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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NORM REEVES FORD SUPERSTORE (18900 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703) WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ADVOCATE ON HER BEHALF WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THE MANUFACTURER WOULD OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS LATER NOTIFIED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAD LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.*DT

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ON 6-27/20, MY EXPLORER SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AND THE DASH SAID "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE". TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. RESEARCHED ONLINE THE ISSUE AND NOTICED THAT 2011-2013 FORD EXPLORERS WERE RECALLED FOR POWER ASSIST STEERING ISSUES (RECALL#14V286000/14S06) THE DEALER SAID MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE (CASE# [XXX]) TO SEE IF I COULD GET SOME ASSISTANCE, SHE RESEARCHED AND SAID MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE AND IN THE EVENT THAT FORD INCLUDES IN MY VIN AT A LATER DATE, THEN I WOULD GET REIMBURSED. SUDDENLY LOSING POWER STEERING IS A SAFETY ISSUES AND MY VEHICLE DISPLAYS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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MEMORANDUM FOR FORD CORPORATION, CLAIM DIVISION FROM: [XXX], OWNER OF 2013 FORD EXPLORER XLT, VIN#[XXX]. RE: PUNITIVE DAMAGES DUE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. RECALL# 19S17 MA'AM, SIR, I OWN A 2013 FORD EXPLORER, VIN#[XXX]. IN DECEMBER 2015, I MOVED TO GERMANY IN UNDER US ARMY ORDERS AND EXPORTED MY SUV TO OUR MILITARY INSTALLATION IN VILSECK, GERMANY. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR, EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS AND TWICE LOST CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN TWO ACCIDENTS IN MARCH, 2016 AND NOVEMBER, 2017. OVER MY DEPLOYMENT TO GERMANY, I SOUGHT HELP FROM LOCAL FORD SITES IN BAVARIA, SPENT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS TO FIX THE ISSUE THINKING THE BRAKES ARE THE ISSUES AND IN TIMES CHANGING TIRES, BUT IN VAIN. WHEN, I ATTEMPTED TO IMPORT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE HOMELAND UPON MY RECENT PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS) BACK TO HURLBURT FIELD, FL, I FOUND OUT THAT THE SUV WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR A DEFECT IN THE REAR TOE LINK, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF CRASH (FORD RECALL# 19S17 AND NTHSA RECALL# 19V435). I OBTAINED A WAIVER TO IMPORT THE CAR AND CALLED WORLD FORD PENSACOLA AS SOON AS MY CAR LANDED IN THE US ON JANUARY 27, 2020 TO SCHEDULE A FIX. THEY FIXED THE ISSUE ON JANUARY 29, 2020. IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT FORD HAS MY UPDATED ARMY POST OFFICE (APO) ADDRESS BUT HAD NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THIS IMPORTANT RECALL (I HAVE MAIL FROM FORD TO MY APO ADDRESS BUT NOT FOR THE RECALL). FOR THE FOREGOING REASONS, I DECIDED TO FILE A CLAIM WITH FORD CORPORATION FOR ALL OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED DUE TO THE MISHAP, INCLUDING MY ACCIDENT IN 2016 AND 2017. I CONTACTED YOUR HQ ,BUT IN VAIN. HE IGNORED MY PHONE CALLS AND MY EMAILS. THEREFORE, I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU IN WRITING. I AM ASKING, AT THIS POINT, ONLY FOR REPAIR EXPENSES AND NOT ASKING FOR MEDICAL BILLS STEMMING FROM THE ACCIDENTS ($ 1732.90 AND 5000.04 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED FROM THE SUNROOF INTO THE INTERIOR HEADLINER EVENTUALLY CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURES TO THE 3RD ROW SEAT CONTROLS PREVENTING THE SEAT TO NOT BE ABLE TO BE ADJUSTED. ADDITIONALLY, THE WATER DAMAGE CAUSED THE CARPET TO MOLD AND RUSTING OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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MY WIFE EXPERIENCE "SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION" OF OUR FORD EXPLORER. MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A WALGREENS PARKING LOT, SLOWED DOWN TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. MY WIFE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS SHE WAS ENTERING THE SPACE, BUT THE BRAKE COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR. THERE WAS AN EXTREME AND SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION. ONCE THE CAR HIT THE POLE, IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE EVEN WITH MY WIFE APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING A PARKED TRUCK. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS ENOUGH FORCE ON THE FRONT END TO MAKE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, MY WIFE HEARD A LOT OF CHIMES THEN " POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" WAS DISPLAYED. VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. ONCE SHE TURNED MOTOR OFF AND RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. IT HAS SINCE HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!! THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR MY VIN..! PLEASE HELP!!! *TR

