This article supersedes TSB 25-2121 to update the affected production build dates. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a click/pop noise while turning the steering wheel from straight ahead to full lock during low speed turning events. This noise may be due to front upper strut mount washer movement under steering loads.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2023 Ford Explorer steering problems
severe Owners of the 2023 Ford Explorer have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 Explorer | 9 |
| 2020 Explorer | 25 |
| 2021 Explorer | 5 |
| 2022 Explorer | 9 |
| 2023 Explorer (this page) | 12 |
| 2025 Explorer | 8 |
2crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 12 steering complaints filed for the 2023 Ford Explorer, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Twelve complaints on 2023 Ford Explorer steering paint a troubling picture. Two owners report sudden, complete steering failure at highway speeds—one jerked hard left without warning at 70 mph, nearly hitting a semi truck; another's steering locked up entirely in a parking lot. Five complaints involve the lane keeping assist system misbehaving badly: it jerks the vehicle hard to one side unpredictably, won't stay disabled, and in one rental vehicle caused a head-on collision.
The driver attention warning—which tells you to hold the steering wheel—is malfunctioning across multiple vehicles: it activates repeatedly even when both hands grip the wheel, and triggers automatic braking at 70+ mph for no reason. One owner installed a zip tie on the wheel to fool the sensor. A separate complaint cites Ford's SSM 52405, identifying a known manufacturing defect: loose internal pressure tubes in front strut assemblies on 2023 Explorers built December 2022 through August 2023, causing clunking and handling problems. Multiple owners report strut failures at very low mileage (2,000–18,000 miles), sometimes recurring after dealer replacement. One strut failed three separate times. A leased vehicle makes a cracking sound when steering left in park—the dealer reproduced it but hasn't diagnosed the cause. One complaint describes a lane departure system activating on a snow-covered road with no markings, causing a crash into a ditch and power pole.
Same Ford Explorer steering reports on nearby years: 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden steering loss or extreme difficulty steering
Complete steering failure or severe loss of control while driving at highway speed. Vehicle jerked aggressively without warning and became extremely difficult to steer, pulling strongly in one direction.
When: Highway speeds (~70 mph); one case at 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle jerks without warning; extreme difficulty turning steering wheel; vehicle pulls strongly to one side; loss of directional control
Repairs/costs cited: Case still under dealer diagnosis; another case required shocks and struts replacement at 18,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford opened case; referred to NHTSA; one case forwarded to Ford legal staff with no resolution communicated
Lane keeping assist malfunction causing aggressive jerking
Lane keeping assist system jerks the vehicle hard to one side without proper provocation, particularly in construction zones, back roads, and rainy weather. System continues activating even after driver attempts to disable it. Feature turned itself back on automatically.
When: Various driving conditions; worst incidents in low-traffic areas before causing head-on collision
Symptoms owners cite: hard jerking to left or right; system reactivates after being turned off; erratic lane-keeping behavior in construction and poor visibility; resulted in head-on collision in one case
Driver attention warning (steering wheel hold) malfunction
System that warns driver to hold steering wheel activates repeatedly even when driver has both hands on the wheel. Warning does not dismiss properly and triggers automatic braking at highway speeds. System frequency increased over time in some cases. Works incorrectly even with both hands confirmed on wheel.
When: Occurring repeatedly throughout ownership; one case noted worsening over last 12 hours of rental; another case over two years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: warning pops up with both hands on wheel; warning does not dismiss when required; automatic braking engages at 70+ mph; warning frequency increases dramatically; automatic braking slows vehicle from 70 mph to 30 mph without driver command
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer software reinstall attempted; system cannot be disabled per owner; zip tie workaround attempted by owner with limited success
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to reproduce; software reinstalled; no permanent fix provided after three dealer visits; Ford refused further communication in one case
Front strut assembly loose pressure tube (SSM 52405)
Internal pressure tube inside front strut assembly comes loose, causing clunking, rattling, and knocking noise over bumps. Affects vehicle stability, steering control, and suspension performance. Owner cites Ford Special Service Message SSM 52405 identifying this as manufacturing defect in 2023 Explorers built Dec 1, 2022–Aug 31, 2023.
When: Low speeds 8–20 mph over small bumps or uneven pavement; affects vehicles in specific build window (Dec 1, 2022–Aug 31, 2023)
Symptoms owners cite: front suspension clunk/rattle/knock over bumps; noise repeats and worsens progressively; unpredictable handling characteristics; impacts vehicle stability and steering control
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report being asked to pay out-of-pocket for repairs related to known defect
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford has not issued recall despite known manufacturing defect per SSM 52405
Strut and strut mount failures with recurring defects
Front struts fail prematurely, requiring replacement. In some cases, strut failures recur multiple times after replacement. Strut mount failures also documented, causing abnormal knocking and rattling from front end.
When: Low mileage: ~2,000 miles and ~3,000 miles reported; one case at 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: abnormal knocking sound from front end; rattling noise from struts; noise becomes progressively louder; failure repeats after replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Front struts replaced multiple times (up to three times in one case); strut mounts replaced in another case; front-end bolts tightened in another case; failures persisted despite repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 24V091000 (Suspension, Steering) referenced; Ford opened cases and referred customers to NHTSA Hotline
Steering wheel cracking or popping noise
Distinct cracking or popping sound when turning steering wheel to the left at very low speed or in park. Sound is reproducible but cause not yet diagnosed. Owner reports concern about potential rack, steering, tie rod, or ball joint issues.
When: Only when turning wheel left at less than 1 mph or in park; occurs every time vehicle operated
Symptoms owners cite: single cracking/popping sound; occurs only when turning left; reproducible without moving vehicle; no warning lamps
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership heard and reproduced noise but has not yet diagnosed cause; vehicle leased so repair pending
Steering jerking and poor lane control
Steering feels jerky when switching lanes, not smooth transition. Described as feeling like vehicle might flip if brakes applied. Occurs repeatedly during normal driving.
When: During lane changes; happens all the time per owner report
Symptoms owners cite: jerky steering input; non-smooth lane transitions; feeling of instability during lane changes; perception that vehicle might tip
Lane departure system triggered incorrectly on snow-covered road
Lane departure/lane assist system activated on snowy road with no markings, causing vehicle to enter skid. Vehicle went into ditch and struck power pole. Owner reports this is first time system activated on snow-covered road.
When: Snowy road conditions with no visible lane markings
Symptoms owners cite: system activated on snow-covered road without markings; vehicle entered skid; resulted in crash into ditch and power pole
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled; insurance involved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No investigation into system failure reported; sheriff and insurance notified
Squeaking or noise over bumps (undiagnosed)
Loud squeaking noise when driving over bumps at lower speeds. Owner suspects shock or spring issue but has not had vehicle diagnosed.
When: Lower speed driving over bumps
Symptoms owners cite: loud squeaking noise; occurs when driving over bumps at low speeds
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The contact's wife owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the front struts had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred several times. The dealer replaced the front…
Had steering trouble with your 2023 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 2023 Ford Explorer?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 7,667 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2023/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.