What 1,671 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

WHEN DRIVING, THE WHEEL WOULD BE HARD TO TURN SOMETIMES. IT STARTED OCCASIONALLY BUT NOW THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND IT IS THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED ON ALL NEWER MODELS OF THE FORD EXPLORER EXCEPT 2014. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2014 FORD EXPLORER AS AT SOME POINT, THE STEERING STOPS WORKING COMPLETELY. FORD HAS HEARD COMPLAINTS FROM SEVERAL OWNERS WITH NO RESPONSE. THIS IS A $2500.00 FIX THAT I CAN'T AFFORD. I HAVE A WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE, HOWEVER THIS PART IS NOT COVERED, OF COURSE. A $20,000 VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT PUTS ME AND MY CHILDREN IN DANGER.

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DURING ACCELERATION EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES CAN BE DETECTED BY PASSENGERS SEATED IN BACK AND MIDDLE ROW OF VEHICLE. DURING ALL OTHER TIMES LESSER AMOUNTS OF EXHAUST FUMES ARE PRESENT WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THESE FUMES ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE NAUSEOUS DURING LONG TRIPS. EVEN THOUGH FORD HAS SENT MULTIPLE NOTIFICATIONS CONCERNING THIS AND INDICATING THEY WILL TAKE SMALL ACTIONS AGAINST THIS WHEN WE ARRIVE AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS THEY DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE AND REFUSE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING TOOK MUCH MORE MUSCLE TO MANEUVER, AND WAS A LOT LESS RESPONSIVE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON THE DASH THAT ANYTHING OCCURRED. IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY KICKED IN AND BACK OUT, MAKING IT HARD TO STEER CONSISTENTLY AND REQUIRING MUCH MORE ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE HAS STILL NEVER PROVIDED ANY INDICATION THAT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. IN READING ABOUT THIS FAILURE IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF THIS VEHICLE WERE RECALLED FOR STEERING FAILURES AS WELL.

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WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP WHEN STARTING THE CAR TO DRIVE. LIGHT CAME ON STATING STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 69,306.7 MILES ON IT AND IS ONLY USED TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2014 AND NOW IT IS MARCH 2019. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RACK AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD COST ME OVER $2,000.00 TO FIX. IT HAS TO BE FIXED BECAUSE ITS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS VEHICLE IS USED TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND RECALL DUE TO BEING A SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP, OR IF MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER THAT JUST GOT HER LICENSE AND IS AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER WAS DRIVING THIS CAR AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP?THIS COULD BE FATAL.

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WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN OR SNOW, I GET A WARNING ON MY DASH SAYING LOW BATTERY MODE, AND THEN I LOSE ALL FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING POWER STEERING, COLLISION WARNING, LIGHTS ON MY DASH AND DISPLAY. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. EVERYTIME IT RAINS OR SNOWS I SUFFER WITH THIS ISSUE.

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FUEL SMELL/FUMES ENTERING PASSENGER CABIN WHEN AC/HEAT IS ON. SOMETIMES AT A STOP OR SLOW PACE AND WINDOWS ARE OPEN FUMES OR SMELL IS APPARENT. ONCE PARKED YOU CAN SMELL FROM THE FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE IN THE HOOD NEAR THE WIPER BLADES.

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WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A CLICKING NOISE ON OUR CAR OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND MY WIFE HAS BEEN COMPLAINING OF HEADACHES AND FATIGUE DURING THE SAME TIME AS WELL. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP AND IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A CRACK EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH WOULD COST US $1,100 TO FIX. I RESEARCHED AND SAW THIS 1.3MILLION REPORTS OF THE SAMETHING. I CALLED FORD AND THEY REFUSED TO HELP WITH THE REPAIRS AS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I AM NOT SURE HOW YOU DON'T RECALL A VERY KNOWN ISSUE THAT I NOW SEE PERSONALLY CAUSES HEALTH ISSUES THAT COULD BE FATAL - PLUS YOU GET WITH A COST THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF. NOT GOOD BUSINESS AND VERY DANGEROUS - IT IS SAD IT MAY TAKE A FATAL ACCIDENT BEFORE FORD RECALLS THIS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BANNER FORD (1943 N. CAUSEWAY BLVD, MANDEVILLE, LA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE INTO A DRIVEWAY AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

