Print this page

CarComplaints.com Notes: The NHTSA's complaint data shows potentially scary power steering problems with the 2011 Ford Explorer.

The steering complaints are pretty serious - owners report the power steering cuts out while driving. The NHTSA opened an investigation into the power steering problems in June 2012, which lead to a recall in 2014. However years later, many 2011 Explorer owners report this defect is still occurring.

It's too bad because the 2009 & 2010 Ford Explorer are solid, trouble-free model years.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
15 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,570 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Ford Explorer steering problems

steering problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Ford Explorer:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2011 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 8 of 33)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #515

Apr 012022

Explorer

  • 137,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering became inoperable. The power steering and service traction warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified and referred to contact the NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.

- Maryville, MO, USA

problem #514

Mar 012022

Explorer

  • miles
There is a recall for 2011-2014 Ford Explorers for the "Power Steering assist fault". My 2011 Ford Explorer is having this exact problem, however after taking it to a Ford dealership, I was told. YES there is a recall, but my vehicle was left off the list. This is 100% unfair. You have a recall for 2011 Ford Explorers, except my vehicle. This is a dangerous problem. I could have had an accident with my two Grandchildren in the car. How can Ford know this is a problem, but leave vehicles off the list.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #513

Mar 132022

Explorer

  • 83,242 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the power steering malfunction warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving, the steering wheel locked up and the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion had an internal failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) in 2014. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 83,242.

- Manchaca, TX, USA

problem #512

Mar 012022

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

There is an issue with the power steering and the system on the vehicle states that there is a -??power steering assist fault-?? and -??terrain assist fault-??. This issue completely locks my steering wheel to the point where it is impossible to turn. The concerning part of this issue is that there have been multiple times while driving through a parking lot or on the highway that this issue comes up out of nowhere. Luckily, this lapse in the power steering has only lasted less than a minute and during times when I could stop however, there will come a time when that won-??t be the case and something serious may happen. The unfortunate part to this issue is that there is a recall for this exact issue amongst other 2011 ford explorers however, my vin# is not included in that recall. It makes absolutely no sense to me why it isn-??t when the same problem is occurring in my vehicle.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

problem #511

Mar 012022

Explorer

  • miles
Powering Steering assist fault light came on in my 2011 Ford Explorer. It is a recall for 2011 For Explorer, however my vehicle is not on the list. If this is a problem with 2011 Ford Explorers, it isn't fair to leave my vehicle off the recall list.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #510

Mar 012022

Explorer

  • miles
Power Steering assist fault

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #509

Nov 172021

Explorer

  • 186,850 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and approaching a curve, the warning message "Service Advance Tract-?? illuminated and the steering wheel locked inadvertently, almost causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle by using tremendous physical force to steer the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that he would be responsible for the cost of the repair as his VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 186,850.

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #508

Jan 122022

Explorer

  • miles
Airbag light stays on after have completed all the fixes as stated in the official TSB 12-5-11 05/29/12. The steering has become extremely difficult to turn at low speeds or moving for a complete stop. It is freezing up and get harder as time goes by. The recall is expired, but the symptoms are the exact same as the recall stated.

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

problem #507

Mar 012022

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 122,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that a recall for the steering had expired. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the failure was not safety-related and provided no further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED IN AUGUST 2015.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #506

Feb 282022

Explorer

  • miles
The steering wheel gets hard to turn it acts like it has glitches in it. It goes from easy to hard and doesn-??t come out of it-??s turns on it-??s own I have to pull it back. Almost acts like I-??ve lost the power steering.

- Carthage, NY, USA

problem #505

Feb 032022

Explorer

  • 142,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently repaired under an unknown steering recall. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The steering assist, traction control, and an unknown warning light were illuminated during the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle would regain power steering functionality a day or two after the failure. The failure had recurred three times within the month. The contact had contacted the dealer who diagnosed that the power steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer confirmed that the vehicle was out of warranty and referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.

- Greene, CT, USA

problem #504

Feb 282022

Explorer

  • miles
The steering wheel is hard and I can not turn it correctly, upon asking Ford in Saugus Mass. they inform me that there is a two week waiting period. So i guess they will be responsable if it commpletly locks while I am driving on the highwway, or taking my children to school. Upon verifying the information on google there has been similar situaitons with this same model, my vehicle was, manufactored in May 2011. So it does go under the recall number 14S06. But Ford is not helping me with the stituation what so ever. I am a single mother with children I depend on no-one, so it is very unprofessional when I came with the urgent situation to them and they acted like they did not care.

