2011 - 2018 Explorer Power Steering Issue

[scottfab]

The recall includes 195,527 2011-'13 Ford Explorers

Date range is in the recall notice.

Unfortunately I have no date range since I am shopping for one and have not received a recall notice.
I did find this reference to 2011 - 2014 only but based on posts in this thread I suspect more:
http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/ford-recalls-11-million-vehicles-including-2008-11-ford-escape-2011-13-explorer.html

This write-up goes a bit into the details and the owner comments at the end are instructive albeit Escape related.

 

[peterk9]

Unfortunately I have no date range since I am shopping for one and have not received a recall notice.
I did find this reference to 2011 - 2014 only but based on posts in this thread I suspect more:
http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/ford-recalls-11-million-vehicles-including-2008-11-ford-escape-2011-13-explorer.html

This write-up goes a bit into the details and the owner comments at the end are instructive albeit Escape related.

There is a post with the link to the recall notice in the 'Combined Recall' thread in the 'Sticky' section.

Peter

 

[josetorr06]

How do I go on fixing this issue.

 

[blwnsmoke]

Make an appt with your dealer.

 

[tbradshaw]

A little over two months later update.

Since the vehicle was at the dealership I have had no further power steering lockups. The steering has been free to move upon startup as well

From the notes, I think the last dealership that worked on it did the power steering reprogramming again.

It makes me wonder if the prior dealership really did it the first time? They were supposed to.

When I looked at the list of services and TSBs required when it went in for its last service, I think the power steering update still was listed.

Don't know, but at this point, if it works as it should, I am happy.

I hope all is still well with your vehicle.

I had the PS failure again on Monday morning. I immediately called the Service Manager at the dealer and arranged to bring it in on Wednesday (yesterday). They took well over an hour checking for codes and testing. Ultimately he told me the proper failure code was there to proceed with the rack and pinion replacement. I was provided a loaner (a sweet '16 Explorer Sport) and hope to have my car back either Sat. or Monday. Well, to be honest, I "hope" they find some way to tell me to just keep the Sport and call it even. But I'll be glad to have mine fixed and be done with this ordeal.

 

[dco43054]

I hope all is still well with your vehicle.

Glad they are getting yours fixed. I had momentary failure after my last post.

I traded mine in on a '16 XLT, so no more issues for me.

 

[tbradshaw]

Glad they are getting yours fixed. I had momentary failure after my last post.

I traded mine in on a '16 XLT, so no more issues for me.

 

[charliepapa]

I hope all is still well with your vehicle.

I had the PS failure again on Monday morning. I immediately called the Service Manager at the dealer and arranged to bring it in on Wednesday (yesterday). They took well over an hour checking for codes and testing. Ultimately he told me the proper failure code was there to proceed with the rack and pinion replacement. I was provided a loaner (a sweet '16 Explorer Sport) and hope to have my car back either Sat. or Monday. Well, to be honest, I "hope" they find some way to tell me to just keep the Sport and call it even. But I'll be glad to have mine fixed and be done with this ordeal.

This was on a 2011? What's your mileage? Is it being replaced under a recall, warranty or are you being charged for it?

 

[tbradshaw]

This was on a 2011? What's your mileage? Is it being replaced under a recall, warranty or are you being charged for it?

The Service Manager used the term recall and we never discussed cost. I have assumed all along that this is being covered by the warranty extension that was granted for this issue. If my memory is correct (I haven't read through this thread for some time), this issue involved '11 and later Explorers and was being handled by Ford as an issue short of a recall...Service Bulletin or something like that. I assumed that this was why they were sticklers for detecting the failure code vs. simply making the repair.

My mileage is just short of 80K right now. I started this process with the dealership well over a year ago when mileage was probably 67K or so. I've been in there several times and they have never told me my Explorer didn't qualify.

 

[charliepapa]

The Service Manager used the term recall and we never discussed cost. I have assumed all along that this is being covered by the warranty extension that was granted for this issue. If my memory is correct (I haven't read through this thread for some time), this issue involved '11 and later Explorers and was being handled by Ford as an issue short of a recall...Service Bulletin or something like that. I assumed that this was why they were sticklers for detecting the failure code vs. simply making the repair.

My mileage is just short of 80K right now. I started this process with the dealership well over a year ago when mileage was probably 67K or so. I've been in there several times and they have never told me my Explorer didn't qualify.

I'd be grateful to get an update after the dust settles. I have a 2014 Limited and they would not cover mine.

 

[blwnsmoke]

I'd be grateful to get an update after the dust settles. I have a 2014 Limited and they would not cover mine.