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TRUNK CANNOT OPEN

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WHILE DRIVING MY EXPLORER DOWN A CITY STREET AT APPROX 45MPH, THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT. A WARNING LIGHT SAYING 'STEERING ASSIST FAULT' CAME IN AND THEN THE 'TRACTION CONTROL OFF' LIGHT CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY AFTER BOTH OF THOSE LIGHTS CAME ON A RED LIGHT CAME ON SAYING 'STEERING FAILURE SERVICE REQUIRED' CAME ON AND I COMPLETELY LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE SUV. I MANAGED TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD SAFELY AND STOPPED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP NEAR ME AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL ON 2011-2013 AND 2015-2017 FORD EXPLORERS BUT NOT THE 2014 AND WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OTHER MODELS YEARS UNDER RECALL. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE 2014 EXPLORERS FOR THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY AS WITH THE SURROUNDING MODEL YEARS. HAD I BEEN A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH AND COULD HAVE INJURED OR KILLED MYSELF OR OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. THE FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS TO NOT ONLY THE DRIVER BUT TO OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER ASSIST FAILURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME. COURTESY FORD (6393 US-98 W, HATTIESBURG, MS 39402, (609) 264-5555) WAS CONTACTED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,902.

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2014 FORD EXPLORER STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MOTOR BUT BAD "ELECTRONIC" NOISE IF YOU TURN WHEEL EITHER WAY. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT WILL START UP AND STEER NORMALLY, BUT THEN MANUAL STEERING, THEN LOCKED UP AGAIN. NO CODE. WIFE WAS ON HIGHWAY WHEN IT WENT OUT, SAYS SHE WONT DRIVE IT AGAIN. I FOUND OUT NOW THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEARS HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE,... FORD, OWN UP AND HELP WITH THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR.

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CHAIN DRIVEN WATER PUMP FAILURE AT 85,000 MILES

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VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEN DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO TURN LEFT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO SCANNED THE STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM AND TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE CODE SHOWED RACK INTERNAL FAILURE AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RACK. TOTAL QUOTED COST IS $1942 + TAX. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THIS HAD BEEN THE TOPIC OF A RECALL, HOWEVER THE YEARS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DO NOT INCLUDE THE 2014. WILL BE CONTACTING THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO DISCUSS FURTHER ACTION THIS SHOULD BE COVERED, AS IT IS THE SAME ISSUE OF THE PREVIOUS RECALL, DESPITE BEING A LATER MODEL AND A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE LOSS OF THE SENSOR COULD CAUSE THE WHEELS TO STEER IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM.

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON 2 OCCASIONS, THE A-PILAR TRIM PIECES HAVE FLOWN OFF OF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THIS NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION FOR THE VEHICLES DRIVING AROUND ME. I ALSO LEARNED THAT POSSIBLY SECONDARY TO THE TRIM PIECES FLYING OFF, THE VEHICLE IS NOW COLLECTING WATER ON BE FLOORBOARD WHICH HAS LED TO A MOLD INFESTATION IN THE VEHICLE. FORD SAID THE AFOREMENTIONED DESCRIBED ITEMS ARE NOT A MANUFACTURED OR WARRANTY REPAIR. NOW MY 5 MONTH OLD CHILD IS EXPLODED TO MOLD BECAUSE FORD CANNOT LOCATE WHERE THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING FROM.

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I KEEP GETTING DROWSY ON LONG DRIVES. MY EYES GET IRRITATED. I HAVE FINALLY PURCHASES A CO MONITOR THAT CAN DOWNLOAD DATA. THE SPIKE OF 61 PPM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING TO GO OVER BATH MOUNTAIN HEADED EAST ON 17 FEB. THE AUDIBLE ALARM WENT OFF SO I KNEW I HAD A PROBLEM. THE ALARM GOES OFF AT 50PPM. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO FORD OVER 20 TIMES, ALL THEY DO IS MAKE CHANGES TO THE EXHAUST IN THE REAR. THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS AN EXHAUST LEAK THAT IS ENTERING THE CABIN IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE!

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WHEN WE FIRST RECEIVED THE VEHICLE WE WENT ON A ROAD TRIP TO AZ AND THE COMPUTER COMPLETELY BLACKED OUT ON THE DASH AND THE SUSPENSION WAS SUPER WOBBLY. SO WE CALLED TO MAKE AN APPT TO BRING IT IN AS SOON AS WE GOT BACK IN TO TOWN BUT IT WAS A 2 WEEK WAIT FOR AN APPT. THEY KEPT OUR CAR FOR THREE WEEKS AND AS SOON AS WE GOT IT BACK IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM. SO WE ASKED TO MAKE ANOTHER APPT AND THIS TIME THEY KEPT OUR CAR FOR A WHOLE MONTH AND GOT IT BACK AND THE SAME PROBLEM. ANY LITTLE BUMP OR INDENT IN THE ROAD AND THE CAR IS WOBBLY ALL OVER SOUNDS LIKE THE BEARINGS. WE HAVE YET TO GET IT FIXED AND I SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2014 FORD EXPLORERS FOR THE REAR BEARINGS. I CALLED THE NUMBER FOR RECALLS AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T SEE ONE FOR THIS VIN BUT IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM FROM THE RECALL IN 2016 FOR THE SAME YEAR VEHICLES.

