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

WHEN YOU SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE PARKING SENSOR DOES NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THE SHIFT THUS LEAVING A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD/SCREEN SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK.' TO CORRECT THE ISSUE YOU HAVE DEPRESS THE SHIFT LEVER OVER AND OVER TO GET IT TO SHIFT IN PARK. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE BLOGS, AMONGST VARIOUS FORD OWNERS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED IN A POSITION THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. SENTRY FORD (4100 MYSTIC VALLEY PKWY, MEDFORD, MA 02155, (781) 395-6400) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE POWER STEERING; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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RANDOMLY HAS A AWD FAULT WARNING. LOSES TRANS POWER. REQUIRES STOP. SHUT OFF & RESTART. DANGEROUS! HAS HAPPENED OF FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER FOUND NO RECORD SAVED???? JUST HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY!!!

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ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO OVERHEATING. REGULAR AND REQUIRED OIL CHANGES ARE DOCUMENTED AND IMPLEMENTED AS SCHEDULED. NO OTHER ENGINE OR VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS DURING THE COURSE OF OWNERSHIP, EXCEPT REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND TIRE REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, ON MAY 15, 2019, VEHICLE SENSOR NOTIFIED OIL CHANGE NEEDED. FIVE DAYS LATER VEHICLE STALLED AT LOCAL MOTEL DUE TO DECREASED POWER, ROCKING MOTION OF CAR AND LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO SLOWLY TURN INTO LOCAL HOTEL TO CUT OFF ENGINE AND GET TO SAFETY. AFTER 2 HOURS OF LETTING VEHICLE SET AND COOL DOWN, LOCAL MECHANIC, CHECKED AND SAID WE HAD ENOUGH OIL IN VEHICLE AND NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE HOME, WITH NO SENSORS ON DASHBOARD ALERTING US TO ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. THREE DAYS LATER, WITH NO VISIBLE SENSORS FLASHING, CAR BEGAN TO EXHIBIT ROCKING MOTION NOT SPUTTERING MOTION AS I BEGAN TO PULL OUT IN FOUR-WAY INTERSECTION, AND APPROACHING TRAFFIC HEADING MY WAY. THEN SUDDENLY, CAR REGAINED POWER AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROPER LANE AS IF NOTHING WAS WRONG. AFTER TRAVELING ANOTHER 1.6 MILES, CAR JUST STARTING LOSING POWER, CHECK ENGINE, LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT, TEMPERATURE LIGHT WARNING ALL APPEARED SUDDENLY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT IN MIDDLE LANE IN FRONT OF DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. I IMMEDIATEDLY TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND WALKED TO DEALERSHIP TO GET HELP IN MOVING VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. AFTER 3DAYS OF WAITING, DUNCAH DEALERSHIP IN CHRISTIANSBURG, VA, NOTIFED US THAT HEAD GASGET WAS CRACKED AND OVER 7,000 REPAIR BILL WAS NEEDED TO FIX ENGINE REPAIR. AS NOTED BEFORE NO MAJOR PROBLEMS HAS EVER BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED REGARDING THIS VEHICLE. DURING THE TWO INCIDENTS REGARDING THE VEHHICLE LOSING POWER, WITHOUT NO VISIBLE VEHICLE SENSOR NOTIFICATIONS IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO US REGARDING OUR SAFETY IN DRIVING OUR VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, WE WEREN'T ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY.

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WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 80 MPH THE GAUGE CLUSTER SCREENS SHOWED A 'POWER STEERING FAULT' AND A 'TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE' ERROR AND IT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO STIFFEN UP MOVING ONLY ABOUT LESS THAN AN INCH, WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT OFF THE CAR AND THEN WE TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND IT STARTED WORKING JUST FINE UNTIL THE SAME EXACT SCENARIO OCCURRED FOR THE SECOND TIME. A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE POWER STEERING ERROR AND TRACTION CONTROL ERROR POPPED UP ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER AT A RED LIGHT, THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF AND ALLOWED FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT. THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL ERROR OCCURRED TWICE AT STOPLIGHT AND THEY BOTH WENT AWAY BY TURNING ON AND OFF THE CAR. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED AFTER WE SENT THE CAR TO A MECHANIC TO GET THE POWER STEERING MODULE CHECKED AND REPLACED AFTER THE CAR LEFT US STRANDED AS THE POWER STEERING HAD PREVIOUSLY FAILED ENTIRELY ON US. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS CAR FOR ABOUT A 5 MONTHS AND IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE HEADACHE!!!!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 35-40 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHUDDER. THE CONTACT'S WIFE DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND DIAGNOSED THAT COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE BLOCK OR HEAD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT CALLED WILLOW BROOK (7301 KINGERY HWY, WILLOWBROOK, IL 60527, (630) 986-5000) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