- Beverly, MA, USA

problem #503

Feb 282022

Explorer

  • miles
Power Steering assist fault making steering impossible. Had to stop and restart the car a few times to clear the fault in order to move it. Lucky I was at a stop and not driving or I would not have been able to straighten the wheels and would have ended up in an accident

- Valrico, FL, USA

problem #502

Feb 182022

Explorer

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel seized with the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle however, the persisted. The vehicle was towed to the residence and was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

- Yeadon, PA, USA

problem #501

Feb 182022

Explorer

  • miles
I was driving and my wheel locked up almost resulting in a accident I could not turn the wheel I had to pulled over and had to get my car towed I'm being told it is my rack and pinion I have a 2011 Ford explorer now they are charging me 3,000 dollars to get it fixed when their was a recall on it in 2015 I was only going 30 mph when this happened

- Yeadon, PA, USA

problem #500

Feb 192022

Explorer

  • 236,111 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH and making a right turn, the steering wheel seized and made a jumping motion causing the vehicle to move both left and right. The contact stated that the traction control warning light and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The contact parked on the side of the road and restarted the vehicle but continued to experience the vehicle. The contact stated he continued to drive the vehicle with the failure to the residence. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the control module and rack and pinion to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 236,111.

- New Straitsville, OH, USA

problem #499

Feb 152022

Explorer

  • miles
steering wheel gets hard to turn anywhere. a light turns on when this happens but, I couldn't read it as I was trying to get safely out of the road. it has happened to me a couple of times. sometime it happens as I turn the car on once I put the reverse gear on it gets hard I'm able to notice this before I move so I turn the car off and when I turn it back on it fixes itself. but, last few times its happened while driving once in the highway. I was told this could be triggering my check engine light on, which now is always on, according to the shop where it was taken for a check up it is something related to a misfire of the fifth cylinder. they think it is more related to a factory defect.

- Winnetka, CA, USA

problem #498

Jul 012021

Explorer

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the steering wheel would seize. The contact stated she would turn off and restart the vehicle for the steering wheel to function properly. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and the power steering assist fault warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the actuator for the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Bunkie, LA, USA

problem #497

Jan 272022

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 129,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the power steering control module (PSCM) software was updated. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, his daughter noticed that the steering wheel had lost power steering assist functionality. The message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was illuminated. The contact's daughter turned off and as she restarted the vehicle, the steering wheel regained power steering functionality. The contact's daughter continued to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power steering gear had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer advised the contact that he would be responsible for the cost of the repair as SSSC denied the request to cover the vehicle repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000. Dealer notified the owner that recall 14S06 was still open on this vehicle. The owner picked up the vehicle from the dealer and, the power steering system failed again with the message -??Power Steering Assist Fault-??. Owner tried to steer the vehicle. It was very hard to steer. Owner turned off the vehicle and restarted, and the power steering was restored. Power steering failure occurred while the vehicle was parked. No damage or injury occurred. Owner determined that the failure was a safety issue, because the vehicle would be too hard to steer if the power steering failed while driving. Owner had the power steering gear replaced at Apple Ford and paid all expenses out of pocket. Owner found recall 14S06 Supplement #3 on NHTSA-??s website. Supplement# 3 states that -?? This safety recall involves reprogramming the Power Steering Control Module, or replacing the steering gear if certain Diagnostic Trouble Codes are present, regardless of vehicle mileage or warranty start date.

- Danville, VA, USA

problem #496

Jan 172022

Explorer

  • miles
Error message appeared and lost power steering to the vehicle while driving. I learned that 14S06 safety recall was to address this very situation (codes matched). Ford denied the safety recall due to 10 year limit (Vehicle has 39,000 miles and is 10ys 7mo old) May 17th 2019 Letter from ford regarding safety recall 14S06 updates the recall to "regardless of vehicle mileage or warranty start date." I paid for the fix out of pocket as I need a vehicle that doesn't lose the agility to steer while travelling down the roadway. I'd like Ford to honor the safety recall and reimburse me for the repair.

- Blooming Prairie, MN, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?