2016 FORD EXPLORER POLICE INTERCEPT Steering Problems

The contact stated that the Police Department owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while a Police Officer was attempting to drive the vehicle; however, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the Government mechanic who previously diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the steering rack had failed. The contact stated that two other Police Department vehicles had recently experienced the same failure with the steering rack. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated there was no recall on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND PUT IN DRIVE MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED IN ONE POSITION I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT I STARTED GETTING SEVERAL LIGHTS ON MY DASH FROM HILL START ASSIST, SERVICE ADVANCETRAC, STEERING ASSIST FAULT. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN MY VEHICLE & HAD TO BACK IN THROUGH THE PARKING LOT BACK INTO A SPOT, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF TURNING VEHICLE ON AND OFF I WAS ABLE TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN TO RELEASE BUT THERE WAS NO POWER AND VEHICLE WAS OPERATING LIKE AN OLDER VEHICLE WITH NO POWER STEERING, IT TOOK A LOT OF MUSCLE TO GET THE WHEEL TO TURN AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS WERE COMING ON VEHICLE WAS PARKED NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL WAS DISCONNECTED TO TRY AND RESET SYSTEM AND STEERING IS STILL LOCKED IN PLACE FORD DEALERSHIPS ADVISED THEY HAVE HAD MULTIPLE EXPLORERS WITH THIS ISSUE AND...