NHTSA Complaint #11387641 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

I TOOK MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER XLT ON DEC 29TH 2020 TO GET A OIL CHANGE ETC. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE ALL DAY EVEN THOUGH I TOOK IT IN AT 7AM. I PICK IT UP A 4:45 PM THEN DRIVE IT HOME BECAUSE I WORK FROM HOME I DID NOT DRIVE IT AGAIN UNTIL SATURDAY JAN 9TH 2021, WHILE DRIVING IT THAT MORNING I REALIZED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO STEER AND THE TRUCK WOULD MAKE NOISES WHEN I TURN THE STEERING IN EITHER DIRECTION. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT MORNING AND ASKED THE SERVICE CONSULTANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. HE TOLD ME WHILE MY FATHER WAS ON THE PHONE THAT HE BELIEVES IT THE RACK AND PINION AND HE CAN'T TAKE IT BECAUSE THEY ARE BUSY AND IT'S OKAY FOR ME TO DRIVE IT. I ALSO TOLD HIM AT THAT TIME I AM SUPPOSED TO DRIVE OUT OF TOWN AND I WON'T BE BACK FOR AWHILE SO IF THERE IS A PROBLEM I RATHER LEAVE IT SO IT CAN BE FIXED. I HAVE DAMAGED ON MY C5 VERTEBRAE SO I CAN FEEL THE HARDNESS IN THE STEERING. HE ASSURED OR DISMISSED ME BUT HE SAID IT'S FINE. A FEW HOURS LATER THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED UP AND THE DASHBOARD STARTED MAKING NOISE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES STARTED TO DISPLAYING. IT ALMOST KILLED BOTH MY MOTHER AND I ON THE HIGHWAY. IF YOU KNOW NYC HIGHWAY YOU KNOW THERE IS NO SHOULDERS. WHEN I PULLED OF THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT MOVE IT. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE TRUCK TO BE TOWED AND A UBER FOR MYSELF BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN PAID FOR ME TO GET HOME. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO PAY $2719.81 FOR THE RACK AND PINION REPAIR AND THE ALSO PAY FOR THE STRUT BEARING TO BE REPAIRED WHICH THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN ME THE PRICE FOR IT BECAUSE "IT WAS TOO MUCH TO GIVE ME BOTH PRICE AT ONCE." OH BY THE WAY, THIS IS THE SAME SERVICE CONSULTANT THAT TOLD ME IT WAS FINE FOR ME TO DRIVE AND ALMOST KILLED 2 GENERATION OF MY FAMILY AT THE SAME TIME. I AM PISSED!! NOW I SEE OTHER CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ON THERE SUV!!