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 2014 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with his 12-year-old child in the vehicle, the steering wheel tightened up, and the vehicle drove straight and crashed into a sand barrier. The air bags deployed. The driver sustained injuries to his chest, head, and shoulder. There was no injury stated for the 12-year-old child who was also in the vehicle during the crash. Medical attention was provided to the driver. A Police report was filed but was not provided to the contact. The vehicle was towed to the Police Precinct. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that prior to the crash, the vehicle was parked and rolled back and struck another vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V537000 (Suspension). …
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after making a left turn, the vehicle jerked in the opposite direction, and then the steering wheel became difficult to turn, and she crashed into a parked vehicle. The check engine and air bag warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, she noticed a fluid leak underneath. The vehicle had not yet been taken to an independent mechanic or a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V675000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown. The contact stated that the air bags never deployed at the time of the incident. Also, it is difficult to click the seatbelt clip in. …
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was locked with the Service Advance Trac and Steering Fault - Service Now messages displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained power steering functionality. Upon taking the vehicle to an unknown dealer for an oil change, the dealer was notified of the failure. The dealer diagnosed that no issues were found; however, the contact stated that the steering felt sticky while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no early availability to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated while driving 45-60 MPH while taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic, the steering wheel seized inadvertently. The Service Advance Trac and Steering Fault - Service Now messages were displayed. …
The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving on the highway at 55 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the power steering assist was disabled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off and restarted the vehicle however, the power steering assist feature was still inoperable. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the rack and pinion was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, 2 years later the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 35 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the steering wheel became stiff. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. …
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The failure had occurred while taking a minor child to school. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with an electric power steering assembly failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was driven to the residence. While driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was advised to tow the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with steering gear assembly failure. The dealer retrieved DTC: U201149, U300049, and U30096. The contact was informed that the steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the power steering failed without warning. The contact depressed the brake pedal and turned the vehicle off. After waiting for a while, the contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving at slower speeds. The contact noticed that when the steering wheel was turned to the left or the right, the steering wheel seized and jerked the steering wheel and the vehicle moved in the direction as intended. The vehicle was taken to a body shop where the vehicle was inspected, and the contact was made aware that the vehicle had an electric power steering assist, not a hydraulic power steering fluid system. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. …
Sudden and complete loss of power steering assist while vehicle was in operation. Vehicle became extremely difficult to steer, creating safety hazard for driver and child passenger. Inspection revealed 150A EPAS Mega Fuse, Part #L0114875AA, was melted due to electrical short in Power Steering Control Module. This is identical to the defect described in NHTSA Safety Recall 14V316000 / Ford 14S06. Fire risk confirmed by melted/burned fuse condition. Photos of failed component attached. Component is available for inspection. Ford Customer Service denied assistance under Recall 14S06 on 07/10/2026, claiming vehicle was not covered despite physical evidence of the exact defect described in the recall. Vehicle manufacture date is 06/2014. Ford Technical Service Bulletin 15-0082 acknowledges some 2014 vehicles may still have defective modules installed. Vehicle is currently inoperable. …
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the steering was difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with rack and pinion failure. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with front strut assemblies failure. The contact was informed that the front strut assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed rack and pinon. …
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel was significantly difficult to steer, causing him to use excessive force to steer the vehicle. The contact pulled to the side of the highway. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the electric power steering had failed. The contact stated that the dealer cleared the DTC codes; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed. The mechanic determined that the rack and pinion and the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle had not been repaired. …
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to turn the steering wheel with force to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that the cruise control was disabled, and the traction control warning light was illuminated when the failure occurred. The contact drove the vehicle home. The contact started the vehicle the following day and the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 143,310. Consumer stated the following morning steering locked up and was taken to the dealer. Dealer stated power steering needed to be replaced. While loading power steering broke free but makes a lot of noise. …
Steering complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2014 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 499 complaints about the steering of the 2014 Ford Explorer, 30% of the model year's 1,682 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Ford Explorer steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2014 Ford Explorer, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Ford Explorer steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 2 fires and 6 injuries and 1 death 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.