2017 Ford Explorer steering problems
75 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the steering on the 2017 Ford Explorer — 4% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“Begin with cliff, I was not wanting to lock or locked or start the vehicle as I was driving. I stopped at the light vehicle started shaking, and as I drove through the light to pull over power steering assist failure, terrain, failure, and control failure.”
filed Jul 27, 2026
“I am reporting a serious safety concern with my 2017 Ford Explorer. The vehicle currently has approximately 93,752 miles and has become increasingly unreliable and unsafe to operate. On April 9, 2026, while my wife was driving home from work, the vehicle overheated, creating a dangerous situation…”
filed Apr 15, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detachCampaign 17V530000 · Aug 28, 2017
Steering problems in other Explorer years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Explorer | 1 | 5% |
| 2025 Explorer | 8 | 9% |
| 2024 Explorer | 2 | 11% |
| 2023 Explorer | 12 | 12% |
| 2022 Explorer | 9 | 4% |
| 2021 Explorer | 5 | 1% |
| 2020 Explorer | 25 | 2% |
| 2019 Explorer | 9 | 3% |
| 2018 Explorer | 20 | 3% |
| 2016 Explorer | 528 | 22% |
| 2015 Explorer | 343 | 20% |
| 2014 Explorer | 496 | 30% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2017 Ford Explorer
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.