NHTSA Complaint #10481483 — 2012 FORD EXPLORER

FORD MOTOR COMPANY OCTOBER 18, 2012 WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER, THE POWER STEERING UNIT QUIT WORKING AS I WAS TURNING INTO THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT. I ALMOST HIT A GATE POST AND HAD TO BACKUP WITH A TEN CAR LINE BEHIND ME. THE STEERING CONTINUED POWERLESS FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP HOME, ABOUT TEN MILES OR 15 MINUTES. AFTER PARKING OVERNIGHT IN MY DRIVE, I STARTED THE SUV TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE POWER ASSIST STEERING WORKED AS NORMAL. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF TURNING A SHARP CURVE AND GOING INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC OR TRAVELING AROUND ONE OF THE MOUNTAINOUS CURVES WE ENCOUNTERED THIS SUMMER, WITH NO GUARDRAIL AND A HUNDRED FOOT DROP INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN ROCKS OF THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST. IF AN ACCIDENT DID OCCUR THE EXPLORER WOULD CHECK OUT TO BE MECHANICALLY TROUBLE FEE AND THE CAUSE WOULD BE LISTED AS OPERATOR ERROR. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TR