NHTSA Complaint #11251913 — 2014 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING WAS STICKING AS I MOVED THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE EXPLORER DISPLAYED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE, "STEERING LOSS STOP SAFELY" AND "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC". AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER TURNED OFF THE STABILITY CONTROL AND TURN SIGNALS. I WAS ABLE TO REACH MY DESTINATION, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE COMPUTER DISPLAYED A MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE AND I COULD NOT GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO BUDGE. I CALLED FOR A TOW AND IT WENT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACTED ME LATER IN THE DAY AND STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK COMPLETELY FAILED AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST OF STEERING RACK AMOUNTED TO $2173.75. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FORD HAS RECALLED 2011-2013 AND 2015-2018 MODELS, BUT NOT MY MODEL YEAR OF 2014.