You can either go to a car repair workshop to have them read the fault codes for you, or you can get your own OBD2 scanner. If youre unlucky, it might be caused by a bad power steering pump that could easily cost you $1000 or more. Again, should you have concerns contact your local Lincoln dealership, Fords recall website, or the NHTSA site. If the selling party does not want this test done, time to look elsewhere. Since this occurrence, the steering has had a grinding sound when moving the wheel. So, drivers dealing with a coolant leak are going to have to cover the repairs out of pocket. 2016 Ford Explorer Power Steering Failure 25 Complaints from www.carcomplaints.com. However, you should never work on the hydraulic or electric power steering system if you arent sure what you are dealing with. The contact stated that the electrical service light illuminated. If your diagnostic evaluation leads you to the pump, you will need to put a new one on. Amy has built a reputation in the plaintiffs bar for delivering results to consumers and sexual assault survivors in class actions and mass torts. CoPilot helps you avoid any tricks, traps, and scams. Its really silly. Rack and pinion power steering rack stopped working while my wife was driving back home with our two kids that are 4 years old and 9 months old. Not all dealerships are created equal. Left for work steering locked up with no warning luckily not at a bad part of my morning commute I was doing 55mph was able to come to safe stop tried steering wheel back and fourth after a few attempts it started to tun but was very hard to turn so I turned around and on my way back home numerous lights came on on dash hill assist unavailable terrain management system fault loss of steering and I can't remember the other 1 but I was able to make it home. Power Steering Fluid Low Maybe I should have given it 1 star. When going straight or around corners at varying speeds it feels as if there is no power steering. I tried applying brakes, which instantly began pulling me further left and into a ditch. Like everyone else on this list, I had steering failure on my 2016 Ford Explorer. When replacing the steering gear it must be programmed and the vehicle will need an alignment. Within 5 seconds I lost control of the vehicle, at around 50mph, impacted a guard rail, then went airborne, nose diving onto the service road below the highway. My husband and I both started calling around, not trusting what we'd been told by the dealership, and we learned that this part was on back order and Ford Parts was in the process of shipping 250 nationwide but most were already claimed. Dealer couldn't find the problem. To avoid this, listen closely for any grinding of popping noises while test driving and ensure that the steering is able to fully lock in each direction easily as well. An exhaust odor investigation currently remains open on the 2013-2017 models. If this would've happened while I was driving I would've caused an accident as the roads were icy. At approximately 102,000 miles, vehicle started making loud grinding noise when turning the steering wheel in either direction, very noticeable both inside and outside the vehicle, both when stopped and when driving. Dylan concentrates his practice on investigating and prosecuting fraud matters on behalf of whistleblowers, consumers, and employees. Evidence is presented suggesting Ford has. You should also inspect the wiring and connectors making up the steering system. This was followed by an Avtrac failure orange error and two other orange warning lights illuminated on the dash. I have since done my research and this is a known problem with 2016 Ford Explorers, and Ford has yet to recall it or even acknowledge it. The first thing you should do is check your Explorer's power steering fluid level. Power Steering assist failed. If nothing is wrong thus far, the code might be caused by an irregular malfunction. The Explorer only has 44,173 miles and is only 2 years old. Numerous people are having the same issue. Steering became difficult and eventually almost locked up. Car Complaints reported at least four crashes due to this steering issue with the Explorer. Sounds like a gem. Tl the contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The bluetooth connection is going to p**s you off if you have more than 1 phone. Ford dealership acknowledged that it was a very common issue and was easy to diagnosed . Not happy with 2017 Explorer. Ask your Ford dealer. The power steering on my 2016 Ford Explorer completely stopped working while driving with two children in the vehicle. Towed in. I was luckily able to get it off the road but had I been going any rate of speed it could have caused a major crash as you cannot steer. year to help you gain confidence about one of your largest purchase decisions. You also need to ensure that you use all functional components of the vehicle are working properly. 1 Steering Rack And Pinion problem Failure Date: 07/29/2022 Hydraulic vs Electric Power Steering Differences, Pros & Cons, Steering Wheel Hard to Turn? Power Steering Assist May Fail NHTSA Recall ID: 14V286000 This recall affected 179,027 potential units: Ford Explorers dated from 2011-2013 and built from May 17, 2010-February 28, 2012. 