NHTSA Complaint #11330740 — 2012 FORD EXPLORER

I OWN A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. RECENTLY I RECEIVED A WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING THAT THERE IS A "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. " THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY FAMILY (LUCKY AT A LOW SPEED). I AM AWARE OF A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. IN SHORT, THE RECALL COVERS 2011-2013 EXPLORERS AND MANDATES THAT FORD REPLACE FIRST THE SOFTWARE FOR THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY AND IF THAT DOES NOT RECTIFY THE PROBLEM THEN THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLE ITSELF. I VISITED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. MY QUESTION IS WHY? A KNOWN STEERING ISSUE FOR 2012 EXPLORERS IS CLEARLY EVIDENT ON MY VEHICLE. SEEMS FORD IS PASSING THE BLAME FOR A KNOWN ISSUE! I MUST NOTE THAT THERE ARE ONLY 45,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND FOR THIS TO FAIL WITH SO FEW MILES (WHILE I WAS DRIVING) IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS UNCLEAR TO ME WHY FORD WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER THE RECALL ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 *TR