2015 Ford Explorer Steering Problems
- 145
- 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 145 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 3 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 67 records
- steering wheel · 42 records
- steering assist · 19 records
- rack pinion · 17 records
- steering rack · 11 records
- steering gear · 11 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 81 |
| 60–100k mi | 25 |
| 1–30k mi | 22 |
| 100–150k mi | 6 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine · Steering · Suspension
A little over a month ago the left rear toe link broke while driving. This caused the car to lose control and go into a sideways slide, breaking the wheel hub in the process. Smooth road going about 50 mph in good conditions. We got the car fixed and had to pay for the repairs since the car is no longer under factory warranty. After the ford dealer in mchenry il had it for over a week, we got the car back, drove it…
ODI 11234314
Steering
Noisy popping noise when steering left and right at a stand still or low speeds. This turns into a locked steering wheel in one position.
ODI 11222850
Engine · Steering
While driving recently my car would 'sputter' while at a light etc. Well today it completely dies while driving (about 20mpg). It eventually restarted and i was able to drive to my mechanic. The vehicle completely died while pulling into the drive of the mechanic who will take a look on monday. Also, had problems with steering unit that ford said needed to be replaced. Said that would cost us about $1100 for a new…
ODI 11217196
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford explorer. While driving approximately 60 mph, the 'lane detection failure' message suddenly appeared and the power steering failed. The steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. After stopping the vehicle and restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who found diagnostic code: c200d and advised the…
ODI 11219682
Steering
I thought the vehicle was having struts issues in the front as well as a sway bar. However i finally got an appointment at the ford dealership and they stated that the issue was caused by a failing electronic steering rack. This vehicle only have 42,524 miles on it and this should not be happening already. This could potentially fail causing you to lose power steering and cause an accident. The vehicle makes the…
ODI 11223002
Steering
My wife was driving down the road when the power steering suddenly went out almost causing her to wreck. Shortly after a "steering assist fault service required" message popped up. After searching through forums and goggle it seems this is a common issue that ford refuses to recognize.
ODI 11209434
Steering
Lane keeping steering assist is electric motor assist. The rack & pinion steering gear motor malfunctioned, leaving the steering without any assist, resulting in manual (extremely difficult to steer) steering. In this case, no crash resulted, but required rack & pinion required replacement. Replacement cost ~$2200.00 at a ford dealership.
ODI 11219688
Steering
The power steering froze while driving on three separate occasions over the last two days. The first was while pulling into a parking space, the second time was while turning to merge onto a busy two lane highway and the third time was while driving 55 mph merging onto the freeway. The car was in motion in all three cases and had to be put in park and turned off before steering came back. My wife was unable to turn…
ODI 11209218
Steering
Power steering stops working suddenly; due to factory mistake or faulty parts or manufacturing. Possibly causing loss control and crash occurrences. Unless you have upper body extreme strength you can't control the steering wheel due to this defect. There have been previous recalls but not for this year or my vin number despite the issue being the same. Ford refuses to pay to repair it. Also, this once repaired can…
ODI 11207330
Steering
When i drive at slow speeds to pull into a parking spot, garage, turn into a drive way and reversing out of these spots, there is a loud clunk noise. When turning the steering wheel to the right.
ODI 11218967
Steering
The vehicle has approx 42,000 miles and has started exhibiting the clunking noise and difficult turning at low speed, specifically in turning right, as reported in many other complaints. Looking at a $2k fix at such a low mileage with with so many other similar complaints is disturbing and amazing why ford is not fixing this.
ODI 11206012
Steering
On 4/14/19 we left for vacation and drove1,100 miles from arlington, va to key largo, fl and when we got to fl, the steering started making a clunking noise and got stuck when we were making a u-turn. After some research, i could tell it was the steering, could give out when driving and was a serious repair that could not wait until returning home in a week to get it repaired. We drove to lorenzo ford in homestead,…
ODI 11210132
Steering
Power steering failed as i was pulling away from a gas pump after refueling. Power assist warning light came on and i was not able to turn the steering wheel unless i used a great amount of force. Luckily i was still in the gas station parking lot when the failure occurred. The car had to be towed to a dealer.
ODI 11196200
Steering · Suspension
When we turn the wheel to the right it has a loud popping noise during driving or stationary its progressing from a popping and something the steering wheel gets stuck. Told by two different mechanics that the popping noise has to do with strut and cv joint and electric steering gear and rack and pinion going bad. Our explorer only has 91000 miles. Both mechanics say this is odd that this is going on for a 2015.…
ODI 11266544
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford explorer. The contact stated that the service steering warning indicator flashed intermittently and then the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an authorized dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,100.
ODI 11196450
Steering
Driving to work and received a "steering assist fault/service required" warning message. Took car to dealer, where they repaired a faulty steering gear assembly.
ODI 11219548
Steering
I was driving my vehicle down the road i went to make a turn and my vehicle made a terrible noise on the right side. The steering wheel acted like it did not want to turn. I was informed that my rack and pinnion was bad. I only have 57,000 miles on the vehicle. I researched this problem and i am clearly not the only one with this complaint. It's very strange that all models are covered except mine.if my child would…
ODI 11191406
Steering
2015 ford explorer xlt, electronic power steering failed during driving. A "steering assist fault service required" message illuminates on the dash instrument panel. This has occurred 4 times in the last week. Each time the failure has occurred after starting the engine and beginning to drive the vehicle. The mileage on the vehicle at first occurrence was 98,734. Appointment made at local ford dealer for service.
ODI 11191385
Steering
Slow speed grinding noise when turning. In motion and stationary on all services
ODI 11202756
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Steering
Driving 55mph on i-94 last night in a steady rain and check battery message came up in the left ip display. Within a few seconds i lost the power steering, then the center console entertainment/info screen, then the instrument cluster went black with the headlights and windshield wipers which were on highest setting slowed but continued to operate only while in the highest setting. This scenario continued off and on…
ODI 11185651
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford explorer. The contact stated that the power steering failed to function and the steering wheel seized more than once. In addition, the electric power steering, low battery mode, and other unknown warning indicators flashed. The vehicle was coasted off the road, shut off, and restarted; however, the failure recurred. Bruce walters ford (302 s mayo trail, pikeville, ky 41501,…
ODI 11181790
Steering
We have owned many fords in the past but after owning a 2015 ford explorer sport it may be the last. My explorer has only been out of warranty for less than a year. As soon as it went out of warranty there was a problem with the link so they said. Maybe it was't a link after all. There was a loud clunking noise under my car when the steering wheel was turned. Now less than a year later the clunking noise is horrible…
ODI 11176237
Steering
While driving the vehicle it lost power steering. Warning lights came on stating power steering assist fault service advance trac terrain management system fault this is not new to ford explorers apparently there was a recall 2011-2014. My vehicle is a 2015. It is a shame that ford or natsa would allow this risk to continue. I encourage you to recall any vehicles in all years to prevent accidents. My vehicle has…
ODI 11174613
Steering
Over a period of a few days, i noticed that the power steering was becoming increasingly tight as i merged into other lanes or made turns on both the local roads and highway. There were no warning lights to indicate that there was a problem. I stopped driving the vehicle until i could have it evaluated by the ford dealer. The dealership mechanic identified a problem with the steering shaft assembly and said that it…
ODI 11174427
Steering
While i was driving my vehicle on icy road conditions, my vehicle's steering failed without notice. Thankfully i was driving slower due to road conditions. I was unable to steer my vehicle down the road. This was the steering gear that went causing the issue. When i contacted ford, i was told it's not under warranty. Not our problem. The vehicle is only a 2015.
ODI 11173245