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THERE WAS A RECALL 14E-001/13S14, THEY RESET MY COMPUTER DID NOT REPLACE THE PART WHICH FINALLY FAILED WHEN I WAS DRIVING MAKING STEERING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT HAD I NOT BEEN FAMILIAR WITH MANUAL STEERING IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM I HAD TO REPLACE THE PART THAT WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM AND THE RESET ON COMPUTER WHICH WAS THE ONLY THING DONE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PRACTICE OF QUICK FIX TO OVERRIDE THE SYSTEM TO PROTECT A BOTTOM LINE NOT THE BUYERS OF FORD VEHICLES. HAD THEY REPLACED THE PART INSTEAD OF RESETTING MY COMPUTER THIS WOULD NEVER OF HAPPENED.

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MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER HAS ABOUT 140000 MILES. SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STEER THE CAR. THIS AS OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR IS NOT MOVING. IT WAS CLEARED BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING THE CAR. SERRAMONTE FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS ARE ERROR CODES FOUND AND THE ESTIMATED COST WILL BE OVER $2,300. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND I MA STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AS I PURCHASED USED FROM DEALERSHIP ABOUT 2 YRS AGO. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING WAY TO TREAT THIS PROBLEM. WHY CAN'T FORD TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THIS PPROBLEM SINCE ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE PILING UP AND NOT LEAVE US TO DIE WITH OUR FAMILIES. SURELY BY NOW THEY MUST HAVE SOME IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW TO FIX IT. THE PROBLEM AS RECALL CODE OF 14S06 & 14V-286 AND NOT VERY MANY VIN#'S ARE BEING ADDED TO THIS SAME RECALL. PLEASE FORD! HELP US FROM NOT DIEING IN YOUR VEHICLES. PLEASE! THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CANNOT AFFORD TO REPURCHASE CARS WHEN THEY DEFECTIVE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 3 CHILDREN AND 2 WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. PLEASE HELP US RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

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"SERVICE POWER STEERING" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, CODE WAS FOR LEFT STEERING CONTROL MODULE. ONE WEEK LATER, POWER STEERING WAS INTERMITTENT, THEN WENT OUT COMPLETELY. TOOK IN TO FORD DEALERSHIP, CODE FOR SAFETY RECALL 15N01 CAME UP, FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS MY VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER RECALL BUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO FIX, STATING "NO HOUSEHOLD LOYALTY", BECAUSE I'VE NOT PURCHASED A FORD BRAND NEW. WHEN CALLING FORD ABOUT THE ISSUE, THEY SAY THEY "WILL STAND BEHIND THE FORD DEALERAHIP IN THEIR DECISION"; YET NOW THAT THE DEALERSHIP IS READY TO FIX AND WAITING FOR THE AUTHORIZATION CODE FROM FMC, FMC WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE DEALERSHIPS DECISION.

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MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER HAS ABOUT 89000 MILES ON IT. TWICE RECENTLY THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT AND IT HAS BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR. BOTH TIMES THIS HAS BEEN WHILE THE CAR IS NOT MOVING. IT WAS CLEARED BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING THE CAR. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND NO ERROR CODE WAS FOUND. WE WERE TOLD TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN DO NOT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND CALL TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING WAY TO TREAT THIS PROBLEM. WHY CAN'T FORD OWN UP THE PROBLEM SINCE ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE PILING UP AND NOT LEAVE US CONSUMERS AT SUCH RISK. SURELY BY NOW THEY MUST HAVE SOME IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW TO FIX IT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL FUME ODOR WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AND RECOMMENDED TO REPAIR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

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SE CUELA AGUA Y BAJA POR LOS CINTURONES DE LA TERCERA FILA, SE LLENA DE AGUA EL COMPARTIMIENTO DONDE VA LA GOMA DE REPUESTO.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND SWERVED WILDLY, BUT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GENE LANGLEY FORD (3500 EASTEND DR, HUMBOLDT, TN 38343, (731) 784-9311) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW MOTOR NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,575. *BF*JB

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THIS VEHICLE WAS IN FOR A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING. RECALL WAS DONE ON THE VEHICLE IN 2014 NOW IN 2019 AT 150,000 MILES AND AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY THIS TIME IT COST ME $1,800 TO GET FIX JUST TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM RECUR 3 TIMES. I ALSO GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS MORE THAN A SAFETY ISSUE AND I NOTICE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. WHEN WILL FORD DECIDED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE!

