NHTSA Complaint #11189996 — 2013 FORD EXPLORER

WHEN I START MY VEHICLE I GET A WARNING THAT SAYS, "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND I CAN NOT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL WHATSOEVER. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ALTHOUGH THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO TURN AT ALL ANYMORE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND AFTER 3-5 ATTEMPTS OF STARTING AND STOPPING THE ENGINE THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO LEAVE, AS I PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY THE WHEELS WOULDN'T TURN AND MY VEHICLE WENT STRAIGHT BACKWARDS. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT FOR SEVERAL HOURS THE ISSUE WAS SELF RESOLVED. THE THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED WHICH WAS THE MOST RECENT I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND GOT THE WARNING AGAIN AND CHECKED THE WHEELS AND THEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. THE VEHICLE IS NOW STUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WILL ONLY GO FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS AS THE WHEELS DO NOT TURN AT ALL. NOTHING SEEMS TO BE RESOLVING THE ISSUE NOW. NOT EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS DO I GET THE WARNING ON THE DASH FIRST, ONLY AFTER IT HAPPENS DO I GET A NOTIFICATION ON THE DASH. I AM JUST GLAD THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR.