NHTSA Complaint #10532043 — 2012 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WENT STIFF AND SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND STRUGGLED TO STEER THE VEHICLE OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I CALLED THE DEALER THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE NEW EXPLORERS AND THAT IF I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT WOULD RESET THE SYSTEM AND TO BRING IT TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER (AFTER IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME) WHERE THEY INFORMED I WOULD NEED A NEW RACK AND PINION. I DON'T MIND PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART BUT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IF I HAD BEEN GOING THROUGH A TURN AT THOSE SPEEDS, MY KIDS AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. IF THE DEALER AND FORD KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES? *TR