Increasing the risk of a crash
2017 Ford Explorer steering problems
moderate 74 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
74
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 74 steering complaints filed for the 2017 Ford Explorer, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 74 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2017 Ford Explorer steering systems exhibit multiple failure patterns—from power steering loss and binding issues to rear suspension toe link fractures—often occurring well before 100,000 miles and outside warranty. Many owners report unsuccessful repairs, unavailable parts, and manufacturer reluctance to expand recalls despite documented repeating failures across model years.
Steering failures on 2017 Ford Explorers span several distinct problems. Rear suspension toe links fracture or bolts unscrew without warning, causing sudden loss of steering control and fishtailing at highway speeds. One owner's toe link failed just months after a recall repair. Power steering assist fails intermittently—the system either seizes, stiffens, or locks, with no warning, and restarting often doesn't help. Owners report the "Power Steering Assist Fault" warning appearing on dashboards, sometimes when the vehicle is parked or at critical moments like highway driving. Steering gear binding is common around 25,000 miles and worsens over time; the wheel sticks when turning, won't return to center smoothly, and feels worse in hot weather. Dealers struggle to reproduce these issues on short test drives, delaying diagnosis for months. Steering column control modules and wiring harnesses fail, causing instrument cluster blackouts, stalling, and loss of all steering function without stored codes. Clock springs (steering wheel control mechanisms) break, producing clicking sounds. Multiple owners report extended shop stays—six weeks, twelve weeks—while dealers and Ford engineers fumble to find root causes. Replacement parts are frequently unavailable. Owners outside warranty get no help; those within warranty face $1,700–$3,400+ repair bills. Some owners suspect Ford is aware of these patterns but has avoided expanding existing recalls.
Same Ford Explorer steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Rear suspension toe link fracture/failure
Rear suspension toe link fractures or bolts unscrew, causing sudden loss of steering control and vehicle instability. Owners report the toe link failing catastrophically after prior recall repairs or without warning, leading to fishtailing, loss of steering, and near-crash scenarios.
When: Varies; one owner at 35,800-36,000 miles; another post-recall in December 2022; others at 50 mph, 35 mph, and 50 mph incidents
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of steering control; Vehicle fishtails or swerves uncontrollably; Steering becomes unresponsive; Clunking sound from rear; Understeering on turns above 40 mph; Vehicle shaking at speed
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of toe link assemblies; dealers reported bolts machined too small, allowing them to unscrew. One owner required $1,790 repair at 50,519 miles; replacement parts reported unavailable in 2019.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall #19V435 and Ford Recall #19S17 issued; replacement parts were back-ordered with no ETA. Ford offered to repurchase vehicle under lemon law. Post-recall failures suggest repair ineffectiveness or recurrence.
Electric power steering system fault / loss of power steering assist
Electric power steering (EPS) system intermittently fails or loses assist completely, leaving steering wheel stiff or unresponsive. Owners report the 'Power Steering Assist Fault' or 'Steering System Fault' warning appearing, sometimes during critical driving situations. System may not recover after engine restart.
When: Occurs at various mileages: 30,000–136,000 miles; some owners report intermittent/recurring failures over months
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist reduced or disabled; Steering wheel becomes stiff or difficult to turn; Loss of power steering assist without warning; Power steering warning light illuminates; 'Power Steering Assist Fault' or 'Steering System Fault' messages displayed; Steering wheel locks or seizes; EPS system enters fail-safe state during startup and does not recover
Codes mentioned: U0100, U0131, U0140, U0151
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of steering rack and pinion ($3,100–$3,400 reported); steering column replacement ($800–$1,000 estimated); power steering module reset attempted but often unsuccessful. Some dealers replaced wiring harness and GWM harness. Multiple failed repairs documented; parts remained unavailable in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign #17V530000 (Steering) exists but many VINs reported as not included despite experiencing same failures. Ford offered $1,082 discount on one repair; most owners reported no warranty coverage or assistance. No active recall for 2017 models despite similar failures in earlier model years (2011–2013 recall #14S06 / NHTSA 14V286000).
