2012 Ford Explorer stability control problems

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the traction control and check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that a minute and a half later, while attempting to make a right turn, the steering wheel became firm, and added effort was needed to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA complaint #11684439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (HERTRICH FORD OF EASTON LOCATED AT 9617 OCEAN GATEWAY, EASTON, MD 21601, (410) 822-2900) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,977. *LN *JS

NHTSA complaint #11351439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT, MY STEERING WAS INTERMITTENT BUT NOW ITS COMPLETELY GONE. I CAN NOT STEER MY CAR. IT WAS STATIONARY , IT HAPPENED AS SOON AS I STARTED MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11343368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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.

NHTSA complaint #11290727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS A RECALL AND WAS REPLACED. REPLACEMENT PART HAS NOW GONE BAD ONCE AGAIN. FORD IS NOT HONORING THE WARRANTY IT PROVIDED FOR THIS PART. VEHICLE HAS NO STEERING POWER NOW. WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. UNABLE TO TURN LEFT CAUSING TO GO OFF THE ROAD. WAS ABLE TO CORRECT AND TRAVELED TO DEALER TO FIND OUT THAT THE STEERING IS GONE.

NHTSA complaint #11281262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I HAVE A 2012 FORD EXPLORER THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL 14S06. THE PSCM WAS REPROGRAMMED PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. ASSOCIATED TO RECALL 14S06 IS THE EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM 15N01, WHICH IS TO REMAIN OPEN ON THE VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED IN THE EVENT THAT ANY LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST DTCS ARE PRESENT. MY EXPLORER HAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE DEALER HAS NOTED THAT MY ENTIRE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE EXTENDED COVERAGE 15N01. THIS COVERAGE IS SUPPOSED TO LAST FOR 10 YEARS AND 150,000 MILES. I AM AT 144,000 MILES. FORD CONTINUES TO REPEAT THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SPECIAL COVERAGE. HOWEVER, PUBLICATIONS FROM FORD INDICATE OTHERWISE. REPLACEMENT OF MY STEERING GEAR IS $2,200. ALL OF WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD. MY POWER STEERING AND STABILITRAK WARNINGS GO OFF AND I LOSE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED CORRECTLY BY FORD. FORD'S CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT IS SEVERELY INCAPABLE OF ANSWERING THE MOST BASIC QUESTIONS. THEY ARE ALSO INCAPABLE OF ACCURATELY DOCUMENTING WHAT YOU HAVE CALLED ABOUT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH ANY RESOLUTION OR PROVIDE INFORMATION BEYOND WHAT YOU RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN. I REQUESTED ESCALATION AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DON'T HAVE BOSSES, WON'T ESCALATE MY REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR PROVIDE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FOR MY VIN. I WAS TOLD THE ONLY WAY TO PURSUE THE ISSUE FURTHER WAS TO WRITE A LETTER.

NHTSA complaint #11254847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

PURCHASE VEHICLE 2 21 2019 AND THE TWO ENGINE LIGHTS WARNING LIGHTS BREAKING DECELERATES WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAYS. SERVICE LIGHT TRACKING LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE VEHICLE DOES ALL THIS ON IT'S ON. I HAVE CONTACTED BY CHAT THE FORD CORPORATION ABOUT THIS SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I WAS TOLD THEIR WAS NO SERVICE BULLETIN SO THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS THE DANGEROUS MATTER THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAS VERY DANGEROUSAND THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. ALSO WITH THE ENGINE LIGHTS STAYING ON ALL THE TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #11231174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I HAD A SYNC BLACK SCREEN THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT AND APIM WAS NO GOOD SO I HAD NO CONTROL OF ANYTHING LIKE THE HEAT DEFROST OR ANYTHING THAT CONTROLLED WITH THE TOUCH SCREEN INCLUDING THE REAR CAMERA AND SENSORS TO THE CAR AND FROM WHAT I READ THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THAT CAR OF THAT YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #11208145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN YOU START TRUCK AND HAVE TO TURN OFF AND RESTARTS TO GO AWAY

NHTSA complaint #11195568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHILE DRIVING THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE WHEEL GOT TUFF.

