2011 - 2018 Explorer Power Steering Issue

[RSNovi]

Here is my hypothesis on the steering recall.

I think the steering racks were failing while people were driving causing the power steering to go out while driving. I think for the recall they changed the software to 1) better detect a failure was about to occur setting a DTC and 2) more gracefully shut down the about to fail power steering during a more safe situation such as after a restart.

Then they extended the warranty because they knew the rack was going to fail and need replacement. The new software would help prevent a dangerous situation.

Either way, it was a free repair for me which I was quite happy about. Ford recognized they had a serious problem and put in a reasonable correction.

 

[blwnsmoke]

Either way, it was a free repair for me which I was quite happy about. Ford recognized they had a serious problem and put in a reasonable correction.

I like to stick up for Ford and try to be a neutral party for most cases but this is one thing that Ford should not get credit for. They denied, denied, denied that there was an issue. Their responses the the NHTSA showed exactly that. It wasn't until the members here continued to file complaints with the NHTSA that they continued to pursue Ford with this issue and Ford FINALLY stepped up and extended the warranty on them.

This was NOT Ford putting in a reasonable correction and they should not get praise for it. This should have happened back in 2013 when more and more were failing.

My $0.02

 

[RSNovi]

It sounds like there might be more to the story than I know.

 

[voltch]

I took my car to the dealer for this , and they are telling me that my VIN is not covered under the recall even though the symptom is the same, DTC code is the same, part is the same (steering rack). Anyone from FORD corporate can help with this? i filed an NHTSA complaint as well.

 

[peterk9]

I took my car to the dealer for this , and they are telling me that my VIN is not covered under the recall even though the symptom is the same, DTC code is the same, part is the same (steering rack). Anyone from FORD corporate can help with this? i filed an NHTSA complaint as well.

Try another dealer? BTW, no one from Ford corporate monitors this Forum. You can try contacting FordService via Twitter or Facebook.
If you do, be sure to include your full name, best daytime phone number, VIN, mileage, and servicing dealership in your message.

Peter

 

[blwnsmoke]

I took my car to the dealer for this , and they are telling me that my VIN is not covered under the recall even though the symptom is the same, DTC code is the same, part is the same (steering rack). Anyone from FORD corporate can help with this? i filed an NHTSA complaint as well.

Do you know what your build date is? The recall covers vehicles built up to Feb 28, 2012. I didn't realize at first that the recall only covered vehicles up till then. Kind of surprising being that 2013s and 2014s have had this failure as well.

 

[blwnsmoke]

Try another dealer? BTW, no one from Ford corporate monitors this Forum. You can try contacting FordService via Twitter or Facebook.
If you do, be sure to include your full name, best daytime phone number, VIN, mileage, and servicing dealership in your message.

Peter

The thing is, reading the recall notice you posted on the previous page, it is listed by VIN. IF the VIN falls outside the date range, no dealer will be able to approve a recall repair. It is all on Ford at this point on whether they would extend coverage.

A damn shame because they know there are still issues.

Fortunately I fall within that range if it does fail but will not keep my Explorer longer then the 6yr/125k ESP I have (just turned 90k yesterday). I contacted Joel to see what my options are and I can extend it for another 2yr/24k once I approach hitting the end of my ESP.

 

[voltch]

Do you know what your build date is? The recall covers vehicles built up to Feb 28, 2012. I didn't realize at first that the recall only covered vehicles up till then. Kind of surprising being that 2013s and 2014s have had this failure as well.

Is that something that I can tell from the VIN Number? Truck is still at dealer.

 

[blwnsmoke]

You can pull up your window sticker and it will tell you. You can also look at the sticker when you open your driver's door.

 

[voltch]

You can pull up your window sticker and it will tell you. You can also look at the sticker when you open your driver's door.

Where do you pull up a window sticker?

 

[peterk9]

Where do you pull up a window sticker?

Go to the Order Status sub forum and there is a thread in the 'Sticky' section.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=308458
However, many of us who used to be able to pull up the 'Sticker' no longer can.
There is also a thread on that in the same sub forum

Peter

 

[voltch]

I have not made any progress on this issue, the truck is still at the dealer and I am still running an uphill battle with ford to get this fixed. If any of you are on twitter, if you can follow my wife's twitter account for any updates for this steering problem I would appreciate it. She is @ cheriseatl on twitter. thanks

 

[crrobbins]

window sticker

I found this page for vehicle info. Don't think gives actual window sticker, but does give build date and vehicle information. A lot of same stuff that is on window sticker. This may already be in Forum someplace.

https://www.etis.ford.com/selectedVehicleDetails.do#



crrobbins

 

[voltch]

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.

Still no luck, with ford they told me my vin does not fall into the recall, even though it is a 2013 explorer with same exact symptoms /solution. Everybody in customer service there is like a robot.

 

[blwnsmoke]

Still no luck, with ford they told me my vin does not fall into the recall, even though it is a 2013 explorer with same exact symptoms /solution. Everybody in customer service there is like a robot.

Go to dieselstop.com and join there. Crystal is on that forum, pm her there and she will get it to your regional CS manager.

 

[voltch]

Go to dieselstop.com and join there. Crystal is on that forum, pm her there and she will get it to your regional CS manager.

is that the correct website? it doesnt look like a forum.

 

[blwnsmoke]

is that the correct website? it doesnt look like a forum.

sorry

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/

 

[voltch]

sorry

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/

Ok. I'll try and contact them. in the meantime I'll need to update my nhtsa complaint to reflect that my vin was not part of that recall.

 

[voltch]

sorry

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/

I went ahead and reached out, but have not been able to get to any adequate resolution, even with an escalation.

Here is recap:
Ford Motor Company has recall #14S06 for steering control defects in certain Ford Explorer models.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000
The Power Steering Assist Fault Light comes on and the Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) stops working.

Ford refuses to fix vehicles that are not included in the recall when they have the same symptoms and the fix is the same.

Reported issue to NHTSA and will include the fact that ford refused to fix under recall. The recall may need VIN expansion as many others are having the same failure.

Here are other NHTSA reports for the same issue where ford refused to fix.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/
Select type ID number, check the box that says complaint.

2013 Ford Explorer NHTSA reported Complaints of power steering faults or requiring steering gear replacement where ford refused to fix because vehicle is not listed under recall:
10825137, 10819303, 10790170, 10789784, 10785658, 10730162, 10667978, 10662612, 10823407, 10836387, 10836784, 10838919, 10853160

More 2013 Ford Explorer NHTSA reported issues of power steering faults or requiring steering gear replacement:
10825995, 10826108, 10821228, 10746493, 10836541, 10837855

2014 Ford Explorer NHTSA reported issues of power steering faults or requiring steering gear replacement:
10819978, 10763247, 10762176, 10760719, 10616425, 10596959, 10583244,10573219, 10836347, 10851963

2015 Ford Explorer NHTSA reported issues of power steering faults or requiring steering gear replacement:
10762263, 10745704, 10731777,10680739

 

[Xplorerdude]

The steering in 2013 Explorer Sport whilst turning right under a lot of load. It could have been fatal (when the steering fails it is heavy beyond belief).

Ford covered the replacement of the steering rack as it was a 100 miles inside the warranty.

Since replacement of the rack the steering occasionally (maybe 1 in 100 times) does not find centre after turning right (i.e. lack of steering returnability). The fault is intermittent so the dealership can't diagnose it. Any ideas anyone ? I find it a little unsettling.