NHTSA Complaint #10930228 — 2013 FORD EXPLORER

THE POWER TAKE-OFF UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS OF PURCHASE AT A COST OF $14781.11, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN DOUBLE THE COST HAD IT BEEN TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THIS IS AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM THAT IS NEITHER SUBJECT TO RECALL NOR PRIOR NOTICE FROM FORD. I SPOKE TO A FORD REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS CAREFUL TO SAY THAT SHE HAD NO STATISTICS ABOUT THE PROBLEM; WHEN I ASKED HER IF FORD DID, SHE REPEATED HER PRIOR STATEMENT, AS IF COACHED. THE TAKE-OFF UNIT LEAKED FLUID EVERYWHERE, AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AT STREET AND HIGHWAYS SPEEDS, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGER TO MY FAMILY AND ME. STALLING OCCURRED EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. AGAIN, I WAS SURPRISED THAT THERE IS NO NHTSA RECALL ISSUED, NOR DOES FORD NOTIFY DRIVERS OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER. YET PER THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF THESE UNITS ROUTINELY FAIL WITHIN JUST A FEW YEARS DUE TO THEIR DESIGN. A GREAT WAY FOR FORD TO LOSE CUSTOMERS AS WELL. *TR