NHTSA Complaint #11156787 — 2015 FORD EXPLORER

A KNOCKING/POPPING NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT FIRST STARTED WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT IN REVERSE WHEN THE SUV WAS IN MOTION. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE (NO DAMAGE WAS VISIBLE). THE NOISE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THE KNOCKING/POPPING NOISE HAPPENED WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED (LEFT OR RIGHT, FORWARD OR REVERSE, STATIONARY OR IN MOTION). THEN THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 25 MILES AN HOUR ON A SECONDARY ROAD. I WAS TURNING AROUND A BEND TO THE RIGHT AND LOST THE POWER STEERING. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL. LUCKILY, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED AFTER A FEW SECONDS. I RETURNED HOME AND IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED SERVICE AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. IT TOOK THEM FIVE WEEKS TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE PROBLEM.THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE MY 2015 EXPLORER XLT ONLY HAD 29,000 MILES ON IT, THE MECHANIC TRIED TO GET FORD TO COVER THE ENTIRE COST (BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY). FORD AGREED TO COVER HALF, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THEY ADMIT THAT THE STEERING GEAR IS DEFECTIVE, AND SHOULDN'T FAIL AT 29,000 MILES. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED!