2017 Ford Explorer Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 76about this part
- Share
- 4%of 1,704 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 42,916miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 76 complaints about the steering of the 2017 Ford Explorer, 4% of the 1,704 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 42,916 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving 60 MPH my steering wheel seized completely, a bell started ringing, and an indicator light on my dashboard started flashing that steering failed. Please park safely. There was no warning and my car had been working perfectly before this happened. This caused serious threat of collision and grave bodily damage/death.”
NHTSA complaint #11191273, filed 2019-03, 53,000 miles“When going low speeds under 50 the car will jerk to the right and it's like someone else has control of the wheel then you have to jerk it back on the road. It has happened several times while I was driving and once when my husband drove. We thought we were going straight in a ditch. Help this is not safe.”
NHTSA complaint #11326983, filed 2020-06, 42,000 miles“Rear suspension toe link recall: driving approximately 50 miles/hr with my husband behind the wheel and myself and our 3 children in this family vehicle, this rear suspension broke. We live in rural saline county and drive gravel daily. The incident happened while entering a bridge on a highway. …”
NHTSA complaint #11221178, filed 2019-06, 58,000 miles“The eps unit suddenly failed without warning and almost caused us to get into an accident. From doing a little research I have discovered that this has been an issue since Ford created the epas system. We were traveling on the highway at the time it failed. Restarting the car did not temporarily fix our issue. This issue has been documented by multiple people for quite a few years now without result. This is a serious safety issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11351316, filed 2020-08, 75,000 miles“At around 35,800 miles, I noticed a slight jerk of the steering wheel when going around curves. I was going 70mph on the highway for a quick afternoon trip out of town. On the way home (36,000 miles) it was doing this even when driving straight. I had my husband drive it when I got back, and that's when we decided to get it to the nearest dealership (45 miles away). The whole rack and pinion steering column was severely corroded and needed to be replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #11234676, filed 2019-07, 36,000 milesRelated recalls
- 17V530000Aug 28, 2017Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan vehicles. The steering gear heat shield…Covers: Ford Explorer 2017, Taurus 2017, Police Interceptor Utilit 2017 +1 more
Related service bulletins
- 10177703Jul 10, 2020Some 2017-2019 Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility vehicles may exhibit various noise concerns while turning. Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 211-02 Power Steering > Diagnosis and…
- 10176121May 22, 2020Some 2017-2019 Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility vehicles may exhibit various noise concerns while turning. Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 211-02 Power Steering > Diagnosis and…
- 10152466Nov 1, 20182013-2019 vehicles equipped with a LKS system with customer complaints of steering wheel vibration, steering pull or vehicle drift may be due to an alert and/or steering aid…
- 10144947Aug 24, 2018When connecting the Vehicle Communication Module (VCM) and Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) or Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) to the DLC located on the driver side…
- 10090662Oct 10, 2016When hooking up the vehicle communication module (vcm) and integrated diagnostic system (ids) to the dlc located on the driver side under the steering column at the gwm, make…
- 10092562Aug 22, 2016When hooking up the vehicle communication module (vcm) and integrated diagnostic system (ids) to the dlc located on the driver side under the steering column at the gwm, make…
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 2% |
| 2025 | 9 | 8% |
| 2024 | 2 | 10% |
| 2023 | 12 | 11% |
| 2022 | 9 | 3% |
| 2021 | 6 | 1% |
| 2020 | 28 | 2% |
| 2019 | 9 | 3% |
| 2018 | 21 | 3% |
| 2017 | 76 | 4% |
| 2016 | 532 | 22% |
| 2015 | 347 | 19% |
| 2014 | 500 | 30% |
| 2013 | 836 | 37% |
| 2012 | 360 | 43% |
| 2011 | 742 | 62% |
| 2010 | 4 | 3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 3% |
| 2008 | 13 | 9% |
| 2007 | 10 | 5% |
| 2006 | 9 | 1% |
| 2005 | 12 | 2% |
| 2004 | 41 | 3% |
| 2003 | 27 | 2% |
| 2002 | 155 | 5% |
| 2001 | 21 | 6% |
| 2000 | 40 | 4% |
| 1999 | 38 | 3% |
| 1998 | 70 | 4% |
| 1997 | 33 | 2% |
| 1996 | 47 | 3% |
| 1995 | 52 | 6% |
| 1994 | 24 | 2% |
| 1993 | 19 | 2% |
| 1992 | 25 | 4% |
| 1991 | 10 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2017 Ford Explorer
659 complaintsOther or unknown
374 complaintsEngine
241 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
125 complaintsElectrical system
94 complaintsEngine cooling
77 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
77 complaintsWheels
60 complaintsSuspension
58 complaintsFuel system
49 complaintsAir bags
34 complaintsSeat belts
23 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2017 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology