What 1,747 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Explorer

WHEN WE TURN THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT IT HAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE DURING DRIVING OR STATIONARY ITS PROGRESSING FROM A POPPING AND SOMETHING THE STEERING WHEEL GETS STUCK. TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT THE POPPING NOISE HAS TO DO WITH STRUT AND CV JOINT AND ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR AND RACK AND PINION GOING BAD. OUR EXPLORER ONLY HAS 91000 MILES. BOTH MECHANICS SAY THIS IS ODD THAT THIS IS GOING ON FOR A 2015. THAT WE SHOULD CHECK FOR RECALLS.

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THE RACK AND PINION LOCKED UP AS WE WERE PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS 9M PREGNANT AND MY 4YR OLD WAS IN THE BACK. CANT HELP BUT THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD IT LOCKED UP GOING AROUND A CURVE. THE REPAIR SHOP I TOOK IT TO SAID THIS WAS REALLY COMMON IN THE FORD EXPLORERS AND THEY HAVE 146 SERVICE RECORDS ON THIS ONE ISSUE.

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I HAVE A 2015 FORD EXPLORER XLT AND THE STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDS REPLACING. IT CAN STOP AT ANYTIME CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

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THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, TWICE, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR BEFORE CRASHING. WE HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED, UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOW AFTER 26,000 MILES THE PROBLEM IS BACK. I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE MY MY WIFE NOW DRIVES THIS CAR.

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WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, STEERING FAULT LIGHT CAME ON CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 50K MILES AND THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS, FORD HAS ALREADY RECALLED THIS ISSUE ON LATER YEARS. IT IS NEGLECTFUL THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, KNOWING THAT CARS CAN LOSE POWER STEERING AT ANY MOMENT WHILE DRIVING, THIS ENDANGERS EVERYONE ON THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER SAFELY. DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $2450 TO REPLACE. WORKED WITH FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION TEAM WHO WERE ABLE TO HELP IN REDUCING THE AMOUNT. BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREE AND THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE ANYONE IS INJURED.

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STEERING ASSIST FAULT, LANE KEEPING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION

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STEERING ASSIST ERROR CAME ON DASH ALONG WITH TERRAIN CONTROL ERROR WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD. LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY. LUCKILY IT WAS CLOSE TO HOME WHEN FAILED OR COULD OF HAPPENED WHEN IN TRAFFIC AND A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT COULD OF HAPPENED. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND SAID NEW STEERING RACK NEEDED. THIS WAS A RECALL ON THE SAME CAR A FEW YEARS OLDER. CAR IS ALSO BEING TAKEN IN NEXT WEEK FOR REAR SUSPENSION RECALL.

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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING FAILED. DEALER SAYS THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS APPROX 80K MILES. I HAVE FOUND MANY INSTANCES OF THIS SAME OCCURRENCE WHEN SEARCHING ONLINE. FORTUNATELY IN THIS INSTANCE NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY BUT WHY HAS A RECALL NOT BEEN ISSUED AND WHY IS FORD IGNORING THE PROBLEM.

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WHILE I WAS DRIVING 70MPH ON A FREEWAY, POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. SHOWING THE WARNING MESSAGES ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER. "POWER STEERING LOSS" "ADVANCE TRAC CONTROL FAULT" I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A SIDE OF THE FREEWAY SAFELY AS THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND MUST BE RECALLED. MY EXPLORER HAS ABOUT 53K MILES.

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I PURCHASED A 2015 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WITH 90K MILES FROM A FORD DEALER IN DECEMBER.A WEEK LATER I NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME I TURNED RIGHT I WOULD HEAR A CLICKING NOISE. I ALSO HEARD A HUMMING NOISE FROM THE WHEELS. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THE ISSUE. I TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY DON'T FIX THE ISSUE I WAS GONNA RETURN THE CAR BACK TO THEM. THEY CHANGED THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE HUMMING NOISE DECREASED. THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE TIGHTENED SOMETHING FROM THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT AND THAT'S WHAT WAS MAKING THE CLICKING SOUND. MONTHS LATER AS WE CONTINUED DRIVING THE CAR THE CLICKING WOULD HAPPEN ON OCCASION. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS SOMETHING IN THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT. SO I LOOKED ALL OVER THE PLACE AND NOTHING THE NOISE CONTINUED OCCASIONALLY. NOW IN JULY IT BEGAN HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND HAD TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM ITS THE SAME ISSUE AS BEFORE. NOW A DIFFERENT TECHNICIAN SAYS THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PINION IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR THE STEERING WHEEL COULD LOCK UP ON US ON THE ROAD AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I ASKED WHY THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT THE FIRST TIME AND HE COULDN'T EXPLAIN. SO I'VE BEEN DRIVING A TIME BOMB FOR MONTHS. THE 2011-2014 MODEL HAD A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY WOULDN'T INCLUDE ALL THE YEARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE STEERING SYSTEM SHOULD BE THE MOST RELIABLE PART OF THE CAR BECAUSE IT ENSURES THAT YOU'RE IN CONTROL OF YOU SAFETY. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FOR THIS VEHICLE.

