NHTSA Complaint #10467087 — 2011 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN ON JUNE 5, 2012 WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. SHORTLY THERE AFTER A YELLOW ALERT MESSAGE APPEARED SAYING THAT A "POWER STEERING ASST FAIL" HAD OCCURRED. I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE CAR AND WAS FRANTIC HOPING THAT WE WOULD NOT BE HIT BY OTHER TRAFFIC. AS A LAST RESORT I TOTALLY SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON. THE CAR WAS THEN DRIVE-ABLE AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THE CAR SHOWED A VOLTAGE DROP. THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO AS THE TROUBLE SHOOTING STEPS WERE COMPLETE AND THERE WAS NOTHING VISIBLY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NOW JUST SHY OF 6 WEEKS LATER I WAS AGAIN DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WHEN THE VERY SAME "POWER STEERING ASST FAIL" ALERT CAME ON AS MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN. I TRIED TO YANK ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEE IF IT WOULD BUDGE OR IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE I COULD. REMEMBERING THE LAST SCENARIO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. THIS TIME, THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED AND NOTHING CHANGED. DESPERATE I TURNED THE CAR ON AND OFF AGAIN AND THE MESSAGE WENT AWAY AND I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD BE FEARFUL TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF IT AGAIN. *TR