Diagsheet

2015 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet

Power steering cuts out or goes heavy

  • 203owner reports
  • 63,450median miles
  • $2,291median quote
  • 1involved a crash

Newest report Aug 6, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

345 of the 1,773 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 203 of those describe power steering loss, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2015 Explorer.

Tick what matches of 203 reports

12
128
42
41
147

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering rack (55 reports), the EPS motor or module (26 reports) and the column (8 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the steering system covers the 2015 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the Explorer

PE12-017opened Jun 19, 2012
Steering · model years 2011 to 2013

Electric power steering failure. Closed jun 12, 2014, led to recall 14V-286.

NHTSA summary
On May 27, 2014 and amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist in approximately 179,027 model year (MY) 2011 through 2013 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (EPAS), including 82,328 MY 2011 Explorersthat are the subject of PE12-017.Ford has assigned the recall number 14S06.The NHTSA recall number is 14V-286.Ford's DIR indicates that loss of power steering assist while driving would require higher steering effort at lower vehicle speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.Sudden loss of power steering assist while driving can occur in the subject vehicles if the system loses electrical power or whenever the system detects a fault that requires it to enter fail-safe mode, which removes power from the EPAS motor and defaults to manual steering.Ford's DIR indicates that the majority of steering assist failures in the recalled vehicles have been caused by an intermittent electrical connection in the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) that can lead to a loss of the motor position sensor signal.Ford's remedy instructs dealers to check the PSCM for diagnostic trouble codes (DTC).If upon initial inspection a loss of steering assist DTC is present, dealers will replace the steering gear at no charge to the owner and update the PSCM with revised software.Following detection of a motor position se
PE09-020opened Apr 21, 2009
Steering · model years 2002 to 2005

Vehicle rollaway allegations. Closed aug 19, 2009.

NHTSA summary
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABI
PE99-045opened Jul 6, 1999
Steering · model years 1997 to 1998

Steering knuckle separations. Closed oct 29, 1999.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available

None of these investigations covers the 2015 model year.

What owners paid

33 of the 203 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,800 to $2,789.

$1,800$2,291$2,789
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 45,000 and 96,000 miles, from the 146 reports that gave a mileage.

215
916
1317
2518
3319
2120
2121
2022
1123
2224
2025
626

What owners wrote

“Vehicle power steering failure, causing locked steering. After reading, am finding this is a major problem with many Ford models. There has been recalls on many other models. No warning at all just locked up. Luckily did not happen to my wife at highway speeds. DTC codes U3000-96 U2011-61 C1B00-2F U3003-68 U0415-00”

Filed Jan 22, 2024 · 151,126 miles

“The power steering went out while I was driving. I had to hold the steering wheel all the way to the left just to go straight. Had the car towed to the dealership where I was informed the repair would cost $3000 and Ford will not cover any of it. Was told that Ford does not even make the part any more because they had so many problems so they would have to order a refurbished part in order to fix.”

Filed Sep 9, 2022

“Electronic power steering failure, no warnings no lights on dash, steering completely bound up was unable to control vehicle, vehicle came to a halt on side of road narrowly missing a service pole, powered off vehicle and started again, steering was active but decided not to risk driving and called a tow”

Filed Apr 18, 2022

“Rack and pinion failure while driving vehicle at speed. Unable to turn steering wheel without strenuous effort. Terrain Management fault, Advance Trac fault and Steering Assist fault lights/warnings indicated on dashboard.”

Filed Apr 2, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 203 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

Other problems on this car