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

ELECTRIC ASSIST STEERING HAS STARTED TO FAIL. THIS CAUSES PERIODIC, SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST. WITHOUT ASSIST, THE STEERING IN VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE AND REPRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL, BUT FORD CLAIMS ALL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL WERE FIXED A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO OUR BUILD DATE. APPARENTLY NOT. NOW THEY WANT 10% OF THE VALUE OF THE CAR FOR REPAIR.

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AFTER NORMAL STARTUP OF THE VEHICLE, POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC MESSAGES APPEARED ON THE INFO CENTER ON THE LEFT OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT WERE BOTH ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER STEERING. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER HOWEVER THE PARKING LOT WAS SNOW COVERED MAKING IT SOMEWHAT EASIER. DRIVER WAS VERY STRONG AND ATHLETICALLY FIT SO THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER IT THE 8 MILES TO THEIR RESIDENCE. CALLED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT MY VEHICLE BUILD DATE WAS NOT WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL BUILD DATES, SO NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED IN TERMS OF A RECALL. DEALER FURTHERMORE MADE THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE WITH A GENUINE FORD PART PURCHASED BY THE OWNER, BUT INSTALLED BY THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WITHIN LESS THAN A WEEK OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, CARBON MONOXIDE ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (SKALNEK FORD, 941 S LAPEER RD, LAKE ORION, MI 48362, (248) 693-6241) STATED THAT THERE WAS A TSB THAT COULD BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. AN UNKNOWN PART WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED THREE RECALLS ON THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA17002 (STRUCTURE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EPS FAILED TO FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO TIGHTEN AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THREE DEALERS (BELK FORD, (800) 696-4661), (HALLMARK FORD, (662) 563-7684), AND (METRO FORD, (662) 841-1000) WERE CALLED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE EPS. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE EPS RECALL AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE CONTACT WAS EXPECTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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POWER STEERING TO THIS VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH A CAR AND SQUIGGLY LINE SIGNAL, INDICATING "SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK". PROBLEM IS, IF I WERE DRIVING ANY FASTER, I CLEARLY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT! THANKFULLY, I JUST PULLED ONTO MY STREET SO MY MPH WAS 10. ADDITIONALLY, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MIDAS (MY LOCAL SERVICER), ONLY TO RECEIVE A CALL THAT MY VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE SERVICED BY FORD DEALER DUE TO IT BEING THE "ELECTRIC POWER STEERING". I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD SERVICER, WHO COUNTERED ME WITH A $110 JUST LOOK AT MY VEHICLE FEE, WHICH WILL THEN BE ADDED TO WHAT EVER GOD KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO CHARGE ME FEE. IF THIS MATTER IS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE, FORD DEFINITELY HAVE SOME EXPLAINING TO DO.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE ADVANCETRAC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO CENTER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED FUTURE FORD OF SACRAMENTO AT (916) 547-2285 (4625 MADISON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95841) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

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I RECEIVED AN ERROR CODE ON MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER THAT STATED "CHECKS BRAKES" WHENEVER I MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE CAR WOULD ALSO DO A HARD JERK WHEN I TURNED AND IT WAS HARD TO DRIVE AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. WHEN I DID A VEHICLE CHECK, MY BRAKES WERE REGISTERING AS "OK". A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, MY VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING WHEN I MADE A TURN. THIS TIME AFTER THE CHECK BRAKES WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, MY CAR COMPLETELY CUT OFF ON ME. I WAS ABLE TO RE-START IT BUT I WAS REALLY NERVOUS AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE NEXT DAY ON THE STATUS OF MY VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT 40 DIFFERENT ERROR CODES CAME UP WHEN THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR HAS A "STEERING GEAR ISSUE" AND TO REPLACE IT, I WILL HAVE TO PAY $1683.87. I WAS ABLE TO FIND COMPLAINTS ON THE 2013 FORD EXPLORER WITH THE SAME ISSUE. RECALL NUMBER 14V286000 DATED 20140529 FOR STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM IS FOR 2011-2013 FORD EXPLORERS. THE RECALL STATES 'VEHICLES MANUFACTURED MAY 17, 2010, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2012 MAY EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT CONNECTION IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GEAR, WHICH CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF THE MOTOR POSITION SENSOR SIGNAL RESULTING IN A SHUT DOWN OF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST." I CONTACTED FORD HEADQUARTERS ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED AFTER THE RECALL DATE SO THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. I STATED THE MY VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUES AS THE RECALL ON THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR FORD EXPLORER. A CASE WAS OPENED BY FORD HEADQUARTERS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ON JANUARY 5TH, 2018. I AN STILL AWAITING A RESPONSE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND I HAVE RESULTED IN RENTING A VEHICLE OR HAVING MY HUSBAND DRIVE ME AND OUR THREE KIDS BACK AND FORTH. MY CAR IS AT FORD SERVICE CENTER AND I WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE TO PICK IT UP.

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POWER STEERING RANDOMLY GOES OUT LOCKING STEERING WHEEL. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR, EACH TIME HAS BEEN WHEN I'VE STARTED THE SUV AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT LOCKS AND DISPLAYS INDICATION LIGHT. TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING ALLOWS IT TO WORK PROPERLY AGAIN. LAST TIME IN DEC. 2017 IT LOCKED AS I WAS BACKING UP. USUALLY HAS ONLY OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND I HAVEN'T ALREADY BEEN IN MOTION.

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ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE IN PARK...THANK GOODNESS.. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHERE I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT, OR JUST SLIGHTLY BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TO HARD TO TURN. THE THIRD OCCASION WAS WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE IN MOTION, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP AGAIN...LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THAT SEEM TO FIX THE ISSUE. TO ME THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND NOT A SIMPLY WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLE. I WILL BE GETTING THIS ISSUE FIXED SOON, AS NOT TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, HOWEVER I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS ISSUE BE LOOK INTO FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON OUR SAFETY, BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT WE THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE PAYING FOR FAULTY PRODUCTS BECAUSE SOMETHING WITH THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT DONE RIGHT OR WAS NOT INSPECTED FURTHER. FIRST INCIDENT HAPPEN AROUND MAY OF 2017 TO CURRENT. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JS *TR

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POWER STEERING WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. ALL INCIDENCES HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. FIRST WENT OUT WHILE IN REVERSE IN NOV OF 2017. COULD NOT STEER CAR. BRAKES APPLIED TO PREVENT HITTING A STATIONARY OBSTACLE. WAS IN A PARKING LOT. TURNED OFF. POWER STEERING ONCE AGAIN RESUMED. LATER DATE OF DECEMBER 2017 VEHICLE LOST STEERING IN TWO MORE INCIDENTS. BRAKE BEFORE HITTING OTHER VEHICLES PREVENTED CRASH. AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE, USING ANOTHER. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 59K MILES. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. INSPECTION SHOWS POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. RECOMMENDED TO REPORT TO FORD. VEHICLE NEEDS POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. 2012 RECALL SHOWS THE SAME HAZARDOUS ISSUE. JANUARY 2018 SUBMITTED CLAIM TO FORD. DEALERSHIP ORDERING STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. CONTACTED FORD TO ASSIST WITH FINANCIAL END OF CLAIM. FORD RECALLED 2011-2012 VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEM. REQUEST ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR AND FINANCIAL ASPECT. OWNER AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE, FEELS THAT IT COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME. GOING IN TO VICTOR FORD FOR THE REPAIR WILL SAVE RECEIPTS FOR FURTHER FORD INVESTIGATION AND RECALL.

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AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, OUT OF NOWHERE, MY DASH STARTED FLASHING THESE ERRORS/ISSUES/WARNINGS. THE CAR TO SEEM TO BE DRIVING NORMAL, SO I THINK. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT LIGHT APPEARS, DIAL NO LONGER WORKS TO GET 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO WORK, ABS LIGHT ON! RESEARCHING AND SEEING A LOT OF SAME ISSUES BUT AFTER DEALER LOOKING AT THE DIAGNOSTICS NOTHING TRULY WRONG? THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO A LOT OF THESE MODELS.

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AFTER TURNING ON MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER AFTER BEING STATIONARY THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON MAKING THE CAR HARD TO STEER. AFTER BRINGING IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THE SPECIFIC RECALL AS THE OTHER 2013 FORD EXPLORERS FROM 2014, ALTHOUGH IT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE.

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN HWY 146 AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD PILLAR FLEW OFF. I TRIED TO PULL OVER AND FIND THE PIECE, BUT I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

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ON DEC 27, 2017, I STARTED MY CAR & RECEIVED THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT MESSAGE ON MY DASHBOARD & WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY CAR. I WAS PARKED IN MY WORK PARKING LOT. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO LITHIA FORD IN GRAND FORKS, ND & WAS TOLD BY MY FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY STATED IT IS PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT WORK WITHOUT REPLACING THE PSCM. MY FORD PROTECT WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE ISSUE AND MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE MANUFACTURING DATES OF THE RECALL 14S06 (14V286000 STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM), AS TOLD TO ME BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAVE TRIED, ALONG WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT LITHIA FORD, TO GET FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO GET MY CAR INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AS IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. AS OF JAN 4, 2018, FORD MOTOR COMPANY STATED THEY CAN'T HELP ME SINCE I ALREADY GOT BY CAR FIXED.

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ENGINE STRAINS WHEN AC IS ON AND VEHICLE HAS STOPPED. AC STOPS WORKING WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GREATER THAN 90 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. BOTH FANS WILL START BLOWING LOUDLY WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AND STOPPED.

