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2012 ford Explorer steering problems

moderate 354 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700

Complaints
354
Recalls
1
Crashes
6
Avg fix
$700

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 14E001000 06/01/2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain replacement steering gears installed on model year 2011-2012 Explorers as service parts in September 2013 and January 2014

The inability to steer the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the suspect steering gears with new steering gears, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2014. Customers may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 13S14.

What owners are reporting 12 most recent

steering · filed 12/30/2019

AFTER A RECALL FREE FIXED, THE CAR ITS SHOWING THE SAMETHING PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALERSHI SAY NOW I SHOULD TO PAY BECAUSE 4 YEARS AGO WAS FIX IT....

steering · filed 12/27/2024

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was locked. The message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle per the owner's manual; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering gearbox needed to be replaced. The contact w…

steering · filed 12/27/2021

The power steering on the vehicle stopped working while driving. The vehicle is currently at Ken Groody Ford in Redlands, CA (Formerly Redlands Ford). The vehicle gave a yellow Service Power Steering Soon indication and the steering became sluggish. Shortly after, within minutes, the indicator came on in red and the vehicle was unable to be effectively steered. This is the second time this has occ…

steering · filed 12/26/2023

We seen multiple online post about our make model and year Ford having a recall. When our steering wheel locked and we lost complete control of our car more than once with kids and a baby in the car we brought it to Ford to be fixed. They told us as long as the computer matched up with that issue it would be covered under an existing campaign. They then said ford denied it because it just missed t…

steering · filed 12/26/2018

IN 2014 THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. IT WAS NOT FIXED BECAUSE WHEN CHECKED MY CAR DID NOT SHOW ANY PROBLEM. NOW I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR DUE TO POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THEY CANNOT FIX MY CAR BASED ON WARRANTY BECAUSE IT PREVIOUSLY CHECKED OUT FINE. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND QUITE EXPENSIVE TO FIX. WHY CAN'T THE RECALL STILL APPLY TO MY CAR. …

steering · filed 12/24/2013

THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING MAKING PULLING OVER AND STOPPING VERY DIFFICULT FOR A MATURE MALE DRIVER. I FIND IT DIFFICULT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS THIS COULD BE FOR MY WIFE OR ANY SMALLER OR LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING REGULAR DRIVING ON FAIRLY SMOOTH SURFACE NORMAL CONDITIONS. *TR

steering · filed 12/22/2023

Failure of electronic power assist steering system. Without power steering, maneuverability becomes difficult as effort required for steering the vehicle drastically increases, putting the driver and those around them at risk. The dealer has reproduced and confirmed the issue. It has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. No warning lamps appear until failure is …

steering · filed 12/22/2019

OUR SUV LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE. WARNINGS THAT CAME ON DASH INCLUDE: SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW, ADVANCETRAC WARNING, AND ALL TERRAIN WARNING. THE TURN SIGNALS ALSO WILL NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

steering · filed 12/21/2022

2012 Ford explorer has a recall 14s06 which my vehicle allegedly isnt apart of , but for some reason im having this issue. Which is extremely dangerous

steering · filed 12/21/2019

VEHICLE IN MOTION. STEERING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT. NO SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER TO STOP AND SENSOR SAID POWER STEERING AND INTELLIGENT 4 WHEEL DRIVE NEED SERVICE. CALLED MECHANIC . TRIED TO DRIVE AND STEERING WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED .

Common questions

How serious is the steering problem on the 2012 ford Explorer?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 354 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the steering typically fail?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to steering?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

Other problem areas on this vehicle

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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