NHTSA complaint #11152055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE VEHICLE AT START UP HAS DISABLED POWER STEERING CAUSING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO BE STEERED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN A DRIVEWAY AND WAS ABOUT TO PLACE INTO DRIVE GEAR WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND COULD NO LONGER TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA complaint #11103030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVING PERFECTLY FINE AND OUT OF NO WHERE IT SHOWS 2 WARNINGS. ONE INDICTING TO SERVICE POWER STEERING, AND THE OTHER INDICTATING TO SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC SYSTEM. THE STEERING FLUID IS FULL AND THERE ARE NO DAMAGED TO THE HOSE OR POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THIS IS SHOWING THE SAME SIGNS OF THE RECALLED EXPLORERS YET THIS ONE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10915078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

VEHICLE HAS 66,000 MILES. THE SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW AND ADVANCETRAC WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON SATURDAY EVENING (9/10/16). VEHICLE DROVE WITH NO ISSUES THAT EVENING. SUNDAY MORNING (9/11/16) THE SAME INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK. CHECKED FOR LEAKS, FUSES, ETC. AND NO APPARENT ISSUES. AS DEALERSHIPS WERE CLOSED ON SUNDAY, AUTOZONE RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND SHOWED ZERO ERROR CODES, EVEN WITH WARNING LIGHTS ON. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXISTING 2012 FORD EXPLORER RECALL REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING IN THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10905739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON DAILY. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A CITY STREET, RADIO SHUT OFF, LIGHTS DIMMED AND CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, STEERING ALSO BECAME DIFFICULT BEFORE SHUTTING OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10809845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU ON AN OPEN ISSUE WITH MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER. CASE #CAS7740243 WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. LAST MONTH MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A WELL-TRAVELED ROAD WITH OUR 2 CHILDREN. THE VEHICLE WENT LIMP IN TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS ABLE TO FORCEFULLY STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE IT WENT COMPLETELY DEAD. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION GIVEN THAT THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED ON A MAJOR ROAD AND THERE WERE MULTIPLE PASSENGERS INVOLVED. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, CROSS ROADS FORD IN SPRINGFIELD, IL, IDENTIFIED THAT THE VEHICLES ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY (ETB) SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACED. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT A 2012 FORD EXPLORER WITH LESS THAN 54,000 MILES SHOULD NOT NEED A MAJOR REPAIR LIKE THIS. I CONDUCTED RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT FORD HAD PREVIOUSLY ADMITTED LIABILITY TO ETB SYSTEM FAILURES ON MULTIPLE FORD/MERCURY MODELS OF THE SIMILAR TIME PERIOD. FORD ISSUED A SPECIAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM EXTENDING THE ETB WARRANTY COVERAGE AND INSTRUCTING FRANCHISED DEALERS TO UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CALIBRATION TO IMPROVE VEHICLE PERFORMANCE IN THE EVENT THAT INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTIVITY OF THE THROTTLE BODY MOTOR CONTACTS OCCURS. (SEE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE13003). I WAS PROVIDED NO EXPLANATION FROM CROSS ROADS OR FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AS TO WHY THE ETB SYSTEM FAILURES IN THOSE SITUATIONS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE ETB SYSTEM FAILURE HERE. FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THAT FORD WILL DO NOTHING TO REIMBURSE THE COSTS IT TOOK US TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND THAT FORD HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS. NOT ONLY DO I FEEL FORD OWES REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT COSTS, BUT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD NEEDS TO REVIEW IN LIGHT OF FORDS PREEXISTING ADMISSION TO FAULTY ETB SYSTEMS. I AM BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION.

NHTSA complaint #10776630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14S06/NHTSA RECALL 14V-286 WE RECEIVED THIS RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM FMC. KNOWING WE HAD A TRIP COMING UP, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO KEN GARFF FORD IN UTAH FOR SERVICING AND TO HAVE THE RECALL CORRECTED. THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE ISSUE SO I WENT ON MY WAY. I DROVE A SINGLE GAS TANKS WORTH (APPX 400 MILES) AND THEN EVERYTHING WENT TO HELL. POWER STEERING FAILED, TRACTION CONTROL FAILED, TERRAIN MANAGEMENT FAILED. THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR WHICH FORD ISSUED THE RECALL IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP IS NOW TELLING ME THAT THEY COMPLETELY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND IT IS MY FAULT THAT THESE SYSTEMS FAILED. THEY WANT ME TO BELIEVE AN ELABORATE TALE ABOUT HOW I HAVE DRIVEN MY EXPLORER 72000 MILES WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND SUDDENLY, AFTER THE RECALL GETS FIXED, I THEN HAVE THAT EXACT PROBLEM? THAT IS A SNEAKY LIE THAT MIGHT WORK ON SOMEONE MORE PASSIVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED WE WERE DRIVING WITH OUR FAMILY ON A VACATION AND THIS INCIDENT STRANDED US IN MERIDIAN, IDAHO, WHERE OUR VEHICLE CURRENTLY SITS 6 WEEKS LATER. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHEN A SAFETY RECALL IS ISSUED AND "FIXED" IT SHOULDN'T CREATE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE CONSUMER ANYMORE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS PROBLEM CAUSED. IT ALSO SEEMS TO ME THAT IT IS AWFULLY CONVENIENT FOR FMC THAT MY CAR BROKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT WAS "FIXED". SO NOW I AM LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. HOW NICE FOR FMC. MEANWHILE, IT TOOK FMC 6 WEEKS TO GET THE PART TO THE DEALERSHIP IN IDAHO SO THEY COULD "FIX" THE ISSUE. WE'LL SEE HOW LONG IT HOLDS UP THIS TIME. I AM STILL WAITING TO GET MY CAR BACK.

