Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I got in my car a battery less than 2 weeks old was almost dead nothing was plugged in or on I drove got on the freeway about 20 min on freeway car stops won't move makes rev noise eventually starts long enough to stop again at bottom of freeway exit starts again get in into gas station I sit in gas station for about 12 hours add 5 quarts of transmission fluid eventually car will let me drive about two blocks but come to find out I was driving well on fire race to get my dog and I out car catches completely on fire fire man says it electric under hood no previous problems other than the battery and the od off light coming on and off I had the car about a month police report number1702207 oakland ca police department
The steering column and all the parts associated with the steering of the vehicle were affected when the bolts that hold the clamps that secure the bushings to the steering column began to loosen. I examined the area carefully and noticed that because the bolts loosened, the clamps were given too much play. Within a short while, a month or two, the entire steering column and the shifter were completely secured by one broken clamp that held its place because of the bushings and a loose bolt. The other clamp was also broken but was laying on the floor board. It wasn't an expensive fix. I customized a metal clamp for each of the two places the went. They are the same clamps the electricians use to secure cables and wires to the walls and ceilings. I used the ones made from bronze. They are more pliable to shape for an almost perfect fit. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Ford Explorer sport. The contact was driving approximately 60 to 65 MPH when the steering wheel became extremely stiff and the vehicle suddenly spun out of control for sixty yards. The vehicle stopped spinning after it rolled onto its side. The police were called and a report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where an insurance agent declared it as destroyed. The vehicle was never inspected by a dealer nor was the manufacturer contacted in regards to the failure. The failure and current mileage was 182,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl contact owns a 1995 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving, she noticed that the vehicle would "shimmy and shake". Recently, she noticed that the vehicle would not shift into park so she had to use the parking brake to keep it stable. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. The contact called the dealership and the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The current mileage was approximately 184,000. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Went over railroad tracks and suddenly the front end began to jump and skid on the front passenger side. When the car got pulled over to the side of the road and we looked at it, the tire was completely turned sideways. We had it towed home. I checked under the front end in the morning and found a part of the tie rod completely broken.
Dt: the contact stated there was NHTSA recall 95V053000 concerning tie rod assembly, and recall 95V052000 concerning service brakes; hoses, lines, piping and fittings. This vehicle experienced the same problems as indicated in the recalls, but was not included in the recalls due to VIN. No repairs have been made at this time.
Tl contact owns a 1995 Ford Explorer. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle made extremely loud noises and became difficult to maneuver. The dealer stated that the tie rod assembly, odometer, and stabilizer bar all failed. The current mileage was 138,000 and failure mileage was 136,500. Updated 10/23/07
Dt*: the contact stated there was a clunking noise coming from the front end. The steering wheel shimmied at low speeds. There was a NHTSA recall, # 95V053000, regarding the steering: linkages: tie rod assembly. The dealership was not contacted. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN.
Last year my car would shut down. Go from regular RPM to zero and die. This would lock my steering column. I observed that this happened when the outdoor temperature exceeded about 90 degrees f and the car was exposed to sun (more likely to shut down that if I was coming out of a covered garage where the temp was lower, until exposed to the higher outside temp read. The steering column would lock as the ignition shut off whether I was idling in a drive thru lane or existing a freeway ramp where I would expect to go from 55 to 35 to zero at the stop, I would go to zero and bypass 34-1 MPH. Just complete system shut down and column lock. I took the care in and they said it was the fuel injectors and paid $500 for who knows what because the problem persisted. It's hot. The problem persists. It's dangerous. Am I placing my family at risk? …
At 5,000 miles a popping sound is coming from steering column. Dealer was notified, and replaced steering column on two separate occasions. But, problem is still reoccurring. Clip for upper bearing was out, dealer replaced and also retorqued bolts for lower shaft bearings, upper and lower steering shafts were replaced, lower was replaced twice , consumer states there is still problems with the steering. Popping noise in right front seat. Radio inoperable, dealer replaced, radio failed again, dealer replaced and repositioned wiring. Console assembly replaced.
Related recalls
Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
The inner tie rod assemblies were improperly manufactured and can fracture causing shaking or shimmy at low speeds.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the inner tie rods and replace the suspect tie rods.
Steering complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1995 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 52 complaints about the steering of the 1995 Ford Explorer, 6% of the model year's 843 complaints. The component named most often is linkages › tie rod assembly (21 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Ford Explorer steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 95V-053 (tie rod assembly, Mar 15, 1995). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Ford Explorer steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 160,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 1 fire and 7 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.