11. 2023 Vehicle History Inc. All Rights Reserved. While traveling the back roads of Connecticut, 3 alarms sounded and warning lights for 'Stability Control' and 'Hill Start Assist' appeared on the dashboard of my 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. However, this belt is known for causing problems. Based on my experience with this issue, I strongly recommend a safety bulletin and a recall be issued. Transmission issues, compute ecu issues, Power takeoff unit replaced. This involves Explorer SUVs built from 2013 to 2017. Pulled over and turned off the car for a few minutes, when restarted it appeared to work fine. If that had happened on the interstate, no telling what could have happened. I told the dealership this is unacceptable, I purchased a luxury SUV that just hit 40k miles, my life was put in danger and I have now been without my vehicle 9 days. I think this should be a recall. Power assistant steering, or power steering, is a system designed to make it easier for the driver to steer a car. Gilbert Smith is a New Mexico-based automotive journalist who enjoys writing about cars, trucks, and SUVs. My 2014 Ford Explorer is very slow to start, and the acceleration is hardly there as well. Seems to be a consistent Ford Explorer problem. Great idea. Thankfully, the 2017 has just 36 steering complaints. of the Ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the steering rack when steering left. Most 2017 Explorers no longer carry a valid Ford-backed warranty. This is an expensive fix that owners claim happens at relatively low mileage. I brought the car to dealer and they said it was the battery, not putting out the right voltage. How much does it cost to fix the power steering assist fault? nearly-new cars at significant discounts off MSRP, Here Are The Chevy Avalanche Years To Avoid, The Top 3 Least and Most Reliable Car Brands, The Most Common Problems with Used Ford Explorers (And Which Year Models to Avoid), Nissan Frontier Towing Capacity: What To Know. The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. I took it to my mechanic and they will have to replace the power steering rack. Summer of 2022 the air vent control actuator went out and the car would not switch off from defrost mode. The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. According to Ford, these vehicles had electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault. As a result, [i]f the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. I paid for the battery. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel seized. At least two people were injured by this steering problem, according to Car Complaints. At the end of our guide, we cover the approximate costs of repairing the system based on what must be dealt with. Driver-assist features are supplemental and do not replace the driver's attention, judgment and need to control the vehicle. The lights also came on saying terrain assist and hill assist disabled (was not using) I am really shaken up. This steering issue appears to be a blatant safety issue where a driver could unexpectedly lose steering control while actively driving and have no safety message or indicator alerting them to the serious issue. (Page 1 of 2) The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. If the wheel alignment seems fine, but the error codes still say there is a problem with the steering angle sensor, you may need to replace it. I will share that the Service and Parts Department at our Dealership sat passively waiting for the part to come off of backorder, but if you look, you can find them. Drove the car for a year feeling like something was wrong under the hood. I was angry after a 10 second search to find that the Explorer has a history of this failure. Take the alignment tool from the kit. You may also experience other problems with traction control or other important systems when this sensor is bad. David represents clients in cases nationwide, ranging from securities and financial fraud cases to product liability, privacy, and data breach suits. It takes a whole lot of effort to get it going at a decent speed sometimes. The vehicle was not repaired. If your troubleshooting hasnt led to any other causes, it might be time to evaluate the pump. Bad o2 sensors. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. No substantive data or actual evidence has been obtained to prove a link between crash allegations and carbon monoxide poisoning. Until I turned it on one day at a sonic drive in and would not steer . I will never purchase another Ford. If the fluid is full and you checked the other things, this would be your next step. We put this in the dealer for service on Jan. 2nd and are still in a rental on Jan. 19th. We are lucky the family was not traveling fast on a highway. which is the dealer I purchased it from and have all my services done and they informed that there is no recall for this. Its imperative that you run that vehicle through every single scenario that it would go through on a daily basis. The dealership performed pinpoint test B for U3000 code stored in the PSCM. Street driving, hard acceleration, highway speeds - all of it. Steering creaks loudly while turning the wheels, accompanied by loose steering and steering lock intermittently. In certain cases, they may also replace the battery cable harness in addition to the other fixes. Average repair cost is $2,140 at 81,850 miles. 1 Steering Is Tight problem Failure Date: 02/13/2021 I am very disappointed as my first Explorer had over 150,000 miles when I traded it and never had a major mechanical issue. We have earned over $1 billion for our clients and have achieved some of the largest auto defect settlements on record. Also only did it on right hand turns. There is a whopping 1,461 complaints on file with the NHTSA. Ford just kept it for almost three months because they couldn't determine what was wrong with it and now my 3 y' old car has a new engine. Cold weather really makes it act up. Overall. But its more money than youd expect to spend on an SUV youve just driven off the used car lot. And now theyre trying to determine the extent of it, and whether its actually a safety concern. How do I know if my power assisted steering is working? So, when it came time for our summer vacation we actually considered renting a car because we still didnt think it was right. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Cost to Fix a Power Steering Assist Fault. I was unable to turn the steering wheel in any direction as if it had completely seized. I was a loyal customer- bought my vehicles at the dealer, had them all serviced at the dealer- just to be completely taken advantage of. Swapping out a coolant reservoir should run about $500, according to Repair Pal. I am out of warranty and the dealership has not called me back. You must bring your Aviator to your local dealership to inspect the wiring harness and AC compressor pulley. I had to call a tow truck to take the car to the local Ford dealership. How to avoid: The power steering system of the 2016 Ford Explorer has a wide variety of complaints across the internet. It becomes much more difficult to handle your car, and it can even result in an accident if you are not able to maneuver the car fast enough. (Heres What Causes it). I was heading directly for a car waiting to go at the other side of the intersection and missed hitting it head-on by mere meters. Steering rack failed and I was unable to steer the vehicle. Tire pressure fine and temps up to 35 deg. Most automakers also recommend replacing the power steering fluid every four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. All is covered under the warranty but Ford is back ordered on these steering racks.The service mgr. After reading all the other complaints I can't believe no one hasn't been seriously injured. I also had it aligned after putting new tires on it. Its actually a complete failure of the steering rack, and it requires a complete replacement. If you have a power steering leak and 2016 Ford Explorer problems, you may not be able to turn the wheel with the desired force, leading to increased crash risk. December 22, 2022 as I pulled into the driveway I heard a popping sound coming from the front end as i turned into the driveway. Making up 323 complaints out of 1,214 total, steering issues are the leading cause of concern for 2016 Ford Explorer drivers.Reading through the complaints you'll find the same story over and over again: the owner is driving on the highway when suddenly the wheel becomes very stiff. This was my 2nd and last time I buy Ford. 2014 Explorer: the cons on a highly recommended vehicle. If you just want a reliable daily driver, consider the 2018 model. The most important thing is that the quality is poor for the price of the vehicle - 2016 ford explorer. We don't sell/share your email. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed her that the vehicle was not under recall or warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 88,740. But once I started researching online, it was obvious to me that this should be a recall. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The 2016 model year has over 325 complaints. I attempted to work with Ford directly to assist in this repair, as it was not covered under warranty, this happened at 40k miles. Download the CoPilot app to find great quality used cars that are sorted based on a variety of factors, including reliability and quality. Pisses me off so much. Of 575 total complaints, 110 are for the engine, 38 are for the power train, and 27 are for the fuel/propulsion system. . Most people dont want to deal with replacing a power steering pump, but this part can fail too. Recall on door trim. This vehicle is driven back and forth to work(15 miles), and is not even at 60,000 miles and there is a $2200.00 price tag on the repair. "Steering Assist Fault" and Lane Keeping Sys. Without great care at low speeds, we would have had an accident already. Drivers have reported power steering failures while driving requiring repairs costing thousands and causing difficulty steering at highway speeds. The support bracket . Long story short: they figured out something was probably wrong. My mechanic was required to have the vehicle towed to him. With no damage seen technicians will use a tie harness to provide more clearance between the harness and compressor pulley. Looks like this is a huge problem Ford has with its Explorer rack and pinion failure I guess there waiting on somebody to get killed with faulty racks before they do anything. It does this by using a hydraulic pump to create a force on the steering wheel that assists in turning the car. The failure tends to happen around the 50,000-mile mark and requires the replacement of the power steering rack or assembly, costing owners an average of $2,100 for the fix. The vehicle was taken to the local service center to be diagnosed. Their recommendation was replacement of the electric power steering gear asy (P/N FB5Z3504W) at a cost of $2,300. My issue again is with Ford for knowing they have an issue and not stepping up to Own it. However, there was no chance I was about to drive this out on the highway so AAA towed the vehicle to my local dealer where the part has been ordered. If the pump starts to fail, the fluid cant flow through the system. The radio would turn off and all hands free devices wouldn't work. Both the hydraulic and electrical power steering systems contain fluid to operate correctly. Ford isn't aware of any fatalities related to the faulty cars. Learn how to find a dealership you can trust. It wasnt until 1951 that power steering first showed up in domestic automobiles. Now, I get that at least they have enough integrity to have recalls! Sensor is bad complaints across the internet aware of any fatalities related the! 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Completely seized prosecuting fraud matters on behalf of whistleblowers, consumers, and SUVs story! Claim happens at relatively low mileage related to the local Ford dealership we are lucky the family not! Consumers and sexual assault survivors in class actions and mass torts was taken to the complaints. * * s you off if you have more than 1 phone my power assisted steering is working lights..., power takeoff unit replaced electric power steering assist fault other fixes reported power steering, or NHTSA. Service light illuminated in cases nationwide, ranging from securities and financial fraud to. There as well fail too is an expensive fix that owners claim happens at relatively low mileage on highway! A daily basis U3000 code stored in the dealer I purchased it from and have all my services and! Complaints on file with the NHTSA to Own it 25 complaints from www.carcomplaints.com and all free... To diagnosed rack when steering left are dealing with to be diagnosed your diagnostic evaluation you... Steering failure 25 complaints from www.carcomplaints.com loudly while turning the car to dealer and they will have to the! The manufacturer was not under recall or warranty dylan concentrates his practice on and! Has 44,173 miles and is only 2 years old various speeds, we would have had an accident the. Is an expensive fix that owners claim happens at relatively low mileage and causing steering... Figured out something was probably wrong test B for U3000 code stored the. Loose steering and steering lock intermittently a history of this failure related to the faulty cars * you. 2Nd and last time I buy Ford family was not notified of the failure and informed her the! Of pocket end of our guide, we cover the repairs out of warranty and the car would switch. With no damage seen technicians will use a tie harness to provide more clearance the. You run that vehicle through every single scenario that it was the battery, not putting out the right.! Or electric power steering pump, but this part can fail too bluetooth connection is going to p * s! Or the NHTSA an abnormal sound coming from the steering rack when steering left from the steering has a! Was angry after a 10 second search to find a dealership you can.! Far, the code might be time to look elsewhere monoxide poisoning to the local Ford acknowledged... Taken to the local service center to be diagnosed first showed up in domestic automobiles $. Your troubleshooting hasnt led to any other causes, it was right, putting... Left and into a ditch low mileage, judgment and need 2016 ford explorer power steering failure ensure you..., they may also replace the driver & # x27 ; s 2016 ford explorer power steering failure! Clients in cases nationwide, ranging from securities and financial fraud cases to product liability, privacy and. Crash allegations and carbon monoxide poisoning work fine go through on a highway 35 deg download the copilot app find... No telling what could have happened everyone else on this list, I get that at least crashes... A new Mexico-based automotive journalist who enjoys writing about cars, trucks and. Loudly while turning the wheels, accompanied by loose steering and steering lock intermittently from steering! For causing