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THE STEERING MAKES LOUD METAL NOISES WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS (LIKE PARKING OR TIGHT TURNS). IT ALSO MAKES GRINDING NOISES WHEN TURNING PRIMARILY TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING HAS LOCKED ON US TWICE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS! DEALER SUGGESTS THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR HAS GONE BAD. ON GOOGLE SEARCH, WE SEE THAT HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW CAN SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT AND SAFETY ISSUE NOT BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY FORD. DEALER TELLS US THAT THE STEERING COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. WE ARE TAKING THE CAR FOR REPAIRS HOPING THAT NHSTA AND FORD CAN ISSUE A FORMAL RECALL OF SUCH A DANGEROUS ISSUE.

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TAKATA RECALL I HAVE A FORD EXPLORER 2015 MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 42,865 . I HAVE HAD 2 OCCASIONS WHERE THE STEERING HAS FAILED. LAST TIME WAS AUGUST 17,2019. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER .THE STEERING . I WAS TRAVELING 30 MILES PER HOUR AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE HAVING AN ACCIDENT . I CONTACTED PARAMOUNT AUTOMOTIVE GROUP IN VALDESE NC AUGUST 20 2019 AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE PERSON ABOUT THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID TO BRING THE EXPLORER IN TO BE CHECKED OUT. I ALSO WAS ABLE TO GET A FORD EXPLORER SUSPENSION RECALL FIX TO BE WORKED IN AS WELL. I LEFT THE EXPLORER AND WAS CONTACTED BY THE SERVICE PERSON THAT THE STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE STEERING NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AT A COST OF $1,750. WARRANTY ENDED AT 36,000. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH TO OUT THAT THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS BEING FILED FOR LOW MILEAGE FOR 2015 FORDEXPLORERS WITH STEERING ISSUES. I HAVE PLANS TO CONTACT FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION TO THIS SERIOUS DEFECTED STEERING PROBLEM. I HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE FORD REPLACEMENT STEERING THAT IT MAY AS WELL HAVE FUTURE ISSUES. I DO NOT KNOW AT THIS TIME IF FORD HAS MADE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS TO CORRECT AND NOT HARM THE OWNER. I NEED TO MAKE ALL AWARE THAT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IS GOING TO OCCUR WHERE SOMEONE WILL GET HURT OR KILLED.

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WHEN STEERING LEFT OR RIGHT AT A STANDSTILL, STEERING MAKES A POPPING OR CLICKING NOISE. MY GUESS IS IT IS EITHER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY OR SUSPENSION PARTS. IN ADDITION, REAR END HAS A BAD RATTLE EVEN ON SMOOTH ROADS. THERE IS ABOUT 59,500 MILES ON THE SUV AND IT WAS JUST STATE INSPECTED. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. CHECKED COMPLAINT BOARDS AND THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTOFAIR FORD IN MANCHESTER (1475 S WILLOW ST, MANCHESTER, NH 03103, (603) 634-1001). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER SIX WEEKS BEFORE TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING REPLACED UNDER A WARRANTY. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN 100 POINT INSPECTION AND RECOMMENDED SEVERAL REPAIRS THAT NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED. THE DEALER HAD BEEN AGGRESSIVELY SOLICITING THE CONTACT TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED TO SEE IF SHE WANTED TO ACT ON ANY OF THE SERVICE REPAIR RECOMMENDATIONS. REGARDING THE SQUEALING NOISE, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $2,215. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ONLINE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,100.

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STARTED CAR AND PUT IN REVERSE AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS NOT WORKING NORMALLY AND THEN NOTICED THE POWER STEERING FAULT ASSIST AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC NOTIFICATION. ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT STAY ENGAGED. I MANAGED TO DRIVE 100 MILES HOME WITH "MANUAL STEERING" ON THE HIGHWAY AND NEEDED TO USE ONE HAND TO CHANGE LANES. IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED GOING 60 MILES PER HOUR, AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE, LOSE OF LIFE, AS WHAT HAPPENED WAS UNEXPECTED AND STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT 1/2/15 AND THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED AT 26,100 MILES AND THE REPAIR COST $2,147.25 AT THE FORD DEALER BY MY HOUSE. SINCE FORD WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY THE SAME DAY LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND STOCK THE PARTS AND LOOKING AT OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE, AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH FORD VEHICLES IN GENERAL. FORD HAD A 1.1 MILLION RECALL FOR THIS ON THE 2011-2013 VEHICLES AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE ISSUE GOING FORWARD. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE DRIVER STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL AND THE DRIVER DROVE HOME SAFELY. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC" AND "STEERING ASSIST FAILED" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CALLED MILLER BROTHERS FORD (9035 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21042, (410) 505-8633) WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE TO OCCUR IN THEIR PRESENCE IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING LOST POWER AND "STEERING FAULT ASSIST NEEDS SERVICE" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VAUGHN FORD LINCOLN (318-335-0710, LOCATED AT 835 HIGHWAY 165 S, OAKDALE, LA 71463) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.

