NHTSA Complaint #11252142 — 2015 FORD EXPLORER

I PURCHASED A 2015 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WITH 90K MILES FROM A FORD DEALER IN DECEMBER.A WEEK LATER I NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME I TURNED RIGHT I WOULD HEAR A CLICKING NOISE. I ALSO HEARD A HUMMING NOISE FROM THE WHEELS. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THE ISSUE. I TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY DON'T FIX THE ISSUE I WAS GONNA RETURN THE CAR BACK TO THEM. THEY CHANGED THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE HUMMING NOISE DECREASED. THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE TIGHTENED SOMETHING FROM THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT AND THAT'S WHAT WAS MAKING THE CLICKING SOUND. MONTHS LATER AS WE CONTINUED DRIVING THE CAR THE CLICKING WOULD HAPPEN ON OCCASION. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS SOMETHING IN THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT. SO I LOOKED ALL OVER THE PLACE AND NOTHING THE NOISE CONTINUED OCCASIONALLY. NOW IN JULY IT BEGAN HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND HAD TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM ITS THE SAME ISSUE AS BEFORE. NOW A DIFFERENT TECHNICIAN SAYS THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PINION IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR THE STEERING WHEEL COULD LOCK UP ON US ON THE ROAD AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I ASKED WHY THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT THE FIRST TIME AND HE COULDN'T EXPLAIN. SO I'VE BEEN DRIVING A TIME BOMB FOR MONTHS. THE 2011-2014 MODEL HAD A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY WOULDN'T INCLUDE ALL THE YEARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE STEERING SYSTEM SHOULD BE THE MOST RELIABLE PART OF THE CAR BECAUSE IT ENSURES THAT YOU'RE IN CONTROL OF YOU SAFETY. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FOR THIS VEHICLE.