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THE "DOOR AJAR" SENSOR ON MANY FORD PRODUCTS IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT TO COME ON EVEN WHEN THE DOORS ARE CLOSED. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON AT NIGHT AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE DOORS TO BE LOCKED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT IS DANGEROUS NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCK THE DOORS AS CHILDREN COULD OPEN THE DOORS ACCIDENTALLY AND FALL OUT. IT IS ALSO DANGEROUS HAVING THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A SERVICE BULLETIN IS AVAILABLE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE DOOR AJAR. BATTERY DRAINS QUICKLY AFTER GETTING NEW ON WITHIN A YEAR. BRAKES ALSO CONTINUES SQUEAKS AFTER GETTING THEM FIXED.

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CABIN HAS A VERY VERY STRONG SMELL OF NATURAL GAS. IT IS VERY CONCERNING. IT IS TOXIC TO BREATHE AND DANGEROUS! MY VEHICLE SEEMS UNSAFE TO DRIVE!

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ODOR NOTICED IN VEHICLE CABIN INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, PARTICULARLY WHILE ACCELERATING. HAVE NOW FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

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DRIVING AT 55MPH ON A HIGHWAY MY FORD EXPLORER SPORT 2013 COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND A AMBER WRENCH CAME ON ALONG WITH 2 MORE WARNINGS (TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT AND SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT). I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT DID IT 2-3 TIMES THE SAME NIGHT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED ON A INTERSTATE AT A HIGHER SPEED.

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POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT! FORD HAS RECALLED SOME OF THESE FOR THIS REASON BUT REFUSE TO ACCEPT MINE IN THEIR RECALL . IT MAKES IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN IT FAILS.LUCKILY I WAS IN A DEPARTMENT STORE PARKING LOT. I HAVE A 2013 WITH 66,000 MILES ON IT.

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DRIVERS DOOR PANEL IS SPITTING APART AT THE SEAMS. STARTED AROUND 42,000 MILES. EVEN W/ AN EXTENDED WARRANTY I WAS TOLD IT WAS COSMETIC AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. ALMOST $1,000 IN PARTS AND LABOR.

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I FOUND CRACKS IN THE DOOR JAM OF THE REAR LIFTGATE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. FOLLOWING THIS DISCOVERY I FOUND FLOOR BOARDS SOAKED IN WATER, WATER DRIPPING DOWN MY 3RD ROW SEAT BELT ONTO THE FLOOR BOARDS AND INTO THE SPARE TIRE WELL. FOLLOWING THIS MY MOONROOF QUIT WORKING. THEN I RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING EMISSIONS ENTERING THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSING PEOPLE TO PASS OUT AND WRECK THEIR VEHICLES. TOOK THE CAR TO FORD AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP WON'T COVER THE CRACKS IN THE NON WRECKED VEHICLE UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY STATE THEY ARE UNRELATED. IF WATER IS GETTING INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR THROUGH A CRACK THEN EMISSIONS PROBABLY ARE TOO.

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CO2 ENTERING THE CABIN. ALREADY TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER THEY LIED TO ME AND NEVER FIXED THE CAR. NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO CHECK IT. YOU CAN SMELL THE SMOKE GETTING INTO THE CAR.

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VEHICLE FILLS WILL STRONG SMELL OF EXHAUST USUALLY WHEN ENTERING FREEWAY OR 3/4 TO WOT SITUATIONS(PASSING ETC.) AT OTHER TIMES VEHICLE SEEMS TO BUILD SMELL OF EXHAUST IDLING. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE AFTER FIRST PURCHASED TO FORD AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. HAVING SEEN CURRENT REPORTS OF SIMILAR CONCERNS WITH POLICE AND CONSUMER VEHICLES I WANTED TO REPORT AND CONFIRM THE SAME ISSUE IN A NON POLICE EXPLORER. THIS HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY HAPPENING FOR YEARS.

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AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MY LEFT WINDSHIELD CLADDING FLEW OFF OF MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER WITHOUT WARNING OR ACCIDENT. THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST WAS IN AN ACCIDENT SWERVING TO AVOID IT. THIS IS EVIDENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM AS THERE ARE MULTIPLE CASES OF THIS HAPPENING ON THE EXPLORER FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN ON MULTIPLE FORUMS. I WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO DISCUSS WITH THEM AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME TOUGH LUCK AND THEY COULDN'T REPAIR IT. WHAT? REALLY? I EVIDENTLY HAVE TO GO TO A GLASS SHOP, BUY THE PIECES FROM FORD AT A COST OF $400, YES THAT IS $400. THEY COULDN'T EVEN POINT ME IN THE DIRECTION OF A GLASS SHOP BUT WERE HAPPY TO TAKE MY MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT COSTS A TOTAL OF $90 ONLINE AS THEY TOLD ME 'DON'T TRUST PARTS ORDERED ONLINE' BUT ODDLY ENOUGH I SHOULD TRUST PARTS MANUFACTURED BY FORD WHEN THEY CREATED THE ORIGINAL PIECE AND BRACKET THAT HOLDS IT(WHICH I ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE AS IT BROKE AS WELL) THAT FLEW OFF AT 60 MPH.

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