2013 Ford Explorer Steering Problems
- 375
- 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 375 stored complaint records:
- 5 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 140 records
- steering wheel · 36 records
- steering assist · 28 records
- steering failed · 16 records
- power assist · 12 records
- steering failure · 12 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 159 |
| 100–150k mi | 86 |
| 30–60k mi | 59 |
| 1–30k mi | 36 |
| 150–400k mi | 12 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Steering
Power steering will fail while driving down road. This is a design flaw from ford and they should repair it. This failure is caused by overheating of the electronic assemble in the steering rack. I will sue ford if they do not respond to this complaint.
ODI 11257912
Steering
Loss of power steering at lower speeds or when stationary with the steering locking out at higher highway speeds causing loss of steering control
ODI 11252085
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While operating the vehicle, the steering wheel suddenly seized and could not be turned in either direction. The failure only occurred while making a right turn. During the failure, the message 'power steering error' was displayed. After turning the vehicle off and on, it resumed normal operation. Canton all star ford (17849 1-20, canton, tx) and the manufacturer were…
ODI 11289800
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While driving in reverse, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. On august 21, 2019, the steering wheel assist and traction warning indicators illuminated. When the contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, the steering wheel returned to normal. The vehicle was taken to woolwine ford-lincoln (located at 3080 us 49, collins, ms 39428, [redacted]) where it was…
ODI 11252079
Steering
Vehicle has been through 4 steering racks each time it is replaced the vehicle has left the service shop only to return in less than 24 hours. Steering tightens up rendering the vehicle almost impossible to drive. Dashboard displays warnings such as power steering failure, service power steering, powertrain lock, etc. This happens while driving. Once i was on a back road, once on a highway and once on a service road…
ODI 11244619
Steering
3 different occurrences while driving my power steering stops working and an error message comes up telling me power assist failure. Once while backing out of my driveway, twice while turning in two separate occasions. I contacted ford directly in regards to the recall for this matter to be told since my vin doesn't show any open recalls this has to be paid out of my pocket. I am upset due to the fact i didn't own…
ODI 11300492
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While driving 50 mph, the power steering completely failed. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact pulled over, turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the failure continued. The vehicle was taken to chapman ford ([redacted], marysville, oh 43040, [redacted]) where it was diagnosed that the power steering failed. The contact associated the failure with…
ODI 11252016
Steering
While operating 2013 ford explorer on highway at approximately 30 mph the right wheel suddenly turned 45 degrees right causing the vehicle to unexpectedly veer to right towards curb and pedestrian walkway. A visual inspection showed the outer tie rod disconnected from outer tie rod connector without warning. Mechanic determined the male thread on outer tie rod "worked" it's way out of the female outer tie rod…
ODI 11234000
Steering
Driving down the expressway going 75mph when we got a power steering fault error. We lost all power steering and traction control. Very scary with our 3 small children in the car in the middle of the expressway. Called ford and was told that while there was a recall for this issue, our vin was not included. Doesn't make any sense since it is the exact same issue that models under the recall are experiencing. Ford…
ODI 11231347
Steering
Malfunction regarding "steering assist fault" keeps showing up. Loss of power steering all of the sudden that almost resulted in a crash. I see recalls about steering assist fault but mine is not listed. It has happened in motion and when first starting up the vehicle.
ODI 11231435
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While driving various speeds, the power steering failed without warning. The contact took the vehicle to hubler ford (2605 in-44, shelbyville, in 46176, [redacted]) and was informed that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The contact was given an estimate for the repairs. The contact associated nhtsa campaign number: 14v286000(steering) with the failure; however, the…
ODI 11278426
Steering
Power steering fault twice when making sharp turn
ODI 11231805
Steering
Sometimes the steering locks up even when moving have to shut down engine wait a minute and restart to get some power steering re-activated
ODI 11230653
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. The contact stated that the power steering assist malfunctioned, which nearly caused a crash. Paradise ford (1360 w king st, cocoa, fl 32922, [redacted]) stated that there was no recall on the vehicle and suggested that the power steering assist was faulty. An independent mechanic provided a second opinion and reached the same diagnosis. The manufacturer also stated that…
ODI 11231010
Steering
My steering wheel suddenly became difficult to turn while in motion while turning off the highway resulting in a near collision. I received no interior warning lights or signals alerting me to an issue with the steering.
ODI 11230192
Steering
While traveling in a forward direction on a city street, an alert for power steering malfunction appeared. A few seconds later, the power steering system completely failed and the steering locked up. I was unable to turn the steering wheel left or right. A quick research of the ford explorer power steering resulted with a large forum of people with same problem. The dealer my vehicle was taken to stated i was the…
ODI 11234309
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While driving approximately 5 mph, a grinding noise was heard and the steering wheel seized. In addition, the "power steering service now" and advancetrac warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined that the steering rack failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The…
ODI 11229157
Steering
I experienced a total loss of power steering. It began as a little play in the steering wheel near the end of an [redacted]. The service power steering now light came on at that point. After parking the vehicle and restarting the vehicle there was no power steering at all.
ODI 11230031
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While driving 30 mph, the power steering and traction control warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact was able to park the vehicle on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to d-patrick boonville ford (located at 3100 in-62, boonville, in 47601, [redacted]) where it was…
ODI 11229652
Steering
Power steering failed while driving on a city street.
ODI 11242202
Steering
Vehicle has 74,200 miles on it. Power steering is failing intermittently. I have been noticing that under minor steering movements (lane changes or minor curvature in road) i understeer due to intermittent loss of power steering assist for approximately 1 second. When power steering comes back oversteer and end up swerving vigorously due to assist returning. It has created a dangerous situation many times in the…
ODI 11223118
Steering
Cranked up explorer and received power steering assist fault about a year and a half ago. Called dealership to check on recall or see what this was about. We were told that there was no recall and by turning the explorer off and on again usually fixes the problem this did at that time. Then it happened again a couple months later and did what they said because they told us it was not communicating correctly. It has…
ODI 11222017
Steering
When i turn the wheel in my vehicle it makes a loud clunk noise and also when i apply my brakes. I looked up all ford explorer recalls and noticed one in 2014 that has to do with the electric power assist system. How can i know if my vehicle was on the recall list being so long ago and can this be covered under that recall? I see alot of complaints involving this same issue. I bought the car used in 2017.
ODI 11230822
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While the contact's spouse was driving 55 mph, the steering lost power and the traction control and steering warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road. The contact was called to the scene drove the vehicle, using manual steering, to rowe ford westbrook [redacted], located at [redacted], westbrook, me 04092). The dealer stated that…
ODI 11222449
Steering
POWER STEERING FAILURE
ODI 11222879