NHTSA Complaint #11407026 — 2013 FORD EXPLORER

THIS VEHICLE HAD ONLY 50,216 MILES ON IT WHEN THE STEERING STARTED TO FAIL. ON THE HIGHWAY. FIRST THERE WAS A GRADUAL LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH ULTIMATELY GOT WORSE. MANAGED TO GET IT HOME SINCE I WASN'T FAR AWAY AT WHICH TIME POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A FAILED STEERING RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. REPLACEMENT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AND IN FACT APPEARS TO BE QUITE COMMON. I CONSIDER THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS ASSEMBLY A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. IT APPEARS THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR THIS APPLYING TO OTHER YEARS/VIN/MANUFACTURING LOCATIONS. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION IT TOOK A MONTH TO GET REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY WHICH TELLS ME FORD CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND. THANKYOU.