering failed while turning on a busy Highway. Was able to barely keep control fighting with Manual steering. Took the vehicle into independent shop and they replaced steering rack. $2500 dollars.
Electric assisted power steering failure. No warning lights, no warning of failure whatsoever. Unable to steer vehicle while driving. Problem was confirmed by mechanic that the steering rack needed replacement.
- Anchorage, AK, USA
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Power steering intermittently stops working and the steering wheel becomes almost locked in place. This first occurred approximately 6-8 months ago, but has gotten more frequent in occurrence and longer in duration. I have seen multiple complaints about this issue, but so far, there is no active safety recall. My vehicle was manufactured in the Oakville Plant, which was part of the recall for a very similar problem with 2011-2012 Ford Flexes (see Safety Recall 15S18) and although my vehicle is a 2014, it seems to have very similar issues. No steering or warning lights come on, the wheel just becomes very slow, almost like it is full manual steering.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist, requiring excessive force while steering the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle had not yet been taken to an independent mechanic or local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the failure never occurred during inclement weather. While the vehicle was at the car wash, the failure self-corrected. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering module and steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Power steering quit, couldn't turn wheel. Alert popped up that said "steering assist fault service required" then another alert popped up "service advance trac" same issue as the earlier years of the Flex that had a recall on them so the recall needs to be extended as the problem is not fixed in the newer years.
My vehicle steering system had a loss of communication/loss of power to the electrical power steering. It nearly resulted in a very bad accident at an elementary school drop-off. I recorded a video of what is happening after the fact for documentation. Basically, it sounds as though there is a known communication issue from the fully electric steering to the primary electrical system on the vehicle. It appears from my reading that this is a known problem. I would strongly consider this to be a recall issue as it could be catastrophic and potentially deadly.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the power steering assist fault warning message had flashed twice on the instrument panel; however, the power steering continued to operate as needed. The contact then stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the warning message flashed as the power steering assist failed to operate as designed. The contact used excessive force to steer the vehicle to the residence. Several days later, an independent mechanic went to the residence and drove the vehicle back the shop without failure. The mechanic determined that the vehicle needed to be serviced by an authorized Ford dealer. The vehicle was driven to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a defective electric power steering rack. The contact then called the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle was not under warranty or recall. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the power steering assist warning light illuminated and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the battery was replaced; however, the failure recurred. On another occasion, while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle operated as designed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.
Loss of power steering while turning left at low speed. Steering warning lit and alert for steer assist and service vehicle. Steering wheel extremely difficult to move off center. Car power cycled off then on which cleared warning. Power steering appeared to be restored.
The AdvanceTrac warning light came on and said "Steering Loss Stop Safely", the light then went off. After stopping the vehicle the power steering completely failed and the wheels could not turn. This is an unbelievable safety issue where the car can't even turn. The steering wheel couldn't even turn like an old manual steering car. The 2013 Ford Flex had a recall for this exact same issue and it must still exist in the 2014. The local auto repair shop had to replace the entire power steering column at incredible cost. Ford will not honor the repair cost since only the 2013 Ford is part of the recall. This is unacceptable for such an incredible safety issue. We no longer drive this vehicle more than 5 miles from home for fear that something else will fail on it.
The universal joint at the end of the steering column failed causing the vehicle to become difficult to steer. and The fuel pump module failed causing a no start situation
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the power steering assist failure message was displayed. The contact was able to drive home safely. The contact stated that after turning off and restarting the vehicle, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and the vehicle regained power steering assist functionality. The dealer was contacted and an appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,070.
On two occasions over the past 2 weeks the power steering has failed while my daughter was driving the car. She said was able to safely "force" the car to the side of the road at which time she turned the car off. Upon restarting the car the warning was gone and the power steering worked again. There was no warning that this was going to happen and luckily she was on a straight portion of road. She commented that had she been on a curved road she would not have been able to negotiate the turn. She has stated that the dash indicated that the power steering assist warning light illuminated after or about the same time as it failed each time and then cleared once the ignition was turned off and then back on. We researched this and it appears to be the same issue indicated in NHTSA campaign number 15v340000 (steering).
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph on a mountain path with snow on the ground at speeds of approximately 45 mph, an audible alarm activated and the message power steering lost displayed before the power steering malfunctioned causing the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer wright Ford located at 1835 S hwy 97, redmond, or 97756 who diagnosed that the power steering module was defective and the steering rack needed to be replaced. In addition, it was also determined that the chassis bolts had rusted on the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact's wife was attempting to start the vehicle however, the steering wheel ceased. The steering assist fault light illuminated along with another unknown warning light. The contact was able to start the vehicle and the vehicle was driven to Ford of dalton (925 shugart rd, dalton, ga 30720) however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 54,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Boise, ID, USA