Approximately three hundred 2011-2012 Ford Explorer vehicles receiving a replacement steering gear assembly after September 1, 2013, may be affected by a problem that could prevent the driver from steering the vehicle.

According to reports file with the NHTSA, Ford’s steering gear supplier found that some service steering gears may have been improperly manufactured and could unexpectedly lock up. A locked steering gear would not allow the driver to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of an accident.

• Ford will be sending letters to owners known to have received the suspect service gear, based on claim records.
• Ford will instruct dealers to review their internal records to identify any other customers who received a suspect gear and to contact these customers and advise them of the recall.
• Ford will also send information to the Ford Authorized Distributors (FAD’s) advising them of the concern and request they check their part sales records to identify customers that may have purchased the suspect steering gears.

All customers affected by this problem will be contacted to return their vehicles to a Ford authorized repair facility to have the suspect steering gears replaced with new steering gears. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford’s recall number is 13S14 and the NHTSA campaign number is 14E-001.