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

LACK OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, THE STEERING EFFORT IS GREATER, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER AN APPOINTMENT (FOR RECALL) THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETE LACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND NOT DRIVABLE AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR 5.0 HOURS OF DIAGNOSTIC.

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THE INTERFACE MODULE ON FORD EXPLORER STOP WORKING AND HAZARD LIGHTS STAY ON AND ONLY FIX AND BY A DEALERSHIP

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MY SON WAS DRIVING AND MADE A U TURN ON A CITY STREET AND DURING THE END OF THE U TURN THE PASSENGER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED NEAREST TO THE WHEEL. THE CAR DID NOT HIT A CURB OR RUN OVER ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE BREAK. THE LOCAL POLICE DEPT, TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND MYSELF INSPECTED THE AREA AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WAS "HIT" TO CAUSE THIS. ONCE THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT THE CONTROL ARM WHEN IT WAS ON THE HOIST THEY POINTED OUT TO US THAT THE METAL CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN IT WAS CAST OR WASN'T FABRICATED CORRECTLY. THE METAL WAS LESS DENSE AND MORE HOLLOW ON ONE SIDE OF THE BREAK THAN THE OTHER SIDE. THE BREAK WAS A CLEAN BREAK WITHOUT JAGGED EDGES. THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BROKEN CONTROL ARM. WE WHERE LUCKY SINCE MY SON DRIVES THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH SPEEDS ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS AND IF THIS FRONT CONTROL ARM BROKE AT THOSE SPEEDS HE WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF HIS CAR AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A LOSS OF LIFE. WE HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK DONE ON THE CAR IN OCTOBER AND THE MECHANIC SAID HE SAW NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR THEN AND SUGGESTED THAT SINCE THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS ALSO AN ORIGINAL PART AND PROBABLY CAST AT THE SAME TIME AND USING THE SAME METHODS THAT IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM GAVE OUT SIMILARLY. WE OPTED TO PAY THE ADDED COST TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS SINCE OUR SON'S SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THE EXTENDED TRAVEL PLAY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER (SHAWNEE MISSION FORD LOCATED AT 11501 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY, SHAWNEE, KS 66203), AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED CAUSING A VISIBILITY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER SAM SCISM MOTORS (5019 FLAT RIVER RD., FARMINGTON MO) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH, UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY HOME. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT AT A DEALER (FINLEY MOTORS 942 3RD ST SE, MAYVILLE, ND 58257). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 170,000.

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EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING ON WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD WITHIN 11 MONTHS OF HAVING RECALL 14S06 PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. WAS INFORMED BY FORD SERVICE THAT CAUSE WAS FAILURE OF PART REPLACED TO RESOLVE RECALL 14S06.

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WE'VE HAD OUR 2011 FORD EXPLORER FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. WE BOUGHT IT USED WITH APPROXIMATELY 130,000 MILES ON IT, IT NOW CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000 MILES. WE WERE ABOUT TO LEAVE OUR HOUSE, SO THE EXPLORER WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME. I STARTED IT UP AND IMMEDIATELY AN ERROR POPPED UP ON THE DASH FOR "POWER STEERING FAULT" AND "ADVANCETRAC" WARNING. I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT WITHOUT POWER STEERING I WOULD BE PUTTING MY FAMILY AND MYSELF IN DANGER. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. IF MY WIFE WERE OUT DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENED, IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD FOR HER AND MY KIDS. WE SET UP AN APPOINTMENT THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN OUR TOWN, THEY FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND TOLD US THAT IT WOULD COST ~$2100. I TOLD THEM IT SHOULD BE COVERED BECAUSE OF A RECALL I FOUND ONLINE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. MY WIFE CALLED AND THEY TOLD HER THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I PROCEEDED TO CALL BACK THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE TO A REP. AFTER GETTING THE RUN AROUND HE FINALLY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER TO GIVE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, EXPRESSING THAT THIS WOULD BE FULLY COVERED UNDER A FIELD SERVICE ACTION #: 15N01 FOR EPAS STEERRING EFFORTS, WITH NO COST TO ME. I GAVE THE CASE NUMBER TO THE FORD SERVICE REP. TODAY I GET A CALL BACK THAT THE CASE NUMBER IS DECLINED BY FORD BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE HAS OVER 150,000 MILES ON IT. WE NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL OR A CALL FROM FORD MENTIONING THE RECALL BEFORE THE 150,000 MILE DEADLINE. WE'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND STILL OWE $8000 ON IT, AND FORD WANTS $2100 TO REPAIR A PART THAT THEY KNEW WAS A COMMON PROBLEM.

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POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. VEHICLE CONSOLE DISPLAYED 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT'. FORD DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR SINCE OUR VEHICLE WAS OVER 150,000 MILES. MILEAGE WAS 175,000 WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED BEDFORD FORD LINCOLN (6985 LINCOLN HWY, BEDFORD, PA 15522, (814) 623-8154) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,494.

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AFTER DRIVING FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT I SMELL EXHAUST COMING IN THROUGH THE VENT.I ONLY NOTICE IT WHEN AT A STOP.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER FROM THE MOON ROOF CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO FREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEVITTOWN FORD (3195 HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE, LEVITTOWN, NY 11756, (516) 336-4718), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,800.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JONES FORD CASA GRANDE (1932 N PINAL AVE, CASA GRANDE, AZ 85122, (520) 836-3100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS MIXING WITH THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE POWER STEERING WAS LOCKING CONSISTENTLY, AND THE INTERLOCK AND ADVANCETRAC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE GEARS AND ALIGNMENT WERE RESET. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AN UNKNOWN PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL FILTER NECK ASSEMBLY ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE EVAPORATOR CANISTER WAS REPLACED AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE FUEL TANK WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED BY FORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.

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LOSS POWER STEERING, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP FROM PARKING SPACE. COULD NOT STEER WHEEL IN THE DIRECTION TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE.

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TL* THE CONTACT'S WIFE OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO RANDALL FORD (5500 ROGERS AVE, FORT SMITH, AR 72903, (479) 452-1311). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE REPROGRAMMING THE MODULE, AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID OUT OF POCKET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

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LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS CONCERN FOR MY MODEL YEAR BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH AND LOST POWER. ALSO, THE BRAKES AND STEERING BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE OIL PRESSURE AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL CRANKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND OIL WAS IN THE COOLANT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

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THERE IS A EXTREME EXHAUST SMELL THAT COMES IN MY TRUCK WHENEVER I TURN THE HEAT ON. THE EXCESSIVE FUMES ARE CAUSING MY CHILDREN AND ME TO EXPERIENCE DIZZINESS AND HEADACHES. THE SMELL ONLY COMES IN THE TRUCK WHEN THE HEAT IS ON. THE SMELL IS STILL STRONG EVEN WHEN I CRACK THE WINDOWS. IT'S UNBEARABLE AT THIS POINT AND I'M AFRAID I MAT EXPERIENCE AN ACCIDENT, BECAUSE I'M BECOME SO LIGHTHEADED. THE FUMES ARE STILL EXCESSIVE WHETHER THE TRUCK IS SITTING OR IN MOTION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE, "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" APPEARED ON THE MESSAGE CENTER AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO ROUSH FORD (5575 KEIM CIR, COLUMBUS, OH 43228) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO PARK FORD (400 WEST AVE, TALLMADGE, OH 44278, (330) 633-6222) WHERE THEY WANTED TO CHARGE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V435000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID NOT MENTION THIS TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,060.

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STARTED THE FORD AND THE BACKUP CAMERA WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. ALSO NOTICED THE 'SYNC' SCREEN WAS BLANK, CLIMATE CONTROLS WERE NOT VISIBLE (FUNCTIONING) AS WELL AS THE RADIO SYSTEM WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. WENT OUT AND STARTED THE SUV IN MY DRIVEWAY, EVERYTHING WAS CORRECT WHEN I RETURNED HOME THE NIGHT BEFORE.

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I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK FOR RUFFLY 3YRS. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH IT IMMEDIATELY.... I WAS DRIVING TO THE MAIL BOX AFTER GETTING HOME FROM ABOUT A 30MIN TRIP. THE WHOLE CAR CUT OFF LIGHTS WERE DIM IN THE CAR, STEERING HAD LOCKED VERY HARD TO TURN... AUTOMAX IN KILLEEN TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. HAD THE NEW PURCHASED TRUCK FOR A MONTH AND 2 DAYS. THEIR SERVICE TEAM TOLD ME IT WAS THE BATTERY. I FELT OTHER WISE AND NO LONGER WANTED THE CAR. BUT OF COURSE BY THIS TIME ALL PAPERWORK HAD WENT THROUGH TO THE BANK......DROVE THE TRUCK FINE FOR ABOUT 8MONTHS, THEN BROKE DOWN THE SAME WAY AS THE VERY FIRST TIME BUT ON A BRIDGE THIS TIME...... THIS TIME AROUND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ENGINE, GOT A SECOND OPINION, SAID PERSON SAID WATER PUMP. I FIXED THE WATER PUMP. NOW GUESS WHAT??? ITS ACTUALLY THE ENGINE.... I AM BLOWN AWAY BY HOW MANY PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS FORD EXPLORER..... I THOUGHT I WAS MAKING A GREAT PURCHASE GOING WITH A FORD. THIS TRUCK SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR A YEAR WHILE IN NURSING SCHOOL..... I AM LOST AND AT MY WITS END..... WHEN I LOOK FOR RECALLS ALL I AM SEEING IS SUSPENSION ISSUES OR TOWING.... WHEN I TALK TO MECHANICS THEY SAY THESE MODELS ARE KNOW FOR BAD ENGINES, THUS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY THE 2011 FORD EXPLORER ENGINES ARE MORE EXPENSIVE..... I AM LOOKING FOR HELP. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THESE SAME ISSUES. I OWE 14000 STILL ON THIS TRUCK AND HOW COULD IT NEED A NEW ENGINE ALREADY?

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AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY. NO CORRELATION TO TEMPERATURE OR HUMIDITY. NO CORRELATION TO BEING IN MOTION OR STOPPED. SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME (I.E. MONTHS). BASED ON RESEARCH I'VE DONE, IT SEEMS THAT WHEN THE AIRBAG INDICATOR IS LIT, THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS OFF. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER ABOUT 1 MONTH OF IT BEING ON STEADILY, I HAD IT FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP, FRANKLIN FORD, IN FRANKLIN, MA. THEY FIXED IT THROUGH A TSB WHERE CONNECTORS WERE CLEANED AND RE-GREASED WITH DIELECTRIC GREASE. THIS FIX LASTED ABOUT 1 YEAR. AFTER THIS TIME PERIOD THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON, AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY. AGAIN, AFTER ABOUT 1 MONTH OF STEADILY ON, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE THE SAME ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED USING THE SAME TSB METHOD. THIS LEADS TO A LOGICAL ASSUMPTION THAT THIS FIX IS ONLY TEMPORARY AND I WILL CONTINUOUSLY NEED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I'VE READ ACCOUNTS ONLINE OF SEVERAL OTHER USERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO J. O. WILLIAMS MOTORS (419 E BROADWAY AVE, GLADEWATER, TX 75647, (903) 845-2222) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACCESSORY PROTOCOL INTERFACE MODULE (APIM)NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY REGARDING NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10053471 (EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE) WAS CLOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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