NHTSA Complaint #11426896 — 2012 FORD EXPLORER

Power steering gear failure while driving. Light appeared as failure occurred. SUV became barely steerable while driving through a vehicle dense inner city residential block. I have excellent upper body strength but I was barely able to maneuver the vehicle to an open area to suspend operation and park to call for AAA to come tow it to mechanic. If my wife and children were driving or in this vehicle at the time of power steering gear failure I am afraid that she most likely not be able to have achieved the safe result I was able to. Vehicle was towed to Sentry Ford, they were able to diagnose the issue. It was a failed power steering gear, which is a recall(Ford Recall #15N01). They contacted Ford recall center and were informed that it was out of the coverage range by 804 miles. 804! And Ford would not honor repair. I attempted to contact Ford directly to work with them to resolve this serious safety issue, they said “this recall repair is no longer supported”,I asked to speak with their recall department and they informed me “that team is no longer active, there was a class action lawsuit brought up regarding this recall and now was being handled by a different department”, that she would transfer me to the class action section to handle this recall. When she transferred me she inadvertently disconnected call, I called back and spoke with another representative, explained my previous call, conversation, and direction which the previous representative provided. This second agent stated “no such department exists, you are over the mileage for the recall repair, we will not be covering it”. I asked to speak with a supervisor, was told none available and one would return my call within 24-48 hours. Waited for the rest of evening and into next day, “supervisor” called while I was driving and call sent to voicemail. Supervisor stated on voicemail that “recall past coverage period” “won’t support” supervisor did not leave a number to speak directly with her