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AT APPROX 184K MILES THE STEERING STARTED MAKING A GRINDING/ HOWLING SOUND WHEN TURNING AT IDLE OR DRIVING, ALSO AROUND 55MPH WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND OR RIGHT HAND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL CATCH AND ACT LIKE IT GETS STUCK BRIEFLY ALMOST LIKE IT STOPPED STEERING. WHICH WAS EXTREMELY SCARY NO DASH LIGHTS POPPED UP NO WARNING JUST HAPPENED OUT OF NO WHERE IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN THREW TYPING. IF YOU TURNED IT WOULD NOT CORRECT ITSELF IT WOULD STAY TURNING. *TR

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WHEN TURNING VEHICLE THE STEERING IS "STICKY". STEERING MAKES RUBBING AND GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL. STEERING WHEEL AND TIRES DO NOT RETURN TO NULL POSITION WHEN TURNING. HAVE TO TURN WHEEL TO MAKE TURN AND THEN APPLY PRESSURE TO TURN WHEEL BACK TO STRAIGHT POSITION. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. FIRST EXPERIENCED ON FREEWAY AT 60 MPH. WAS ABLE TO EXIT FREEWAY SAFELY.

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A RECALL FOR THE REAR TOE LINK WAS ISSUED. I HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY FORD OR ANY OTHER ENTITY TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT START-UP, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO COVERT FORD INC (11514 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78759) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000(STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SOUGHT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

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MY 2013 FORD EXPLORE KEEPS CUTTING OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. A WRENCH COMES UP ON MY DASH AND ALSO TERRAIN MANAGEMENT COME UP. I PULL OVER CUT THE CAR OFF WAIT A MINUTE AND IT STARTS. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN WITH EXPLORERS. SHOULDN'T FORD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DUE TO BEING VERY DANGEROUS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS🙏 *TR

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HELLO FORD TEAM, I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH POWER STEERING FOR MY FORD EXPLORER 2013 MODEL. SOMETIMES A MESSAGE RELATED TO "POWER STEERING FAULT" IS DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN. WHILE SEARCHING, I CAN SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE OF 2013 FORD EXPLORER. BUT I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE SUCH RECALL INFORMATION IN MY LIST. CAN YOU KINDLY INCLUDE THIS RECALL FOR MY CAR. THE DETAILS OF RECALL ARE AS: #14V286000. ALTHOUGH IT HAPPEND MANY TIMES, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO CLICK A PICTURE OF MY DASHBOARD.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO COURTESY FORD LOCATED AT 1636 DOGWOOD DR SE, CONYERS, GA 30013, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION FORD ' NORTH CANTON LOCATED AT 5900 WHIPPLE AVE NW, NORTH CANTON, OH 44720, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING GEAR AND RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

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AT FIRST THE CAR WAS VIBRATING A LITTLE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 45 TO A STOP. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE ENGINE SPUTTERS AND THEN SEIZES UP AND DIES WHEN PUT IN DRIVE FROM PARK AND ALSO FROM PARK TO REVERSE. WHEN STOPPING THE CAR STILL FEELS LIKE THE DOWNSHIFT IS FAULTY AND WHEN AT THE COMPLETE STOP THE FEELS LIKE IT GOING TO LOSE POWER AND DIE. THE CAR HAS NO TROUBLE CODES. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC SEEM TO IMMEDIATELY KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY TROUBLESHOOTED IT AND CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY ISSUES, BUT THAT IT HAS TO BE A INTERNAL TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE TRANSMISSION AND TEAR DOWN FOR INSPECTION OR REPLACE WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION ON A 8 YEAR, 64000 MILES, 1ST OWNER CAR. THIS CAR HAS LOW MILES, STORED INSIDE A GARAGE AND IS MAINTAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE. *TR

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CAR MAKES BANG OR CLUNK SOUND WHEN TURNING LEFT. *TR

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TRANSFER CASE MAKES A LOT OF NOISE I HAVE TO REPLACE IT. I AM ELECTRIC WRECK STEERING MAKES A LOT OF WINDING NOISE. *TR

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I NEED A POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. RECENTLY TWICE MY POWER STEERING WAS STIFF. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID THE CODES INDICATED I NEED A POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND I SEE THAT FORD RECALLED THE FORD EXPLORERS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT MINE WAS NOT RECALLED ACCORDING TO FORD. I ALSO SAW ONLINE THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND SOLD THE VEHICLES AS IS. *TR

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AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE I RECEIVED TWO WARNINGS, 1) VEHICLE LANE DEPARTURE WARNING DISABLED, FOLLOWED BY 2) POWER STEERING ASSIST DISABLED. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE THEREFORE I TURNED IT OFF, LET IT SIT 15-20 SECONDS AND RESTARTED. SAME WARNINGS WERE RECEIVED. TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND LET IT SIT FOR ANOTHER 15-20 SECONDS AND THEN RESTARTED. WARNINGS DID NOT COME ON AND POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND STEERING RACK REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE IS SIX MONTHS BEYOND EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES TOTAL. RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE (14V286000, FORD 14S06), HOWEVER THE PRODUCTION DATE OF MY VEHICLE FELL OUTSIDE OF THE MANUFACTURED DATE RANGE FOR THE RECALL OF MAY 17TH, 2010 THRU FEBRUARY 28TH, 2012. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ON APRIL 25TH, 2012. I REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER OPEN A CASE WITH FORD AND REQUEST THIS REPAIR TO BE COVERED, DEALER RESPONDED THAT FORD DENIED THE CLAIM. REPAIR & REPLACEMENT OF STEERING RACK WAS COMPLETED BY THE DEALER. $2,161.79. *TR

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I HAD A REPAIR DONE TIE-RODS AND CONTROL ARMS AND 2 DAYS LATER MY STEERING START STIFFENING THEY SAID RACK AND PINION IS BAD. SO I LOOKED UP IN FORD THEY SAID IT WAS A RECALL FOR THAT YEAR AND MODEL SOME YEARS OF THAT YEAR. *TR

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ON JANUARY 12, 2020, WHILE DRIVING HOME TO FLORIDA FROM GEORGIA, INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT SERIOUSLY INJURED 26 YEAR OLD DRIVER AND HER 2 CHILDREN, AGES 8 AND 4. ALTHOUGH THE CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO GO HOME WITH WEEKS OF THE ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER WAS LEFT WITH SEVERE INJURIES AND IMPAIRMENTS, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, AND IN A COMA FOR NEARLY 2 MONTHS. THE 26 YEAR OLD DRIVER RECENTLY CAME HOME IN MARCH AFTER SPENDING TIME AT BROOKS REHABILITATION, BUT WE RECENTLY RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT ABOUT RECALL 19S17. WE ARE WONDERING IF THIS RECALL COULD HAVE POSSIBLY PLAYED A PART IN THIS ACCIDENT, AS SHE WAS BRAKING WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND VEERED OFF THE ROAD, AND SHE WENT HEAD ON INTO A SEMI-TRUCK GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

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LOST OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING, COMING FROM AN OIL CHANGED AT THE DEALERSHIP. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT, AND WAS ABLE TO MANAGE NOT TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS COULD'VE BEEN FATAL, AND FORD NEED TO RECALL. *TR

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INTERIOR DRIVER DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT RETURN TO THE RECESSED (PARKED) POSITION. THIS SAME DEFECT IS A RECALL ON FORD FUSIONS AND SOME OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES; WHY NOT ON THIS FORD EXPLORER? COST TO REPAIR AT DEALER AROUND $150.00. WORKED FINE FOR 7 YEARS. (SPRING INSIDE DOOR IS EITHER BROKEN OR OFF ITS ANCHOR(S).

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THIS TRUCK IS EXPERIMENTING THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM SHUTDOWN AFTER SOMETIME OF DRIVING AND I NOTICE THE RACK PINION IS BEEN REPLACE FOR NEW ONE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET THE COMPUTER UPDATED SOFTWARE AND REPROGRAM THE STEERING SYSTEM BUT A WEEK LATER VEHICLE DID SAME PROBLEM AND THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NOT RECALLS ON IT EVEN THAT THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTING THE PROBLEM OF THE RECALL AND IT FALL IN THE YEAR OF THE RECALL ITSELF

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK BACK AND FORTH WHILE MAKING TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

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