NHTSA Complaint #10145610 — 2006 FORD EXPLORER

MY FORD EXPLORER XLT 2006 HAD A DELAYED DELIVERY DATE TO ME FOR 2 DAYS DUE TO A "BAD CLUSTER" ON START UP. THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED AND I PICKED IT UP ON NOVEMBER 1, 2005. THIS VEHICLE IS LEASED. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH I HAD REPAIRED ON DECEMBER 8, 2005. ON DECEMBER 9, 2005 WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE TRUCK I PULLED OUT OF A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO FEEL VERY TIGHT AND IT WAS GRINDING WHEN STEERING SLIGHTLY LEFT OR RIGHT OF THE CENTER AND THEN IT WOULD FREE UP AGAIN MAKING THE TRUCK EASY TO OVERSTEER. AS I DROVE THE TIGHTNESS WOULD GO AWAY UNTIL I SLOWED DOWN AND THEN IT WOULD GET TIGHT AGAIN. ALSO THE GRINDING ON TURNS EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT REMAINED. I GOT TO A SAFE PLACE AND CALLED MY PURCHASING DEALER BURNS FORD 359 WEST JERICHO TPKE, HUNTINGTON, NY 11743. THEY ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AND CALL FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. I DID AND THEY TOWED THE TRUCK TO BURNS FORD. THEY CALLED ME LATER IN THE DAY TO TELL ME THAT FORD ADVISED THEM THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK AND PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE 1ST QUARTER OF 2006. THE FOLLOWING IS THE NOTICE: 18962 2006 EXPLORER 4DR /MERCURY MOUNTAINEER-INTERMEDIATE (1) SHAFT POP/CLUNK NOISE. SOME 2006 EXPLORER 4DR AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CREAK/POP HEARD AND FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, USUALLY NOTICED AT STATIONARY OF LOW-SPEED TURNS WHILE ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. IF DIAGNOSIS FINDS THAT THIS MAY BE DUE TO INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAVING STICK-SLIP CONDITION, DO NOT REPLACE THE 1 SHAFT AT THIS TIME. THIS IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY ENGINEERING. A REVISED COMPONENT IS DUE FIRST QUARTER 2006. MONITOR OASIS FOR UPDATES. EFFECTIVE DATE: 12/1/2005. RIGHT NOW MY TRUCK IS STILL AT THE DEALER. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT AND I NEED TO RENT A CAR. PLEASE ADVISE THANK YOU, LAURA MASIAKOS. *NM *AK