NHTSA Complaint #11184044 — 2014 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE DRIVING MY EXPLORER DOWN A CITY STREET AT APPROX 45MPH, THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT. A WARNING LIGHT SAYING 'STEERING ASSIST FAULT' CAME IN AND THEN THE 'TRACTION CONTROL OFF' LIGHT CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY AFTER BOTH OF THOSE LIGHTS CAME ON A RED LIGHT CAME ON SAYING 'STEERING FAILURE SERVICE REQUIRED' CAME ON AND I COMPLETELY LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE SUV. I MANAGED TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD SAFELY AND STOPPED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP NEAR ME AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL ON 2011-2013 AND 2015-2017 FORD EXPLORERS BUT NOT THE 2014 AND WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OTHER MODELS YEARS UNDER RECALL. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE 2014 EXPLORERS FOR THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY AS WITH THE SURROUNDING MODEL YEARS. HAD I BEEN A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH AND COULD HAVE INJURED OR KILLED MYSELF OR OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. THE FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS TO NOT ONLY THE DRIVER BUT TO OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD.