This is a continual problem report one 8/10/13 19,000 miles: Power steering light came on and power steering went out while driving vehicle <15 mph and back ceiling light came on and wouldn't go out. Ford: 8/13/2013 said ceiling light shortened out battery and caused power steering to go out - ordered light bulb came back in 3 days to replace light bulb - they said power steering was fixed. Report two 9/23/13 23,891 miles: Power steering light came on while parked. Ford: Did diagnostic said the issue was most likely wiring and said issue was fixed and I left with car report three 10/02/13 24,280 miles: Power steering light came on dashboard and power steering went out while driving on a highway 65 mph, pulled off hwy. Reported incident to Ford. Ford: Ran diagnostic, said issue was motherboard. Ordered part and I returned in a few days to replace computer board. Told issue was resolved and left with my car. Report four 10/31/2013 25,295 miles: Power steering yellow light came on dashboard as I started vehicle in parking lot. Power steering had not gone out only had warning light showing. I drove a few minutes home without the steering going out. I started car about an hour later in garage and power steering was completely out. Bright red lights on dashboard. Warning light said something to the tune of 'report power steering immediately". Ford: Kept car for 4 full days while we drove rental and was told they have no solution and Ford regional's engineers supposedly said 'this is not an issue they have seen before' (even though there are almost 100 reports on the NHTSA website about this exact issue) and to report if happens again. Report five 11/28/13 27,000 miles: Power steering went out while starting vehicle in garage dashboard light up with red warning signs. Have to wait until after holiday to report to service.

- Mascoutah, IL, USA

While driving my 2012 Ford Explorer limited V6 with ecoboost system up a hill I had to stopped behind a stopped school bus. I tried to give the vehicle a little gas to edge up the hill and the truck cut off. Since I was in drive the truck began to roll backwards until I pushed the brake. I was in shock. Luckily there weren't any vehicles behind me but it scared my kids. While pressing the brake I flipped it into park and restarted the engine. I then called and scheduled service for the next day. I was fully covered under my maintenance plan but the dealership could not duplicate the problem. They have no clue what caused this issue but I am terrified it may happen again and now my kids are terrified as well.

- Lorton, VA, USA

Ford sync system - continues to freeze and not function. Navigation system freezes up and/or doesn't work at times. Phone system shows you on a call when you are not. Multiple times not working and is supposed to be hands free. Have had the system replaced and updated and still doesn't work properly or as advertised. Ford case # cas [xxx] keep getting told they have an expert looking in to it and it might be related to the iphone. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Woodland Hills, CA, USA

I was driving home from a movie on pacific coast hwy in huntington beach, ca and all of sudden the power steering assist fault warning came on, I hadn't lost complete function of the steering but it was about a half a mile down the road that it got almost impossible to steer. I called the dealership and they told me to tow it to the dealership as soon as possible. I didn't know that there was a short term fix by turning off and then turning back on again to make the warning light go away. Tomorrow taking in my car to dealer to get it fix.... now before it ends in crash or someone killed.!!!!!! I have the ecoboost I4 cylinder engine.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

Power steering fault while returning from short supermarket trip, lost all power steering, dash board lit up, then terrain sensor fault, causing a feeling of reduced gear, turn signals failed as well. Very difficult to drive, and unable to reset by shutting vehicle off. Dealership stated a fault in power steering rack, requiring replacement, they also stated it is a different part number then original part meaning it may have been remodeled due to "issues". very dangerous situation!!!!

