What 821 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

ON 11-3-2019 AT AROUND 1820 HOURS WHILE DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS, A YELLOW "SERVICE POWER STEERING SOON" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I ACKNOWLEDGED THE WARNING AND FELT NO CHANGE IN HANDLING AT THE TIME. I CONTINUED DRIVING ABOUT ANOTHER 10 MINUTES TO MY DESTINATION. AS I TURNED INTO A DRIVEWAY I COULD FEEL THE STEERING GET VERY TIGHT AND MENTIONED IT TO MY PASSENGER. I PARKED THE CAR AND RETURNED ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AT THAT TIME, A RED "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" WARNING ILLUMINATED. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO DO SO WITH GREAT EFFORT. I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 100 FT AND PARKED IT FOR THE NIGHT UNTIL I CAN GET A TOW TRUCK FOR IT. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, REDLANDS FORD, WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR ORIGINALLY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING LOST POWER AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED A FEW MINUTES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FUSE. SURPRISE FORD (623-792-2522, LOCATED AT 16825 W. WADDELL ROAD, SURPRISE, AZ 85388) WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CORWIN FORD TRI CITIES (1225 N AUTOPLEX WAY, PASCO, WA 99301, (509)544-8000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO TEN YEARS/150,000 MILES FOR THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,800.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE POWER ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JIM BURKE FORD (2001 OAK ST, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301, (661) 328-3600) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE STEERING MODULE WAS UPDATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE "POWER STEERING AID OFF" WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANDERSON FORD OF GRAND ISLAND (120 DIERS AVE, GRAND ISLAND, NE 68803, (308) 384-1700) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER AND THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A REPAIR APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 24, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,111.

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CAME OUT TO START UP MY VEHICLE WHEN IMMEDIATELY MY POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT CAME ON. IT WOULDNT ALLOW ME TO BACK MY CAR BACK NOR TURN MY STEERING WHEEL AS IF IT WAS LOCKED. SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF FEELING DISCOURAGED I MAY HAVE WAITED 20 MINUTES AND STARTED THE VEHICLE UP TO NOW THERE IS NO MESSAGE. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ONCE I MADE IT BACK HOME THE MESSAGE CAME ON ONCE AGAIN AT THIS TIME I TOOK OUT MY CAR BOOK AND IT GAVE INFORMATION ON WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND TO SEEK SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

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WHEN IT ACCELERATE 0 TO 60 IT FEELS LIKE TREMBLES, EVEN WHEN IT PASSES 60 MPH IT FEELS. IF YOU ACTIVE THE OVER DRIVE IT FEELS IVEN MORE... I REPLACE THE TIRES, BRAKES , CONTROL ARM, MOTOR MOUNT. THE MECHANIC CHECK EVERYTHING. SO THE ONLY REST FOR CHECK IS THE RACK AND PINION THE HALL THING. THE EXPLORER IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION

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POWER STEERING DEFAULT ACTIVATES WHICH CAUSE YOU TO USE EXTREME FORCE TO NAVIGATE THE WHEEL AND THERE IS A POPPING NOISE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. ALL WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING STILL.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E001000 (STEERING) AT VISALIA FORD (1300 E MINERAL KING AVE, VISALIA, CA 93292, (559) 625-1000). HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, WHILE MAKING TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

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I HAVE A 2012 FORD EXPLORER THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL 14S06. THE PSCM WAS REPROGRAMMED PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. ASSOCIATED TO RECALL 14S06 IS THE EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM 15N01, WHICH IS TO REMAIN OPEN ON THE VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED IN THE EVENT THAT ANY LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST DTCS ARE PRESENT. MY EXPLORER HAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE DEALER HAS NOTED THAT MY ENTIRE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE EXTENDED COVERAGE 15N01. THIS COVERAGE IS SUPPOSED TO LAST FOR 10 YEARS AND 150,000 MILES. I AM AT 144,000 MILES. FORD CONTINUES TO REPEAT THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SPECIAL COVERAGE. HOWEVER, PUBLICATIONS FROM FORD INDICATE OTHERWISE. REPLACEMENT OF MY STEERING GEAR IS $2,200. ALL OF WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD. MY POWER STEERING AND STABILITRAK WARNINGS GO OFF AND I LOSE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED CORRECTLY BY FORD. FORD'S CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT IS SEVERELY INCAPABLE OF ANSWERING THE MOST BASIC QUESTIONS. THEY ARE ALSO INCAPABLE OF ACCURATELY DOCUMENTING WHAT YOU HAVE CALLED ABOUT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH ANY RESOLUTION OR PROVIDE INFORMATION BEYOND WHAT YOU RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN. I REQUESTED ESCALATION AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DON'T HAVE BOSSES, WON'T ESCALATE MY REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR PROVIDE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FOR MY VIN. I WAS TOLD THE ONLY WAY TO PURSUE THE ISSUE FURTHER WAS TO WRITE A LETTER.

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FOR THE PAST YEAR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL GETS "STUCK" IN POSITION AND WILL NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT TO STAY IN YOUR LANE. I HAVE TO APPLY HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE IT MOVE AGAIN BUT AFTERWARDS IT APPEARS TO DRIVE NORMALLY EXCEPT ON THE OCCASION WHEN IT DOES IT MULTIPLE TIMES IN A 3-4 HOUR TRIP. I MENTIONED IT TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP WHEN IN FOR OTHER SERVICE BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE ABOUT IT AND THEY DENIED A RECALL WAS OPEN FOR THE STEERING. FAST FORWARD TO MAY, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST 2019. ON OCCASION WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP AND I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE WITHOUT USING EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD THEN RELEASE AND STEER AS NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED MORE TIMES THAN NOT SO I STARTED TO WONDER IF IT WAS THE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS STICKING TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY WERE WET WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BUT THAT THEORY QUICKLY GOT SHOT DOWN AS IT HAPPENED EVEN IN A LONG DRY SPELL. TODAY, SEPT 05, 2019 AS MY WIFE WENT TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT BUDGE. NORMALLY I WOULD ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT, BACK AND FORTH AND IT WOULD FREE UP BUT NOT THIS TIME. AFTER SEARCHING FOR REMEDIES ON THE INTERNET ONE PERSON RECOMMENDED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND THEN TO START IT UP AGAIN. I DID THIS AND IT WORKED! I ALSO WANT TO RELAY THAT AT NO TIME DID I EVER SEE A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE GARAGE. ITS POSSIBLE THAT THE STEERING MAY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN THE PAST BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (USED) AS IT DOES NOT SHOW UP IN A RECALL BY VIN SEARCH. NOTE: JUST STARTED CAR AGAIN AND THE STEERING IS LOCKED AGAIN. TOOK SEVERAL RESTARTS TO FREE IT UP!

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THE STEERING LOCKED ON MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER LTD. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET. I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING AND HAD TO COAST OFF THE ROAD. HAD TO CALL TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. A NOTICE ON THE CAR SAID CHECK POWER STEERING. I SEEN WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT AS A RECALL ITEM ON YOUR SITE.

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POWER STEERING RECALL OF 2014- MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR STEERING WAS FIXED UNDER A RECALL IN 2014 THE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS OF 150,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE KEEPS SHOWING A POWER STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT SAVING A CODE SO THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. WHAT IS GONNA HAPPEN WHEN IT HAPPENS AT 70 MPH AND ME OR ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS IS KILLED. THEY NEED TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY AND FIX IT. I CAN NOT DRIVE IT TO DEALER ONCE THER STEERING FAILS AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN FIX IT.

