NHTSA Complaint #11170363 — 2013 FORD EXPLORER

DRIVING ON NYS THRUWAY AT 70 MPH. ROADWAY DRY, WEATHER IS CLEAR, DRY AND SUNNY. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY LURCHED TO THE LEFT, RIGHT, SIDEWAYS, ETC. THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE STEERED AND WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE DRIVER'S CONTROL AND NOT RESPONDING TO ANY INPUT. THIS REPEATED ITSELF UNTIL THE CAR SCRUBBED SPEED AND ENDED UP ON THE ROAD SHOULDER. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON OUR SIDE OR FOLLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND WHEN THE WILD RIDE OCCURRED. WE ARE ALSO FORTUNATE THAT THE CAR DIDN'T ROLL OVER DURING THE SIDEWAYS MOVEMENTS- IT CAME CLOSE TO IT. AT THIS POINT THE CAR'S STEERING WOBBLE WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AND UPON EXAMINATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK HAD SNAPPED CAUSING THE KNUCKLE AND WHEEL BEARING TO SHIFT WHICH THEN CAUSED THE INCIDENT. THE FORD PEOPLE COULD OFFER NO EXPLANATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.THIS EXACT FAILURE IS ADDRESSED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN #16V245 AND WAS SUBJECT TO FORD RECALL #16S18 IN APRIL 2016. THE RECALL APPLIED TO 2014 EXPLORERS- MINE IS A 2013. THIS CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE ($1600) BUT I WILL NOT DRIVE IT AGAIN. THERE EXIST A POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW WITH THESE VEHICLES AND WE CONSIDER OURSELVES FORTUNATE TO ESCAPE WITH NO INJURY OR WORSE. IN RESEARCHING I FOUND A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF "OUT OF CONTROL SUV ON INTERSTATE" (FORD EXPLORER)WHICH ACCURATELY PORTRAYS WHAT HAPPENED TO US! PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS INCIDENT.