NHTSA Complaint #11089708 — 2013 FORD EXPLORER

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPAS) COMPLETELY FAILED AGAIN. THIS TIME I DROVE THROUGH DEEP WATER OVER THE ROADWAY (16" DEEP). A DAY LATER A NOISE (LIKE AN UN-LUBRICATED ROLLER BEARING TURNING) COULD BE HEARD EVERY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED SUBSTANTIALLY (LIKE WHEN PARKING). AFTER 4-DAYS THE STEERING SYSTEM, ACCUTRAK, AND STEERING FAILURE MESSAGES CAME ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN WHILE DRIVING, BUT I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT EFFORT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION, BUT WHEN I SWITCHED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING WAS TOTALLY DEAD! IT REQUIRED SUPERMAN STRENGTH TO TURN WHEEL AND DRIVE. THOSE ARE THE FACTS. MY OPINION IS THAT FORD'S EPAS STEERING SYSTEM IS TERRIBLY DESIGNED, AND DANGEROUS! WHEN AN EPAS FAILS, IT SHOULD NOT BE MONUMENTOUSLY HARDER TO STEER THAN A FAILED HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM!!! (YOU CAN DRIVE OLDER CARS WITH FAILED HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING FOREVER!) I AM VERY AMAZED THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE NOT DEAD BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE SYSTEM.