2011 Ford Explorer Steering Problems
- 424
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 424 stored complaint records:
- 12 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- Electric Power Assist System · 2 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 143 |
| 30–60k mi | 120 |
| 60–100k mi | 78 |
| 100–150k mi | 38 |
| 150–400k mi | 21 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Steering
After starting vehicle, power steering assist failure alert noted. Power steering not working and attempted to reset by restarting car with no success. Towed to dealer. Need to replace total rack and pinion in order to fix this electrical problem.
ODI 10730175
Power Train · Steering
Traveling at low speed coming to a stop, felt like a lost in power and advance trac system failure, power steering failure warnings go off. I turn the vehicle off, i thought the vehicle shut down. I started driving again and same thing happen at low speed at next stop sign. I drove a little further and turn car off. Upon returning all systems were working fine. On 6/19/15 same thing happen at low speed, advance trac…
ODI 10726304
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. When the contact attempted to drive the vehicle, the steering wheel became very difficult to maneuver. The power assist warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed, but the technician could not find a failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 14v286000 (steering). The manufacturer was…
ODI 10945779
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. The vehicle was serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 14v286000 (steering), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. While driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle could not be controlled. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed. The contact believed that this was a serious safety issue since it could cause a crash at any…
ODI 10726875
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v286000 (steering). The vehicle was taken to the dealer to service the vehicle under the recall, where the power steering control module software was updated. The contact mentioned that shortly after the repairs while driving approximately 40 mph, the electric power steering warning light had illuminated and a…
ODI 10725406
Steering
While driving on the interstate, the power assisted steering failed, and two alerts appeared (service power steering *duh*, and something about the terrain management. I was able steer the vehicle (with a large amount of effort) to the dealership for service.
ODI 10722035
Steering
Started car, and power steering fault warning displayed on the dash. I turned off the car, waited for about 10 seconds, and then started the car again. This time everything works fine. I go down the road about 15-20 minutes. I pull over for about 5 minutes while leaving the car running. I get back in and start driving. It looses power steering again. I try to start the vehicle several times, and it continues to have…
ODI 10721581
Steering
In april 2015, i had two instances in which my vehicle lost power steering with a corresponding "power steering assist fault" message. I, fortunately, was in a parking lot both times and was able to steer to a parking space, turn off the ignition and restart the car (as advised in the owners manual). In researching the issue, i discovered a recall notice for power steering issues. I took my car in for service on…
ODI 10713656
Steering
Summary: updating the software does not fix the 'loss of power steering' problem under ford recall 140s06 for 2011 ford explorer. Power steering still fails after the software update. However, ford rejects to cover the cost of replacing the steering rack to fix the problem if the customer has done software update; ford agrees to cover it only if customer has not done software update. Basically if you are given…
ODI 10712556
Steering
Several occasions turning on vehicle system reports power steering assist fault, service advance traction control - power steering failed, and steering wheel very difficult to turn. Turning off and back on had made it go away before, then did not. Power steering assist service advance traction and terrain management systems all failed, truck nearly impossible to steer. I believe this to be an extremely dangerous…
ODI 10705089
Steering
Car power steering wheel locked on 3/23/15. Brought it to sam galloway ford in ft. Myers, florida. Had part numbers bb5z3504re (1 gear asy-ste), w712961-s439 (bolt), w716182-s439 (2 bolts) replaced. Labor and parts came to $1,567.53. Saw on this site that this make and model (not this vin) had been recalled for similar incident. Ford would not reimburse us for this problem. On august 4, 2014, after receiving a…
ODI 10716077
Steering
Cranked up vehicle, put it in reverse and began to move backwards. Heard a chime and at the same time lost power steering. There was a "power steering assist fault" message box on the left side of the dash. I stopped; put it in park and turned it off. After restarting it was ok. This has been happening the past couple of weeks to my wife however and she will not drive it anymore. I have contacted my ford service…
ODI 10700820
Steering
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *TR
ODI 10693672
Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. The contact stated that driving at 45 mph, the steering wheel seized. In addition, the contact stated that power steering failure, service power assist was displayed across the message board. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.…
ODI 10704453
Steering
When backing the vehicle out of a parking space a tone sounded, a warning message "power steering assist fail" came on and the vehicle became impossible to steer. After cycling the ignition the problem went away. It occurred again two days later in a similar situation (low speed) and again went away after cycling the ignition. Ford dealer diagnosed as "code u3000 failure type 49 internal electronic failure, need to…
ODI 10695243
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. The contact stated that there was a loud noise coming from the steering wheel and it was extremely difficult to turn. The vehicle was serviced under a power steering manufacturer's recall, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer more than three times where a code was reset, but the failure persisted. On another occasion, while driving, the steering…
ODI 10706605
Steering
My ford explorer had a recall (14s06) so i took it into my dealer and had them to the update. Aprox 1000 miles later my power steering completely went out and now the bill could be as high as 1500 dollars and ford won't cover it because i already had the recall fixed once. Could you tell me what i can do to not have to pay this large amount? *tr
ODI 10692009
Engine · Steering
I sent my vehicle in two months for to be fix at drew ford dealership. They also corrected a recall on the powersteering fault. Now the fault is back and the steering wheel is immovable or extremely hard to move. They also claim this will not fall under the recall, because it has been remedy the first time. I am very upset with ford, because this can be a 600-2000 dollar repair. Power steering should not go this…
ODI 10682792
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. While driving 10 mph, the steering wheel seized and the power steering light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electric power steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle would not be repaired under nhtsa campaign number:…
ODI 10681024
Steering
Had unit back in dealer november 2014 for the recall14s06 and was told they did a software update. January 7th 2015 went to leave work, started unit to warm up. Got in it 15 minutes later and no power steering. Light on dash said :steering assist failure" took back to dealer and was told i had to spend $1600 because it needed the steering gear replaced. Please note this unit was built in march 2011 in the chicago…
ODI 10671752
Steering
When parked in a parking garage i started out and of my spot and down a ramp toward the pay station/booth of the garage to exit. The power steering assist fault came on, i immediately lost power steering and was headed directly toward the pay booth/attendant until i was able to brake and muscle the steering away from the impending crash. This power steering issue has started to occur briefly over the last few 6…
ODI 10669310
Steering
Ref, previous case [xxx] ... Just curious, saw ford had several 2011 vehicles added to recalls, but not explorers for this cause, wonder why, since our experience was exactly what the other recalls were, lost power steering assist, could not control vehicle. Was electrical steering gear malfunction at 47,000 miles [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c.…
ODI 10721831
Steering
We were driving the vehicle at approximately 35 mph when warning light came on stating there was issue with power steering, i believe it said power steering service was required. When we stopped at next intersection, it was evident power steering assistance was reduced. After pulling over and shutting off vehicle, then restarting, there was no power steering assistance, only manual. When traveling at low speed,…
ODI 10667813
Steering
2011 ford explorer limited: i was driving my family back from a vacation and had been traveling at an approximate speed of 65 mph on the hwy. I turned into a parking lot for a restroom break for the kids when the rack & pinion bar broke completely near the driver side front wheel. I noticed the chimes, some loud pops and harder than normal steering prior to the part breaking. Vehicle was unable to be steered. It is…
ODI 10662897
Steering
After bringing my car in on 9/15/14 to address the ford explorer 2011 recall, sheehy ford in springfield, va declared my parts ok and reprogrammed my pscm (i had never had a single issue with my power steering)...i subsequently drove to kentucky (from burke, va) and several other places...eventually driving to my parent's house in vienna, va (about 30+ minutes away) for thanksgiving day (12/27/14), just 3 months…
ODI 10668613