2011 Ford Explorer Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST BECAME INOPERABLE. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST INDEPENDENTLY RESET ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF THEN RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER SHOULD THE PROBLEM RECUR. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

I WAS STARTING TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND THE STABILITRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. THE STEERING GOT TIGHT AND THERE WAS LITTLE MOVEMENT TO TURN THE WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT. I PULLED A FEW FEET BACK IN THE PARKING STALL, TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND RESTARTED IT AGAIN. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE FOR A MILE OR SO AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. I GOT A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD TO ORDER AND REPLACE THE STEERING PUMP. THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME THREE DAYS AGO, ON 7/2/12. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO AGAIN REPLACE THE STEERING PUMP. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS SECOND TIME I HAD MY TWO 7-YEAR-OLDS IN THE CAR AND WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH DOWN A MAJOR STREET. THE SAME LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED. I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, BUT STILL HAD TO MAKE 5 TURNS. I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD THAT I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO BREAK IT. IT TOOK ALL MY ARM STRENGTH TO MAKE THE TURNS. I WOULD TURN THE SIGNAL ON AND IT WOULD BLINK ONCE AND GO OFF ALSO. IT IS SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS AND AS MENTIONED, I HAVE NO FAITH THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. AND THIS VEHICLE IS JUST NOW A YEAR OLD. *TR

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE DASH MESSAGE CENTER SHOWED A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. THIS HAD HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE PAST BUT TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON SOLVED THE PROBLEM ON PRIOR OCCASIONS. THIS TIME THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO FAIL AFTER MULTIPLE TIMES OF TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. THIS MALFUNCTION MADE THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND MANEUVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, THE STEERING RETURN TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,100.

WHILE TRAVELING DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, MY SERVICE TRACKING DEFAULT LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN POWER STEERING DEFAULT LIGHT COMES ON, MY STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKS UP, LUCKILY, I WAS NOT MAKING A TURN AT THE TIME I WOULD HAVE NAILED ANOTHER CAR OR A PERSON, I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, POWER STEERING BEGAN TO WORK BUT THE SERVICE TRACKING DEFAULT LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I AM VERY WORRIED TO PUT MY TWO CHILDREN IN THIS CAR NOW, DEALERSHIP IS HAVING ME BRING IN THE VEHICLE TOMORROW AND I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING BUYING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS CAR, I HAVE HAD EXPLORERS IN THE PAST AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I WILL BUY ANOTHER ONE AFTER THE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, FORD NEEDS TO GET OFF THEIR BUTTS AND GET THIS FIXED, SOMEONE COULD SERIOUSLY GET HURT. SERIOUS LAW SUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TT

I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HWY WHEN I LOST THE ABILITY TO PROPERLY STEER THE VEHICLE AT 55 MPH, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A LOT OF EFFORT. AT THE TIME MY 4 YEAR OLD AND 4 MONTH OLD WERE IN THE VEHICLE AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. I CALLED MY HUSBAND IN A PANIC AND HE CAME TO PICK ME UP. WHEN HE GOT THERE THE POWER STEERING FAULT LIGHT WAS ON AND THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON THE STEERING CAME BACK BUT THE WARNING LIGHT WAS STILL ON. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT WHAT IS WRONG. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE (20+) POWER STEERING FAILURES. IT TYPICALLY OCCURS WHILE I AM DRIVING ON THE TACONIC STATE PARKWAY, A 55 MPH ROAD IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURS QUICKLY WITH LITTLE TIME FOR THE DRIVER TO REACT. YOU SIMPLY GET A SMALL CHIME WITH AN INDICATOR ON THE DASH STATING "POWER ASSIST FAILURE' FOLLOWED BY A MESSAGE STATING 'POWER STEERING FAILURE'. BY THE TIME YOU READ THE MESSAGE, YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED AS YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING THE MOMENT THE CHIME IS HEARD. THE LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED AS I WAS TURNING OFF THE EXIT RAMP FOR THE TACONIC STATE PARKWAY ONTO A LOCAL ROAD TO GO HOME. HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND I ALMOST DROVE MY CAR INTO ANOTHER CAR AT THE INTERSECTION. WITH MY STRENGTH, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL TO COMPLETE THE TURN. OTHERWISE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HEAD ON COLLISION INTOP A CAR STOPPED IN THE INTERSECTION. HAD THIS BEEN MY PREGNANT WIFE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SCARY RESULT. THIS CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER (PLEASANTVILLE FORD) SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TO HAVE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED. THEY CLAIMED AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS DUE TO A CROSSED WIRE THAT WAS FIXED. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR, AND THEY PRESENTLY HAVE A NEW RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM ON ORDER FROM FORD TO TRY AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE. BASED ON THE LATEST OCCURRENCE, AS WELL AS A SLEW OF OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, I AM DROPPING IT AT THE DEALER TODAY AS I NO LONGER DEEM IT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET WITH FORD AND THEIR PRODUCT OVER THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED ON VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IN ORDER TO RESOLVE FAILURE MOMENTARILY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 10/17/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE LAST TIME THE FAILURE HAPPENED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING UNIT AND REPROGRAMMED THE CONTROL MODULE. UPDATED 10/18/12

UNFORTUNATELY, FOR SUCH A GREAT TRUCK, THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED THREE TIMES ON MY VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY JUST OVER 14K MILES ON IT. IT OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME AROUND THE 11K MILE POINT IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING FAILED FOR NO REASON GOING ~40MPH. THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYED A MESSAGE STATING "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT." THIS IS THE SAME MESSAGE THAT WAS DISPLAYED ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS. UPON TURNING THE TRUCK OFF AND BACK ON, EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THE FAULT OCCURRED AGAIN AT 13837 MILES (I HAVE A PICTURE) AND AGAIN JUST TODAY AT AROUND 14100. AFTER THE INITIAL FAULT, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST AS THE ONBOARD COMPUTER DOES NOT 'DOCUMENT THE ISSUE'. I WAS ADVISED TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING AND CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP WHO WILL THEN TOW THE TRUCK TO ITS LOCATION. EASIER SAID THAN DONE WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR THREE LANE ROAD IN THE DC SUBURBS. IT'S MOST CONVENIENT TO WRESTLE THE TRUCK TO THE NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND RESTART WHICH RESOLVES THE ISSUE. I AM OBVIOUSLY VERY FRUSTRATED WITH IT - I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN LATE JULY 2011 FOR $48,000 (STICKER PRICE). SO FAR I HAVE NOT HAD ANY TODDLERS IN THE CAR DURING THESE INCIDENTS BUT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. HOPING FOR SOME GUIDANCE AND GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM FORD. *TR

MY WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN THERE SEEMED TO BE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT WHEELS. SHE COULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE. SHE GOT THE "POWER ASSIST FAILURE" MESSAGE. AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE RESOLVED. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND A "POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE" FAILURE AND HAS REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED US THAT SINCE WE HAD A NEW ONE, WE SHOULD HAVE NO MORE PROBLEMS. I REMINDED HIM THAT THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS NEW WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR

IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SIX DAYS AFTER MY VEHICLE'S FIRST STEERING PROBLEM. WHEN I STARTED MY 2011 EXPLORER ON THE MORNING OF 4/18/12, THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" LIGHT CAME ON AND MY POWER STEERING WAS GONE. AS INSTRUCTED BY MY FORD DEALER, I LEFT THE VEHICLE ON AND CALLED THEM. THEY IMMEDIATELY SENT A FLATBED TOW TRUCK, WHICH TOWED MY VEHICLE, WHILE STILL RUNNING, TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY CHECKED FOR PROBLEMS AND MADE REPAIRS, AND I QUOTE, "INSTALL NEW EPS GEAR REMOVED SUBFRAME AND INSTALL NEW EPAS GEAR PROGRAMMED AS BUILT DATAE AND CLEARED DTCS PERFORMED 2 WHEEL ALIGNMENT TEST DRIVE OPERATION GOOD." IN LAYMAN TERMS, THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE FRONT WHEELS AND DID A 2 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. IT TOOK ONLY 1 FULL DAY SINCE THE PARTS WERE ORDERED OVERNIGHT. I HOPE THAT HAS SOLVED THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM. I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THE CONCERN AND SERVICE MY LOCAL FORD DEALER PROVIDED. *JS

