NHTSA Complaint #10464221 — 2011 FORD EXPLORER

UNFORTUNATELY, FOR SUCH A GREAT TRUCK, THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED THREE TIMES ON MY VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY JUST OVER 14K MILES ON IT. IT OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME AROUND THE 11K MILE POINT IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING FAILED FOR NO REASON GOING ~40MPH. THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYED A MESSAGE STATING "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT." THIS IS THE SAME MESSAGE THAT WAS DISPLAYED ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS. UPON TURNING THE TRUCK OFF AND BACK ON, EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THE FAULT OCCURRED AGAIN AT 13837 MILES (I HAVE A PICTURE) AND AGAIN JUST TODAY AT AROUND 14100. AFTER THE INITIAL FAULT, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST AS THE ONBOARD COMPUTER DOES NOT 'DOCUMENT THE ISSUE'. I WAS ADVISED TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING AND CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP WHO WILL THEN TOW THE TRUCK TO ITS LOCATION. EASIER SAID THAN DONE WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR THREE LANE ROAD IN THE DC SUBURBS. IT'S MOST CONVENIENT TO WRESTLE THE TRUCK TO THE NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND RESTART WHICH RESOLVES THE ISSUE. I AM OBVIOUSLY VERY FRUSTRATED WITH IT - I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN LATE JULY 2011 FOR $48,000 (STICKER PRICE). SO FAR I HAVE NOT HAD ANY TODDLERS IN THE CAR DURING THESE INCIDENTS BUT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. HOPING FOR SOME GUIDANCE AND GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM FORD. *TR