Steering Column Problems of Ford Explorer - part 2

Tl- the contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel in either direction a metal on metal grinding noise was present coming from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer ken garff Ford(145 w. Hilton dr. St. George, ut. ) who diagnosed that the steering rack was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 45,000. Jft.

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My steering column broke right off! trying to put it in drive @99,735 mi. Had to tow it to shop, and replace the steering column. I see other people had this same problem. There should be a recall for this!!! I also had to replace the transmission @ 103,000 miles it would skip 3rd gear. Seems everyone else has to replace the transmission. Also back bearings!! what a disgrace. Recall this disgraceful workmanship! no honor!.

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Shift lever broke off inside steering column of my wife's Explorer when changing from park to drive to exit from a boat launch ramp with no boat on the trailer. Vehicle was towed on a flatbed wrecker to my garage. Broken element ( see photos) was not replaceable by itself. Steering column had to be replaced. This was not normal wear and tear, but rather a faulty /weak component that represents a danger. I have noted reports of identical incidents online. Thus far, neither the dealer nor Ford national "customer service" is prepared to reimburse.

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The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering. The advance trac system and service power steering warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the auto plaza dealer where it was diagnosed that it needed a new steering column. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v286000 (steering). The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

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While the vehicle was in motion, in a turn, the steering assist had a fault. A message showed on the screen stating that there was a steering assist fault. After restarting the vehicle several times, the issue did not go away. Steering the vehicle felt like the steering wheel was fighting against me (rather than simply a power steering loss). I was told by a dealership mechanic that the problem was unknown but somewhere in the steering column so replacing the entire steering column would fix it.

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Tl the contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. While turning the steering wheel in either direction, a clunking and grinding noise was heard coming from the steering column. On two separate occasions, the steering wheel became stuck momentarily while turning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 22,000. The VIN was invalid.

Gear shift in steering column fell off as I was beginning to drive. The vehicle had approximately 95k miles on it.

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Tl the contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. While driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle shut down without warning. The vehicle was towed to rountree Ford (318-798-3673, located at 8770 business park dr, shreveport, la 71105) where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The failure was repaired. After the repair, while driving at an unknown speed, the seat belt indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to wray Ford (318-686-7300, located at 2851 benton rd, bossier city, la 71111) where the seat belt harness, buckle, and computer module were replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and offered an extended warranty, stating that nothing else could be done. Later on, while driving approximately 70 mph, the steering lost power. An unknown warning indicator regarding a visit to the dealer illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to wray Ford where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was not provided.

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The gear shift just broke off while I was putting the car in reverse this is extremely dangerous the car had to be towed but we had to figure out how to shut off the car, since it would not shut off while in reverse. I got another whole steering column put in and within less than 2 months the gear shift broke off again this time the car was in park, but its scary. I have attached two pictures of the two different gear shifts. The piece that keeps breaking looks like its made out of aluminum not steel.

My Ford Explorer 2011 omits a foul odor(smells like rotten egg)when you turn on the ac while driving, the steering column feels loose and has a strong wind noise while driving.

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Tl-the contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the service power steering warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred on three occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced and rebalanced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. Djr.

The handle to shift the manual transmission from park to reverse broke off at the metal part inside the steering column. This is could have been very dangerous if I was driving! Ford states they no longer produce the part.

While driving my steering column locked up and lights on my dash indicated that the power steering and traction control were no longer working. I was forced to attempt to pull over which was nearly impossible due to my power steering no longer working. I turned my vehicle on and off 2 times (giving it time between to resent itself) before it would work properly however the lights indicating the power steering and traction control was not working remained on. I think it is absolutely ridiculous that Ford refuses to fix this problem. This is the 3rd time this has happened to me. This is a major safety concern Ford! fix the problem before people start to lose their lives!.

While driving my steering column locked up and lights on my dash indicated that the power steering and traction control were no longer working. I was forced to attempt to pull over which was nearly impossible due to my power steering no longer working. I turned my vehicle on and off 5 times (giving it time between to resent itself) before it would work properly however I continued to have the same issues with it throughout the day. I think it is absolutely ridiculous that Ford refuses to fix this problem. This is the 2nd time this has happened to me. This is a major safety concern Ford! fix the problem before people start to lose their lives!.

