Ford Motor Company is recalling roughly 413,000 Explorer SUVs in the United States over a defect that could cause sudden loss of power steering, a failure that raises the risk of crashes for drivers caught off guard. The recall, filed under NHTSA campaign number 26V101000, targets a known issue with the electric power steering motor in certain model-year Explorers. For owners of one of the best-selling SUVs on American roads, the stakes are immediate: a steering failure at highway speed leaves little margin for safe recovery.
What the Steering Defect Means for Drivers
The core problem centers on the electric power steering motor, which can overheat and stop working while the vehicle is in motion. When that happens, the driver loses power-assisted steering. The wheel does not lock entirely, but turning it requires significantly more physical effort, especially at lower speeds or during tight maneuvers like parking or navigating intersections. At highway speeds, the sudden change in steering resistance can cause a driver to overcorrect or fail to complete a lane change safely. In an SUV as large and heavy as the Explorer, even a brief lapse in steering control can translate into longer reaction times and wider turning radii, both of which increase crash risk in real-world traffic.
This type of failure is distinct from older mechanical steering problems. Traditional hydraulic power steering systems relied on fluid pressure and a belt-driven pump. When those failed, drivers often had warning signs such as fluid leaks or whining noises. Electric power steering, which has become standard across most modern SUVs and sedans, eliminates hydraulic fluid entirely and depends on an electric motor and electronic control unit. The trade-off is better fuel efficiency and easier integration with driver-assist features, but it also introduces thermal and electrical failure modes that may not give drivers much advance notice. The NHTSA campaign file for this recall confirms the defect involves the steering gear motor itself, not the electronic control software, underscoring that the risk arises from a physical component rather than a programming glitch.
Which Vehicles Are Affected
The recall covers Ford Explorers spanning several recent model years, all built at the automaker’s Chicago assembly plant, though the exact production dates and trims are specified in the federal documentation rather than in Ford’s consumer-facing materials. Because vehicle configurations can vary even within a single model year, owners should not rely solely on model badges or purchase dates to determine whether their SUV is included. Instead, they should use the federal recall lookup system, which ties campaigns to individual vehicles based on their unique identification codes and build records.
Owners who are unsure whether their vehicle falls within the affected production range can check directly through the federal government’s recall verification system. The official NHTSA search portal allows any owner to enter a vehicle identification number and receive confirmation of open recalls tied to that specific VIN. This is the most reliable method for verifying whether a particular Explorer is included, since trim level, drivetrain, and production date can vary within the same model year and even within the same dealership lot. Ford has not publicly detailed what percentage of the 413,000 recalled Explorers have already experienced steering failures, leaving a gap in understanding how often the defect manifests in everyday driving.
How Ford Plans to Fix the Problem
Ford dealers are expected to replace the steering gear assembly at no cost to owners. The remedy involves swapping out the affected component rather than applying a software update or recalibration, which signals that the root cause is a hardware-level vulnerability in the motor itself. This is a more expensive fix per vehicle than an over-the-air patch and requires each affected Explorer to physically visit a dealership for inspection and repair. For a recall of this size, that creates a logistical challenge: scheduling and completing repairs for hundreds of thousands of vehicles takes months, and some owners may delay or skip the process entirely, especially if they have not yet noticed any steering problems.
That delay risk is not hypothetical. Past large-scale recalls across the auto industry have shown that completion rates often plateau well below 100 percent, particularly when the defect has not yet caused a widely publicized crash or injury. Because the Explorer is frequently used as a family vehicle and for long-distance travel, uncompleted repairs mean a large number of people could continue driving with an elevated safety risk. Ford and NHTSA will need to track completion rates closely, especially as the Explorer remains a high-volume seller and many affected units are still within their original warranty period. Owners who receive a recall notification should treat it as a prompt to schedule service rather than a routine advisory, recognizing that the free repair is intended to preempt a dangerous failure rather than respond to one after it occurs.
Electronic Steering and the Broader Recall Trend
This recall fits a pattern that has been building across the auto industry for years. As vehicles have shifted from mechanical and hydraulic systems to electronically controlled components, the types of defects triggering recalls have changed as well. Electric power steering systems are now standard in nearly every new passenger vehicle sold in the United States, and their failure modes tend to be less visible to drivers than the leaks, belt wear, and noise that characterized older hydraulic setups. The Ford Explorer recall is a clear example of how thermal management in electric steering motors can become a weak point, particularly in heavier vehicles like full-size SUVs that place greater demand on the steering system during low-speed maneuvering and stop-and-go traffic.
The shift toward electronic steering also complicates the recall process itself. In a hydraulic system, a failed pump could often be diagnosed at any independent mechanic shop with basic tools and experience. Electronic steering failures, by contrast, typically require dealer-level diagnostic equipment and factory-sourced replacement parts, since the steering gear, sensors, and control modules are tightly integrated. That concentrates the repair pipeline through a smaller number of service points, which can extend wait times for owners and increase the window during which affected vehicles remain on the road without a fix. For consumers, the practical takeaway is straightforward: electronic convenience comes with a different kind of maintenance dependency, and staying current on recall notices is the most direct way to manage that risk before it turns into an on-road emergency.
What Explorer Owners Should Do Now
Any Ford Explorer owner who has not already checked their vehicle’s recall status should do so promptly. The fastest route is to visit the federal recall lookup tool, enter the 17-character VIN found on the driver-side dashboard or door jamb, and review any open campaigns. If the vehicle is covered under campaign 26V101000, the owner should contact a Ford dealer to schedule the steering gear replacement. There is no cost for the repair, and delaying it extends the period of exposure to a potential steering failure, particularly for drivers who spend significant time at highway speeds or frequently navigate congested urban traffic where rapid steering inputs are common.
Drivers who notice any sudden change in steering effort, unusual resistance when turning, or warning lights related to the power steering system should avoid driving the vehicle until it has been inspected. While the recall notice does not describe a pattern of complete steering lockup, even a partial loss of power assist at the wrong moment, such as merging onto a highway, making a left turn across traffic, or navigating a sharp curve, can create a dangerous situation. The recall is not a suggestion; it is a safety action backed by federal regulatory authority, and the repair exists specifically to prevent a known mechanical weakness from leading to a crash. By verifying their VIN, scheduling the free repair, and paying attention to any changes in steering feel, Explorer owners can significantly reduce the risk that this defect will affect them on the road.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