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-FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR- I HAVE A 2015 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. 2 WEEKS AGO I HAD A "STEERING FAULT ASSIST" LIGHT COME ON WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE. I DID NOT EXPERIENCE AN ISSUE STEERING AT THE TIME. ONCE I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE ALERT WENT AWAY. 5 DAYS LATER I WAS DIVING IN THE CITY AND THE "STEERING FAULT ASSIST" LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN FOLLOWED BY "ADVANCE TRAK WARNING." I LOST POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY. I GOT TO AN AREA TO PULL OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. BOTH WARNINGS IMMEDIATELY CAME BACK ON. I WAS OVER 4 HOURS FROM HOME, SO I HAD TO DRIVE OVER 250 MILES WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I CALLED MULTIPLE FORD SERVICE LOCATIONS IN MY AREA, ONLY ONE WOULD TAKE IT AND LOOK AT IT WITHIN THE WEEK. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT FOLLOWING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, I AM NEEDING TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR AS IT FAILED INTERNALLY. FORD QUOTED ME $2000 + TAX TO FIX IT. AFTER GOING ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING WITH OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS. I AM COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD!

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A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO THE LEFT REAR TOE LINK BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL AND GO INTO A SIDEWAYS SLIDE, BREAKING THE WHEEL HUB IN THE PROCESS. SMOOTH ROAD GOING ABOUT 50 MPH IN GOOD CONDITIONS. WE GOT THE CAR FIXED AND HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. AFTER THE FORD DEALER IN MCHENRY IL HAD IT FOR OVER A WEEK, WE GOT THE CAR BACK, DROVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND SUDDENLY WE HAD A CRACKED EXHAUST FLEX PIPE. WE HAD TO PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED MORE TO GET THAT REPAIRED. AGAIN, DRIVEN ON SMOOTH ROADS IN THE SUMMER, NOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS SO SUDDENLY. GOT THE CAR BACK AGAIN AFTER SEVERAL MORE DAYS IN THE SHOP.. DROVE IT FOR A COUPLE MORE DAYS AND THE LEFT REAR TOE LINK BROKE.. AGAIN... DEALER THIS TIME INSTALLED THE "RECALL KIT" ON BOTH SIDES. LUCKILY, THIS TIME IT WAS AT SLOW SPEEDS COMING INTO A PARKING LOT . HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. AGAIN.. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS NOW, AND THE LEFT TOE LINK HAS COME LOOSE.. AGAIN.. THE CAR WILL BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER TOMORROW BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT WAS DRIVEN 3 TIMES AT LOW SPEEDS AROUND TOWN SINCE WE GOT IT BACK. MY WIFE IS NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR OUT OF FEAR OF IT BREAKING AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE IF THE RECALL PART DOESN'T WORK. WHEN THIS PART FAILS, THIS CAR HAS A SEVERE LOSS OF CONTROL AND CAN VERY EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. FORD NEEDS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

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AS WE WERE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND SO I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN A FORD AROUND THE 40,000 MILE MARK. IF THE RACK HAD FAILED AT HIGH SPEED IT COULD WELL HAVE BEEN FATAL.

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2015 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE POWER STEERING RECALL. *JS

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I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN APRIL 2019, IT ONLY HAS 25,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TODDLER WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE EASILY AND WARNING LIGHTS STARTED GOING OFF AFTER I LOST POWER STEERING. THE LIGHTS WERE POWER ASSIST FAULT AND SOMETHING ABOUT ADVANCETRACK SYSTEM IN WHICH I NOTICED THAT MY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE CAPABILITY WAS NOT WORKING. I WAS ON A CITY STREET SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. ONCE I LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED UP, EVERYTHING WAS ALRIGHT. THIS WAS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, I WAS JUST EXITING OFF THE HIGHWAY WHEN I LOST POWER STEERING AND WARNING CAME ON BUT IT ONLY OCCURRED FOR A MINUTE AND EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT LONG DISTANCE. OTHER THAN THIS I LOVE THIS VEHICLE!

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50K ONLY AND THE RACK AND PINION STEERING COLUMN IS FAILING.

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NOISE WHEN TURNING OR BACKING UP ON DRIVERS SIDE. NEW SHOCKS/STRUTS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN PUT ON THE FRONT.

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NOISY POPPING NOISE WHEN STEERING LEFT AND RIGHT AT A STAND STILL OR LOW SPEEDS. THIS TURNS INTO A LOCKED STEERING WHEEL IN ONE POSITION.

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