NHTSA Complaint #11241967 — 2015 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE EXPLORER HAS SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME (JULY 2019) I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO CRUISE OFF INTO A MEDIAN. THE SECOND TIME (AUG 5, 2019) I WAS COMING OFF AN ON RAMP ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH. ONCE AGAIN THE CAR SUDDENLY POWERED OFF. I WAS LUCKY TO BE IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO CRUISE OFF INTO A WIDE GRASSY AREA. THE TRAFFIC I WAS MERGING INTO WAS AT 70 MPH. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE CAR LOSES POWER AND YOU HAVE PRACTICALLY NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING OR BRAKES. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO CRUISE OFF AND/OR HAD BEEN IN THE CENTER LANE OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED BY VEHICLES AT HIGH SPEEDS. IN BOTH INSTANCES, ONCE I WAS OFF THE ROAD I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A FEW SECONDS, AND RESTARTED. THE CAR STARTED BACK UP NORMALLY AND THEN SEEMED TO WORK OK. IT'S LIKE THE ELECTRICAL OR SOFTWARE SYSTEM REQUIRES A 'RESET'. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT OCCURS WITH NO WARNING AND THE DRIVER CANNOT CONTROL THE CAR AND MUST COME TO A STOP TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART.