NHTSA Complaint #11252686 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

WE EXPERIENCED POPPING NOISES ON THE FRONT END WHILE TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS, PULLING IN AND OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND PARKING SPOTS. DUE TO HAVING TO REPLACE WORN TIRES AT 32K, WE TOOK TO LOCAL QUICK LANE AT OUR ST JOSEPH FORD DEALERSHIP. WE REPORTED THE POPPING NOISES AT THIS TIME AND REQUESTED IT BE LOOKED AT WHILE THEY REPLACED TIRES. THERE WERE NO FINDS AT THIS TIME REGARDING WHAT WAS MAKING THE NOISES. WE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE OCCASIONAL POPPING NOISES WHILE TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS, PULLING IN/OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND PARKING SPOTS. ON 8/8/19, WE TOOK TO SAME DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO PERFORM FSA19S17, A RECALL WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK WAS REPLACED AT 38205MI. A 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS ALSO DONE AT THIS TIME. ON 8/23/19, WE NOTICED THE POPPING HAD GOTTEN WORSE. ON 8/26/19, THE STEERING BRIEFLY SEIZED ROUNDING A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35MPH. IT SCARED MY WIFE, AS SHE FELT A BRIEF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ON 8/28/19 WE DROPPED IT OFF AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND REPORTED THAT POPPING WAS WORSE AND THE STEERING HAD SEIZED. AFTER THE TEST DRIVES AND ASSESSMENT THEY CALLED TO REPORT THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS FAILING AND WOULD NEED REPLACED. THEY QUOTED $2900.00 FOR REPAIRS. WE HAVE NOT AGREED TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. WE HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE BY FORD AND OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. WE ARE REPORTING IN HOPES THAT FORD WILL RECALL TO RECTIFY THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.