NHTSA Complaint #11082612 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING IN OUR 2016 FORD EXPLORER ON SATURDAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED "STICKING" WHILE GOING AROUND CURVES. I WAS DRIVING AT 60-65 MPH ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, GOING AROUND A CURVE TO THE LEFT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STUCK AND HAD TO BE FORCEFULLY PULLED BACK TO STRAIGHTEN UP. I SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO ABOUT 45 MPH AND WAS PREPARING TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER WHEN MESSAGES STARTED APPEARING ON THE INFORMATION CENTER. THE MESSAGES STATED "STEERING FAULT STOP NOW" AND "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC". THANKFULLY, AS I WAS PULLING OFF THE NEXT EXIT, THERE WAS A FORD DEALERSHIP. AT THIS POINT, THE I AS STILL ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE WITH SOME FORCE. AFTER PULLING INTO THE DEALERSHIP PARKING LOT, I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGES STILL APPEARED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN AT ALL, EVEN WITH FORCE. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TODAY AND SAID THAT THE STEERING GEAR RACK NEEDED REPLACED AND THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND THE ISSUE ISN'T COVERED UNDER RECALL. HE STATED THAT THE TOTAL REPAIR WOULD BE $1842. I FEEL THAT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE IS THIS MAGNITUDE, FORD SHOULD STEP UP CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT.