NHTSA Complaint #11245536 — 2012 FORD EXPLORER

SINCE MARCH 2019, I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT STIFFNESS IN THE POWER STEERING. BY MAY, THE TRACTION SIGN CAME ON THEN WENT OFF. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS, THEY SAID THERE WAS A 2-3 WEEK WAIT TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OFTEN, BUT INFREQUENTLY. THEN ONE DAY IN LATE JUNE, WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR AND BACKED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS NO POWER IN THE STEERING. I DROVE BACK UP THE DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND ALL WAS FINE. IN LATE JULY IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND EARLY AUGUST IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN AT THE DEALERSHIP ON A FRIDAY AND THEY FOUND IT WAS THE STEERING GEAR FAILED INTERNALLY. THEY FINISHED REPAIRING THE CAR BY THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY. WHEN THE CAR WAS AT 141,000 MILES I HAD ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR. THEY SAID NO. MY QUESTIONS IS: DOES A SAFETY RECALL EXPIRE?