After driving into a parking spot I tried to put the car into park and the gearshift fell. After it fell again I tried once more and it broke completely off. We had to take it to the dealership whom just turned it off and later informed us that they would have to replace the entire steering column which would cost $1700 just because one piece was poorly constructed and made of soft metal. It has been almost a month and now we're being told the part is on back-order so we still have no car. We've read where this has happened to others but yet nothing has been done about this problem by the Ford company.

I was on my way to work on a Tuesday morning with my son who is a college student at my school on August 20, 2013. I work at a community college and it was the first week of the fall semester 2013 starting. I arrived about 10:15 a. M. And could not find parking. I found a parking stall in the staff parking lot. I put the Ford Explorer in reverse and was going backwards to park in the stall. When I moved the shift gear handle to put the truck into drive into the parking stall, the gear shift was just broke off. I couldn't believe it! I had to act quickly and hit the emergency brake and trun the ignition off from the car to make it stop. I was really scared! luckily, I dropped off my son so he can go to his first class. I had to have the car towed to banning, California and have my mechanic fix it. Still to this day, Ford cannot provide a part to fix the steering column shift level. Ford says its on backorder, no one has the part. They don't know when I will have the part to fix my truck. I need help, I hope you can issue a recall on all 2004 Ford Explorers with gear shift level breaking off. Very upset need your help to get my truck fixed. This matter has made me sick with high blood pressure and would appreciate someone to investigate this matter right away.

While moving the shift lever from park to reverse, the lever broke away from the steering column and could not be returned to park position. The vehichle was stuck in reverse, engine running, and brake applied. With the brake applied, the engine was turned off, still in reverse. The key could not be removed until a small wire contact inside the steering column was shorted to the metal in the column. The vehicle had to be dragged onto a tow vehicle and taken to aikins Ford in winder, georgia. I was told the entire steering column had to be replaced and the part plus labor would be approximately $1500. Aikins ordered the part and is still waiting after discovering that there were 221 steering columns on back order with the after market manufacturer licensed to provide the part. The design of the shift lever included a "pot" metal disk housing that requires the spring behind it to be accuated by pulling the lever forward to change the the gear status. The housing snapped in half, leaving the lever dangeling by a small wire. Only the fact that the vehicle was not moving averted clear and present danger of an accident. I have requested that the steering column part be returned to me and have very good photos of the vehicle and the actual separation at the break in the column. I will furnish either to your department if and when I get my Explorer back. Now 56 days and still waiting. I believe that it was design flaw to allow a part that requires uniform strength to be a molded piece of "pot" metal and someone may get hurt, if not already in the 221 incidents that Ford is aware of.

My wife and I had just traded our car in for a 2011 Ford Explorer. She was on her way home and the power steering locked up on her with a warning message on the dash. She was barely able to control the vehicle from crashing into the other cars around her. She turned off the vehicle and restarted it and everything returned to normal. We called the dealer who promptly had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership. They replaced the steering column and everything seems fine now. When looking up this problem online we found that this was not the first time this happened as Ford had said over the phone to me. I pointed out that the NHTSA had an action # pe12017 filed and this was obviously not the first time this had happened. They basically called me a liar. Ford needs to do a recall on this issue before someone or god forbid a family gets killed due to this issue. My wife and stepdaughter are ok only due to the quick thinking of my wife. Ford needs to step up and correct this issue ASAP and stand behind their product, not cover up this huge problem.

I had just pulled in to my customers lot and went to put the car in park, as I did the gear shift lever broke off in the steering column and was just dangling. I put the parking brake on as the SUV was rolling, I could not get the keys out. I had to have it towed to interstate Ford in dayton. Oh.

Pulling in driveway stopped the vehicle going to put it in park shift lever broke off inside of steering column went on internet found 146 complaints as the same thing happened to them on Ford Explorer carcomplaints. Com.

Went to put the car in park and the gear shift detached from the steering wheel. Key was stuck in the ignition, unable to put the car in park. Towed it to our house where my uncle was able to fix it. Had to replace the whole steering column. The problem was caused by a weak piece of metal in the alloy connecting the gear shift to the steering column.

Pulled into park, went to shift vehicle into park (was fully stopped) and gear shifter broke off. I did not apply any force, just the normal typical action of shifting the gear. Good thing it was in neutral when it snapped. Took rubber seal off of the gear lever arm and the part which the lever arm was attached had totally broken off. The metal was not stripped or twisted but broken. Part #905-104: column shift repair.

