NHTSA Complaint #10956527 — 2014 FORD EXPLORER

AFTER A KNOCK WAS DISCOVERED WHILE TURNING I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO FORD ASSUMING I WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY IDENTIFIED A CODE (NOT AVAILABLE) AND DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE WITH THE "STEERING GEAR BOX ASSEMBLY", SPECIFICALLY THE RACK AND PINION. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I FOUND MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF SIMILAR MISHAPS, SOME RESULTING IN LOCK UP OF THE STEERING COMPONENT. FORD INFORMED ME THAT WE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE PORTION OF THE WARRANTY BUT NOT THE YEARS (VEHICLE IS 2 1/2 YEARS OLD). THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE, THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE REPAIRS AND QUOTED $2200 IN REPAIRS. $1500 FOR PARTS AND THE REST FOR LABOR. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL TO LOCK UP THE STEERING RESULTING IN COLLISION. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE REPAIR AND CAN OBTAIN THE SAME PART NUMBER FOR APPROX. $650 AND LABOR AROUND $700. THERE ARE DOCUMENTED RECALLS ON FORD EXPLORERS UP TO 2013, BUT FOR SOME REASON 2014 IS NOT INCLUDED.