2018 Ford Explorer Steering Problems

While driving out of a turn or curve, the steering does not return to center. Which may cause veering into other lanes or off the road.

NHTSA ID

11747009

Incident

Jun 4, 2025

The horn on my vehicle activates (blows) when I turn the steering wheel to certain positions. I believe this to be a road hazard. Especially since I had to remove the horn relay to prevent the horn from blowing in traffic until I can get it repaired. Several other Ford vehicles have been recalled for this exact problem. Just to diagnose this problem at the Ford dealer is $170.00. Help!

NHTSA ID

11741587

Incident

May 20, 2026

After replacing the newest recall for the rear toe link on my Explorer, I’ve noticed (along with a couple others on some forums) that the alignment does not stay set and will come undone. I finished driving 1000 miles after the swap and had sudden pressure loss in my rear tire. When I looked at it the entire outside of the tire on both driver and passenger side were completely eaten through and I’m not made of enough money to keep replacing tires and keep getting alignments done. I do have a video of my inside cam of when it happened if requested.

NHTSA ID

11727653

Incident

Mar 28, 2026

On Saturday 10/18/2025 the rear drivers side tow link of my 2018 Ford Explorer XLT snapped while driving 70 mph under normal driving conditions on a 4-lane section of i-75 in Detroit, MI. This caused a loss of steering, and my family and almost hit the median concrete wall when it sharply veered to the left completely unexpectedly. There were no warning sounds or symptoms and happened at random on a straight away. We then spun out doing multiple 360 spins on 2 wheels, almost flipping completely, and landing in the middle 2 lanes. We had a semi truck and another vehicle narrowly miss us. I was able to then move fast enough to the side of the road and avoid being hit by more oncoming traffic. We called 911 and AAA for towing to Suburban Ford of Troy who did an inspection and found the drivers side rear tow link has snapped due to a seized knuckle. There is a recall for the exact same known issue in the 2011-2017 Ford Explorers. My wife’s 2017 explorer has the same parts as my 2018 and has the recall for the tow links and ball joint due to this known issue, yet Ford is refusing to acknowledge the issue is still affecting later model years. My Explorer only had 74,000 miles on it and never any accidents or abnormal driving conditions/hard driving. My family and I are extremely lucky to be alive after such a catastrophic failure. This type of issue should never happen on any vehicle and is a totally unacceptable engineering failure. Ford needs to inspect this issue on the later models beyond 2017 as this will cost lives. This will kill people and we are actually in shock that we lived through this. Ford should take responsibility and pay for this repair, as well as the other side the same as they do the years the recalled.

NHTSA ID

11694871

Incident

Oct 18, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized and failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring for over a year. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

NHTSA ID

11619070

Incident

Sep 10, 2023

Mileage

25,000 mi

Power Steering Assist Fault warning flashed briefly on 6/1/2024, everything has been fine until 6/8/2024 I went out and started my car the Power Steering Assist Fault warning came on again so I turned the car off and turned it back on the warning was still there. My husband came out and did the same thing, still there. He noticed that the steering wheel was locked and would not turn easily. So we took it down to the Ford Dealership and it is the steering rack needs replaced. My car has 21,000 miles on it. Going to be in shop for 4 days to fix.

NHTSA ID

11593523

Incident

Jun 8, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while at a complete stop and attempting to turn left, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle veered to the right. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a fractured steering column. The contact was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 20,261.

NHTSA ID

11592192

Incident

May 24, 2024

Mileage

20,261 mi

Around 4:45 , was unable to access cruise control the message rapidly flashed., loss of headlights and all lighting for a few seconds. Was going 70 mph. I exited the interstate to turn around and go to my work on southbound the wrench light came on and I lost power steering, power, acceleration in my turn on the on ramp and proceeded off the road onto the incline somehow avoiding a rollover and teetering sideways. Meanwhile no power to open my window etc. at an angle where I couldn’t open the door, took a minute to get out of the seatbelt. Suddenly got my window able to open and crawled out. The cops, and tow truck couldn’t believe I didn’t roll. The car was at a dealership the previous week for loss of power and terai. System problems/ no power steering and they replaced the throttle body 3 days before this happened. I’ve had multiple electrical/exhaust/power failures. I am terrified to drive this vehicle. It’s been to different dealerships and the ford ones and ford don’t care (only the dealership I purchased it at tries) it is at a fifth one now. We have forscan reports of the failures also. Multiple images at scene also. Car wouldn’t drive correctly and terrain management fault, unloaded itself from trailer too.

