NHTSA Complaint #11302789 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2019, WITH ABOUT 31K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT WAS A RETURNED LEASE. IN JANUARY OF 2020, AT JUST OVER 41K MILES, THE STEERING GEAR FAILED AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. I HAD NO PROBLEM TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT, BUT AS SOON AS I TURNED THE WHEEL EVEN SLIGHTLY RIGHT, THERE WAS AN AWFUL CLICKING NOISE, ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING WAS GRINDING IN THE WHEEL WELL. I LIMPED IT OVER TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP A MILE AWAY AND THEY TOLD ME THE STEERING GEAR HAD FAILED. I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE 3 YR/36000 MI WARRANTY, AND APPARENTLY THE 5 YR/60000 MI POWERTRAIN WARRANTY ONLY COVERS THE STEERING HOUSING, NOT THE GEAR ITSELF, SO I WAS ON THE HOOK FOR THE ENTIRE FIX - $2200 AT THIS POINT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT FORD SAID IT WASN'T DUE TO ANY NEGLECT OR "OUTSIDE INFLUENCE" - IT JUST FAILED AND THERE'S NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT IT. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING SO CATASTROPHIC AND EXPENSIVE SHOULD BE FAILING AT 4 YRS/41K MI. FORD CAN'T ACTUALLY EXPECT PEOPLE TO REPLACE A $2200 PART EVERY 4 YRS/41K MI, RIGHT?! LUCKILY I WAS DOING ABOUT 5 MPH WHEN THE GEAR FAILED - OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THIS ISSUE IS SURELY GOING TO INJURE AND/OR KILL PEOPLE, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. FORD NEEDS TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE!!