NHTSA Complaint #10871114 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

AFTER HAVING JUST ENTERED A PARKING GARAGE, WE PROCEEDED OVER A SPEED BUMP AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. ABOUT 1-2 CAR LENGTHS LATER WE BEGAN TO TURN LEFT TO START ASCENDING THROUGH THE GARAGE TO LOCATE A PARKING SPACE. AFTER ONLY TURNING APPROXIMATELY 10 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL SNAPPED TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/2" OF PLAY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT ONLY AND THE WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. THIS WAS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN MOTION. RECEIVED THREE DISCERNABLE ERROR MESSAGES ON DASH THAT RECURRED REPEATEDLY EACH TIME IT WAS CLEARED WITH THE OK BUTTON: 1. TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT, 2. SERVICE ADVANCE TRAK, AND 3. HILL ASSIST FAULT. THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL DRIVE FORWARD OR REVERSE BUT WE HAD NO ABILITY TO STEER DESPITE EVEN MY HUSBAND'S STRONG PULL ON THE WHEEL. AFTER ABOUT 5-6 ATTEMPTS AT POWERING OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING REMAINED "LOCKED". AFTER ABOUT 45 MINUTES OF WAITING AND TALKING ON THE PHONE WITH FORD TO OBTAIN A TOW, MY HUSBAND RESTARTED AGAIN AND THE STEERING WAS RESTORED.