2011 Explorer Power Steering Issue

[MTN]

Has anyone else lost power steering in their new Ex? I bought mine in January and had no problems for several months. Recently, when starting the vehicle the "Power Steering Assist Fault" warning started coming on. After turning off the ignition and re-starting the engine, the warning went away and I regained power steering. About 10 days ago, I started it and the same "Power Steering Assist Fault" warning stayed on - even after recycling the engine. The "Service Advance Trac" warning also stayed on and I lost the Terrain Management function. Unreal! My truck has been at the dealer since 6/13. They checked everything and talked to Ford "engineers." I think they just gave up trying to figure it out and decided to order a new "Powersteering Rack." Still waiting for the part...

This is obviously not a minor fix on a new car. Regretting my purchase after this happened and reading other problems others are having, overheating, A-Pillar, etc., etc. Rattles are one thing, dangerous defective parts are another. Anyone have a similar experience?

[NEWPORTNJ]

Over all it's a great explorer ilove it. But have in mind that when buying an all new vehicle redisigned there will be many issues its sad to say but it takes a year cycle to get the glitches bugs fixed. So dont be sad or regret buying it it an awesome explorer sorry that you have these issues but i took a gamble also i mostly never buy first year vehicles but i love the explorer i had 2002,2006,2011, and had issues with them wbut once they were fixed they were all fine,so ihope your issues get fixed and you live happly ever after lol. Wish you the best !!!

[FordCustSrvc]

MTN, that must have been unsettling to have this happen with your Explorer, and I’m sorry to hear you’re still waiting for the part. I’d like to have your issue reviewed by escalating your concern. Would you mind sending a PM with your VIN, approximate mileage, and dealer name?

Cory

[1AJeremyD]

I'm unfamiliar with the new Explorer but does it have electric power steering now or is it still pulley driven?

[MTN]

Electric Power Steering

[2nd X]

Electronic Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS)

[1AJeremyD]

Thats what I figured. I had one of those go out on a vehicle I was servicing (nissan sentra 2009) and the car had to be limped back to the dealer and have the magnets realigned or something

[2011 Explorer]

Well, well... my wife had the power steering go out on her on our 2011. One difference, she WAS DRIVING IT WHEN IT DID IT!!! 2 weeks ago she heard a "BING" and a warning in the left dash screen showed a "POWER STEERING FAILURE" as she was driving. It also gave her a icon or symbol similar to a roll-over warning (an SUV on 2 wheels???). She tried to move the steering and it was locked as she was going 40+ MPH on a interstate road. Lucky thing, there was traffic and she had to drive slow, so she was only doing 40 and not 60 or more. She had a curve coming up and rode it to the emergency lane where she stopped. With common sense, she turned the truck off and then back on and it was all back to normal. She drove the rest of the 5 miles home with no problems.

We took the truck to the Ford dealer where we bought it a few months back and as you might know by now, NOTHING. Tests and checks and so called e-mails and calls to Detriot, but no answer to what it might be. All we got was a "If it happens again, leave the truck on and call us". All they did is reset the warnings and the keys since I kept getting a warning when I drove it and not when my wife had her key in it.

Now we are waiting for either a Ford recall or for it to happen to us again. Love the truck, but we are a little worried when we need to drive it. I don't feel too safe to think anytime soon the steering wheel will lock as we are driving and won't be able to turn left or right. I hope it happens in a straight road so we wont run off the road.

[vulnox]

That sounds... really unlikely. Even if the power steering failed, you would still be able to turn the wheel, especially when moving at those speeds. Hell, the difference between power steering and no power steering at those speeds would be fairly small in terms of controlling the vehicle. Now below 5 MPH, ugh.

It seems more like the steering wheel lock engaged as it would if the vehicle was in park, if this event happened at all. I would imagine if that were the case then it could happen on any vehicle of any make since those locks have been on any vehicle I have ever driven in the past couple decades.

Good that everyone is safe, but if it did happen, I wouldn't be any more afraid of it happening again as I would in any vehicle, that sounds like a fluke. A scary fluke, but not something Ford would issue a recall over.

[FordCustSrvc]

Originally Posted by 2011 Explorer

Well, well... my wife had the power steering go out on her on our 2011. One difference, she WAS DRIVING IT WHEN IT DID IT!!! 2 weeks ago she heard a "BING" and a warning in the left dash screen showed a "POWER STEERING FAILURE" as she was driving. It also gave her a icon or symbol similar to a roll-over warning (an SUV on 2 wheels???). She tried to move the steering and it was locked as she was going 40+ MPH on a interstate road. Lucky thing, there was traffic and she had to drive slow, so she was only doing 40 and not 60 or more. She had a curve coming up and rode it to the emergency lane where she stopped. With common sense, she turned the truck off and then back on and it was all back to normal. She drove the rest of the 5 miles home with no problems.

We took the truck to the Ford dealer where we bought it a few months back and as you might know by now, NOTHING. Tests and checks and so called e-mails and calls to Detriot, but no answer to what it might be. All we got was a "If it happens again, leave the truck on and call us". All they did is reset the warnings and the keys since I kept getting a warning when I drove it and not when my wife had her key in it.

Now we are waiting for either a Ford recall or for it to happen to us again. Love the truck, but we are a little worried when we need to drive it. I don't feel too safe to think anytime soon the steering wheel will lock as we are driving and won't be able to turn left or right. I hope it happens in a straight road so we wont run off the road.

I’m really glad everyone is OK 2011 Explorer. I received your private message and I sent you back a response with more information. If you haven’t already, please check your inbox for the details.

