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
On cruise control at 75mph heading east on i-44 towards tulsa, ok. Power steering service warning, advance trak warning, terrain management warning become active. Power steering advance trak and terrain management no longer active. *tr
ODI 10653851
Steering
Driving at highway speed, all steering was lost with family in vehicle. No problems had occurred with the vehicle steering until a flash update had been completed by dealer for the recal notice. As others this occurred over a weekend and we were not home felt we could not drive even after shutting down, re starting and error cleared. Rented a vehicle ourselves until monday when the dealer provided a rental. After…
ODI 10651167
Steering
The power steering failed while i was driving south on i-75. The recall for the module (reprogramming) had already been performed less than 2 months before. Now, after having the car in the shop for a week and 2 days, ford has agreed to pay all but $700 of the repair. The reprogramming obviously was not an effective solution since the power steering failed a short time after that was done. The car is not safe to…
ODI 10643135
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to dealer for repairs under recall nhtsa campaign 14v286000(steering). The vehicle was repaired but the problem has recurred. The vehicle was taken back to dealer who explained that the vehicle was no longer eligible for the…
ODI 10639037
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. While driving approximately 35 mph, the power steering seized and excessive force was required to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the steering gears needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure occurred after the vehicle was previously repaired according to nhtsa campaign…
ODI 10633323
Body · Service Brakes · Steering
I was driving down the street at around 20 mph when there were cars that suddenly stopped. When i was braking i felt as if the steering was allowing me to turn and it happened so fast i felt as if i lost braking power. Then i hit the car in front of me hard. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10633318
Steering
Steering stop moving in the middle of driving on the express way. Had to turn the vehicle off and then restart for it to continue moving. This happen a view times but never on the express way. *tr
ODI 10629293
Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes · Steering
2011 ford explorer was just returned two weeks ago for national recall on electronic power steering control module failure. On august 21st at 9:30 am my wife was approaching a red light. She applied the brakes and felt an immediate power loss issue with the breaks. She impacted the vehicle in front of her around 15 mph. Air bags were not deployed at time of accident. She did noticed the terrain management failure…
Crash reported
ODI 10627059
Steering
Power steering still failing even after recall "fix". My ford explorer 2011 already had the power steering recall (safety recall notice 14s06/nhtsa recall 14-v-286) fix completed at dealership on 8/7/14, but the power steering is still failing! This is very serious if the recall "fix" is not working. Please require ford to immediately implement the proper fix and immediately notify all owners who have already taken…
ODI 10627004
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. While driving approximately 10 mph, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired according to nhtsa campaign number: 14v286000 (steering) because the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage…
ODI 10630102
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
I was making a right hand turn going down a hill onto a street when the sensors went off and the power steering stopped working. The car registered two warnings. I stopped the car in the middle of the street. I was manually able to get it to a parking lot but it was extremely difficult. I drove very slowly. When i got to the parking lot, i turned the car off and restarted it. The warnings disappeared and the car…
ODI 10606046
Electrical System · Steering
On june 16th, 2014, i was traveling 40 mph with my 3 year old and 18 month old in the car and i lost all power steering and ended up in a ditch. There was no way to control it or even turn the wheel. It happened again on june 19th, 2014 however, my husband was driving and was able to get the car off the road. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10604682
Electrical System · Steering
At approx 1430 on june 2nd on highway on ramp accelerating had the service advancetrac warning light and chime come on and the traction control off light and chime come on and lost all power steering control of vehicle. I immediately put on my emergency flasher and let off the accelerator and forced my explorer to the shoulder. Once on the shoulder of the highway i cleared the faults, i wish i would have taken cell…
ODI 10596042
Electric Power Assist System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. The contact stated that when backing out of the driveway the power steering failed. As a result, the power steering assist fault and service steering advance tract lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle has not been taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,417 and the current mileage was 87,437. Pm…
ODI 10594405
Steering
I was driving on a four lane highway when a signal came on dash " steering assist failure" and i could not steer the vehicle. Was just coming off highway and was able to continue to ramp and had to pull off on median in middle of busy exit ramp. Stopped and then restarted car which temporarily fixed problem now dealership is telling me the steering column module needs replaced - will cost me $600 !!!!!:( very…
ODI 10594441
Steering
While driving approximately 45 mph on local road, power steering gave out and vehicle became extremely difficult to effectively steer and pull off across 2 lanes of traffic onto shoulder. After pulling off to side of road, turned of engine and re-started. Steering came back and was able to return home. Next day, suv did same thing 2x and added a new error message regarding traction control system fault along with…
ODI 10593541
Steering
I made a left hand turn and the power steering went out. I pulled into a parking lot and turned the engine off and restarted the engine. The power steering was fine. I went home and came back out to the car to go on an errand the power steering did not work. We called a wrecker on may 17 to have it towed to the ford dealer. *js
ODI 10592270
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
This is the 4th time my vehicle has lost its power steering. I was driving in traffic at about 45 mph and the power steering. I have to find a place on the side of the highway to pull over and turn my car off and wait a while then restart it and sometimes it fixes the problem and sometimes it doesn't. There is only a matter of time that this will happen going at a higher rate of speed and cause injury or worse! Ford…
ODI 10588110
Electronic Stability Control · Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
My wife, and three children were driving at freeway speed with the cruise control set. The power steering failed and the warning lights came on. The controls on the steering wheel locked out and she could not cancel the cruise control. The loss of power steering made it difficult for her to get pulled over. She tried to call me for help but no functions of the sync system worked. She pulled over and waited for me. I…
ODI 10587664
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. The contact stated that while traveling 40 mph, the power steering and service track warning lights illuminated. The manufacturer was contacted. There were no repairs completed on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 66,800 and the current mileage was 66,801. The vin was not available.
ODI 10586839
Steering
As i was getting ready to make a right hand turn, the steering wheel would not turn and, at the same time, there was a car coming up to the stop sign where i was turning. I used all the force i could to turn the wheel because if i couldn't turn, i was going to hit the other car. As it was, i barely missed them and finally got the car to turn right and then the light came on the dash - i still had to find a place to…
ODI 10586024
Steering
2 times within a week, saturday april 26, 2014 being the most recent, as i was driving my power steering failed on my 2011 ford explorer xlt fwd. Warning lights saying "power steering failure" lit up and my power steering was no longer operating. I had to pull over using manual steering to turn the explorer off and start up the power again to bring the steering back. This could have been very dangerous situation if…
ODI 10585289
Steering
About months ago my husband was driving along and all of a sudden, the vehicle started making a warning sound and the "assist power steering fault" message came up as well as service "advance trac." then, without warning, there was no power steering. Shut the car off and restarted it and we had power steering again. We took it into the ford dealership and they said they have never heard of this problem. It happened…
ODI 10584817
Steering
Steering power assist warning light came on; loss of power steering. Turned off car, then restarted again, problem went away. Has recurred numerous times. *tr
ODI 10585174
Steering
This is the 5th time my powering steering has failed!!! Ford has replaced the part, after i had to spend $1800.00!!! The power steering rack was replaced and power steering failed again. What is it going to take for ford to figure this issue out. *js
ODI 10585481