NHTSA Complaint #10553171 — 2011 FORD EXPLORER

THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH. I WAS RIDING PASSENGER SEAT. ALL OF THE SUDDEN JUST GOING DOWN THE ROAD. SHE SAID SHE COULDN'T STEER AND AT THAT TIME I HEARD A BEEP. THIS WAS A MESSAGE ON THE DASH SAYING STEERING ASSIST FAULT. SHE HAD A VERY HARD TIME STEERING IT AROUND A CORNER WE HAD COME TO. SHE ASKED IF WE SHOULD PULL OVER BUT SINCE WE WERE LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE HOUSE. AND HOW I FIGURED WE COULD MAKE IT HAS I HAVE DROVE A CAR HOME WHEN A POWER STEERING BELT BROKE BEFORE. I TOLD HER TO CONTINUE HOME. ONCE HOME WE TURNED CAR OFF. AND THEN RESTART IT. THE CAR WAS BACK TO NORMAL AND WARNING MESSAGE WENT AWAY. AT THE TIME WE JUST CONSIDERED IT A FLUKE. THEN IT DONE IT AGAIN A WEEK LATER GOING DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN. WE PULLED OVER AND AGAIN SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. IT WAS FINE AGAIN. THEN A FEW DAY LATER IT DID IN A PARKING LOT PARKING. A MONTH LATER IT FINALLY HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON ME. I WAS DRIVING 45 MPH GOING STRAIGHT ALL THE SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL GOT TIGHT AND THE POWER STEERING FAULT CAME ON LIKE USUAL. WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO THE STORE AND LESS THAN A 1/4 MILE AWAY. IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN THE CAR INTO THE STORE PARKING LOT. THIS IS HARDER TO STEER THAN A MANUAL STEERING CAR. DO TO TRYING TO STEER A POWER STEERING RACK AND GEARS ON TOP OF BIG 20" WHEELS WITH WIDE TIRES. FOR INEXPERIENCED, NOT A VERY STRONG PERSON, OR AN ELDERLY DRIVER. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY ON A CORNER. AND I COULD SEE HOW IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM AS HAPPEN ALSO IMMEDIATELY WHEN CARE IS STARTED. IT HAPPENS AT ANYTIME IT SEEMS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR