What 1,191 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING" AND "SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK" WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MULTIPLE DEALERS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 10864817

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I WANT TO CHANGE LANES, IT IS HARD FOR ME TO TURN THE WHEEL. THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHERE AND SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN AND IT IS EXTREMELY HARD FOR ME TO TURN THE WHEEL.IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE TIME BUT IT HAPPENS MORE THAN ENOUGH.

NHTSA ODI 10862003

AFTER HAVING EPAS REPLACED (@HALL FORD ELLIZABETH CITY, NC) UNDER RECALL 15N01 AFTER COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE. WE BEGAN A 700 MI. ROAD TRIP HOME AND BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE SPONTANEOUS TRACTION CONTROL INTERACTION WITH OUR DRIVING INPUT WHICH AFFECTED EITHER POWER DISTRIBUTION TO THE AXELS, BRAKING ABILITY, AND STEERING ABILITY. AFTER MAKING IT NEARLY 300 MILES THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL COMPLETELY WENT OUT ALONG WITH WHAT FELT LIKE ABS CONTROL SEEMED LIKE IT INTERVENED SPORADICALLY. WE ALSO RECIEVED A DASH PROMPT THAT THE FUEL FILLER INLET NEEDED CHECKED AS WELL. UPON ARRIVAL TO A FORD DEALER ALONG OUR ROUTE (SHEEHY FORD, WARRENTON, VA) THEY PULLED THE CODES LISTED AND APPEARED TO BE A LITANY OF CODES NEARLY A PAGE AND A HALF LONG. THEY CLEARED THE CODES AND DROVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AROUND THE BLOCK THE TRACTION CONTROL BEGAN TO ACT INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT LOSS OF TRACTION. THEY CAME BACK AND CHECKED FOR ERROR CODES AND THE "STEERING POSITION SENSOR WAS AT FAULT" THEY WENT THROUGH RE-CALIBRATED THE EQUIPMENT INSTALLED AND CLEARED OUT THE CODES AND DROVE WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. WE THEN CONTINUED ON OUR REMAINDER OF OUR TRIP WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ISSUES. UPON ARRIVAL TO OUR HOME DESTINATION THE FOLLOWING DAY WE BEGAN TO AGAIN HAVE TRACTION CONTROL INTERVENING WITH DRIVER INPUT WHEN NOT NEEDED WHERE IT APPEARS TO BE SHIFTING POWER FROM AXLE TO AXLE OR APPLYING BRAKING TO AID IN TRACTION CONTROL. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THAT REAR VIEW CAMERA DISPLAYS THE POSTION OF THE DRIVER WHEEL IN RELATION TO THE WHEEL PATH IN REVERSE BUT APPEARS INTERMITTANT AS IF THERE IS A NOT A CONTINUOUS CONNECTION WITH THE SENSOR. TAKING TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER HERE MONDAY 4-4-16 TO HAVE THEM THOROUGHLY GO THROUGH THE VEHICLE BUT APPEARS TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST. ALL ISSUES ARE PRESENT WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEED AND TURNING

NHTSA ODI 10853156

MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER STARTED HAVING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE IN DEC, 2015 AT FIRST IT WOULD BE ON FIRST START UP, LASTING 3-4 SECONDS WITH A FROZEN STEERING WHEEL. GRADUALLY IT HAPPENED MORE OFTEN AND LASTED LONGER (5-10 SECONDS) RECENTLY IN MARCH 2016 WHILE DRIVING ACROSS FLORIDA ON VACATION, I SLOWED TO ENTER THE DRIVEWAY OF A SHOPPING CENTER, AS I MADE THE TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH MY STEERING WENT STIFF AND I HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN AND AVOID A VEHICLE EXITING THE PARKING LOT. IT WAS ONLY THEN I GOOGLE SEARCHED IF OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS HAD EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FAILURES. THAT'S WHEN I LEARNED THAT ITS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF OTHER FORD EXPLORER. EVEN THOUGH A SAFETY RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR, YOU'LL FIND FORD WILL WANT TO CHANGE OTHER PARTS FIRST, PARTS NOT COVERED ON THE RECALL. THE STEERING GEAR IS VERY EXPENSIVE ($1,500) FIRST THE DEALER SAID ITS THE STEERING WHEEL ANGLE SENSOR AND NOT THE STEERING GEAR. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE REPAIR......I LITERALLY PULLED OUT OF SUBURBAN FORD OF WATERFORD MICHIGAN AND DROVE 1 MILE TO A NEARBY GROCERY STORE, AFTER RETURNING TO MY VEHICLE ON THE FIRST START UP AFTER THIS REPAIR MY STEERING WAS FROZEN FOR 7-10 SECONDS AFTER 4 DAYS LOSS OF USAGE OF MY VEHICLE WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, NO RENTAL CAR OFFERED, I'LL BE RETURNING MY EXPLORER TO THE DEALER TOMORROW, I'LL KEEP POSTING UPDATES TO THIS NIGHTMARE WITH FORD MOTOR CO. FOLKS, I'M SURE YOU'LL ALL AGREE, LOSS OF STEERING IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS DEFECTS A VEHICLE CAN HAVE, NOT ONLY TO THE OWNER AND OCCUPANTS BUT TO THE OTHER INNOCENT DRIVES ON THE ROAD AS WELL

