What 2,224 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER POWERED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED SAM PACK'S FIVE STAR FORD CARROLLTON AT (972) 242-6415 (LOCATED AT 1635 S INTERSTATE 35E, CARROLLTON, TX 75006) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL RESULTING IN HAVING TO MANUALLY STEER THE VEHICLE. WARNING LIGHTS FOR SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW, SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC, SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER, DIAGNOSED AS EPAS STEERING RACK AS IT IS AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM. WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL WHICH RESULTS IN A $2000 REPAIR, REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART WITH THE SAME PART THAT IS SUBJECT TO FAURE AGAIN.

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TAKATA RECALL MY NAME IS [XXX], I OWN A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT SHOWED UP ON THE MESSAGE BOARD RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I RESEARCHED RECALLS AND FOUND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS IN 2011- 2013. I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE UNDER RECALL. MY COMPLAINT IS IF FORD KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS THEN WHY WEREN'T THEY ALL FIXED. I BROUGHT MINE USED AND WAS UNAWARE OF A RECALL. THERE WAS AND STILL IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES APPARENTLY. EVENTUALLY SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY HURT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BO BEUCKMAN QUALITY FORD, 15675 MANCHESTER RD, ELLISVILLE, MO 63011, (800) 401-6441) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,509.

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TAKATA RECALL. MY CAR STARTED MAKING AN AWFUL GROWLING SOUND. SHORTLY AFTER, I WAS HAVING TROUBLE STEERING. IT DOESN'T TURN WELL. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE COST IS AROUND $1700 TO BE REPLACED BY FORD. I AM ALSO STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED IN OTHER EXPLORERS, WOULD WHY NOT ALL?

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MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT . LUCKILY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT. OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAJIC.

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM THE FORD DEALER IN 2013. FIRST ISSUE, FRONT EDGE OF HOOD THE PAINT HAS BEEN BUBBLING AND COMING OFF. RUST IS UNDERNEATH. FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SECOND ISSUE AND MOST IMPORTANT, WE HAVE BEEN LOSING THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS CAUSED ERRATIC STEERING AS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SEEMS TO TURN ON AND OFF. THE STEERING WILL BIND AND WHEN YOU TRY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND OVER COMPENSATE AND THE ELECTRIC STEERING RE-ENGAGES, I'M ALL OVER THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE OTHER THAN FIX IT FOR $1900-$2300.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MADE AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (AUFFENBERG FORD O'FALLON, 115 REGENCY PARK, O'FALLON, IL 62269, (618) 632-0090), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED ON OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PACKEY WEBB FORD (1815 OGDEN AVE, DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515, (630) 598-4700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,754.

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WE LIMPED THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST EXIT. WE ARE BEING TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A "COMMON OCCURRENCE" HOWEVER, OUR VIN IS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL "YET". THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND TO NOW KNOW THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT FORD IS NOT ADDRESSING IS EVEN MORE UPSETTING. WE ARE NOW NEEDING TO TOW THE VEHICLE SEVERAL MILES HOME AND ATTEMPTING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED DURING A HOLIDAY WEEK. VACATION HAS BEEN CANCELLED, BUT THANK GOODNESS WE ARE STILL ALIVE. WAY TO GO FORD....

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WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION (PARKING), ERROR POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND SERVICE ADVANCETRAC ERROR ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. NO LONGER ABLE TO STEER CAR, THE CAR DID NOT DEFAULT INTO MANUAL STEERING MODE. THE CAR WILL ONLY GO STRAIGHT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE MODULE IN THE STEERING GEAR LOST COMMUNICATION AND THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING GEAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT. NHTSA ISSUED RECALL ID #14V286000 ON SOME FORD EXPLORER VEHICLES FOR SOME STEERING GEAR FAILURES, HOWEVER THE FORD DEALER STATES THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL IN THEIR OASIS SYSTEM.

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MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER LOST THE POWER STEERING AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THE STEERING STARTED FEELING INCONSISTENT AND THEN THE WARNING LIGHT TO SERVICE POWER STEERING CAME ON ALONG WITH TRACTION CONTROL WARNING. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AFTER TALKING TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. THIS IS WHAT THEY RECOMMENDED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 1900.00 TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING FIXED IN MY EXPLORER. THIS SEEMS INSANE TO ME SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO SO MANY FORD EXPLORERS AND ESCAPES. I FEEL THAT MY EXPLORER ALSO WAS GIVEN A FAULTY PART AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY FORD AT NO CHARGE TO ME.

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ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHILE DRIVE THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL.I WAS DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO STEER OFF THE ROAD.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST.

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MY VEHICLE (2013 FORD EXPLORER) LOST IT'S POWER STEERING, WHICH BASED ON THE OWNER'S MANUAL IS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND DOES NOT HAVE A MECHANICAL UNIT WITH FLUID. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND A RECALL OF 1.1 MILLION VEHICLES FOR POWER STEERING UNITS EXISTS WHICH INCLUDES THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR AS MY VEHICLE. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR AS MY VEHICLE, THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I WAS CHARGED $223 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO TELL ME THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1600. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND PROBLEM. I FEEL LIKE ANY VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AS THOSE THAT WERE RECALLED FOR POWER STEERING SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. IN ADDITION, I FOUND THROUGH MY RESEARCH THAT THE RECOMMENDED $1600 REPAIR DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I CURRENTLY HAVE A LOAN ON MY VEHICLE AND I'M NOT SURE I'M INTERESTED IN PAYING FOR SUCH A REPAIR THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD, SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. I ALSO FEEL LIKE THE DEALER WHICH I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC OVERCHARGED ME FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC WHEN THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE FIRST PLACE. IN THE RECALL NOTICE THAT I READ IT STATES THAT "LOSS OF POWER STEERING IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SINCE IT IS HARDER TO STEER AT LOWER SPEEDS THERE IS AN INCREASED CHANCE OF GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT". I FEEL LIKE SUCH A SAFETY CONCERN SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE DEALERSHIP SINCE IT IS OCCURRING WITH SO MANY VEHICLES AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH INCLUDES VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR.

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I BOUGHT THE 2013 FORD EXPLORER IN MAY 2013. I EXPERIENCED MY FIRST POWER STEERING LOSS ABOUT 6 MONTHS BACK. ALMOST WRECKED IT WITH FAMILY IN MY CAR. IT WAS PRETTY SCARY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. WHEN I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO FORD FOR AN OIL CHANGE I MENTIONED THE ISSUE WITH THEM AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, I EVEN CALLED FOR TO LET THEM KNOW THE ISSUE BUT DID NOTHING. ALSO, KEEP IN MY MIND I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. MY POWER STEERING WOULD CONTINUE TO GO OFF AND ON EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT ON MAY 2018 THIS POWER LOSS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES AND I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE OVER $2600 TO FIX IT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE FOR 2013 EXPLORERS BUT FORD SAID MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL I CALLED FORD TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY NOR DID THEY CARE . I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON POWER STEERING BEFORE BUT THEY SAID MY EXPLORER WAS NOT PART OF IT.

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MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER STARTED MAKING A SCRUBBING SOUND WHILE TURNING, IT SLAP FELT 'STICKY' WHILE STEERING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE NEXT DAY AN ALERT BADGE CAME ON TO 'SERVICE POWER STEERING.' MY HUSBAND STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION AND AFTER CRANKING THE CAR BACK UP THE STEERING IS LOCKED DOWN AND WILL NOT TURN EITHER WAY. I CHECKED MY VIN ON THIS WEBSITE AND IT SAYS IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND INTO SOME BUSHES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER (AL PIEMONTE FORD, 2500 W NORTH AVE, MELROSE PARK, IL 60160) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PAD, ROTORS, AND ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (TUSCALOOSA FORD, 6500 INTERSTATE PWY, COTTONDALE, AL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. *TT *JS

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I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHO HAD JUST REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS, DONE A ALIGNMENT, AND REPLACED A CIRCUIT BREAKER ON 5/16/2018. I THEN TOOK SAID CAR ON A ROAD TRIP DOWN THE EAST COAST. WHEN I FIRST GOT ONTO THE HIGHWAY, I FELT MY CAR PULLING EVER SO SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. I ASSUMED THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF AND DIDN'T THINK ANYMORE OF IT UNTIL I TRIED TO GO ACROSS THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE, WHERE MY CAR BEGAN TO BECOME INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER AND HANDLE. SEVERAL WARNINGS CAME ACROSS THE DASHBOARD, INCLUDING 'SERVICE POWER STEERING', ALONG WITH TWO TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. I PULLED OFF INTO THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION ON THE NJ TURNPIKE, WHERE I COULD NO LONGER STEER THE CAR (AS I WAS DECREASING SPEED), AND THE RED WARNING FLASHING 'SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW' APPEARED. I PUT MY VEHICLE IN PARK, AND COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO BE SERVICED, RENT A CAR, AND DRIVE BACK HOME. IT IS ABSURD THAT 196,000 OTHER EXPLORERS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT MINE WAS NOT (ALONG WITH ABOUT 150+ OTHER CASES I RESEARCHED BEFORE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE 77,000 MILES ON MY CAR, EXTENDED AND POWERTRAIN WARRANTIES, AND HAD TO PAY $2000 PLUS NJ STATE TAXES OUT OF POCKET FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. THIS IS MY FIRST FORD, AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THEY AREN'T INCLUDING THESE OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN A RECALL.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF WHILE TURNING AND REMAINED IN THE POSITION OF THE TURN. HALL FORD LINCOLN IN NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION AND THE STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

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POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK AT TIMES ON START UP. COULD GO OUT AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SHOULD BE A RECALL

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THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR FAILED. I WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2011 TO 2013 FORD EXPLORERS FOR THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER THE RECALL WAS FOR 2011-2013 MODELS BUILD THROUGH 2/28/12. CLEARLY THIS ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED IN FUTURE MODELS. MY VEHICLE'S STEERING FAILED AT 43,000 MILES.