- Huntingdon Valley, PA, USA

While changing lanes on the 60 West freeway I attempted to change lanes and vehicle power steering shut down. I was in the middle of my lane change and was nearly struck by a trailing diesel truck. I was only able to move steering wheel one inch to the right and one inch to the left. I pulled off highway based on my advanced driving skills as a law enforcement officer. This vehicle is my assigned work vehicle. Several faults to include hill fault, traction fault flashed on the dashboard. I turned the vehicle off and on and the power steering worked. I immediately notified my workplace. A coworker followed me to the fritts Ford in riverside, ca. I told them about the safety issue. Fritts Ford tested my vehicle for two days. They said the error could not be repeated but my vehicle had numerous faults recorded with the drivetrain, steering, hill, traction control. They said it was an electrical issue. There is a serious issue with this model. This is the first time it happened but it nearly cost me my life. I fear similar incidents will cause fatalities with unskilled civilian drivers.

- Riverside, CA, USA

First instance (2 months after I bought XLT model - bought late September 2011), in December 2011, electrical system was draining my battery causing my touch to go out, my engine light to go off, etc. Now, second instance (March 31, 2012), driving an hour to a destination, turned off the car for 10 minutes, got back in the car, the car stalled and locked the steering wheel. After talking to the service department, they told me if I got the car running, that it was safe to drive. Finally got the car turned on for the drive back, half way back, the rpms were revving and then the car was sucking back, almost home and the cars power steering started to go out and it was stalling at every light. Took into Ford dealership, they are still trying to figure out what the problem is and think it is a short somewhere in the system where they can't find it. I do not feel safe driving this car right now.

- Jupiter, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the my sync function that was installed in the vehicle caused the computer system to fail ly including the air conditioner, heating system, radio and defroster system. All systems remained at a constant rate if activated and he was unable to change the function. The failure recurred intermittently. The dealer stated that the computer system was faulty but he did not currently have a remedy for the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but failed to offer any assistance. No repairs were performed. The current mileage was 5,200 and the failure mileage was 2,000.

- Leland, NC, USA

I bought a new 2012 Ford Explorer on 11/26/11. The "my touch" computer didn't work from the begining. The response is slow or non-existent. The screens change on their own. The system freezes up at times leaving no control over nav, stereo, climate, phone, or either of 2 dashboard screens. It will switch to radio and play really loud and then switch back on it's own. Ford knows of this problem and can't fix it. They've had my car 3 times and now refuse to see me more about this. They say a fix will come in the future. Many people are having this problem. Ford is selling broken cars, charging new car prices, and can't fix them.

- Spanaway, WA, USA

In the words of one of the several Ford Motor Co. Customer care case manager I've spoken to since I purchased this vehicle about 6 weeks ago, Ford's mytouch system is "totally dysfucntional". the software upon which this system is based was apparently co-authored by microsoft and Ford is currently telling customers they have to wait for the next release, supposedly due to be released in "the first quarter of next year". has anyone ever heard this kind of message before...think ms vista! my Explorer has an approx. 8"X5" touchscreen in the middle of the dash. It is supposed to come on when I start the vehicle and many functions of the vehicle are controlled by touching icons on the screen. Unfortunately, when the screen fails to come on, usually for about the initial 20 minutes after starting the vehicle, the driver controls are unavailable. This includes features like being able to view the rear-view camera, turning on the heated seats, climate control features, dealing with phone calls and selecting music sources and radio channels, etc.. mytouch also includes a feature where its supposed to sync to the driver's mobile phone, but this only works intermittently at best. The worst problem with this system, which I believe makes the vehicle unsafe for nighttime driving, is when the touchscreen, which cannot be turned off or dimmed, starts flickering (Ford's term is "strobing") very rapidly while driving after dark. This can continue for up to 30 minutes at a time, and is incredible distracting while trying to drive. I've posted a video on youtube under the heading "Ford mytouch stobing". this problem has been known to Ford since the 2011 model year and they continue to sell these problematic vehicles without telling customers until after they take possession.

- Livonia, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that he was able to shut the ignition off with the electronic start button without placing the vehicle in park or depressing the brakes. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics or repairs. The contact believed that there was a safety issue with all the vehicles that had a push to start button because it allowed the vehicle to be shut off without placing the gear in park and creating a risk of a roll away. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 800.

- Rock Hill, SC, USA