NHTSA Complaint #11255876 — 2014 FORD EXPLORER

APPROXIMATELY 68,000 MILES. GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM RACK WHEN TURNING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT AT LOWER SPEEDS AND ON SHARP TURNS. THE WHEELS DO NOT STRAIGHTEN OUT OR RETURN TO CENTER WHEN EXITING A TURN...DRIVER MUST MANUALLY RETURN THE WHEEL TO THE MIDDLE. I WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THE RECALLS FOR THE 2011-2013 FOR THE MALFUNCTIONING POWER STEERING GEARS (OR RACK AND PINION) WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO ROYAL OAK FORD (ROYAL OAK, MI), THEY DETERRMINED THAT THE RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT FORD WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. QUOTED $1650 FOR RACK AND $550 FOR LABOR FOR A TOTAL OF $2200. THEY WERE NOT ALSO ABLE TO DISCLOSE WHAT WAS THE ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE RACK, ONLY STATED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE RACK, P/N: STE633RM, WAS USED IN THE 2011-2015 FORD EXPLORERS. THE SAFETY RECALL IS ONLY FOR 2011-2013. I HAVE A 2014 EXPLORER WHICH IS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. PARTS.FORD.COM STATE THAT THIS IS A REMANUFACTURED RACK WHICH RETAILS FOR $1417.09. THERE IS A 2 YEAR WARRANTY INCLUDED WITH THIS PRICE.