NHTSA Complaint #10914431 — 2010 FORD FLEX

WHILE DRIVING HOME THE SERVICE POWER STEERING/SERVICE ADVANCETRAK WARNING CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE ADDITIONAL 5 MILES OR SO TO GET HOME WITHOUT HAVING ANY MAJOR STEERING ISSUES. THE STEERING FELT DIFFERENT, BUT WAS STILL CONTROLLABLE. UPON ARRIVING HOME, I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. I WAS SEEING IF THE WARNING DISAPPEARED, BUT NOW IT SAID SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW. AT THIS POINT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALMOST IMMOVABLE. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE DOWN TO THE STREET, WHERE I HAD IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP. I RECEIVED A CALL STATING THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN THE FALL 2015 WITH ABOUT 78000 MILES ON IT. CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT 94000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE NEWER MODEL YEARS WITH THE SAME ENGINE HAVE HAD A SIMILAR DEFECT PROMPTING A RECALL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A SIMILAR PROBLEM COULD HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE EXACT SAME SCENARIO. THE DEALERSHIP HAS RESPONDED WITH AN ESTIMATE FOR $2200+. WITH THE VEHICLE HAVING LESS THAN 100000 MILES AND NOW REQUIRING SUCH A MAJOR REPAIR, I PERSONALLY FEEL AS THOUGH FORD HAS SOME RESPONSIBILTY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME WITH MY VEHICLE, BUT IF I HAD TO HAVE DRIVEN ANY FURTHER AWAY WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED? PLEASE HELP NOT JUST ME BUT OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MY2010 VEHICLES.