Ford Explorer power steering problems: what 932 owners reported
Owners filed 932 NHTSA complaints about Ford Explorer power steering failing, locking up or turning heavy. That is 6.6% of the 14,063 complaints on file for the Explorer. The reports cluster in model years 2012 to 2016, and 2013 alone has 314 of them.
NHTSA lists four recall campaigns that touch steering on the Explorer, for model years 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2023. Each covers a specific defect, so check your VIN rather than assuming your car is in or out. If this is not your case, read the full Ford Explorer problem report.
TL;DR
- 932 of 14,063 Explorer complaints (6.6%) describe power steering problems.
- The worst model years are 2013 (314 reports), 2014 (180), 2016 (145) and 2012 (132).
- Complaints name Steering 901 times, Electrical System 60 times and Electronic Stability Control 36 times.
- 16 reports mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. The reports list 12 injuries in total.
- Recall 14V286000 (2012 to 2013) covers loss of power steering assist from an intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear.
- Recall 14E001000 (2012) covers replacement steering gears that may lock.
- Recalls 17V530000 (2017) and 24V091000 (2023) cover other steering-related defects.
Which Ford Explorer years have the most power steering complaints?
| Model year | Reports | All complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 42 | 2.4% |
| 2025 | 2 | 109 | 1.8% |
| 2024 | 0 | 29 | 0% |
| 2023 | 2 | 113 | 1.8% |
| 2022 | 0 | 273 | 0% |
| 2021 | 1 | 455 | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 6 | 1,245 | 0.5% |
| 2019 | 1 | 299 | 0.3% |
| 2018 | 11 | 736 | 1.5% |
| 2017 | 16 | 1,712 | 0.9% |
| 2016 | 145 | 2,483 | 5.8% |
| 2015 | 121 | 1,817 | 6.7% |
| 2014 | 180 | 1,684 | 10.7% |
| 2013 | 314 | 2,237 | 14.0% |
| 2012 | 132 | 829 | 15.9% |
Five model years, 2012 to 2016, account for 892 of the 932 reports. In 2012 and 2013 roughly one complaint in seven is about steering, and the share falls with each later year. From 2017 on the counts are small, though newer cars have had less time on the road to collect complaints.
What do Explorer owners describe?
Sudden loss of assist. The most common description is the wheel going heavy with little or no warning. One 2017 owner wrote: "The power steering went out with no warning. Stirring wheel went stiff and made it extremely hard to turn. All the traction and steering lights came on." (NHTSA complaint 11699645). A 2019 owner describes a driver at about 45 mph: "the steering effort suddenly increased without warning, as if the electric power steering assist stopped functioning" and "There were no warning lights or messages before or during the event." (11740477).
Intermittent, then complete. A 2014 owner reports that "It cuts out unexpectedly and often." and that the dealer "says cannot be repaired without replacing the whole steering shaft, gear and rack as well as the tie rods." with about 80,000 miles on the vehicle (11771470). A 2012 owner wrote: "Loss of power steering assist . Yes it is available for inspection on request. I can't steer it ." (11751715).
Warning messages. A 2020 owner describes problems after a battery replacement and lists the errors "service advance trac, steering assist fault service required & pre-collision assist not available." Two dealerships were visited, one unable to diagnose it and one resetting battery settings, and the problem persisted (11670672). A 2013 owner reports "Power steering fault and lane keeping assist failure warnings lit on display at the same time" and that the problem "was isolated to steering module/gear failure" at the dealer (11738002).
Locking. A 2023 owner wrote: "While driving the car, the steering locked up making the vehicle unable to turn." (11727211). That car was towed after blocking traffic in a parking lot.
The component fields back this up: Steering is named in 901 reports, with Electrical System (60), Electronic Stability Control (36), Suspension (22), Power Train (21) and Engine (10) also named. A few complaints in the set involve other faults that came with the loss of steering, so read each one for what it actually describes. These are owner statements to NHTSA, not confirmed diagnoses.
Is there a recall for power steering on the Explorer?
NHTSA lists four campaigns:
| Campaign | Model years | Defect as stated by the recall | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14V286000 | 2012, 2013 | Intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear can cause loss of the motor position sensor signal and a shutdown of power steering assist. | Dealers update the Power Steering Control Module software. If there is a history of the signal loss, the steering rack assembly is replaced. Free of charge. |
| 14E001000 | 2012 | Certain replacement steering gears installed as service parts in September 2013 and January 2014 may lock, preventing the driver from steering. | Dealers replace the suspect steering gears. Free of charge. |
| 17V530000 | 2017 | Steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach and the steering gear to overheat. | Dealers inspect and replace the fasteners as needed. Free of charge. |
| 24V091000 | 2023 | The right-front lower fastener between the steering knuckle and strut may be loose or missing, which can cause a steering pull or increased steering effort. | Dealers inspect the fasteners and tighten or install them. Free of charge. |
Recall 14V286000 applies to vehicles manufactured May 17, 2010, through February 28, 2012. Two owners in the complaint set say their car was built after that and is outside the recall. A 2013 owner wrote that their Explorer "was manufactured in June 2012 and I was told it is not…" covered (11738002). I cannot judge whether such cars should be covered, so the VIN check is the only way to know. No recall in the data matches the 2014 to 2016 cars, which have 446 of the reports.
What should you do if your Explorer steering goes heavy?
- Check open recalls with your VIN at NHTSA recalls.
- Ask a dealer to check for open recalls and manufacturer service bulletins on your car, and ask what they found in writing.
- Write down the date, mileage, speed, warning messages and what happened just before it started, including any recent battery work.
- Report it at NHTSA report a safety problem. Complaints are what this guide is built from.
- If the wheel goes heavy while driving, I would slow down, switch on the hazards and pull over where it is safe, then call for help rather than keep driving.
How this guide was made
The data comes from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records, brief dated 2026-10-27. A complaint counts as a power steering report when the owner's text describes steering failing, locking or turning heavy. Counts, shares and quotes are as filed; quotes are shortened with ellipses only. See the methodology for how the reports are matched.