Started driving and when I went to make a turn I felt a grab. Thought I might be imaging things but happened again on the next intersection turn this time causing me to have to make a wheel correction. On the third turn it was markedly worse and a grunch sound accompanied it and it was more difficult to make the turn. And then next few turns markedly worse again to the point I am considering pulling over and getting a tow as now it is dangerous. I figured out that it was mostly straight driving to the mechanic garage and three turns so I drove cautiously. A very difficult drive making turns and I could barely turn into the garage drive as the steering barely worked and was accompanied by very loud grunching. It was a quick fix as a bolt in the steering column had come out. Had this happening on a highway this could have been a life threatening situation to navigate off the highway. No injuries.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the power steering seized completely. The traction control warning light also illuminated as the engine was turned off for about three minutes. Upon restart, the vehicle functioned as normal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who inspected the failure and stated that the steering column needed to be replaced. The failure would be repaired under warranty but the parts were on back order. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 11,000.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to make a left turn, the vehicle instead turned right, almost causing the driver to lose control. The contact mentioned that the terrain warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the steering column was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 11,000 and the current mileage was 11,200.

I was backing up in a costco parking lot and the steering column where you shift gears broke in half. There was no way to drive or shift the car. The car was in neutral and there were pedestrians in front of me and cars behind me. I yelled for everyone to stay clear, had a few men help push me back to a parking bin and pulled the emergency break. The engine would not shut off, I had to have car towed to my house. I checked on line and this has happened to over 1,000 Ford 2002 owners. It is due to a faulty manufacturer part in the column shift, a metal piece that broke off.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while restarting the vehicle, the gear shifter detached from the steering wheel. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where it was diagnosed with a failure to the steering column that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 75,900. . . Updated 04/11/12 the consumer stated when he put the vehicle in reverse, the entire gear shift came out in his hand. Leaving the vehicle in reverse. He was able to turn the ignition switch off. A cast iron bracket was completely broken off in the steering column. Updated 05/31/12.

While in parked position, ignition started, gear shift broke while putting in reverse - failure of metal alloy connecting gear shift handle to steering column. Key was stuck in ignition and was not removable. Had to replace entire steering column. Towing expenses incurred as well as repair expenses. Problem caused by weakness/failure in metal alloy connecting gear shift handle to transmission steering column.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that smoke emitted from the steering column while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where they confirmed that the multi function switch malfunctioned. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 145,000.

Tamara golletti got behind the wheel of her 2002 Ford Explorer, intending to pick up her son from school. When she tried to shift the car into reverse, she says the entire gear selector broke off and fell in her lap. It turns out she's not alone. Team 4 investigator jim parsons reported that the national highway transportation safety administration has been investigating similar complaints around the country -- some of which involved vehicles slipping into gear and crashing -- for more than two years. Nhtsa's office of defects investigation says it has identified 200 alleged incidents of unintended vehicle movement after consumers believed they had shifted the suvs into park, resulting in 85 alleged crashes and 32 alleged injuries. Earlier this year, NHTSA upgraded its investigation to an engineering analysis for 2002-2005 Ford Explorers and Mercury mountaineers. Golletti says Ford told her she would need to replace her entire steering column to fix the broken gear selector at a cost of more than $1,500. Instead, she worked with her local mechanic to find an after-market replacement part that retails for $30. So far, Ford motor company has not issued a recall on the gear selector. . Read more...

When I was switching the gear from reverse to drive at a gas station, the shifter lever was snapped off. I cannot move the car any more, and the key got stuck in the steering column. I find loads of others have same problem happened and Ford is not doing anything on this dangerous/could be fatal problem.

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that when making a right or left turn, the steering wheel would tighten and the contact would have to utilize extreme force to re-center the steering wheel until reaching 15 mph. The contact stated that the steering would then return to normal. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer and had the steering column replaced but the failure was not corrected. The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was told that the vehicle was functioning as normal. The failure mileage was 19,000 and the current mileage was 31,000.

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The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While moving the gear shifter from park to reverse, the gear shifter fractured and detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technicians stated the steering column had to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon shifting the vehicle into reverse, the gear shifter separated from the steering column. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer denied assistance with the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 183,000.

My 2002 Ford Explorer (automatic transmission) was parked in my driveway. I attempted to shift out of park when the gear shift broke off in my hand. I now have to pay $1360 for a replacement (used) steering column. After doing research, I have discovered that this problem is very common with 2002 Ford Explorers. Ford motor company should voluntarily do a recall, before a class action law suit is brought against them.