NHTSA Complaint #11301610 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON I81 IN VA THE POWER STEERING ON OUR 2016 FORD EXPLORER WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES DIED. THE ONLY WARNING WAS A MESSAGE ON THE DASH SAYING "LANE KEEPING SYST MALFUNCTION" AND "STEERING ASSIST FAULT." AFTER WRESTLING THE CAR TO A SAFE SITE I SHUT IF OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. WHILE DRIVING TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT IF FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED PINPOINT TEST B FOR U3000 CODE STORED IN THE PSCM. THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GEAR ASY (P/N FB5Z3504W) AT A COST OF $2,300. I INQUIRED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR SAFETY BULLETINS ISSUED REGARDING PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING IN WHICH THEY INDICATED THERE WASN'T. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL AT SLOW SPEEDS ESPECIALLY IF YOUR MAKING A TURN. WITHOUT STRONG UPPER BODY STRENGTH, YOU CAN EASILY HAVE AN ACCIDENT. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ISSUE, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND A SAFETY BULLETIN AND A RECALL BE ISSUED.