NHTSA Complaint #11365552 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IN THE CAR. WE TURNED LEFT INTO THE GROCERY STORE AND THEN BACK RIGHT TO ENTER A PARKING SPOT AND THE STEERING LOCKED AND WE ALMOST RAN INTO A PARKED CAR. LUCKILY WE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WE HAD TO CRANK THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT TO ALLOW IT TO "RELEASE" AND GIVE US SOME STEERING BACK...BUT AFTER THAT THE STEERING NOW CLICKS WHILE YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT BADLY. WE TOOK IT INTO OUR DEALER...THEY SAID IT IS THE STEERING GEAR MOTOR. THE CAR WAS IN THE SAME DEALERSHIP 1 WEEK PRIOR TO THIS GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AND NO SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION OR WEAR/TEAR...WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON US...VERY FRIGHTENING...OUR CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 16,000 MILES ON IT. AND THEY CANNOT EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHY IT HAPPENED. SO I AM UNSURE OF IF/WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN.