NHTSA Complaint #10163292 — 2005 FORD EXPLORER

I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER WHICH LOOSES POWER STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKING ABILITY AT RANDOM. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE INTO SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BUT NO SATISFACTORY OUTCOME IS THERE. FOR THE FIRST PROBLEM OF LOOSING THE BRAKING ABILITY, THE VEHICLE WHEN STARTED HAS NO PROBLEMS BUT AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE (FEW METERS TO UP TO A MILE) THE ADVANCE TRACTION LOSS MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED IN THE MESSAGE CENTRE AND THE VEHICLE LOOSES THE ABILITY TO STOP IN THE REQUIRED STOP DISTANCE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PULSATION IS FELT IN THE BRAKE PADDLE AND A SCREECHING HEARD BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS. THEN ONCE THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, AND VEHICLE RE-STARTED, THE MESSAGE IS RESET AND VEHICLE WORKS FINE. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, AT RANDOM GIVES THE MESSAGE IN THE DISPLAY WITH AN AUDIO SIGNAL INDICATING OIL PRESSURE LOW, SERVICE ENGINE SOON AND OTHER LIGHTS IN THE DISPLAY AND RPM METER SHOWING ZERO READING WITH LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. THERE IS NO POWER ASSIST TO TURN THE STEERING WHEREAS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND ALSO VEHICLE ACCELERATES IF PEDAL IS PUSHED. I HAVE BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP THRICE BUT THE PROBLEM IS YET TO BE FIXED FROM LAST 15 MONTHS. THE CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE CAN BE GOT BACK ONCE THE ENGINE IS SWITCHED OFF AND RESTARTED. I HAVE RESORTED TO PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND LET IT ROLL AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART IT AND GET THE STEERING CONTROL BACK. I HAD LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP IN OCT 2005 FOR 10 DAYS TO DIAGNOSE AND RECTIFY BUT I WAS ADVISED THAT PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE AUTHORITIES AT FORD BUT I AM YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THE DEALER OR THE OEM. *NM