2010 Ford Flex

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEMS INTERMITTENTLY FAILS RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY AT STARTUP AND MOST OF THE TIME REQUIRES TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTARTING THE ENGINE TO GET THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEMS TO FUNCTION. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS THEY SEE IT HAPPEN, WHICH WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SINCE IT IS A KNOWN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM FOR 2011 - 2013 FORD FLEX'S. FOR SOME REASON THE 2010 FLEX IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS NOW BUT AGAIN THE PROBLEM IS VERY INTERMITTENT. AT THIS POINT I AM AFRAID FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.

WHILE DRIVING HOME THE SERVICE POWER STEERING/SERVICE ADVANCETRAK WARNING CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE ADDITIONAL 5 MILES OR SO TO GET HOME WITHOUT HAVING ANY MAJOR STEERING ISSUES. THE STEERING FELT DIFFERENT, BUT WAS STILL CONTROLLABLE. UPON ARRIVING HOME, I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. I WAS SEEING IF THE WARNING DISAPPEARED, BUT NOW IT SAID SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW. AT THIS POINT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALMOST IMMOVABLE. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE DOWN TO THE STREET, WHERE I HAD IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP. I RECEIVED A CALL STATING THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN THE FALL 2015 WITH ABOUT 78000 MILES ON IT. CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT 94000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE NEWER MODEL YEARS WITH THE SAME ENGINE HAVE HAD A SIMILAR DEFECT PROMPTING A RECALL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A SIMILAR PROBLEM COULD HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE EXACT SAME SCENARIO. THE DEALERSHIP HAS RESPONDED WITH AN ESTIMATE FOR $2200+. WITH THE VEHICLE HAVING LESS THAN 100000 MILES AND NOW REQUIRING SUCH A MAJOR REPAIR, I PERSONALLY FEEL AS THOUGH FORD HAS SOME RESPONSIBILTY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME WITH MY VEHICLE, BUT IF I HAD TO HAVE DRIVEN ANY FURTHER AWAY WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED? PLEASE HELP NOT JUST ME BUT OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MY2010 VEHICLES.

2010 FORD FLEX SEL WITH ECOBOOST, 87K MILES. ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY ON MY WAY HOME. I WAS ON MY STREET, SO WHEN I GOT HOME, I TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR, POWER STEERING WAS FINE. A WEEK LATER THE POWER STEERING FAILED RIGHT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, AND NO AMOUNT OF RESTARTING HAS BROUGHT IT BACK TO LIFE. APPARENTLY I'M LOOKING AT AROUND $1000 FOR A NEW SAS AND STEERING GEAR. IT SEEMS THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2011-2013 FLEXES, BUT NOT THE 2010S, WHICH TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAVE THE SAME ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM. I SEE OTHERS ON FORUMS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS WELL, AND WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.

POWER STEERING WENT OUT. TOWED TO FORD DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY ($2,145.00). TWO HUNDRED MILES LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. TOWED TO THE SAME FORD DEALER, AFTER TWO DAYS THEY TELL ME THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS LOW. I DON'T BELIEVE IT BUT WILL DRIVE SOME MORE. WHEN THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WE WERE DRIVING ON STATE HIGHWAYS AT 40 MPH +/- PULLED OVER AND STOPPED AND LOWER SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. VEHICLE MILEAGE 72997 AND WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNER. *JS

ACCELERATED FROM DRIVE MAKING SHARP RIGHT TURN ONTO BUSY STATE ROUTE ROAD. POWER STEERING ABRUPTLY FAILED WHILE ACCELERATING WITH FRONT WHEELS TURNED SHARPLY TO PASSENGER SIDE. STEERING WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE BACK TO CENTER POSITION IN SPITE OF PULLING WITH ALL MY MIGHT (MUSCULAR BUILD). APPLIED BRAKES SHARPLY; VEHICLE EXITED ROAD AND IMPACTED CURB WITH FRONT TIRES..WIFE, AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN PRESENT IN VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC AT SPEED ON ROAD. ONCE STATIC; STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN POSITION; COMPLETELY UNABLE TO BUDGE WHEEL WITH VEHICLE STATIC. CONDUCTED RESEARCH; IDENTIFIED FORD RECALL FOR MODEL YEARS 2011 AND ABOVE WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEM. INFORMED FORD DESIGNED FLAWED AND UNSAFE STEERING RACK IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES; BUT MY 2010 FLEX IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. REPAIR REQUIRES COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF ELECTRIC STEERING RACK AND RELATED COMPONENTS. REPAIR COST APPROXIMATED AROUND 3K. VEHICLE PURCHASE NEW IN 2010, ONLY 51K MILES (JUST OUT OF WARRANTY). FORD TELLS ME TO TAKE A HIKE. I AM PHYSICALLY DISABLED AND ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY. IT IS WINTER, WE HAVE NO OTHER VEHICLE. THIS IS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE; WHY HAVE YOU EXCLUDE 2010 AND PRIOR MODEL YEARS IN RECALL WITH IDENTICAL COMPONENT FAILURES? *TR...UPDATED 03-10-16 *BF; 4/27/18*JB *TR

WHEN WE TURN THE CAR ON THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT FLASHES AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT (THE STEERING WHEEL SHIFT TO THE RIGHT AND IT BECOMES MANUAL STEERING AND VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL STRAIGHT).IT GOES DIRECTLY INTO MANUAL MODE. WE TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHT DISAPPEARS AND THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IS WORKING AGAIN. IT HAS HAPPEN THIS WAY SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 WEEKS. WE HAVE A FORD FLEX 2010 ECO BOOST THAT HAS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM. WE TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE STAYING WE NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING CONTROL BOX. IT'S FAULTY AND A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX. BUT WE DO NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE FORD FLEX SINCE THAT IS FOR THE 2011 AND CURRENT. IT'S THE SAME ISSUE THE OTHER FORD FLEX'S ARE HAVING WITH THE POWER STEERING. I'VE READ ON NUMEROUS FORUM THAT THIS ISSUE IS HAPPENING ALSO WITH THE 2010 ECO BOOST FORD FLEX. VERY SCARY IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING WITH KIDS IN THE CAR AND THE STEERING GOES OUT. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY ISSUES WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR INCLUDING HAVING TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY DUE TO THE CAR JERKING AND ENGINE REVVING UP WHILE AT IDLE, GRINDING BREAKS WHICH WE KEEP BEING TOLD IS NORMAL AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR.

STEERING GOES INTO MANUAL MODE. IT JUST STARTED WENT AWAY FOR TWO DAYS THEN CAME BACK. SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO FORD FLEX 2011 RECALL. CAME CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT AS MANUAL STEERING WAS AT ALL LEVELS OF SPEED. TODAY IT IS BACK TO NORMAL, AND IT IS EASY TOO STEER. CONCERNED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

CAR WAS EXITING ROUTE I90 ONTO A TOLL EXIT RAMP. POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAR COULD NOT BE STEERED AT ALL. INITIAL REPORT FROM REPAIR SHOP IS THAT THE CAR'S POWER STEER LEAKED COMPLETED OUT AND DAMAGED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER INDICATIONS THAT THIS WAS OCCURRING UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. *TR

THE POWERSTEERING WAS INTERMITTENT TIGHT AT TIMES FOR A WEEK AND THEN BECAME VERY TIGHT AND ALMOST COULDN'T STEER NEARLY CAUSING A CRASH. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ARE REPLACING THE RACK AND THE POWERSTEERING SHAFT FOR OVER $1000 ON A CAR THAT IS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MAY 29TH RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER FORD SUV'S.