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 20 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED BACK ON. THE WARNING LIGHTS REAPPEARED AND THE POWER STEERING STILL DID NOT WORK. ONCE THE CAR WAS PUT INTO DRIVE, THE WARNING LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. *TR

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. CANNOT DRIVE CAR. ERROR MESSAGE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT". *TR

DRIVING SLOW SPEED WITH 1YEAR OLD AND 3 YEAR OLD BABIES POWER STEERING FAILED. WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. GLADLY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WILL SEE WHAT FORD SAYS TOMORROW. *TR

AS COASTING TO A STOP LIGHT FROM APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DOWN TO 5 AND MAYBE EVEN COMPLETELY STOPPED, THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN NOTICED POWER STEERING WAS NEARLY LOST. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A SIDE STREET, STOP AND RESTART THE CAR, AND THEN IT DROVE FINE. TAKING IT INTO A DEALER FOR EVALUATION TODAY AND HAVE NOTIFIED A FORD PERSON VIA ONLINE MESSAGE BOARD. *TR

AS WE WERE SLOWING FOR A STOP SIGN ON A CURVE, THE STEERING WHEEL LITERALLY JERKED OUT OF MY HUSBAND'S HANDS, STRAIGHTENING THE WHEELS. A WARNING BELL WENT OFF AND THE DASH DISPLAYED "POWER ASSIST FAILURE." IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE WHEEL. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING, STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE DEALER HAD A PREVIOUS EXPLORER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER IDENTICAL INCIDENTS RECORDED ON THIS SITE AND OTHER INTERNET FORUMS, ALL EVENTUALLY REPAIRED IN THE SAME MANNER. FORD, HOWEVER, WILL NOT APPROVE WARRANTY REPAIR BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AT THE DEALERSHIP OR RETRIEVE AN ERROR CODE, SAYING THEY "CAN'T FIX SOMETHING IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM REALLY IS." THEY WANT US TO DRIVE A CAR WITH A SERIOUS AND FRIGHTENING SAFETY ISSUE UNTIL IT FAILS COMPLETELY OR CAUSES AN ACCIDENT FOR WHICH THEY WILL DENY RESPONSIBILITY SINCE "THERE IS NOTHING FOR THEM TO REPAIR." FORD'S REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER ALSO REFUSED TO DOCUMENT THE COMPLAINT OR DENIAL IN WRITING. *JS

2ND TIME IT HAPPENS FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH OR ABOVE THE STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SUV WAS UNABLE TO STEER , PULL OVER AND TURN CAR AND RE STARTED AND GAIN STEERING TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER RESET THE LIGHT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OK . AT 5000 MILES IT HAPPEN AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT HAPPENS WHILE TRYING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD . THIS TIME UNABLE TO DRIVE IT TOW HOME . TALK TO FORD AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND WE LOOK IN TO IT BUT , I THINK IS NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR NOT TO HAVE A SAFETY BACK UP PLAN WHEN THIS FAIL . AND VERY UNSAFE KNOW IT COULD HAPPEN ANY TIME WITH NO WARNING . EVEN IF FORD CLAIM IT WILL FIX IT .WHAT WILL PREVENT FROM THIS HAPPENING AT A VERY ODD TIME AND IT MAY CAUSE LOTS OF INJURY. THEY SAID IT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINT FOR THEM TO LOOK IN TO THIS . BUT I SAID 1 COMPLAINT WITH MULTIPLE OCCURRENCE SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR THE TO AT LEAST PAY ATTENTION OR LOOK IN TO A SAFETY PLAN IN CASE IT DOES FAIL. *TR

