NHTSA Complaint #11256600 — 2013 FORD EXPLORER

2013 FORD EXPLORER LTD STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING. WARNING ICONS CAME UP ON LOWER RIGHT DASHBOARD, SHOWING LACK OF TRACTION CONTROL, THEN TEXT WARNINGS "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" AND "SERVICE ADVANCED TRAC". AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO USE IT AGAIN FOUND STEERING ESSENTIALLY LOCKED. STEERING WHEEL CAN BE TURNED WITH A LOT OF EFFORT, BUT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. CONTACTED FORD TO FILE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT. THEY MAINTAIN THEIR OFFICIAL LINE THAT VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER, HAVING BOUGHT THE 2013 MODEL AROUND OCT 2012. HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 177,000 MILES, BUT IS CURRENTLY USELESS, AS I CAN'T EVEN SELL IT IN CURRENT STATE. FORD REP'S ONLY RESPONSE (AT 1-866-436-7332) WAS TO HAVE IT TOWED TO NEAREST FORD DEALER, WHOM WILL THEN CHARGE ME $135 TO "DIAGNOSE" A PROBLEM THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND DEMAND AROUND $2K TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE'S A CHANCE FORD WILL DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET KILLED DRIVING THEM. I WOULD HAT TO HAVE TO THROW AWAY OVER $40,000 INVESTED IN THIS CAR.