NHTSA ODI 10852834

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH, IN A DOWN-POUR RAIN, ON A STATE HWY, ON A STRAIGHTAWAY, THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST WHEN THE "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON (CHECK BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL). STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. CAUSE AT THIS TIME IS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10812037

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 3 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10806741

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ODI 10794628

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ACCELERATING OVER 65 MPH, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING AND POWER TERRAIN MESSAGES DISPLAYED BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 10784941

AT LOW SPEEDS THE FLOOR OF THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SHUTTERING BACK AND FORTH. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT DOESN'T MOVE BACK AND FORTH IF I TAKE MY HANDS OFF BUT I CAN DEFINITELY FEEL IT IN THE STEERING THROUGH THE FLOOR

NHTSA ODI 10775277

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ODI 10763842

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING COMPLETELY AS THE CHECK POWER STEERING UNIT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 10747670

I HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE FOR THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND THIS MORNING, I STARTED THE CAR AND GOT THE SAME FAULT CODE AND HAD NO POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 10730388

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE ALERT NOTED. POWER STEERING NOT WORKING AND ATTEMPTED TO RESET BY RESTARTING CAR WITH NO SUCCESS. TOWED TO DEALER. NEED TO REPLACE TOTAL RACK AND PINION IN ORDER TO FIX THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10730175

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH AT ANY TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10726875

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI 10726574

TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED COMING TO A STOP, FELT LIKE A LOST IN POWER AND ADVANCE TRAC SYSTEM FAILURE, POWER STEERING FAILURE WARNINGS GO OFF. I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND SAME THING HAPPEN AT LOW SPEED AT NEXT STOP SIGN. I DROVE A LITTLE FURTHER AND TURN CAR OFF. UPON RETURNING ALL SYSTEMS WERE WORKING FINE. ON 6/19/15 SAME THING HAPPEN AT LOW SPEED, ADVANCE TRAC AND POWER STEERING FAILURE AND STILL NOT WORKING AFTER SEVERAL HOURS SITTING.

NHTSA ODI 10726304

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL, WHERE THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIRS WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AND A LOUD NOISE NEAR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS PRESENT. THE LOUD NOISE WAS DOMINANT WHEN STEERED LEFT AND RIGHT. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ODI 10725406

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING FAILED, AND TWO ALERTS APPEARED (SERVICE POWER STEERING *DUH*, AND SOMETHING ABOUT THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT. I WAS ABLE STEER THE VEHICLE (WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF EFFORT) TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI 10722035

REF, PREVIOUS CASE [XXX] ... JUST CURIOUS, SAW FORD HAD SEVERAL 2011 VEHICLES ADDED TO RECALLS, BUT NOT EXPLORERS FOR THIS CAUSE, WONDER WHY, SINCE OUR EXPERIENCE WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE OTHER RECALLS WERE, LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST, COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. WAS ELECTRICAL STEERING GEAR MALFUNCTION AT 47,000 MILES [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

NHTSA ODI 10721831

STARTED CAR, AND POWER STEERING FAULT WARNING DISPLAYED ON THE DASH. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, AND THEN STARTED THE CAR AGAIN. THIS TIME EVERYTHING WORKS FINE. I GO DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES. I PULL OVER FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHILE LEAVING THE CAR RUNNING. I GET BACK IN AND START DRIVING. IT LOOSES POWER STEERING AGAIN. I TRY TO START THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT CONTINUES TO HAVE NO POWER STEERING. I DO SOME RESEARCH AND FIND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. I TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY SAID THE RECALL IS CLOSED AND WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE. THEY SAY IT HAD THE SOFTWARE ISSUE FIXED LAST YEAR BEFORE I OWNED THE CAR. THIS TIME IT IS A PART FAILURE AND WILL COST $1500. I DO NOT THINK THE ISSUE WAS FIXED IN THE FIRST PLACE WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED.

NHTSA ODI 10721581

CAR POWER STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON 3/23/15. BROUGHT IT TO SAM GALLOWAY FORD IN FT. MYERS, FLORIDA. HAD PART NUMBERS BB5Z3504RE (1 GEAR ASY-STE), W712961-S439 (BOLT), W716182-S439 (2 BOLTS) REPLACED. LABOR AND PARTS CAME TO $1,567.53. SAW ON THIS SITE THAT THIS MAKE AND MODEL (NOT THIS VIN) HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR SIMILAR INCIDENT. FORD WOULD NOT REIMBURSE US FOR THIS PROBLEM. ON AUGUST 4, 2014, AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE 14S06, THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO FRIENDLY FORD IN POUGHKEEPSIE, NY FOR A POWER STEERING ISSUE. FORD SAID THAT THAT VISIT RESOLVED THE POWER STEERING ISSUE. AS THE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, I FEEL THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED SINCE WE HAD A SUBSEQUENT INCIDENT ON 3/23/15.

NHTSA ODI 10716077

IN APRIL 2015, I HAD TWO INSTANCES IN WHICH MY VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WITH A CORRESPONDING "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" MESSAGE. I, FORTUNATELY, WAS IN A PARKING LOT BOTH TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO STEER TO A PARKING SPACE, TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR (AS ADVISED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL). IN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I DISCOVERED A RECALL NOTICE FOR POWER STEERING ISSUES. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON APRIL 23RD TO HAVE THE SERVICE PERFORMED. ON APRIL 27TH, WHEN I STARTED THE CAR TO PULL OUT OF MY GARAGE AT HOME, I REALIZED THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING. TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTING NO LONGER WORKED. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO PERFORMED THE RECALL SERVICE. BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE RECALL SERVICE, THEY PERFORMED THE BASIC RESET AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. FORD IS TELLING ME THAT BECAUSE THEY HAD SERVICED THE RECALL ONCE, THEY CONSIDER IT TO BE REPAIRED AND WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR OF THE FAILED POWER STEERING. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED, OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. I CANNOT BELIEVE FORD IS REFUSING TO REPAIR A KNOWN DEFECT THAT WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10713656

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE A WARNING APPEARED ON THE DASH STATING THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAD FAILED. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT CLEARED THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT IN FOR SERVICE IN AUGUST OF 2014 THERE WAS A RECALL FROM FORD (14S06) THAT REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER MODULE. AFTER THE SERVICE THERE WERE STILL INTERMITTENT OCCASIONS WHERE THE WARNING APPEARED, BUT IT ALWAYS WENT AWAY WHEN CYCLING THE ENGINE OFF THEN BACK ON. ON APRIL 27. 2015 THE WARNING AGAIN APPEARED, BUT WOULD NOT DISAPPEAR WHEN THE OFF/ON CYCLE WAS COMPLETED. ATTEMPTED THIS MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT THE WARNING PERSISTED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE PURCHASING DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10713322

SUMMARY: UPDATING THE SOFTWARE DOES NOT FIX THE 'LOSS OF POWER STEERING' PROBLEM UNDER FORD RECALL 140S06 FOR 2011 FORD EXPLORER. POWER STEERING STILL FAILS AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. HOWEVER, FORD REJECTS TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THE STEERING RACK TO FIX THE PROBLEM IF THE CUSTOMER HAS DONE SOFTWARE UPDATE; FORD AGREES TO COVER IT ONLY IF CUSTOMER HAS NOT DONE SOFTWARE UPDATE. BASICALLY IF YOU ARE GIVEN REMEDY OPTION 1 WHICH IS UPDATING SOFTWARE BY THE DEALER, THEN YOU LOSE THE RIGHT FOR REMEDY OPTION 2 WHICH IS REPLACING GEAR FOR THIS RECALL REGARDLESS IF OPTION 1 HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM OR NOT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT! IN JULY 2014, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER RECEIVING POWER STEERING RECALL LETTER. THEY COULD NOT DETECT THE POWER STEERING ERROR CODE AT THAT TIME, SO SIMPLY THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE. BUT I STILL OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENCED THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE, AND IT HAPPENED MORE OFTEN LATER ON, UNTIL LAST WEEK APRIL 14TH, 2015, THE MESSAGE STAYED ON, AND I LOST THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY IN A PARKING LOT. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ON APRIL 17TH TO OPEN A CASE #[XXX] REQUESTING TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR UNDER THE RECALL 140S06 AT NO COST. AFTER A FEW DAYS' PROLONGED BACK AND FORTH WITH THE DEALER AND FORD, MY CASE WAS DENIED BY FORD. THE REASON GIVEN TO ME IS THAT THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS COMPLETED SO MY RECALL CASE WAS CLOSED AND IT WILL NOT BE COVERED TO REPLACE STEERING GEAR. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL 12MONTH/12K WARRANTY THAT I AM STILL WITHIN, FORD INSISTED THAT IT ONLY COVERS THE SOFTWARE THAT WAS UPDATED. BUT I BELIEVE THE RECALL IS MEANT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING, IF THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS, MEANING SOFTWARE UPDATE DOES NOT WORK, THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER THE RECALL REMEDY OPTION 2 TO REPLACE THE GEAR FOR A REAL FIX. NO WAY WILL A SOFTWARE UPDATE FIX A PHYSICAL HARDWARE DEFECT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10712556

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER A POWER STEERING MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES WHERE A CODE WAS RESET, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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