NHTSA Complaint #11021013 — 2013 FORD EXPLORER

PURCHASED A USED 2013 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 127,158 MILES ON IT. DROVE IT FOR 5 DAYS WITHOUT PROBLEMS. ON DAY 6, I DROVE THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY FOR 73-MILES. AT 127,400 MILES I STOPPED AT A BURGER JOINT FOR 35-MINUTES BEFORE RESUMING MY DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION, SEVERAL WARNING MESSAGES APPEARED ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN. 1)SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW. 2) TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAILURE. 3)SERVICE ADVANCETRAC. THE POWER STEERING WAS DEAD FROM THAT POINT ON. THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE BUT IT TOOK GREAT EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE CAR WASN'T MOVING OR WHEN MAKING ANYTHING MORE THAN GRADUAL TURNS. A SEARCH FOR THIS PROBLEM SAYS THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING (EPAS) HAS DIED. THERE WAS A HUGE RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, BUT MY VIN# IS, SADLY, NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. THIS MEANS THAT ALL EPAS UNITS CAN BE FAULTY, NOT JUST THE ONES BUILT AT THE CHICAGO ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM MAY 17, 2010 TO FEBRUARY 28, 2012. (THE IDENTIFIED UNITS OF THE RECALL)