NHTSA Complaint #11123136 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

THE PROBLEM STARTED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS A "STICKINESS" AT ABOUT 5 DEGREES OFF CENTER. THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE "CATCH" WHERE IT WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND I WOULD HAVE TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO KEEP TURNING. THIS VERY DISTRACTING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE, TO INCLUDE INTERMITTENT SHUDDERING, THAT FEELS LIKE DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS, SQUEEKING AND CLICKING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND IF LOCKING THE STEERING OUT IN ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER THE WHEEL WILL "JUMP" BACK. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THIS SEEMS LINKED TO THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST, WHICH THOUGH IT HASN'T FAILED COMPLETELY, IS DEFINITELY FAILING. AFTER READING OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH MY THREE KIDS, AND AM NOT WILLING TO PAY THE $2,600 REPAIR PRICE FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 2 AND A HALF YEARS OLD. I AM NOW BACK TO DRIVING MY 12 YEAR OLD TRUCK, WHICH WHILE IT HAS IT'S OWN PROBLEMS, AT LEAST IT IS SAFE.