NHTSA Complaint #11185651 — 2015 FORD EXPLORER

DRIVING 55MPH ON I-94 LAST NIGHT IN A STEADY RAIN AND CHECK BATTERY MESSAGE CAME UP IN THE LEFT IP DISPLAY. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS I LOST THE POWER STEERING, THEN THE CENTER CONSOLE ENTERTAINMENT/INFO SCREEN, THEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLACK WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH WERE ON HIGHEST SETTING SLOWED BUT CONTINUED TO OPERATE ONLY WHILE IN THE HIGHEST SETTING. THIS SCENARIO CONTINUED OFF AND ON FOR THE NEXT 30 MILES WITH INTERMITTENT ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILURE, INTERNAL IP AND CONSOLE SCREEN FAILURE AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILURES. WE PULLED OVER EACH TIME AND WITHIN A VARIED AMOUNT OF TIME FROM A FEW SECONDS TO A FEW MINUTES, A SOUND SIMILAR TO A SQUEALING BELT WOULD BE HEARD AND THE SYSTEM WOULD "REBOOT" AND ALL FUNCTIONING WOULD BE RESTORED FOR A LIMITED TIME. WE LIMPED THE VEHICLE HOME OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT HOUR AND A HALF FOR 35 MILES AS I WAS NOT LEAVING THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY OR IN DETROIT IF I COULD SAFELY AVOID IT. THIS MORNING (SUNDAY) I TESTED THE BATTERY AND HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED UNDER LOAD AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOTH WERE WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS. BELT LOOKED GOOD WITH VISUAL INSPECTION AND 1 HOUR OF IDLE AND DRIVE TIME CLOSE TO HOME IN DAMP PUDDLING ROADS COULD NOT GET ANY ADVERSE SYMPTOMS TO REAPPEAR. IT WILL GO TO THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT OUR LOCAL DEALER TOMORROW FOR A THOROUGH INSPECTION. THIS IS MY WIFE'S DAILY DRIVER AND IF NO ISSUE CAN BE FOUND WE WILL BE REPLACING THE CAR AS SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN EXTREME DANGER WITHOUT STEERING, LIGHTS AND IP, ESPECIALLY ON A SATURDAY NIGHT DRIVING THROUGH THE CITY OF DETROIT'S I-94 EXPRESSWAY.