NHTSA Complaint #11476866 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

July 28,2022 while driving on the highway at 55mph the power steering began to fail. It didn't fail completely but the steering felt awkward. I slowed up considerably. Fortunately I was less than 2 miles to my home. As I was getting home a power steering warning light illuminated and then went off. Not sure exactly what it said as I was too busy driving. At that point the power steering hadn't failed completely but still felt awkward (I would say the steering alternated between smooth steering and like the steering wheel was starting to lock in place). I managed to get to my driveway. I shut the suv off and called the local Ford dealership. They advised restarting the suv and to see if the power steering returned. It didn't. It was completely locked up at that point and I couldn't even turn the steering wheel. I called a tow truck and had it towed to the closest Ford dealership. Russ Hubler Automotive in Greensburg Indiana. The dealer called on July 29, 2022 and said the power steering had failed. I'm not a mechanic so I don't know the mechanical details but they said it wasn't the electric steering motor or module. It would cost about $2,200.00 to fix. As of today August 1, 2022 it is sitting at the dealership waiting on parts to be repaired. As I did more research I found that MANY other people had reported the same problem. I called Ford Customer Service on August 1, 2002 and spoke to a rep and then finally her supervisor. They refused to help. I was on the phone with them for 46 minutes. The supervisor finally admitted the power steering was a recall issue but it did not as yet include my VIN number even though I had the exact same experience as hundreds of other owners. She advised filing this report with the NHTSA and the BBB. She admitted that Ford was not to going to address this issue until they were required to by the NHTSA. She advised saving my receipts so that if and when the recall included my VIN number I could be reimbursed. Disappointed in Ford.