He is being covered under the warranty extension for the 2011 through early 2013 MY builds. I believe it is a 10yr/150k warranty coverage on them.

 

[dco43054]

He is being covered under the warranty extension for the 2011 through early 2013 MY builds. I believe it is a 10yr/150k warranty coverage on them.

Yep. Mine wouldn't throw the right code, so they wouldn't cover the replacement under the program. Ford wanted the dealer to run $300 worth of tests that I was supposed to pay up front. I declined.

Ultimately, that did factor into my decision to trade it.

 

[charliepapa]

Yep. Mine wouldn't throw the right code, so they wouldn't cover the replacement under the program. Ford wanted the dealer to run $300 worth of tests that I was supposed to pay up front. I declined.

Ultimately, that did factor into my decision to trade it.

yeah, my wife is so pissed we had to come out of pocket $1,400 she wants me to trade it, on principle. this is the first ford I've owned in almost 20 years and I'm not impressed with the product or the way I've been treated.

 

[tbradshaw]

Update: It's Thursday and my Explorer is still not ready. Since I have the loaner I'm not too irritated by that fact but the service at this dealership is terrible. They don't return messages. When they do no one seems to know what's going on. I was told Friday morning that the parts were in and it should be done by Saturday. When I have been able to talk to someone it's the standard, "they're working on it...we'll call you when it's ready." Today I left a message with my service rep. No reply. I called back later to find out he's off today and the computers were down so they couldn't look me up in the system. Just got off the phone from someone returning my message who told me they're waiting on parts. Huh?

Oh well. I'll keep putting miles on the Sport they loaned me. More as it happens...

 

[scottfab]

Steering Fault & Fix Details (201 - ????)

Does the fix being put in actually work?
Anyone have some long term results?
Individual experiences with dealers are sad of course
but not totally unexpected. They have your money already.
It's not like they are trying to sell you a car or keep your business.

What are the nitty gritty details of what goes wrong
and what was done to fix it permanently.
I am not looking for "duh it just fails" details nor am
I looking for "oh it's fixed in a software update".
I want to understand the system in detail enough to understand
the root cause and then be able to evaluate the current solution.
I figure by now Ford must know what is going on and perhaps some
of that detail has filtered down. Either that or they still have no idea
and are just shotgunning for a solution. Maybe they see the damage
to the steering components but have not been able to come up with
what causes it?

 

[peterk9]

I believe all the info you seek is covered in this thread. Software fix was not successful. Steering rack has to be replaced. That's the Reader's Digest version of the reply.

Peter

 

[scottfab]

I believe all the info you seek is covered in this thread. Software fix was not successful. Steering rack has to be replaced. That's the Reader's Digest version of the reply.

Peter

Thanks, yes I am aware of the software attempt and what it was intended to so (change or delay the posting error code) and the damage caused by the problem (rack damage) but what I am after is root cause. You know, something like "rust developing on the sensor lead" or such.
OR is what you're saying is that the rack itself began failing all on it's own?
Due to soft metal used or such?

I'm very interested in a 2014 but want to be confident of the issues resolution.

 

[tbradshaw]

Update: It's Thursday and my Explorer is still not ready. Since I have the loaner I'm not too irritated by that fact but the service at this dealership is terrible. They don't return messages. When they do no one seems to know what's going on. I was told Friday morning that the parts were in and it should be done by Saturday. When I have been able to talk to someone it's the standard, "they're working on it...we'll call you when it's ready." Today I left a message with my service rep. No reply. I called back later to find out he's off today and the computers were down so they couldn't look me up in the system. Just got off the phone from someone returning my message who told me they're waiting on parts. Huh?

Oh well. I'll keep putting miles on the Sport they loaned me. More as it happens...

(Hopefully final) Update: Got the car back today. Totally uneventful. Invoiced as a warranty repair. I'm going to assume it's fixed and this episode is in the past. But I am sorry to see the '16 Sport loaner go.

 

[Jediknight]

Is anyone having these problems with the 2015-2016 explorers?

 

[G00se617]

Unfortunately we have the same issues on our 2013 explorer xlt. The warranty expired on March 25th 2016 and they're trying to charge us $1650 to replace the steering gear. We brought the car in maybe the week after the warranty expired but got sent off since the problem was coming and going at that point. we have talked to the regional service manager but ford service is pretty bad so far.. All he said was he was going to make sure that our car get fixed if we pay the $1650. I don't think I need him to make sure it is fixed If we have to pay $1650.
Anyone experienced a little goodwill from ford so far?