NHTSA Complaint #11354356 — 2017 LINCOLN MKC

I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AFTER BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND THE POWER STEERING PRACTICALLY FROZE. I ALMOST HIT MY OTHER CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. THREE WARNINGS CAME UP ON THE DASH: 1. SERVICE ADVANCETRAC, 2. STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED, 3. HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL SERVICE STATION AND HE DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS THE "ELECTRONICS" IN MY RACK AND PINION. HE ADVISED THAT I TAKE IT TO FORD/LINCOLN, BECAUSE IT MAY, OR SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. I THEN TOWED MY CAR TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER THAT I WAS ABLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH, BECAUSE ALL THE DEALERS IN QUEENS, NY ARE BACKED UP, 4-6 WEEKS. I RECEIVED AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE: "WE FOUND THE PROBLEM. INTERNAL FAILURE WITH THE ELECTRONIC RACK AND PINION. THAT'S WHY IT IS CAUSING ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AND HARD STEERING. THE RACK CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH THE VEHICLE. PARTS AND LABOR WITH AN ALIGNMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC IS $2,106 PLUS TAX. IT'S ELECTRONIC. CAN'T CONTROL AND DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES IT TO GO BAD. IT IS ONLY COVERED UNDER THE BASIC 3YR./36K MILE WARRANTY. IT'S AN INTERNAL ISSUE WITH THE RACK. IT'S ALL COMPLETE WITH NEW RACK AND ELECTRONIC UNIT BUILT INTO IT. I KNOW IT'S EXPENSIVE. IT'S THE SAME SET UP AS THE FORD EXPLORER. JUST DID ONE THE OTHER DAY. THE PART ALONE IS $1296.00 AND IT TAKES 2 DAYS TO GET. THEY (FORD) KNOW OF IT BUT NO RECALL. PART INCLUDES 1YR./12K WARRANTY PARTS AND LABOR." I AM GETTING THE CAR REPAIRED. I WAS TOLD IT SHOULD BE READY BY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2020.