NHTSA Complaint #10454999 — 2011 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE SLOWING FOR A STOP LIGHT, I FELT A CLUNK IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN MY 2011 EXPLORER LOST POWER STEERING. I SLOWED AND TURNED (WITH ALL MY STRENGTH) TO STOP ON A SIDE STREET. THE "POWER ASSIST FAILURE" LIGHT WAS ON AS WELL AS THE LITTLE TRACTION CONTROL CARS ON THE LOWER RIGHT OF THE DISPLAY SCREEN. THE LIGHTS ON THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE CENTER-CONSOLE DID NOT WORK EITHER. A MESSAGE ALSO APPEARED TO SERVICE ADVANCETRAC IMMEDIATELY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. THEN STARTED IT UP TO DRIVE TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. OF COURSE, THEN THE VEHICLE RESET EVERYTHING AND THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. THE FORD DEALER COULD NOT DETECT ANY ERROR MESSAGES DURING THEIR COMPUTER CHECK-UP. THEY SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, DON'T TURN THE CAR OFF SO THEY CAN RUN A CHECK-UP ON IT WHILE THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING. SO NOW I AM PRAYING EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. *TR