NHTSA ID

11511692

Incident

Mar 11, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who stated that the steering rack and pinion was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11500861

Incident

Jan 5, 2023

Mileage

62,000 mi

Warning light appeared and immediately power steering went out while I was driving.Even though I have a bad right arm, I was able to pull off into residential neighborhood and turn off vehicle. Dealer replaced steering gear. My explorer is a 2018. I understand there was a recall on this issue in the 2016 and 2017 explorers. Appears the 2018s are having same problem.

NHTSA ID

11472695

Incident

Jun 30, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was operating the vehicle, the hill assists and traction control warning lights illuminated. The power steering failed to cause the steering wheel to become extremely difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering column was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 47,000.

NHTSA ID

11465383

Incident

May 1, 2022

Mileage

470,000 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while parked in a parking lot and attempting to start the vehicle, the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000. The vehicle has since been repaired.

NHTSA ID

11465332

Incident

May 19, 2022

Mileage

50,000 mi

The steering stopped working. This happened a couple times and I stopped the suv and turned it off and when I turned it on it worked. This last time it completely stopped steering. The repair shop said it was a steering rack or something and the part had to come from Ford. This part was $1500.00. Now they say my rear suspension bushing need replacing along with a toe part causing excessive wear on my rear left tire. This part will cost me $600.00 plus.

NHTSA ID

11435452

Incident

Sep 20, 2021

POWER STEERING WENT OUT TWICE. DEALERSHIP SAID NO PROBLEMS. NOW MAKE NOISE. DEALERSHIP STILL SAYS NO PROBLEM. BLAMED IT ON AGE. IT IS A 2018 SUV. SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.

NHTSA ID

11400343

Incident

Sep 13, 2020

Mileage

35,000 mi

VEHICLE WHEN ACCELERATING PULLS SHARPLY TO RIGHT . PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED AFTER 30 DAYS AT DEALERSHIP. ALIGNMENT WAS NOT PROBLEM. WAS DOCUMENTED WHILE UNDER WARRANTEE ANT WAS FIRST NOTICED AT 21000 MILES AND DOCUMENTED

NHTSA ID

11385739

Incident

Sep 16, 2020

Mileage

35,000 mi

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM DETECTED A FAULT, TWICE. LOSS POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET. I COULD BARELY TURN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11354890

Incident

Sep 13, 2020

Mileage

38,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE FORD EXPLORER SPORT LAST NOVEMBER 2018, AND THERE'S NO SQUEAKING NOISE UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. I NOTICED IT LAST MONTH AND I GO STRAIGHT AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. IM SO DISAPPOINTED WITH THE DIAGNOSIS, THE DISTURBING NOISE IS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE CONFUSING PART IS THE SQUEAKING NOISE YOU CAN ONLY HEAR THAT WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN PIN POINT THE PROBLEM. IF IT'S THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE AIR BAG INSIDE IS THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11354823

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

15,780 mi

STARTING WHIT A NOISE PROBLEM ON ENGINE WE BRING THE VEHICLE TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEM SAID WAS NOT A PROBLEM 2 MONTHS LATER WE ARE HERE ON SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR STEERING WHEEL PROBLEM, BRAKE NOISE, TO MUCH PROBLEMS. WE BUY A NEW CAR TO AVOID THIS PROBLEMS AND ISSUES WASTING OUR TIME. AND MONEY.

NHTSA ID

11270692

Incident

Oct 24, 2019

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE TWICE. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE.

NHTSA ID

11185453

Incident

Mar 4, 2019

Mileage

9,339 mi

MY EXPLORE HAS FAILED TO START ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SENT A TOW TO GET THE CAR, AND THE DRIVER GOT IT TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THEN HE SHUT IF OFF AND IT FAILED TO START AGAIN. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE COULDN'T GET THE ISSUE TO OCCUR SO THERE WASN'T ANYTHING FOR HIM TO DO EVEN THOUGH HE HAD A FAULT CODE. MY EXPLORE ONLY HAS LEST THAN 9000 MILES AND IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT YET THEY ARE TELLING ME THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN DONE AFTER KEEPING MY CAR FOR 3 WEEKS. THERE SHOULD BE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE FAULT CODE, BUT YET NOTHING WAS DONE. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF ISSUE? IF SO, WHAT WAS DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11118467

Incident

Jul 25, 2018

Mileage

8,400 mi