NHTSA Complaint #11325316 — 2013 FORD EXPLORER

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE I RECEIVED TWO WARNINGS, 1) VEHICLE LANE DEPARTURE WARNING DISABLED, FOLLOWED BY 2) POWER STEERING ASSIST DISABLED. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE THEREFORE I TURNED IT OFF, LET IT SIT 15-20 SECONDS AND RESTARTED. SAME WARNINGS WERE RECEIVED. TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND LET IT SIT FOR ANOTHER 15-20 SECONDS AND THEN RESTARTED. WARNINGS DID NOT COME ON AND POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND STEERING RACK REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE IS SIX MONTHS BEYOND EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES TOTAL. RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE (14V286000, FORD 14S06), HOWEVER THE PRODUCTION DATE OF MY VEHICLE FELL OUTSIDE OF THE MANUFACTURED DATE RANGE FOR THE RECALL OF MAY 17TH, 2010 THRU FEBRUARY 28TH, 2012. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ON APRIL 25TH, 2012. I REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER OPEN A CASE WITH FORD AND REQUEST THIS REPAIR TO BE COVERED, DEALER RESPONDED THAT FORD DENIED THE CLAIM. REPAIR & REPLACEMENT OF STEERING RACK WAS COMPLETED BY THE DEALER. $2,161.79. *TR