NHTSA Complaint #11253484 — 2012 FORD EXPLORER

FOR THE PAST YEAR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL GETS "STUCK" IN POSITION AND WILL NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT TO STAY IN YOUR LANE. I HAVE TO APPLY HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE IT MOVE AGAIN BUT AFTERWARDS IT APPEARS TO DRIVE NORMALLY EXCEPT ON THE OCCASION WHEN IT DOES IT MULTIPLE TIMES IN A 3-4 HOUR TRIP. I MENTIONED IT TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP WHEN IN FOR OTHER SERVICE BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE ABOUT IT AND THEY DENIED A RECALL WAS OPEN FOR THE STEERING. FAST FORWARD TO MAY, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST 2019. ON OCCASION WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP AND I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE WITHOUT USING EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD THEN RELEASE AND STEER AS NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED MORE TIMES THAN NOT SO I STARTED TO WONDER IF IT WAS THE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS STICKING TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY WERE WET WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BUT THAT THEORY QUICKLY GOT SHOT DOWN AS IT HAPPENED EVEN IN A LONG DRY SPELL. TODAY, SEPT 05, 2019 AS MY WIFE WENT TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT BUDGE. NORMALLY I WOULD ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT, BACK AND FORTH AND IT WOULD FREE UP BUT NOT THIS TIME. AFTER SEARCHING FOR REMEDIES ON THE INTERNET ONE PERSON RECOMMENDED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND THEN TO START IT UP AGAIN. I DID THIS AND IT WORKED! I ALSO WANT TO RELAY THAT AT NO TIME DID I EVER SEE A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE GARAGE. ITS POSSIBLE THAT THE STEERING MAY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN THE PAST BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (USED) AS IT DOES NOT SHOW UP IN A RECALL BY VIN SEARCH. NOTE: JUST STARTED CAR AGAIN AND THE STEERING IS LOCKED AGAIN. TOOK SEVERAL RESTARTS TO FREE IT UP!