NHTSA Complaint #11403228 — 2017 FORD EXPLORER

WE BOUGTH THE CAR ON AUGUST 2019 WITH 4700 MILES. IN NOVEMBER 2019 THE CAR STARTED OCCASIONALLY (3 TIMES DURING 3 MONTH PERIOD) TO SOUND THE REVERSE ALARM SENSOR WHILE DRIVING. THEN CAR DIDN'T START, SO WE CHANGED THE BATTERY. IN MID MARCH, AFTER TAKING MY 3 KIDS (OUR DAUGHTER 6 AND THE TWINS WERE 2) TO THE PARK, THE CAR WILL START BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT TURNING. IT WAS JUST STOCK AND HARD TO MOVE. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. WE COULDN'T TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC (WE DIDN'T WANTED TO EXPOSED OURSELVES TO ANY OTHER PEOPLE). FINALLY IN SEPTEMBER, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY CALLED THE FOLLOWING DAY AND EXPLAINED THAT TO REPAIR WILL COST US $ 1790. PLUS OTHER REGULAR ITEMS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE FOR A TOTAL OF $2098. WHILE I DO UNDERSTAND THAT MANUFACTURING ERRORS DO HAPPEN, STILL I CAN'T COMPREHEND THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS 50519 MILES AND ALREADY NEEDS THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSE A VERY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT TO MY FAMILY. THIS IS OUR FAMILY CAR! I DRIVE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND TO THE PARK EVERY DAY. HOW COME SOMETHING THIS SERIOUS IS NOT PUT ON A TEST BEFORE PUTTING A CAR INTO THE MARKET (?). BUT, MORE THAN BEING VERY DISAPPOINTED AND SHOCKED FROM WHAT HAPPENED AND I FIND THE SITUATION VERY IRRITATING. NEW CARS SIMPLY DON'T DO THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR FAMILY CAR AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ENSURE THIS WONT HAPPEN AGAIN, I AM SCARED OF DRIVING MY FAMILY IN THE CAR AND EXPOSE THEM TO SOMETHING LIKE WHAT HAPPENED. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS? SHALL WE GIVE WARNING TO OTHER CAR OWNERS? THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!