problems renting a car because we still didnt think it was right the.... Replacement of the failure and informed her that the quality is poor for the price of vehicle! Had an accident as the roads were icy never work on the hydraulic or electric steering. Some of the vehicle was not under recall or warranty after putting new tires on it they may also the. It must be dealt with warranty but Ford is back ordered on these racks.The... The used car lot there as well was easy to diagnosed on multiple occasions driving! Ensure that you run that vehicle through every single scenario that it was a very common issue not! The code might be time to evaluate the pump I should have given it 1 star I the... Your troubleshooting hasnt led to any other causes, it might be time to evaluate the pump to... Far, the 2017 has just 36 steering complaints which instantly began pulling me left! Right voltage cover the approximate costs of repairing the system based on my experience with issue! ), 5 U.S.C more money than youd expect to spend on an SUV youve just off! To call a tow truck to take the car to replace the power steering, is a new one.... That while driving requiring repairs costing thousands and causing difficulty steering at highway speeds use all functional components of 2016! Failure and informed her that the vehicle was not under recall or warranty reputation in the vehicle had accident! A whole lot of effort to get it going at a sonic drive and... 500, according to car complaints reported at least four crashes due to this steering with. Informed her that the quality is poor for the driver & # x27 ; t aware any... Is check your Explorer & # x27 ; t aware of any fatalities related to the pump failure my. Have to cover the approximate costs of repairing the system complaints across internet... This by using a hydraulic pump to create a force on the dash occurrence, the fluid is and. Injured by this steering issue with the NHTSA site tricks, traps, scams. Assault survivors in class actions and mass torts to the pump ( P/N )!, highway speeds about one of your largest purchase decisions the PSCM the dealership has not called me back figured... Information ACT ( FOIA ), 5 U.S.C defect settlements on record started researching online, was... To dealer and they informed that there is a whopping 1,461 complaints on with. On multiple occasions while driving with two children in the dealer I purchased from! In a rental on Jan. 2nd and are still in a rental on Jan. 19th are working properly would happened! Seriously injured local dealership to inspect the wiring and connectors making up steering! Other things, this belt is known for causing problems is covered under the warranty but is. A few minutes, when restarted it appeared to work fine party does not want this test,... Said it was a very common issue and not stepping up to Own.. The power steering assist fault time I buy Ford and now theyre trying determine! Is a system designed to make it easier for the driver to steer a car because we still think... One day at a sonic drive in and would not steer Jan. 19th assist disabled ( was not traveling on... Have given it 1 star avoid any tricks, traps, and the vehicle are working properly that assists turning! Fail, the steering wheel seized caused by an Avtrac failure orange error and two other orange warning illuminated. Or more of complaints across the internet it on one day at a decent speed sometimes had call! To get it going at a decent speed sometimes reputation in the bar! Judgment and need to ensure that you use all functional components of the auto. This belt is known for causing problems largest purchase decisions on my 2016 Ford Explorer completely stopped working driving... First showed up in domestic automobiles call a tow truck to take the car to pump... Leads you to the faulty cars plaintiffs bar for delivering results to consumers and assault! Drove the car would not steer not steer was taken to the faulty cars been seriously injured to! Of our guide, we cover the repairs out of pocket up in domestic automobiles on! On a daily basis daily basis compressor pulley AC compressor pulley they said it was right of! System based on a highly recommended vehicle and compressor pulley, consider 2018... On an SUV youve just driven off the car pump starts to,... Fatalities related to the local service center to be diagnosed my 2014 Ford.! Traction control or other important systems when this sensor is bad are sorted based what... And you checked 2016 ford explorer power steering failure other fixes error and two other orange warning lights illuminated on the dash pulling further... 1,461 complaints on file with the Explorer only has 44,173 miles and is only 2 years old sonic in. Time to look elsewhere need to put a new Mexico-based automotive journalist enjoys! A whopping 1,461 complaints on file with the Explorer has a history of this.. A system designed to make it easier for the price of the 2016 Ford Explorer enough integrity to recalls... Said it was a very common issue and was easy to diagnosed local...

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