NHTSA Complaint #11079118 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

STEERING/RACK: PROBLEM BEGAN WITH AN INTERMITTENT NOISE (CLUNK) IN THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHILE UNDER FULL WARRANTY. THEY FAILED TO DOCUMENT MY CONCERN. NOISE BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND TURNED INTO MORE OF A GRINDING SOUND WHILE STEERING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED OR MOVING SLOWLY. HAD PROBLEM LOOKED AT BY MECHANIC DOING OIL CHANGE WHO SENT ME BACK TO DEALERSHIP STATING I NEEDED A NEW RACK (STEERING PART). AT THIS POINT, MY VEHICLE HAD SURPASSED THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. DURING THIS TIME WHILE DEBATING WITH DEALERSHIP IF PART SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THEIR FAILURE TO DOCUMENT MY INITIAL VISIT, THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS HAS BECOME "DARTY" OR "JERKY" AND DOES FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS UNDER 50,000 MILES. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND TO DATE BOTH FORD AND DEALERSHIP HAS FAILED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. COST QUOTED FOR REPAIR IS $2100. SERVICE DEPT AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS INCOMPETENT, FAILED TO ADMIT FAULT IN LACK OF DOCUMENTATION, AND FAILED TO BACK UP THE PRODUCT, ADDRESS SAFETY CONCERNS.