NHTSA Complaint #10561703 — 2011 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT 55 MPH WHEN THE 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT' DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERIOR DISPLAY. THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP & I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE & DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID CRASHING & TURNED THE CAR OFF. ONCE I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON THE FAULT WAS NO LONGER THERE & I DROVE HOME. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP & MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE VEHICLE CHECKED THE NEXT DAY. LATER ON THAT SAME DAY, MY WIFE & I HAD AN APPOINTMENT. HOWEVER, WHEN WE STARTED THE VEHICLE UP, THE SAME FAULT WAS IMMEDIATELY DISPLAYED & THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I KEPT TURNING THE CAR OFF & TRYING TO RESTART, BUT THE FAULT WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I HAD TO GET MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY FORD OWNER THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM. SEVERAL OTHERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THIS FINDING PROMPTED ME TO LOOK ON THE FORD WEBSITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL BUT THERE IS NONE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME FOR AN 'AIR BAG SAFETY FAULT', ELECTRICAL & VALVE MALFUNCTION, AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE 'AIR BAG FAULT' NEVER DISPLAYED DUE TO THE OTHER FAULT. THE ESTIMATED COST WAS OVER $3,000. ALSO, I HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE IN THE INTERIM. I ASKED ABOUT RECALLED PARTS & LEGAL ACTION WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT NO ONE HAD ANY INFORMATION. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE, THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE RENTAL & THEY MADE CONTACT WITH FORD COMPANY. THE FORD COMPANY ALLEGEDLY EMAILED THE FORD DEALERSHIP & TOOK $1,000 OFF THE TOTAL COST. I HAVE A WIFE & A BABY. THIS IS OUR ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IN THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE & I WOULD LIKE FOR FORD TO INVESTIGATE THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE FURTHER & RECALL ITS PARTS. PLEASE HELP US & ALL OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR