NHTSA Complaint #10465371 — 2011 FORD EXPLORER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS CURRENTLY AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE12017 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,500. UPDATED 7/31/12 *CN ON JULY 12, 2012, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED. A CODE WAS DETECTED IN THE PCM. FROM THAT CODE, IT WAS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A RACK AND PINION. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/01/12