NHTSA complaint #10633441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ON FRIDAY APRIL 18, 2014 MY WIFE AN I PRESTARTED THE CAR TO GO TO DINNER, AFTER ONLY 2 MINUTES THE CAR SHUT OF. UPON REVIEW OF THE ISSUE THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON, THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, AS WELL AS HE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT. THE MILEAGE AT THE INCIDENT WAS APPROX 45,500 BUT THE COMPLAINT SAYS 44,000 BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS DONE THIS, AND THE FIRST TIME FOR THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. AFTER DINNER WE CAME HOME AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL, IT STARTED IT DROVE, BUT SUBSEQUENTLY WE HAD IT TOWED TO FORD, SO THEY COULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10583656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

MAY 2013 (13490 MILES) WAS DRIVING 30 35 MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON, I TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. ALL WAS OK. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING RACK DECEMBER 23,2013, (21173 MILES) WAS DRIVING 40 MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON. WOULD NOT RESET BY TURNING ON AND OFF. DROVE TO DEALER WITH NO POWER STEERING AND DEALER RESET COMPUTER AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. JANUARY 17,2014 (21808 MILES) WAS DRIVING 35 MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT, TRACTION LIGHT WENT ON WOULD NOT RESET BY TURNING ON AND OFF. DROVE TO DEALER WITH NO POWER STEERING. DEALER RESET COMPUTER AND SENT ME ON MY WAY.

NHTSA complaint #10561076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

DRIVING ON RT 495 WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED AND A WARNING CAME ON IN THE MESSAGE CENTER SAYING "SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK." I STARTED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED MY POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. AFTER I PULLED OVER I STOPPED THE CAR I LOOKED IN THE MESSAGE CENTER I SAW THAT THE ADVANCE TRACK WASN'T SELECTED. I TRIED TO SELECT IT BUT WASN'T ABLE TO. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON A COUPLE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CLEARED. CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO WANT TO HELP BECAUSE "TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON FIXED THE PROBLEM." I PUSHED THEM TO GET AN APPOINTMENT, THEY CALLED ME SAYING THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10475882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

POWER STEERING FAULT WHILE RETURNING FROM SHORT SUPERMARKET TRIP, LOST ALL POWER STEERING, DASH BOARD LIT UP, THEN TERRAIN SENSOR FAULT, CAUSING A FEELING OF REDUCED GEAR, TURN SIGNALS FAILED AS WELL. VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, AND UNABLE TO RESET BY SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF. DEALERSHIP STATED A FAULT IN POWER STEERING RACK, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, THEY ALSO STATED IT IS A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER THEN ORIGINAL PART MEANING IT MAY HAVE BEEN REMODELED DUE TO "ISSUES". VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10469261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I LIVE IN ECUADOR (SOUTH AMERICA) AND BOUGHT A 2012 EXPLORER BASE MODEL, ON OCTOBER 2011. A FEW DAYS AGO, AFTER A LONG TRIP, I GOT THE "ADVANCE TRAC" ERROR MESSAGE, AND 3 DAYS AGO, I GOT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL GOT LOCKED, TRAVELING AT AROUND 20 MPH, THE TWO MESSAGES WERE ON THE SCREEN, ADVANCE TRACK AND POWER STEERING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON, AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. YESTERDAY I TURNED ON THE CAR AND HAD NO POWER STEERING, I HAD TO TURN IT OFF AND ON AGAIN, TO HAVE IT BACK.

NHTSA complaint #10467815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

FROM A STOP-ZERO MPH, CONDUCTED A RIGHT TURN FROM SURFACE STREET TO FREEWAY ON-RAMP. MID-TURN, POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED, RESULTING IN NEAR ACCIDENT/RUNNING OFF-ROADWAY SURFACE. ADDITIONALLY, ELEC STABILITY CONTROL (FORD 'ADVANCETRAC') WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INDICATING SERVICE REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA complaint #10467829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.