2011 - 2018 Explorer Power Steering Issue

[LeFurg]

reading the detail there are several questions. in the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) a U0415:00-08 code showed, which they wrote is loss of communication. To the right the side of the printout is shows Status 08 (Not Current DTC) - Fault previously detected, not currently present. Does this have to do with previous posts in this thread where the fault clears it self by turning the key off then back on? if so how can the dealer say no fault existed at the time of the accident. The key had been turned off and on several times by the tow truck driver for starters.

Other codes that showed on the screen shot were
U0452:68-28-ABS
B10D7:05-48-BCM
B1193:00-AB-OSCM
P2196:00-64-PCM
P2198:00-64-PCM
B00A0:09-8B-RCM

ANy input from anyone on this??

I'm not sure, but could be this:

ABS - Anti-lock Brake Sensor
BCM - Brake Control Module
PCM - Power Control Module

I looked online and found what these meant:

OSCM - Occupant Classification System Module (yes, spelled like this, unlike the acronym letter sequence)

RCM - Restraints Control Module


As for the 'rest' of the codes alphanumeric structure, I have no clue... Hopefully this helps to nail it down.

If I were to make a guess without looking at any photos, the last parts of the codes would tell me the brakes were applied (BCM), the seatblet(s) locked (RCM), the abs kicked in (possibly from slight wheel lockup from hitting gravelly part of road)(ABS), & the car shut down and unlocked the doors (PCM) after hitting something (OSCM)? .... based on what I "think" the last part of some of those codes mean... I think, however the OSCM & RCM are linked for something like an airbag light.

Was your car still running after the pole impact?

 

[LeFurg]

http://www.arfc.org/complaints/2011/ford/explorer/steering/problem.aspx

http://www.arfc.org/complaints/2012/ford/explorer/steering/problem.aspx

Apparently, some 2012's are having the issue too. Makes me wonder about the 2013's. I thought all model years 2011 to current had the same steering rack and control module...

2011 & 2012 Ex's:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints/results.cfm (you'll have to select the make, year, etc.)

Basically, the same thing as arfc.org.

So far, nothing on the 2013 Ex's. Also, given that the explorer is based on the taurus, I checked for steering issue complaints on the taurus...none for 2011 or 2012. After checking for steering lock issues on the flex, I found there were 3 complaints for the 2011 model year flex very similar to the explorer, but nothing for 2012 flex as of yet.

 

[jrosner50]

2011 Owner, never had this happen in 18k. I had the cooling fan TSB performed yesterday and twice today my power steering has failed. Mine is going back to the dealer first thing Monday. Here is my online complaint to the nhtsa:

I was slowing down to make a right turn into a strip mall and the wheel didnt turn at all until I put both hands on the wheel and fought the wheel with both arms to turn. A message on my LCD screen said power steering failure. I had to turn the truck off and back on and the steering was fine, I thought. About 20 miles later the truck did the same failure again. I turned the truck off and back on. It just had a cooling fan TSB performed at Ford yesterday, dealer says that has nothing to do with this, but this Explorer is one big computer so Im not too sure since they told me a re-program was done for the fans. Please investigate this as this is will cause a huge accident at some point for some Explorer owner. I am taking this back to the dealer Monday for a loaner.

 

[peterk9]

2011 Owner, never had this happen in 18k. I had the cooling fan TSB performed yesterday and twice today my power steering has failed. Mine is going back to the dealer first thing Monday. Here is my online complaint to the nhtsa:

I was slowing down to make a right turn into a strip mall and the wheel didnt turn at all until I put both hands on the wheel and fought the wheel with both arms to turn. A message on my LCD screen said power steering failure. I had to turn the truck off and back on and the steering was fine, I thought. About 20 miles later the truck did the same failure again. I turned the truck off and back on. It just had a cooling fan TSB performed at Ford yesterday, dealer says that has nothing to do with this, but this Explorer is one big computer so Im not too sure since they told me a re-program was done for the fans. Please investigate this as this is will cause a huge accident at some point for some Explorer owner. I am taking this back to the dealer Monday for a loaner.

Ref your statement, Please investigate this as this is will cause a huge accident at some point for some Explorer owner. Too late. It has already happened as posted in this thread. Please see the 'sticky' at the beginning of the Forum and make sure that you follow through with a report as requested. Also, it may be a good idea to take a picture of the error message that pops up if you have a cell phone handy since the error code may not always be stored.

Peter

 

[rsscully]

Dropped off at dealer today

I started my Explorer up on 6/23/12 and had multiple system warnings (see video)

http://youtu.be/4l-BT4EBwS4

I had to drive to the dealership today 06/25/12 with no power steering. If you start your vehicle and receive any of these warnings run a vehicle health report while the warnings appear and print it out as the report will be replaced every time you run a new one.

Spoke with the service manager who told me that the ESP unit needs to be totally replaced and they are back-ordered until 07/30/12. Now the dealer I drove it to (closest to me) and the dealer I bought the vehicle from (approx. 20 miles away) are trying to figure out who is on the hook for a loaner vehicle for the next month. Will keep you updated.

 

[rsscully]

Sorry I posted this in the sticky

I started my Explorer up on 6/23/12 and had multiple system warnings (see video)

http://youtu.be/4l-BT4EBwS4

I had to drive to the dealership today 06/25/12 with no power steering. If you start your vehicle and receive any of these warnings run a vehicle health report while the warnings appear and print it out as the report will be replaced every time you run a new one.

Spoke with the service manager who told me that the ESP unit needs to be totally replaced and they are back-ordered until 07/30/12. Now the dealer I drove it to (closest to me) and the dealer I bought the vehicle from (approx. 20 miles away) are trying to figure out who is on the hook for a loaner vehicle for the next month. Will keep you updated.

 

[peterk9]

I started my Explorer up on 6/23/12 and had multiple system warnings (see video)

http://youtu.be/4l-BT4EBwS4

I had to drive to the dealership today 06/25/12 with no power steering. If you start your vehicle and receive any of these warnings run a vehicle health report while the warnings appear and print it out as the report will be replaced every time you run a new one.

Spoke with the service manager who told me that the ESP unit needs to be totally replaced and they are back-ordered until 07/30/12. Now the dealer I drove it to (closest to me) and the dealer I bought the vehicle from (approx. 20 miles away) are trying to figure out who is on the hook for a loaner vehicle for the next month. Will keep you updated.

Since your warranty is good at any Ford dealership, I would say that the loaner should be supplied by the dealership which will be doing the work. I'm sure the money isn't coming out of their pocket.

Peter

 

[RonJrSVCMGR]

I would call Ford. They should assist with the loaner in this extreme and safety concern....

 

[rsscully]

The two dealerships spoke last night and the issue has been elevated to a Ford CSM (from what I was told). I should hear something today about a loaner vehicle. The more pressing issue is that I was going to leave tomorrow on vacation and have no vehicle for my family to fit in. I don't see two adults and a car seat going on an 8 hour road trip in my 99 f150 regular cab 5 spd.

The loaner issue sounded like a paperwork thing. Don't know what the issue was with the dealership I actually took the vehicle to, something about the number of vehicle assistance credits each dealership has versus their size, but the dealership I bought the vehicle from (larger volume dealer) said a loaner should not be a problem but they need a service invoice to authorize the rental or something like that. I obviously could not drive the vehicle to them in the condition it was in. I would really like to see Ford and the dealerships step up in a big way because it will determine whether or not I still buy the F-350 Lariat I was planning to purchase in the next year or look at another manufacturer.

I want to be fair with how I represent this situation. If it is not handled to my satisfaction I will certainly tell everyone I can and file as many complaints as I can so other Explorer owners are aware of this problem. On the other hand if it is handled properly with a positive outcome I will certainly praise Ford and one or both of the dealerships involved for standing behind their product. So far it seems like they are working on a solution.

Stay tuned.

 

[tropicvi]

The two dealerships spoke last night and the issue has been elevated to a Ford CSM (from what I was told). I should hear something today about a loaner vehicle. The more pressing issue is that I was going to leave tomorrow on vacation and have no vehicle for my family to fit in. I don't see two adults and a car seat going on an 8 hour road trip in my 99 f150 regular cab 5 spd.

The loaner issue sounded like a paperwork thing. Don't know what the issue was with the dealership I actually took the vehicle to, something about the number of vehicle assistance credits each dealership has versus their size, but the dealership I bought the vehicle from (larger volume dealer) said a loaner should not be a problem but they need a service invoice to authorize the rental or something like that. I obviously could not drive the vehicle to them in the condition it was in. I would really like to see Ford and the dealerships step up in a big way because it will determine whether or not I still buy the F-350 Lariat I was planning to purchase in the next year or look at another manufacturer.

I want to be fair with how I represent this situation. If it is not handled to my satisfaction I will certainly tell everyone I can and file as many complaints as I can so other Explorer owners are aware of this problem. On the other hand if it is handled properly with a positive outcome I will certainly praise Ford and one or both of the dealerships involved for standing behind their product. So far it seems like they are working on a solution.

Stay tuned.

I really hope you file the NHTSA incident report anyway, if only to help those of us who are not getting the assistance from FORD you are getting. It seems the level of assistance is more dealer dependent than anything else, as it is not a consistent level of service. In my case at least, the dealer has basically implied we imagined it all.

 

[cnsheets]

Is this a problem only affecting the AWD units?

Seems that the power steering fault and terrain management fault go hand in hand.

Any FWD EX's having this problem?

 

[rsscully]

I really hope you file the NHTSA incident report anyway, if only to help those of us who are not getting the assistance from FORD you are getting. It seems the level of assistance is more dealer dependent than anything else, as it is not a consistent level of service. In my case at least, the dealer has basically implied we imagined it all.

I filed the complaint with the NHTSA before I took the vehicle into the dealership. I had read of many others who are experiencing this issue so I went ahead and filed just so the information would be out there. This was before I even knew they had to replace the entire EPS unit.

Just talked to one of the dealerships. I should have a rental this afternoon. He informed me the part is on back order, 356 are on back order and 144 are to ship the beginning of July. I am guessing mine won't be included in the next shipment since my case has just started. They are "scouring" the country looking to get one sooner. This sounds to me like at least 356 other failures.

 

[willied]

Any FWD EX's having this problem?

Yes.

 

[AJGROGG]

Is this a problem only affecting the AWD units?

Seems that the power steering fault and terrain management fault go hand in hand.

Any FWD EX's having this problem?

Yes...mine as well.

 

[bigxclumzy]

was on the freeway going 80 mph and some sort of trailer warning light came on and i lost control, causing me to almost swerve into the next lane. the car regained control immediately, so i didn't think much of it. thought it was a fluke. two days later while entering the freeway entrance ramp, I lost my power steering and almost ran off the ramp. turned off and turned on the car and the power steering was back to normal. i've been driving it for the last two days and no more problems or issues yet. i will be taking the explorer to dealer on wednesday. hopefully this BS doesn't come back.....

 

[MTN]

was on the freeway going 80 mph and some sort of trailer warning light came on and i lost control, causing me to almost swerve into the next lane. the car regained control immediately, so i didn't think much of it. thought it was a fluke. two days later while entering the freeway entrance ramp, I lost my power steering and almost ran off the ramp. turned off and turned on the car and the power steering was back to normal. i've been driving it for the last two days and no more problems or issues yet. i will be taking the explorer to dealer on wednesday. hopefully this BS doesn't come back.....

I wish I could tell you this was a fluke. It will come back. I periodically lost power steering when first starting the car for a few months. Recycling the engine cured the problem. Then one day, all the warnings came on and stayed on (no power steering, no advance trac, no turn signals, no terrain management). This was 1 year ago. Since replacing my entire power steering assembly I have had no problems.

 

[jrosner50]

So I dropped my Explorer off at the dealer early Monday morning for the steering failure and I have a loaner car. My service advisor called me late Monday to tell me the truck is staying overnight and to keep the loaner. I havent heard from my dealer since. To be honest I dont want the truck back as I have no confidence in the truck anymore. I have not bothered to call them and don't plan to. For folks who have brought their's in for this issue how long has your dealer kept it?

Cory....if you read this what is Ford doing about this issue overall? I give Ford a big :thumbdwn:

 

[willied]

So I dropped my Explorer off at the dealer early Monday morning for the steering failure and I have a loaner car. My service advisor called me late Monday to tell me the truck is staying overnight and to keep the loaner. I havent heard from my dealer since. To be honest I dont want the truck back as I have no confidence in the truck anymore. I have not bothered to call them and don't plan to. For folks who have brought their's in for this issue how long has your dealer kept it?

Cory....if you read this what is Ford doing about this issue overall? I give Ford a big :thumbdwn:

My mom's was in for a day and a half. The longest part was waiting for the part to get in. It took a few hours to install. The bill was around $1200, paid for by the warranty.

 

[phareous]

For the people who the dealer repaired, did they tell you what they did? Did they just replace all the power steering parts? Are they throwing parts at the problem not really knowing what caused it?

 

[rsscully]

My loaner car.

A 2013 Ford Explorer "Enterprise" edition.