NHTSA Complaint #11083469 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2016 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED (34,731 MILES) THROUGH TOWN AT APPROX. 25MPH, SLOWED DOWN, AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO A TOWN ROAD, BUT OUR VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. AT THE TIME WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING EXCEPT THAT THE VEHICLE WASN'T STEERING. AFTER WE CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WE REALIZED THAT WE COULD STILL TURN THE VEHICLE IF WE MANHANDLED THE STEERING WHEEL. A STEERING CODE FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. AT THAT POINT WE REALIZED WE HAD NO POWER STEERING. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY AND CAREFULLY DROVE IT OVER TO THEM TO FIX. THEY VERIFIED THE POWER STEERING WAS INOPERABLE, RAN DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, AND REPLACED STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY R&I FRONT SUB FRAME. SEE ATTACHED SERVICE RECORD. AFTER RESEARCHING, WE FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE HAD WE BEEN ON A HIGHWAY. THIS IS A SERIOUS FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE HURT OR KILLED PEOPLE. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL?