NHTSA Complaint #11316587 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

ON FEBRUARY 4, 2020, MY WIFE'S 2016 FORD EXPLORER (VIN# [XXX]) HAD AN ODOMETER READING OF 29,265 MILES WHEN SHE BEGAN TO NOTICE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS AFTER THE STEERING SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED WHILE TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS, DRIVEWAYS AND PARKING LOTS. DURING ONE INCIDENT, THE STEERING SYSTEM TEMPORARILY LOCKED UP AND MAKE A DISTINCT CLUNKING SOUND; IT ALMOST CAUSED MY WIFE TO HIT ANOTHER CAR DURING A LEFT HAND TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. SHE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE 99% OF THE TIME TO TRANSPORT OUR GRANDCHILDREN WHILE THE REMAINING 1% HAS INVOLVED MY COMMUTE TO WORK. OUR REYNOLDS FORD OF NORMAN DEALERSHIP FAILED TO DUPLICATE THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONS WE EXPERIENCED. THEY ALSO MADE IT KNOWN THAT OUR EXTENDED FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER ANY REPAIRS RELATED TO THE STEERING SYSTEM. ON MARCH 6, 2020, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HTTPS://WWW.NHTSA.GOV/VEHICLE/2016/FORD/EXPLORER/SUV/FWD, THERE WERE SEVEN RECALLS, ONE INVESTIGATION AND 918 COMPLAINTS ON THE 2016 FORD EXPLORER. OF THOSE 918 COMPLAINTS, 189 WERE RELATED TO THE SAME SAFETY RELATED STEERING PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY OUR VEHICLE. MANY OF THOSE 189 COMPLAINTS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE OWNERS HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET AT A COST OF $2,200 TO $2,500 DOLLARS FOR A PREMATURE FAILURE OF STEERING SYSTEM COMPONENTS. FORD NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBLE AND OWN UP TO THEIR PREMATURE/DEFECTIVE STEERING PROBLEMS TO PREVENT DEATHS OR SERIOUS INJURIES. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVE/PREMATURE STEERING COMPONENTS. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE ZERO QUALITY AND SAFETY CONFIDENCE WITH MY CURRENT STEERING SYSTEM AND REPLACEMENT PARTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR