What 2,429 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Explorer

AT JUST 36,300 MILES THE ELECTRONIC STEERING RACK HAS FAILED. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS NUMEROUS FORD VEHICLES WITH THIS ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM HAVING ISSUES WITH AS MANY OR LESS MILES. OF COURSE IT IS OUT OF THE BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE AT THIS POINT. THE STEERING MECHANISM FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS A MANUAL STEERING SYSTEM WHEN IT FAILED AS I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. THE WHEEL DOESN'T RETURN TO CENTER AFTER TURNING AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT BACK MANUALLY. I'M GLAD THIS DIDN'T RESULT IN A CRASH BUT EASILY COULD HAVE. FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. AT A COST OF OVER $2000 DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD IT AND HAVE HAD TO RELY ON OTHERS TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.

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TRAVELING SOUTH ON HWY65 IN ALABAMA, WE STOPPED AT A REST STOP. WHEN WE STARTED THE EXPLORER BACK UP, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT ERROR MESSAGE CAME ON AND WE DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING AT ALL. WE DROVE TO ANOTHER EXIT AND TURNED OFF THE EXPLORER AND THE ERROR MESSAGE WAS GONE AND WE HAD POWER STEERING BACK. WE TRAVELED BACK HOME AND I CALL MY LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT I NEED A NEW ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR AT $2500. MY 2016 EXPLORER HAS ABOUT 47,000 MILES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE A POWER STEERING ISSUE ON AN EXPLORER WITH LOW MILEAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH FORD AND THE EARLIER RECALLS OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH EXPLORERS. ACCIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, WHICH WILL BE TRAGIC KNOWING FORD COULD RECALL AND REPAIR THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED WHEN THEIR POWER STEERING JUST GOES OUT!

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2016 FORD EXPLORER XLT, 86000 MILES. STEERING STICKING WHILE TURNING LEFT/RIGHT WHILE TRAVELING AT ALL SPEEDS. THERE IS ALSO A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND THE IS A RACK & PINION PROBLEM THAT FORD REFUSES TO RECALL. MANY INSTANCES OF STEERING WHEELS LOCKING WHILE DRIVING WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY BE FATAL. REPAIR COSTS FOR REPLACEMENT ARE $2000-$3000. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE, AND DEFINITELY NOT TO AMOUNT OF VEHICLES THAT ARE SHOWING THE SAME ISSUE. CONSUMER SAFETY IS DEFINITELY NOT BEING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FOR THIS DEFECT. IT APPEARS MONEY IS THE DRIVING FORCE FOR NOT RECALLING THIS ISSUE BY FORD.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A BUZZING NOISE OCCURRED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING INDICATOR DISPLAYED "SERVICE NOW". IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT PRESS THE OK BUTTON AND CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITHOUT POWER STEERING TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT CALLED GROVE CITY FORD (1 TAYLOR PLAZA, GROVE CITY, PA 16127, (724) 748-4790) AND BUTLER COUNTY FORD (400 S MAIN ST, BUTLER, PA 16001, (724) 287-2766) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CRS242007579. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,110.

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER, THE POWER STEERING BECAME LOOSE AND MAKING A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A STEERING RACK ISSUE. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FORD MOTOR CO WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS BEING DIAGNOSED, TWO ADDITIONAL FORD EXPLORERS WERE BROUGHT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND MAKE THESE SAFETY REPAIRS. PRIOR TO BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO FORD FOR DIAGNOSTICS I TOOK A VIDEO OF THE DAMAGE AND THE GRINDING SOUNDS IN THE FRONT END.

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MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN A BUNCH OF ERRORS STARTED POPPING UP INCLUDING STEERING ASSIST FAULT, SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK, SERVICE HILL DESCENT, ETC. THE STEERING ON MY CAR IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP AND HE COULD BARELY GET THE CAR TURNED OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT SHUT DOWN. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS WE WERE NEARLY REAR-ENDED. I TRAVEL THE INTERSTATE DAILY AND HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE INSTEAD OF A CITY STREET IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A DEADLY ACCIDENT. I USE THIS CAR TO TRANSPORT MY INFANT AROUND AND IT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. AN ERROR LIKE THIS COULD KILL MY WHOLE FAMILY.

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MY STEERING STARTING MAKING NOISE AND HESITATING WHEN TURNING DURING CITY TYPE DRIVING. THE NEXT DAY DRIVING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT STEERING ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT CONTINUALLY GOING BACK AND FORTH IN MY LANE. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL AND ALL SORTS OF ERROR DISPLAY MESSAGES STARTED. SAYING STEERING FAILURE, STOP AS SOON POSSIBLE, TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE AND MORE. MY EXPLORER IS ONLY 3YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. IF THIS FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. FORD IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. ONLY THING I COULD GET THEM TO TELL ME IS THAT IT WAS BEING LOOKED IN TO. ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS SHOW THIS IS A VERY COMMON IN THE 2016 EXPLORERS AND EVEN REOCCURS SOMETIMES AFTER BEING 'FIXED'. SEEMS FORD DOESN'T HAVE A HANDLE ON THE ISSUE AND THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. SEARCHING ONLINE ALSO SHOWS SEVERAL LAWSUITS IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE. I'M UNSURE WHY THIS IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED WHEN IT'S CLEARLY A MAJOR, MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.

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MY VEHICLE HAS 48,950 MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT THE LOUD CLUNKING SOUND MY VEHICLE MAKES WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, IS DUE TO THE STEERING GEAR AND HARDWARE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SEEN MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT STEERING ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. IT IS CONCERNING TO ME THAT THIS MAY AFFECT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE AND TO BE TOLD THAT THIS REPAIR WILL COST OVER $2000 IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS POOR MANUFACTURING AND NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEM, AND CERTAINLY NOT AT 49,000 MILES.

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I WAS PARKED, WHEN A LOUD SOUND CAME FROM THE MOTOR AREA OF MY 2016 FORD EXPLORER. THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK AND THE STEERING FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING, EVAN THAT ONLY HAD 32, 000 MILES IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE EXPIRES A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND IS GOING TO COST $2,230.00 FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR. THE DAY BEFORE I WAS WITH ALL MY FAMILY HAVING FUN AND DRIVING AROUND, I'M THINKING IF THIS PART BREAKS WHILE WE WAS AT INTERSTATE 70, THAT THE SPEED LIMITS IS 70MPH, AND YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IT WILL BE A REALLY BAD OR FATAL ACCIDENT. THERE BEING A LOT OF REPORTS WITH THIS ISSUE. WHAT FORD AND THE NHTSA ARE WAITING TO TAKE ACCION, THAT MORE INCIDENT OCURRED OR PEOPLE DIED TO DO A RECALL. LIKE THEY ARE DOING WITH THE AIR BAGS AFTER A MANY PEOPLE DIED. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY, DON'T WAIT UNTIL IS TO LATE.

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WE EXPERIENCED POPPING NOISES ON THE FRONT END WHILE TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS, PULLING IN AND OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND PARKING SPOTS. DUE TO HAVING TO REPLACE WORN TIRES AT 32K, WE TOOK TO LOCAL QUICK LANE AT OUR ST JOSEPH FORD DEALERSHIP. WE REPORTED THE POPPING NOISES AT THIS TIME AND REQUESTED IT BE LOOKED AT WHILE THEY REPLACED TIRES. THERE WERE NO FINDS AT THIS TIME REGARDING WHAT WAS MAKING THE NOISES. WE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE OCCASIONAL POPPING NOISES WHILE TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS, PULLING IN/OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND PARKING SPOTS. ON 8/8/19, WE TOOK TO SAME DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO PERFORM FSA19S17, A RECALL WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK WAS REPLACED AT 38205MI. A 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS ALSO DONE AT THIS TIME. ON 8/23/19, WE NOTICED THE POPPING HAD GOTTEN WORSE. ON 8/26/19, THE STEERING BRIEFLY SEIZED ROUNDING A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35MPH. IT SCARED MY WIFE, AS SHE FELT A BRIEF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ON 8/28/19 WE DROPPED IT OFF AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND REPORTED THAT POPPING WAS WORSE AND THE STEERING HAD SEIZED. AFTER THE TEST DRIVES AND ASSESSMENT THEY CALLED TO REPORT THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS FAILING AND WOULD NEED REPLACED. THEY QUOTED $2900.00 FOR REPAIRS. WE HAVE NOT AGREED TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. WE HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE BY FORD AND OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. WE ARE REPORTING IN HOPES THAT FORD WILL RECALL TO RECTIFY THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

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MY STEERING PROBLEM STARTED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH BEGAN WITH A POPPING NOISE WHEN BACKING UP AND THEN A GRINDING NOISE WHILE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN DRIVING FORWARD. THE PROBLEM QUICKLY PROGRESSED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT AROUND 30 MPH. I HAD TO MUSCLE THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN THE VEHICLE AND MANAGED TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST GARAGE. THIS SAME GARAGE WAS VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORER AND REPAIRED MY VEHICLE AT A COST OF $2417.74. FROM THE TIME THE STEERING PROBLEM BEGAN TO THE TIME THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN WAS LESS THAN FOUR HOURS. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR IT ASAP!!.

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AT APPROX 65K MILES I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMING STIFF AND A NOISE OF PLASTIC RUBBING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. TODAY AT 67K MILES I TOOK VEHICLE INTO FORD DEALER FOR ANOTHER RECALL TO BE TOLD THE RACK IS BAD. SEEING AS THIS IS SUCH AN ABUNDANT ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS ISN'T A SAFETY RECALL. IF THIS PART FAILS WHILE DRIVING IT COULD LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC CRASH. HONESTLY I'M AFRAID TO HAVE THE DEALER REPLACE IT WITH AN IDENTICAL PART SINCE THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH THE PART IS IT IS CURRENTLY BEING PRODUCED.

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DRIVING AND LOST FULL POWER STEERING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FORD HAD TO REPLACE POWER STEERING WITH ONLY 47,900 MILES ON VEHICLE.

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EXPLORER SPORT 57800 MILES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING POPPING NOISES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT ALSO HAPPENS WHILE BRAKING THE POPPING IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS IN THE FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS EXHIBITED EXTREME VIBRATION ENOUGH TO MAKE THE OUTSIDE DRIVER REVIEW MIRROR SHAKE. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS ALSO BEEN STUCK IN THE LEFT TURNING POSITION TWICE WHILE TRYING TO STRAIGHTEN WHEELS BACK OUT. DEALER WANTS $2,500 TO REPAIR IT. THEY ALSO CHARGE ME $140 TO TELL ME IT NEEDED TO BE FIXED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT RACK AND PINION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST, INCLUDING TOWING, WAS $2,300. FORD OF HIBBING (2627 E BELTLINE, HIBBING, MN 55746, (218) 262-3881) STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE WARRANTY RECENTLY EXPIRED; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,060.

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AT 40,906 MILES THE STEERING TOTALLY FAILED. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY, THE WHEEL EFFECTIVELY LOCKED UP. TOWED TO DEALER. A STEERING MODULE INSIDE THE GEARBOX FAILED. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE EPDS SYSTEM. THE ENTIRE GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED FOR A TOTAL OF $2,234.22 WITH LABOR. AFTER OVER A DOZEN DIFFERENT CALLS TO FOMOCO CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY AGREED TO COMPENSATE ME A TOTAL OF $525.00 THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND I AM CONCERNED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

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WHILE TAKING A 250 MILE TRIP UP THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA, WE STOPPED FOR GAS. WHEN THE 2016 FORD EXPLORER WAS TURNED BACK ON, A "STEERING ASSIST FAULT" ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND I REALIZED I NO LONGER HAD POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING NEVER RETURNED AFTER THAT. I HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE 250 MILES BACK HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, AND I WAS TOLD THE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY SINCE MY VEHICLE NOW HAS JUST OVER 50,000 MILES ON IT. I AM WAITING FOR THE ESTIMATE ON THE REPAIRS.

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I WAS DRIVING 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. IT WAS VERY HARD TO DRIVE AND CONTROL THE CAR. I COULD OF EASILY CRASHED AND KILL MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. I HAD JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR LESS THEN A WEEK BEFORE AND I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT COVER IT AND I HAVE TO PAY OVER $2000 TO GET IT FIXED.

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR THE POWER STEERING STARTING FLASHING ON MY DASH AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE GARAGE I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND THE RACK AND PINION ARE WHAT NEEDS REPLACING AND IT'S $1950.00. I'VE READ HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE'S STORIES ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING TO THEM AND COSTING THEM ANYWHERE FROM $2-$4000 TO FIX. AND IT'S ALWAYS HAPPENING WHEN THE VEHICLES ARE AROUND 20-40,000 MILES AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN FORD EXPLORERS 2016-2018 MODELS. MY EXPLORER IS AT 102,000 MILES. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE PARTS ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM THIS HAPPENING!

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STEERING STARTED MAKING A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. COULD NOT FEEL ANYTHING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT HAPPENED. POPPING CHANGED FROM A SINGLE POP WHEN TURNING RIGHT TO MULTIPLE POPS. TOOK TO FORD DEALER. FORD SAID NOT TO DRIVE AS THE STEERING COULD LOCK UP CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. FORD REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR AND SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN AND FREQUENTLY OCCURRING PROBLEM.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND DROVE TO PURVIS FORD LINCOLN (3660 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408, (540) 898-3000). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 23972804. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

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STEERING RACK/STEERING GEAR FAILURE CAUSING CAR TO LOSE CONTROL AND RUN OFF ROAD INTO SHOULDER/DITCH. ALLOY WHEEL BENT WITH RUNNING OFF ROAD. NO INJURY OR BODILY HARM AS THIS OCCURRED IN A LOW TRAFFIC AREA AT ABOUT 30MPH. STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK INTO TURNS. CAR STEERING WHEEL VERY HARD TO TURN CAR UNCONTROLLABLE AT ANY HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY OR RECALL. MILEAGE AT FAILURE: 53257 PART # FB5Z*3504*V GEAR ASY- STEERING COST $1310.40 AFTER LABOR AND TAX REPAIR TOTAL CAME TO $1826.60

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HAD JUST RETURNED TO BATON ROUGE,LA FROM BILOXI MS, STOP TO DROP OFF OUR TRAVELING GUEST AT THEIR HOME RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND A STEERING ASSIST ERROR CODE APPEARED ALONE WITH TWO OTHER CODES UPHILL START AND ONE FOR TRACTION. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION SOMETHING WAS WRONG

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STEERING WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. DIAGNOSED AS THE STEERING GEAR/RACK. STARTED WITH MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND EVENTUALLY FAILED. ONLY 40,000 MILES ON VEHICLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION, THE MESSAGE "STEERING FAULT" WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEITH HAWTHORN FORD (617 NORTH MAIN ST, BELMONT, NC) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

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