2012 Ford Explorer Steering Problems
- 168
- 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 168 stored complaint records:
- 6 indicate a crash
- 3 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 132 records
- steering wheel · 35 records
- steering assist · 33 records
- assist fault · 22 records
- needed replaced · 14 records
- steering failed · 13 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 61 |
| 30–60k mi | 35 |
| 60–100k mi | 24 |
| 100–150k mi | 20 |
| 150–400k mi | 16 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Steering
Vehicle was in motion when power steering locked up and all dash lights flashed. Resulted stranded on side of busy road and all power steering failed. Was driving side street at time of occurrence. I made multiple attempts to contact ford corporate to resolve and they refuse to cover under guaranteed recall of the power steering rack and pineon. I have auto service center repairs with a repair cost of $2000.00.…
ODI 11186283
Steering
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…
ODI 11183525
Steering
Tl* 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 [redacted], located at [redacted], hiawatha, ia 52233) where it was diagnosed that the power steering gear failed and needed to be replaced.…
ODI 11182612
Steering
Tl* 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…
ODI 11182284
Steering
Tl* 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…
ODI 11172128
Steering
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.
ODI 11166702
Steering
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.
ODI 11171199
Electrical System · Steering
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.
ODI 11162598
Steering
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…
ODI 11163523
Steering
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…
ODI 11162602
Steering
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.
ODI 11156793
Steering
STEERING ASSIST FAULT
ODI 11155782
Steering
Tl* 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 ([redacted], chambersburg, pennsylvania 17201, [redacted]) where it was diagnosed that the power steering was faulty and…
ODI 11153313
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
While driving the stability control lights came on and the wheel got tuff.
ODI 11152055
Steering
Steering gears lock steering system almost causing a crash with my 11 year old son in the car.
ODI 11150170
Steering
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.
ODI 11141184
Steering
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…
ODI 11121555
Steering
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.
ODI 11123392
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
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.
ODI 11103030
Steering
Sudden grinding in the steering wheel. Suspect it is related to a prematurely failing steering gear box. Occurred while vehicle was stationary
ODI 11083650
Steering · Unknown Or Other
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…
ODI 11082146
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. While starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized and failed to maneuver as the power steering assist warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (lugoff ford, 979 highway 1 south, lugoff, sc 29078), but the failure was unable to be duplicated or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
ODI 11074049
Steering
Service power steering. Advance trac light came on. Unable to steer vehicle while on highway doing 55mph. We are unable to get this car repaired due to high cost to ship car 572miles out of town. Told us that we need to pay for the repair and will get reimbursed at later date. However after explaining we don't have money to ship it they offer little to no help. There is a local shop that does warranty repairs but we…
ODI 11066748
Steering
Steering wheel locks up while driving. I have to turn the car off in order to unlock the steering wheel. Very dangerous. Dealer made me buy a new battery and "reprogrammed" vehicle, but the problem came back.. It's happened multiple times. Most recently on 1/10/18.
ODI 11062606
Steering
My vehicles is expediting recall 14s06 and has happened 2x and for dinner is as saying my vin number is born unser the recall. Help
ODI 11064244