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SINCE MARCH 2019, I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT STIFFNESS IN THE POWER STEERING. BY MAY, THE TRACTION SIGN CAME ON THEN WENT OFF. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS, THEY SAID THERE WAS A 2-3 WEEK WAIT TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OFTEN, BUT INFREQUENTLY. THEN ONE DAY IN LATE JUNE, WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR AND BACKED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS NO POWER IN THE STEERING. I DROVE BACK UP THE DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND ALL WAS FINE. IN LATE JULY IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND EARLY AUGUST IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN AT THE DEALERSHIP ON A FRIDAY AND THEY FOUND IT WAS THE STEERING GEAR FAILED INTERNALLY. THEY FINISHED REPAIRING THE CAR BY THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY. WHEN THE CAR WAS AT 141,000 MILES I HAD ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR. THEY SAID NO. MY QUESTIONS IS: DOES A SAFETY RECALL EXPIRE?

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WHILE MY WAS DRIVING SHE WENT TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AND HEARD A NOISE. SHE THOUGHT MAYBE SHE RAN OVER GLASS OR SOMETHING. WHEN SHE WENT TO TURN THE CORNER THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. SHE ENDED UP HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE REAR SUSPENSION BREAKING. MY VEHICLE IS PART OF THE REAR SUSPENSION RECALL.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED RIVERSIDE FORD LINCOLN (2089 RIVERSIDE DR, MACON, GA 31204, (478) 464-2900) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF A POSSIBLE DEFECT AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT BRING IN THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED UP AND WENT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. THE VEHICLE WAS PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE STEERING WAS THE WORSE EVER TO TRY TO TURN THE WHEEL. HAD TO PULL INTO ANOTHER PARKING SPOT AND PARK IT THERE. TURN THE CAR OFF. THEN CAME BACK A FEW HOURS LATER AND STARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WORKED FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. AGAIN, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE, BUT LUCKILY ONLY WHEN STARTING UP AND INITIAL DRIVING. IT HAS PROBABLY HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES TO ME AND AT LEAST 2 TIMES FOR MY WIFE. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE'S STEERING STOP WHEN DRIVING!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS WOBBLING AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK/BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO FIRE DUE TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED FIVE STAR FORD LINCOLN OF WARNER (900 RUSSELL PKWY, WARNER ROBINS, GA 31088 (478) 273-8151) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS 21979461 BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 19V435000 SUSPENSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

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CAR WON'T GO INTO PARK

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WHEN TURNING LEFT STEERING WOULD NOT RETURN WITHOUT EXTREME FORCE ON MY PART. VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT KEPT ME GOING LEFT AND WOULD CAUSE A WRECK. DEALER DUPLICATED THE STEERING PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE STEERING GEAR: REFER TO RECALL 19V-435

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MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER LEAKS FROM THE 3RD ROW SEATBELT. IT HAS RUINED THE CARPET IN THE BACK AND MOLDED IT. IT ALSO FILLED UP THE SPARE TIRE AREA WITH WATER AND RUSTED THE RIM OF THE SPARE TIRE AND THE INSIDE WHERE THE TIRE SITS. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS UNTIL MANY MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE I WASN'T USING THE 3RD ROW AT THE TIME.

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WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND I TURN ON THE VEHICLE IT DISPLAYS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND I AM UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL I TURN IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON AT LEAST 2 TIMES. I AM AFRAID IF THIS FAILS WHILE I AM DRIVING I COULD KILL MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE.

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LOST COMMUNICATION WITH THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE WINDOWS LOCK UP, AND THE CAR BLOWS CONSTANT HEAT THROUGH DEFROST. NO HAZARDS CAN BE USED AS THE ENTIRE CONTROL PANEL IS OUT. VERY UNSAFE WITHOUT HAZARDS, LET ALONE FULL BLOWN HEAT WHEN ITS ALREADY . 105 OUTSIDE WITH THE HEAT INDEX.

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TAKATA RECALL

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POWER STEERING WENT OUT. MY VEHICLE IS PART OF THE RECALL. TOOK IT TO MCMULLEN FORD IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA. THEY TOLD ME I'M 300 MILES OVER THE RECALL AND IT WAS GOING TO COST $1,900 TO FIX. VEHICLE HAS 108,954 MILES ON IT.

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