Cory

[lexrid]

Originally Posted by vulnox

That sounds... really unlikely. Even if the power steering failed, you would still be able to turn the wheel, especially when moving at those speeds. Hell, the difference between power steering and no power steering at those speeds would be fairly small in terms of controlling the vehicle. Now below 5 MPH, ugh.

It seems more like the steering wheel lock engaged as it would if the vehicle was in park, if this event happened at all. I would imagine if that were the case then it could happen on any vehicle of any make since those locks have been on any vehicle I have ever driven in the past couple decades.

Good that everyone is safe, but if it did happen, I wouldn't be any more afraid of it happening again as I would in any vehicle, that sounds like a fluke. A scary fluke, but not something Ford would issue a recall over.

I would say it's entirely possible. If I remember right, the steering on the 2011 Ex is all electronic. There is no power steering pump, etc involved as on cars of old. One little electronic/computer glitch and the steering is gone. I will take glitches in MFT all day long, but the fact that the steering is all electronic still makes me nervous. You are exactly right, past cars with power steering pumps and all you would still be able to steer if the pump failed, it would just be more difficult to turn the wheel. If the electronics that run the Ex's steering go haywire, potentially all ability to steer the car is gone possibly resulting in disaster. I love my Ex, but there is no doubt some of the new technology is kind of scary.

[JohnnyDop]

Originally Posted by 2nd X

Electronic Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS)

A dealer told me that the EPAS in the 2011 is new. What makes it different from the old style power steering?

[jrmexplorer]

Looks as if it is an ASSIST system.

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/2011_F150_EPAS.pdf

I'm no auto design engineer, but it looks as if the EPAS is just an electric motor assist instead of hydraulics in traditional power steering, SO, theoretically, the car should still be steerable in the event of a failure. Sounds like vulnox is right - something else potentially going on here to lock the steering up.

Not good either way though.

[vulnox]

Originally Posted by jrmexplorer

Looks as if it is an ASSIST system.

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/2011_F150_EPAS.pdf

I'm no auto design engineer, but it looks as if the EPAS is just an electric motor assist instead of hydraulics in traditional power steering, SO, theoretically, the car should still be steerable in the event of a failure. Sounds like vulnox is right - something else potentially going on here to lock the steering up.

Not good either way though.

Exactly, I have never met an electric motor that can lock itself when it doesn't have power without some outside mechanical influence. I have seen a lot of electric motors too (Electrical and Computer Engineer). It may exist, but it seems like something Ford would have to add with the express intent of killing someone.

I hope it doesn't become a wide spread issue because that would put it on par with the Toyota gas pedal issues as far as on the road danger is concerned. Something tells me there is more to it though.

[IZwack]

Originally Posted by vulnox

Exactly, I have never met an electric motor that can lock itself when it doesn't have power without some outside mechanical influence. I have seen a lot of electric motors too (Electrical and Computer Engineer). It may exist, but it seems like something Ford would have to add with the express intent of killing someone.

Unless the system has a clutch or some way to disconnect itself from the rest of the R&P (which is I hope how it was designed - default the system to disconnect when the engine is off), then the driver is fighting the gearing in the EPAS system when its not powered. So its not that the motor is "locked", its that the driver must provide torque/energy not only to steer the vehicle, but also to overcome the gearing in the EPAS (and ultimately, the motor) - assuming again that it doesnt have a disconnect mechanism.

[MTN]

After talking with Ford "engineers", my dealer could not diagnose the problem and they authorized a new Power Steering Rack. Ford: "Ah... we dunno.. I guess throw a new Rack in.. see if that helps." Give me a break.

I have not had any problems since they put the new Rack in a month ago, but I agree this is serious and dangerous defect that Ford needs to look into. I lost power steering, then Advance Trac then the Terrain Management System and then turn signal capabilities.

[Joe Dirt]

It honestly seems like most dealerships are completely clueless on this vehicle. Whether it is the drivetrain, body, or MFT, Ford is severely lacking on dealer education on this thing. It started from the introduction- thank God for this forum, or nobody would know anything at all about this rig. It would be comical if it wasn't so sad. In no way should members of a forum be the ones to tell a dealer what is wrong with, and how to fix, their newly redesigned vehicle. JMHO.

[Lecon Chuitt]

My sister has a Malibu with electronic steering. Hers goes out often and when it does it takes all my stength to turn. I shut the motor off and restart. Everything is fine until the next time it goes out.

[AtTheBeach]

This happened just a few days in our new Explorer with about 5,000 miles. My wife muscled it to the curb (which she said was no easy feat). Glad my teenager wasn't behind the wheel at the time!

It's presently in the shop where the dealer has decided it needs a new "steering gear" and has ordered that. No word of anything about a new "rack." What is that exactly, anyway, and how does it differ from a steering "gear?"

My research shows other owners are not reporting this problem with much frequency...and I'd be anxious to hear of others and how the issue was resolved in service.

[MTN]

The "Rack" that I am referring to is short for an entire new "Rack and Pinion." Ford replaced the entire guts of my steering. I think the part cost Ford about $500 to $600 bucks, plus labor. I am no mechanical genius, but I know this is a major component to a vehicle that is likely never replaced for the life of a car. I have monitored this site and the Explorer Facebook page and I would say there about a half dozen people that have had the same experience. For me, it started with the "Power Steering Assist Fault" warning coming on and then going off when I recycled the engine. Then, I completely lost power steering. I was lucky because my 3 year old was not with me when this happened. Ford can keep replacing the part but eventually someone is going to get in an accident. I guess they will just wait and see.