TRAVELING AT 55 MPH AND RECEIVED AN ALARM AND WARNING MESSAGE OF A POWER STEERING FAULT. VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. RESTARTED VEHICLE WITH ALL MESSAGES CLEAR AND VEHICLE DROVE OK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. AWAITING OUTCOME. *TR

2011 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED EXHIBITING VARIABLE POWER STEERING FAILURE CODE . WHEN FAULT OCCURS, POWER STEERING IS LOST ON CAR UNTIL CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. FAILURE HAS OCCURRED MORE THAT 12 TIMES IN LAST MONTH AT SPEEDS UP TO 35 MPH. DEALER CANNOT RECOGNIZE FAULT OR RECOMMEND FIX AS THE COMPUTER RESETS ITSELF AND CLEARS THE FAULT CODE UPON RESTARTING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHEN TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AND HAS OCCURRED AT BOTH STOP AND AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH. WHEN OCCURS, THE CAR HAS NO POWER STEERING UNTIL OWNER CAN PULL OVER TO RESET. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWERSTEERING FAILED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CRASHING. HOWEVER IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME AND I SLIGHTLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND ENDED UP IN THE GRASS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, GETTING READY TO EXIT. I HEARD A BEEP, INDICATING A WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A WARNING APPEARED STATING 'POWER STEERING ASSIST DISABLED.'. THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKED. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND MADE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES, AND STARTED CAR AGAIN. PROBLEM RESOLVED. *JS

LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT SLOW SPEEDS (MULTIPLE TIMES). "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" LIGHT ON DASHBOARD. POWER STEERING RETURNS AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING CAR. *JS

"POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" HAS COME ON 7-10 TIMES TO DATE AS OF 1-26-2012 . AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RE-STARTING THE ENGINE, THE WARNING WENT AWAY AND I REGAINED POWER STEERING. I AM GETTING A WARNING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL. ONCE I RESTART THE CAR 4-5 TIMES THE WARNING LIGHT GOES AWAY. I AM SO AFRAID OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. SO FAR IT'S HAPPENED GOING MINIMAL SPEEDS 10-45 MPH. WHAT DOES ONE DO IF THIS HAPPENS GOING 70 ON AN INTERSTATE. *TR

I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, WHEN THE WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON LETTING ME KNOW THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED" AND THEN LOST ALL POWER FOR STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, STOP & RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING UNIT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE 'RACK & PINION' ATTACHMENTS. I TOW A BOAT FROM TIME TO TIME AND THIS COULD HAVE DEVELOPED INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS CLOSE TO A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME AND I WAS ABLE TO PERFORM THE RESTART. *TR

THERE WERE ACTUALLY 4 INCIDENTS; THE FIRST ONE I WAS BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, STARTED IT AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO PARK. THE NEXT DAY I WAS WAITING IN TRAFFIC & IT DIED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T WORK; WE THEN TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER & HE SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT. WE TOLD THEM THAT A MESSAGE FLASHED "POWER STEERING ASSAULT". EACH INCIDENT, THAT MESSAGE APPEARED. THE THIRD TIME I WAS DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, THEN THE CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN & HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED INTO THE DEALER. THEY SUPPOSEDLY 'FIXED' IT AGAIN. THEN WE WERE ON A TRIP, 600 MILES FROM HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. WE PULLED OVER, STOPPED. IT THEN STARTED AGAIN AND WE FINISHED OUR TRIP. THEN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE HE DID ORDER A NEW PART. WE GOT THE CAR BACK LAST WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012, AND TODAY IS JULY 1, 2012. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. *TR