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STEERING COLUMN IS SUPPOSEDLY DAMAGED BY "ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS" ACCORDING TO DEALER SERVICE. I AM NOT SURE HOW THE ENVIRONMENT GETS IN THERE BUT THEY WON'T COVER IT EVEN WITH THE FORD PREMIUM CARE WARRANTY PACKAGE. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD 59,000 MILES. CAN'T TURN STEERING WHEEL EASILY, IT SKIPS SOMETIMES. THEY SAY THERE IS RUST AND CORROSION IN THERE AND ALMOST $1000 TO REPLACE AFTER PAYING OVER $2600 FOR THIS SUPER PACKAGE WARRANTY. IT COST ME $135 FOR THEM TO TELL ME THEY WOULDN'T COVER ANY OF IT!! I CAN'T BELIEVE FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE THAT IS PRETTY COMMON AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH. PEOPLE NOT TO BE ABLE TO TURN THEIR STEERING WHEEL COULD TURN INTO A MAJOR ISSUE. IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN WHEN THEY WOULDN'T COVER ANYTHING BETTER BE SURE I WILL BE GETTING A LAWYER.

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I HAD THE SAME POWER STEERING ISSUE THE OTHER 150+ PEOPLE HAVE POSTED. FORD RECALL -14S06, NHTSA RECALL - 14V-286. FORD IS 100% AWARE OF THIS AND THEIR OFFICIAL STANCE IS THEY WILL NOT TAKE ANY ACTION UNLESS THE NHTSB DIRECTS THEM TO. MY GOAL OF REPORTING THIS INFORMATION IS TO HOPEFULLY HAVE AN INVESTIGATION OPENED. I TRULY HOPE IT DOES NOT TAKE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH FOR THIS TO GET THE PROPER ATTENTION IT DESERVES. I DON'T BLAME NHTSB ON THIS AS I'M SURE LIKE MANY ORGANIZATIONS THEY ARE FOCUSED ON THE URGENT TOP ISSUES. I'VE DRIVEN A NUMBER OF VEHICLES AND WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN FAILURES THAT HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATING, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD SOMETHING HAPPEN WHERE I WAS TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SOUNDS TILL ROUGHLY AN HOUR OR 70 MILES AFTER I HAD BEEN DRIVING AND DEALING WITH THE ISSUE. THIS IS IN DIRECT CONTRACTION TO FORDS STANCE THAT DRIVERS ARE NOTIFIED. EVEN WITH THAT CONCENTRATED EFFORT I WAS NOT ABLE TO STAY IN MY LANE. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON THE FREEWAY. AS MY VEHICLE WOULD START TO DRIFT OUT OF A STRAIGHT LINE I WOULD MAKE A MINOR CORRECTION, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO DRIFT, SO I MADE AN INCREASED CORRECTION, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE A DELAYED RESPONSE TO MY INPUTS WHICH CAUSED OVER CORRECTION AND REQUIRED ME TO COUNTER CORRECT IN AN EFFORT TO STAY IN MY LANE. THE ISSUE IN MOST CASES APPEARS WITHIN 59,000 TO 73,000 MILES. AS 2013+ EXPLORERS HIT THIS MILEAGE THE NUMBER OF DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WILL INCREASE. THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 30 REPORTED INSTANCES IN JUST THE LAST 4 MONTHS ALONE NOT COUNTING OTHER MODEL YEARS. THIS DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PEOPLE NOT REPORTING SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IN TOTAL THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 150 REPORTS AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE EARLY POPULATION OF 2013 VEHICLES THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

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ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPAS) COMPLETELY FAILED AGAIN. THIS TIME I DROVE THROUGH DEEP WATER OVER THE ROADWAY (16" DEEP). A DAY LATER A NOISE (LIKE AN UN-LUBRICATED ROLLER BEARING TURNING) COULD BE HEARD EVERY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED SUBSTANTIALLY (LIKE WHEN PARKING). AFTER 4-DAYS THE STEERING SYSTEM, ACCUTRAK, AND STEERING FAILURE MESSAGES CAME ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN WHILE DRIVING, BUT I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT EFFORT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION, BUT WHEN I SWITCHED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING WAS TOTALLY DEAD! IT REQUIRED SUPERMAN STRENGTH TO TURN WHEEL AND DRIVE. THOSE ARE THE FACTS. MY OPINION IS THAT FORD'S EPAS STEERING SYSTEM IS TERRIBLY DESIGNED, AND DANGEROUS! WHEN AN EPAS FAILS, IT SHOULD NOT BE MONUMENTOUSLY HARDER TO STEER THAN A FAILED HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM!!! (YOU CAN DRIVE OLDER CARS WITH FAILED HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING FOREVER!) I AM VERY AMAZED THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE NOT DEAD BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE SYSTEM.

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