steering feels shifty, super sensative, at high speed: especially on bumpy roads

[GNUT]

I recently bought a 2012 Expedition Limited 2wd. It drives great when driving slowly. Drives great when driving fast on a smooth, predictable surface. Shortly after purchase, I drove on the interstate for several hundred miles. Anytime I got into an area with rutted or slightly irregular road surface the wheel wants to pull and jerk around. I find it hard to control, even with two hands on the wheel at this moment.

Saying this, this is on interstate areas that I've been driving on for years. My last vehicle I sold to buy this one was a 2004 Expedition Eddie Bauer 2wd and it never had this issue; of course it was hydraulic steering while I've since found this new one is electronic steering: EPAS.

Any thoughts anyone? Any way to adjust or tighten this steering type?

 

[bobmbx]

Hmmm....it sounds like your power steering speed sensor may not be performing as designed. The steering is supposed to get 'heavier' as you increase your speed to alleviate the exact feeling you're experiencing (among other safety reasons).

I don't know how to check to see if its operating.

Also, big wide tires seem to wander a bit more than narrower tires.

 

[Adieu]

Ive seen other cars with this issue still not 100% sure what exactly it was. Had some suspicions about traction nannies overcompensating for mild or nonexistent losses of traction, then proceeding to fade the brake(s) on the affected wheel(s) during long runs at speed, making it progressively worse... or, possibly, a borderline sticky caliper initiating this process and then traction control turning it into a feedback loop -type escalating issue

Does yours pull off centre more, or get stuck in ruts and try to follow them against your steering input??

 

[GNUT]

Thanks for the responses.

It sort of follows the ruts. When I correct for it, it's almost as if the steering over corrects. At slow speeds it's almost non-noticable, unless I drive down a really bumpy / irregular road. Then the steering is back and forth. When I correct, it just seems like if over reacts. At high speed it really stinks because when it occurs, I feel like I could very easily loose control. I have to have both hands "securely" on the wheel and full focus on maintaining a straight line. When I get in these situations I think to myself that people behind me probably think I'm texting and driving or not paying attention to the road.

 

[Adieu]

Toe out of alignment / messed up tie rod perhaps?

Seems like if you had 3 wheels "cooperating" and 1 "pulling away", greater speeds would aggravate the condition, and hitting road irregularities could "switch" which wheel was pointed in the direction of movement, and which one you had to fight

 

[1997SCEBFEX]

sensor feedback is my thought.
I had an end link snap in half a while back, fatigue, and caused a similar problem. replaced both with Moog end links.
let us know what you discover.

 

[GNUT]

I'll keep you informed. I lifted the front end off the ground yesterday. Checked wheel bearings, all ball joints, and pivot points. All looked okay. I also did a visual inspection of the EPAS unit. Not that is means anything but it looked okay. After much research I believe I'm going to try replacing the steering torque and position sensor that's located behind the steering wheel.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I recently bought a 2012 Expedition Limited 2wd. It drives great when driving slowly. Drives great when driving fast on a smooth, predictable surface. Shortly after purchase, I drove on the interstate for several hundred miles. Anytime I got into an area with rutted or slightly irregular road surface the wheel wants to pull and jerk around. I find it hard to control, even with two hands on the wheel at this moment.

Saying this, this is on interstate areas that I've been driving on for years. My last vehicle I sold to buy this one was a 2004 Expedition Eddie Bauer 2wd and it never had this issue; of course it was hydraulic steering while I've since found this new one is electronic steering: EPAS.

Any thoughts anyone? Any way to adjust or tighten this steering type?

The things that I would check would be loose components, ball joints, tie-rod ends, and the alignment. I'm not sure if the two-wheel drive version uses a steering dampener but if it does, I would check it to make sure that is hasn't worn out. I would also check for play in the steering wheel. Any of these individually or in combination could cause the problem you describe.

 

[chuck s]

Tire pressure set to "door jam specs?"

-- Chuck

 

[Calman2k]

I'll keep you informed. I lifted the front end off the ground yesterday. Checked wheel bearings, all ball joints, and pivot points. All looked okay. I also did a visual inspection of the EPAS unit. Not that is means anything but it looked okay. After much research I believe I'm going to try replacing the steering torque and position sensor that's located behind the steering wheel.

Yes, please let us know. I have a 16 EL XLT I bought t over the summer and took to Denver from SoCal. Seemed a little loose on the freeway, glad to hear it wasn't just me.

 

[dzmark_81]

Yes, please let us know. I have a 16 EL XLT I bought t over the summer and took to Denver from SoCal. Seemed a little loose on the freeway, glad to hear it wasn't just me.

I have a 16 King Ranch 2wd with the same issue, I feel like I can't relax when I'm going at highway speeds, anything above 50mph.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I have a 16 King Ranch 2wd with the same issue, I feel like I can't relax when I'm going at highway speeds, anything above 50mph.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Something is wrong my, 17 EL 4wd, is rock solid at 95 MPH which is as fast ad I have driven it so far. Even in a cross wind it is very stable.

 

[chuck s]

Tires are key. As is tire pressure.

-- Chuck

 

[Adieu]

Tires are key. As is tire pressure.

-- Chuck

Nah.

Ive experienced the issue described on another vehicle in the past, tire changes playing with tire pressures or balancing doesn't fix it.

 

[jrc50]

My 2017 Expedition 2wd Limited is a pleasant ride but very touchy steering (soft) since new. Vehicle is set up by Ford (tire pressure ok, only 4K on clock). Compared to my 2010 GMC Acadia, you had better keep your eyes on the road as this thing tends to go its own way very quickly, and as others have said tends to follow ruts or road levels. I hate to say it but Ford's attempt at making this a "pleasant" ride has made the steering control somewhat like my Dad's Feed Mill '54 Chevy stovebolt pickups with 100K on them (they were a definite scary experience with their "wandering" looseness from, I assume, wear and tear}!

 

[chuck s]

Seriously, what tires are on the vehicle? Never had a problem with my '07 nor 5 month old '17.


-- Chuck

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

My 2017 Expedition 2wd Limited is a pleasant ride but very touchy steering (soft) since new. Vehicle is set up by Ford (tire pressure ok, only 4K on clock). Compared to my 2010 GMC Acadia, you had better keep your eyes on the road as this thing tends to go its own way very quickly, and as others have said tends to follow ruts or road levels. I hate to say it but Ford's attempt at making this a "pleasant" ride has made the steering control somewhat like my Dad's Feed Mill '54 Chevy stovebolt pickups with 100K on them (they were a definite scary experience with their "wandering" looseness from, I assume, wear and tear}!

I have the exact opposite with my 17 Limited EL 4WD, it drives like a dream corners like it's on rails, and doesn't even drift in a cross wind.

Our vehicles have:

Electric Power Steering
Your vehicle has an electric power steering
system. There is no fluid reservoir. No
maintenance is required.

If your vehicle loses electrical power while
you are driving, electric power steering
assistance is lost. The steering system still
operates and you can steer your vehicle
manually. Manually steering your vehicle
requires more effort.

Extreme continuous steering may increase
the effort required for you to steer your
vehicle. This increased effort prevents
overheating and permanent damage to
the steering system. You do not lose the
ability to steer your vehicle manually.
Typical steering and driving maneuvers
allow the system to cool and return to
normal operation.

Steering Tips
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
• Correct tire pressures.
• Uneven tire wear.
• Loose or worn suspension
components.
• Loose or worn steering components.
• Improper vehicle alignment.

Note: A high crown in the road or high
crosswinds may also make the steering
seem to wander or pull.

Adaptive Learning
The electronic power steering system
adaptive learning helps correct road
irregularities and improves overall handling
and steering feel. It communicates with
the brake system to help operate
advanced stability control and accident
avoidance systems. Additionally, whenever
the battery is disconnected or a new
battery installed, you must drive your
vehicle a short distance before the system
relearns the strategy and reactivates all
systems.

 

[GNUT]

Since I last posted we took the vehicle on another road trip; same corrodor. This trip was about 1800 miles in total. I know this probably makes no sense, sounds ridiculous, but my wife did something that seems to have corrected the issues we were having. In the Message Center she stopped on a setting called "Trailer Sway"; asked what it was. I pulled the manual and read what it was all about. It was set to "ON". We set it to "OFF" and set about on our trip with her driving first. She immediately said the felt like the issue we were having was gone. I was like "really"? After she drove for about 3 hours, swearing the issue was gone, I got into the drivers seat. After I drove for a very short while I admitted that yes the feeling / issue we were having appeared to be gone.

We stopped to get gas, got back on the road, and the weird driving feeling was back. I was puzzled. I looked in the Message Center and the "Trailer Sway" setting was back on. I turned it back off and it began driving great again.

Now does anyone know how to make the "Trailer Sway" setting default to OFF instead of ON?

 

[chuck s]

The truck thinks you're pulling trailer? There's menu items to select what trailer you're pulling and you may have one of those set On. Easy to set something in the menu just fooling around in there -- for me anyway! There are some choices for trailer types as I recall. Those without brakes or suge brakes and those with electric brakes.

-- Chuck