Steering gear/rack binding or sticking at turns
Steering wheel binds, sticks, or resists turning, especially during low-speed turns or after highway driving. Wheel may not return to center smoothly and requires tugging to release from a detent-like position. Issues worsen in hot weather and are intermittent, making diagnosis difficult.
When: Begins around 25,000–36,000 miles; symptoms worsen over time; one owner had issue from late 2017 onward, still ongoing at 67,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel binding or sticking when turning; Steering wheel does not return to center smoothly; Resistance to turning at low speeds; Jerking of steering wheel on curves; Sticky steering that worsens at high speeds; Wheel feels like it catches in a detent or notch; Worse in hot weather (80+ degrees)
Repairs/costs cited: Internal steering gear failure; replacement of steering gear box (part # HB5Z-3504-Z noted) required. One owner reported $1,790 for power steering repair at 50,519 miles. Repairs often delayed due to difficulty reproducing issue on short dealer test drives; multiple dealer visits (up to 4+) reported before resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued for steering binding. Dealers unable to replicate problem on short drives; extended 30+ minute test drives in hot weather needed to reproduce. No TSBs or manufacturer technical guidance mentioned in narratives.
Steering column/control module electrical failure
Steering column control module, wiring harness, or gateway module fails, causing loss of steering functionality, instrument cluster blackout, or multiple warning lights. Vehicle may stall or exhibit sporadic electrical behavior.
When: Mileages reported: 43,833 miles; 85,000 miles; varied timing
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel unresponsive or fails to return to center; Instrument cluster goes black; Vehicle stalls unexpectedly; 'System Communication Error' message displayed; Multiple unknown warning lights illuminated; Power steering assist failure warnings; Electrical components freeze or malfunction
Codes mentioned: System Communication Error
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of wiring harness and GWM (Gateway Module) harness; steering column replacement required in some cases. One owner reported repair attempted but battery subsequently drained rapidly without resolution. Costs not specified in all narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in some cases; no recalls identified. One owner advised to contact NHTSA Hotline. No assistance offered in warranty-expired cases.
Clock spring failure (steering wheel control mechanism)
Clock spring assembly fails, causing loss of steering wheel controls and abnormal clicking sound during turns. Issue progressive, worsening over time.
When: At approximately 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal clicking sound during left and right turns; Clicking progressively worse when turning right; Loss of steering wheel controls
Repairs/costs cited: Clock spring replacement required immediately. Diagnostic test cost $200+ noted; repair cost not specified. Vehicle remained at dealer unrepaired in one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in narratives provided.
High-speed CAN network / electrical communication malfunction
Vehicle experiences intermittent total power loss and stalling, with loss of all electrical systems and power steering assist. Issue occurs without stored diagnostic codes; appears to be a communication network fault causing fail-safe shutdown.
When: Typically after vehicle sits overnight; one owner at 12 weeks in shop without resolution
Symptoms owners cite: Total power loss and stall, especially after sitting overnight; Loss of all power (stall) and sporadic electronic behavior; Vehicle refuses to shut off completely; 'Power Steering Assist Failure' message displayed; Stalling on interstate at highway speeds; No diagnostic codes stored
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer believes high-speed CAN network malfunction is root cause but unable to confirm. Vehicle has been in repair shop 12 weeks with repeated reproduction of issue but no permanent fix achieved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle under Ford's extended warranty; multiple dealership attempts to troubleshoot failed. One dealer unable to reproduce, another able to reproduce multiple times but unable to isolate root cause.
Synthesized from 74 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction and the warning messages "steering assist" and "service advanced Track" had been displayed. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering rack and pinion were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…
Rack and Pinion is bad... vehicle is only six years old... why?? please look into this issue.
Had steering trouble with your 2017 Ford Explorer?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2017 Ford Explorer?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 74 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?
Across the 43 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 30,000 and 65,000 miles, with the median around 43,833. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 65,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Ford/Explorer.
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.