NHTSA Complaint #10521685 — 2011 FORD EXPLORER

ON JUNE 9 2013. I WAS DRIVING ONTO A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP AND SUDDENLY THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. THE ALARM SOUNDED AND THE WARNING DISPLAY INDICATE A POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE AS WELL AS TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE AND TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAILURE. I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE AIRPORT TO CATCH A FLIGHT, SO I PROCEEDED APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES TO THE AIRPORT AND PARKED. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, ESPECIALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A WHILE TO RESTART, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL PRESENT. UPON RETURNING FROM MY TRIP (JUNE 12), THE POWER STEERING FAULT HAD CLEARED, BUT TERRAIN MGMT AND TRACTION CONTROL WERE STILL PRESENT (APPARENTLY THE FUNCTIONS WERE DISABLED AT THAT POINT). THE NEXT DAY, I DROVE TO WORK AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER THAT MORNING JUNE13. THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE CODES, BUT NOT RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM, SO THEY SAY THAT THEY CANNOT REPAIR IT. I AM NOT WILLING TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH MY FAMILY IN IT BECAUSE THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE.I TOLD THEM TO KEEP IT TO TRY TO RE-CREATE THE ISSUE. ITS BEEN NEARLY 2 WEEKS AND STILL NO ANSWERS. THE DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED OF ANYTHING FROM FORD RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTLY ON 6/19, BUT STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY ANSWERS NOR DIRECTION AS OF 6/25. *TR