NHTSA Complaint #11241810 — 2014 FORD EXPLORER

THE ELECTRICAL STEERING CONTROL MODULE WENT OUT ON MY CAR (63K MILES) AND HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT MY COST FOR $3300. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ANY SPEED, WORSE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR STARTED GRINDING WHILE SWITCHING LANES AND TURNING WITHOUT ANY FAULT LIGHTS ON. IT DID NOT FEEL LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE BUT WAS SCARY AS [XXX]. WHEN PARKED AND I WOULD TURN THE WHEEL IT WOULD MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE. I GOT IT HOME AND STOPPED DRIVING IT UNTIL I COULD GET IN TO AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER A COUPLE DAYS LATER. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK BECAUSE THE PIECES OF THE RACK ARE NOT SERVICEABLE - 3K AFTER THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT - HOW CONVENIENT FOR FORD! THEN I GO DIGGING ONLINE AND FIND THEY HAVE RECALLED THIS UNIT IN OTHER EXPLORERS AND ESCAPES BUT NOT THE 2014. BOGUS! I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR WHERE THE STEERING WENT OUT, BUT KNOW [XXX] WELL A NEW STEERING PUMP OR MECHANICALS IN A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WOULD BE $200-$500 MAX. THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO INDICATES IT IS LIKELY AN ENGINEERING FLAW IN THE DESIGN AND FORD WON'T COVER OR FESS UP TO THEIR OWN ENGINEERING FLAW THAT CREATES HIGH HEAT IN THE STEERING MECHANICS AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO MITIGATE FOR EFFECTIVELY - HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=SZHMXWCP9FO. SO ANGRY. AND I FULLY EXPECT THIS PROBLEM TO RECUR AT MY EXPENSE AGAIN, WHO KNOWS WHEN BECAUSE OF THIS ENGINEERING FLAW. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS *TR