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WHEN WE TAKE A DRIVE IN OUR FORD EXPLORER- OUR CHILDREN ARE GETTING NAUSEA AND VOMITING. THIS HAS BECOME A CONSTANT PROBLEM-EVEN ON SHORT DRIVES OF 30 MINUTES OR LESS. THEY COMPLAIN OF HEADACHES AS WELL. WE HAVE HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTORS JUST TO GET ANTI NAUSEA MEDICINE HOPING IT WOULD HELP, BUT- IT HASN'T. THERE IS AN EMISSIONS PROBLEM WITH OUR VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING MAJOR SICKNESS WITH OUR YOUNG CHILDREN- AGES 11, 8, 7 AND 2.

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CAR TURNED OFF AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. PANEL READ " NO POWER TO ENGINE" OR SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT. WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE A PHOTO OF PANEL DUE TO I WAS CAUGHT IN TRAFFIC WITH CARS BEHIND ME.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) BY BASIL FORD (1540 WALDEN AVE, BUFFALO, NY 14225, (716) 893-1000), THE STEERING SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO WEST HERR FORD (10 CAMPBELL BLVD, GETZVILLE, NY 14068, (716) 688-5464). THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE RESULTS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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EVERY TIME I GO IN THE HIGHWAY AND I GO 60 MILES PER HOUR I START SMELLING THE EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE MY CAR START FEELING KIND OF DIZZY WITH HEADACHES TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER CHECK THAT AND IT'S DOING IT AGAIN EXHAUST SMELL COMES INSIDE OF CAR REALLY BAD

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WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE CAR LOST POWER STEARING. THIS MADE THE CAR VERY HARD TO DRIVE AT LOW SPEADS. WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO KARL FLAMMER FORD IN TARPON SPRINGS FL. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME TO RESTART THE CAR AND SOMETIMES THE STEERING WILL BE RESET. THAT WORKED BUT NO INDICATION WAS GIVEN TO ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND I AM SURE THEY WILL PROPERLY ADDRESS THE SITUATION WHEN SOMEONE DIES.

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SINCE SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2019 THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" MESSAGE COMES ON THE DASHBOARD SCREEN EVERY TIME I START THE CAR (2011 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED) AND I AM UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. THE CAR IS PARKED IN A GARAGE. PREVIOUSLY, WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THE FAULT WOULD CLEAR, HOWEVER NOW THE FAULT STAYS ON AFTER EVERY RESTART AND THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT MOVE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. WHILE DRIVING OFF THE FREEWAY RAMP, THE CONTACT HAD TO USE MORE STRENGTH THAN USUAL TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER, WAITED A FEW SECONDS, AND DROVE HOME. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED DUE TO FULL WAITING LISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,992.

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I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TURNED OFF THE CAR, PUMPED GAS, THEN STARTED THE CAR TO LEAVE AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING.

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SECOND (2ND) OCCURRENCE. VEHICLE AS BACKED INTO DRIVEWAY AND PARKED WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 20,2019. THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00 AM, IT WAS OBSERVED THE THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS APPROX. 13 FEET ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS LOCKED AND TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. APPROXIMATELY 7:15 AM IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE ROLLED APPROXIMATELY 16 INCHES MORE WITH THE BACK BUMPER RESTING AGAINST THE WALL. THIS EVEN IS DOCUMENTED WITH PICTURES. FIRST (1ST) OCCURRENCE VEHICLE WAS PARKED NOSE FIRST IN DRIVEWAY ON FEBRUARY 11, 2019. FEBRUARY 12, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM, MY WIFE HAD ASKED IF WE HAD MOVED THE VEHICLE FORWARD BECAUSE THE FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS ALMOST TOUCHING THE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED AND IN PARK. THE WEATHER ON BOTH OCCURRENCES WAS SNOW THEN RAIN. UNABLE TO ATTACH PHOTOS DUE TO FILE SIZE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). SHULTS FORD OF HARMARVILLE (1300 GULF LAB RD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15238) ONLY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, BUT HAD NOT REPLACED THE STEERING RACK. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING RACK FAILED. THE DEALER WANTED THE VEHICLE OWNER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STEERING REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT CONSUMER STATED STEERING WENT OUT, VEHICLE ALMOST HIT 2 PARKED CARS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. *JB

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DRIVING 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY THE SERVICE POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY LIGHT CAME ON AND SERVICE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LIGHT AS WELL. I HAD NO POWER STEERING.

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