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THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW YEARS AND GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. AT FIRST WE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT IN PARK THERE WAS AN ERROR ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ "TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK" BUT IT WAS!! AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF STARTING AND STOPPING CAR AND PUTTING INTO PARK, THE MESSAGE WOULD GO AWAY. AND IT WOULD SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE SEAT RETURNS BACK AND THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO RETURNS. LATELY, WE CAN'T GET THAT TO WORK. WHEN WE STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF, WE GET THE ERROR MESSAGE AND IT WILL NOT TURN OFF, NOT MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE TRY. CONSEQUENTLY, IT RUNS THE BATTERY DOWN AND WE CAN NOT START THE CAR THE NEXT TIME. WE CHECKED WITH OUR FORD DEALERSHIP EARLY ON WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AND THEY SAID THEY HAD HEARD ABOUT IT BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THEY ALSO ADVISE WE COULD PAY OVER $1,000.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. NOW IT IS HAPPENING EACH TIME - AFTER WE JUMP THE CAR TO START. IT IS CURRENTLY PARKED IN THE GARAGE. WE FEEL THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. WE HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS A 2013 EXPLORER AND HE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THIS INVESTIGATION. WE LOVE OUR EXPLORER BUT IT IS DOING US ANY GOOD SITTING IN OUR GARAGE. IN FACT WE HAVE HAD A FORD PRODUCT AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER - IN 1969 I BOUGHT A TORINO AND HAVE HAD A FORD VEHICLE EVER SINCE. THANKS FOR LOOKING AT THIS.

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STARTED LOOSING POWER STEERING THEN LOST ALL ASSIST COMPLETELY VERY UNSAFE TO OPERATE HAD TO RETURN HOME I COULDN'T CONTROL THE VEHICLE I HAVE TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH I NOTICED A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS BEING HELP BACK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A FAULTY POWER TRANSFER UNIT ($2,000 REPAIR). THE CAR HAD 81,000 MILES AND WAS NEVER USED FOR TOWING.

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND AT ABOUT 70 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD TRIM RIPPED OFF AND LANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. WE ARE NOW MISSING THE TRIM PIECE AND WEATHER STRIPPING UNDER IT. THE OTHER TRIM PIECE ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS LOOSE AS WELL. TERRIBLE DESIGN FLAW!!!

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STARTED VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK AND HAD NO POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED BOX POPPED UP. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND ON, STILL FAULTED SO I TRIED A FEW MORE TIMES. PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, BACKED UP, THEN WENT FORWARD. LOST STABILATRAC, WENT INTO MENU AND BOX WAS UNCHECKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO SELECT IT. ALSO AT THE SAME TIME A COLLISION WARNING FAULT APPEARED. LOOKED DOWN AT THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT, THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED SO I TURNED IT. INSTANT TERRAIN MANAGEMENT FAULT APPEARED. SO NOW I HAVE 4 BOX FAULTS ON THE LEFT DISPLAY AND TWO YELLOW STABILATRAC LIGHTS ON TO THE RIGHT, ONE SAYS OFF WITH THE SYMBOL AND THE OTHER JUST THE SYMBOL. TRIED UNHOOKING BATTERY, NO LUCK. CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP, MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 2 DAYS LATER, THE EARLIEST. STARTED VEHICLE UP NEXT DAY, NOTHING CLEARED. CALLED TOW COMPANY AND TOLD THEM TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT CAN SIT THERE. TALKED TO SERVICE MANAGER AND SOUNDS LIKE THEY ALREADY HAD AN IDEA I WAS GOING TO BE GETTING A NEW STEERING RACK. I'M JUST GLAD I WASNT DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS LIKE A LOT OF THE OTHER POSTS AND HOW ARE A FEW YEARS ON RECALL WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE ALL YEARS FROM 2011 ON UP. VEHICLE IS WAITING FOR ANOTHER DAY TO GET INTO THE MECHANICS BAY EVEN THOUGH I ALREADY KNOW IT WILL BE A 1500 TO 2500 DOLLAR REPAIR. VEHICLE HAS 76K MILES. DONT GET ME STARTED ON THE KEY FOB. OH AND IT WAS -38 DEGREES WITH WINCHILL.

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