NHTSA Complaint #10479705 — 2011 FORD EXPLORER

DRIVING AROUND A FAIRLY SHARP CURVE OF 2-LANE COUNTRY HIGHWAY WITH NO SHOULDER AND DEEP DITCHES AT ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN CAR SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE PULLING ME OFF THE ROAD. LOOKED AT INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SAW LIGHTS INDICATING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND LOSS OF TRACTION CONTROL. VERY HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE ON ROADWAY, BUT LUCKILY WITH NO ONE BEHIND ME, I LET MY SPEED REDUCE AS I ASSESSED THE SITUATION. GOT VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND STARTED READING OWNER'S MANUAL. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES, I RESTARTED IT TO FIND THE DASHBOARD WARNINGS WERE CLEARED. CONFIRMATION FROM THE MANUAL SAID THAT STEERING MAY RESET AFTER A RESTART. POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. A CALL TO THE DEALERSHIP RESULTED IN THEM TELLING ME IT WAS PROBABLY JUST A FLUKE INCIDENT AND TO CONTINUE ON MY TRIP, BUT TO BRING IT BY THE NEXT DAY WHEN BACK IN TOWN. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE COMPUTER CODES, THEY WOULD NOT RELEASE THE VEHICLE TO ME BECAUSE OF ITS DANGER TO DRIVE. THIS WAS ALMOST 2 MONTHS AGO AND THEY STILL CANNOT TELL ME WHEN THE PART WILL BE IN FOR MY VEHICLE REPAIR. FORD TELLS THEM I AM ON A LIST, BUT CAN'T TELL THEM WHERE ON THE LIST. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THERE IS NO RECALL, BUT THERE IS EITHER A VERY LONG LIST WAITING FOR THIS PART OR FORD CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG AND WHY IT IS FAILING IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM CORRECTLY. AFTER WAITING 4 MONTHS AFTER ORDERING TO FINALLY GET MY VEHICLE, YOU'D THINK FORD WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT RIGHT BEFORE LETTING THEM GO OUT. *TR