NHTSA Complaint #11112569 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

MY WIFE WAS BACKING HER 2016 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED OUT OF THE GARAGE WHEN WARNINGS REGARDING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE, TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT, SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SHE LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY SHE WAS BASICALLY STATIONARY AT THE TIME. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THIS TYPE, AND UNLIKE OTHER REPORTS I HAVE READ, RESTARTING THE VEHICLE DID NOTHING TO RESTORE THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE EPAS ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THIS IS AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM. WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THIS TYPE ON A MAJOR SYSTEM WAS UNUSUAL IN A 21/2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THEY HAD SEEN BEFORE AND NOT THAT UNUSUAL. THIS IS A MAJOR AND VERY COSTLY REPAIR, AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE REPAIR COST IS THE SAFETY CONCERN. READING OTHER REPORTS OF PEOPLE LOOSING CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS SYSTEM FAILS MAKES ME WONDER IF I SHOULD LET MY WIFE CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER THE REPAIR. THE SERVICE PERSONS AT THE DEALERSHIP ECHOED MY CONCERNS AND GAVE ME A NUMBER TO CONTACT FORD. IT APPEARS THERE IS NO UPDATE TO THE EPAS SYSTEM AND THE REPLACEMENT IS THE SAME AS THE OLD FAULTY ASSEMBLY. WE HAVE OWNED 3 FORD/MERCURY VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE AND IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED. IT APPEARS FROM REPORTS THAT FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OTHER VEHICLES FROM OTHER MODEL YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR EPAS ISSUES AND FAILURE. UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL AND AN UPDATE TO THE STEERING SYSTEM I MUST CONSIDER REPLACING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY CONCERN.