NHTSA Complaint #10747815 — 2011 FORD EXPLORER

I REVIEVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14S06/NHSA RECALL 14V-286 FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN INFORMING ME THAT A RECALL WAS TO BE PERFORMED ON MY POWER STEERING. THE NOTICE ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING GEAR WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FREE OF CHARGE (PARTS AND LABOR) SHOULD IT FAIL BEFORE 150,000 MILES OR THE END OF DECEMBER 2015. "THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING EFFORT, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS, WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF CRASH" WAS STATED IN THE LETTER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER(SOUTHWEST FORD OF GREENVILLE, TEXAS) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROGRAMMING OF THE POWER CONTROL MODULE WAS COMPLETE BUT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE POWER STEERING GEAR UNLESS DIRECTED BY FORD TO DO SO. THE LETTER STATED THE GEAR WOULD BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE (PARTS AND LABOR) IF THE GEAR IS REPLACED BEFORE 150,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, OR DECEMBER 31, 2015. THE FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO REPLACE THE GEAR UNLESS DIRECTED BY FORD HOME OFFICE. IF THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT REPLACED BEFORE IT FAILS. I AM NOT CLOSE TO THE 150,000 MILES BUT THE END OF 2015 IS NEAR.