2015 Lincoln MKZ Steering Problems

My car was involved with an accident regarding a pothole and had an immediate loss of electronic power steering upon impact. Upon inspection by multiple certified technicians and adjusters, they noticed corrosion around the same bolts related to a recall for the same vehicle, but a different model/lot production: 15S14/19S26. This was a known corrosion defect, which is allegedly now causing the same issue with this model vehicle, causing extremely dangerous driving conditions which could lead to potential major incidents such as these. This now makes me question every vehicle from Ford Lincoln, or steering component related assembly recalls from corrosion when hitting any kind of potholes or larger contact areas.

The contact owns a 2015 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed into the garage, the steering column made a grinding sound while turning off the vehicle. The contact was unable to adjust the steering wheel up and down into position. An unknown dealer and a secondary dealer, Keller Ford (1073 Cadillac Ln, Hanford, CA 93230), were made aware of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

Steering assist fault

The contact's husband owns a 2015 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, a message indicating power steering failure was displayed. The contact drove to the residence and parked and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated while restarting the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The Service Advancetrac warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle at the residence and informed the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V632000 (Steering). The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,400.

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE MIDDLE LANE DURING HEAVY RAIN. SUDDENLY THE STEERING BECAME ALMOST RIGID. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CAR HAD RECENTLY BEEN RECALLED AND REPAIRED REGARDING THE BOLTS ON THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MODULE. OBVIOUSLY THERE REMAINS AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW IN THE STEERING ASSIST FUNCTION, DISABLING STEERING CAPABILITY THAT COULD HAVE PROVEN FATAL. THE STEERING MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT WE HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE.

ON JUNE 20TH 2018 WHILE TURNING ONTO A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT TOOK TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO CONTROL THE CAR. BECAUSE OF THE SLOW SPEED I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR JUST BEFORE GOING OFF THE ROAD. AT THE SAME TIME SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD LIT UP OR WERE FLASHING. ONCE I STOPPED THE CAR I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE STEERING WORKED FINE AND NO LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. I PROCEEDED VERY CAUTIOUSLY AT A SLOW SPEED THE SHORT DISTANCE TO MY HOME. AS I APPROACHED MY HOME THE STEERING FAILED AGAIN, THIS TIME RE-STARTING THE CAR DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM SO I PARKED THE CAR AND CONTACTED THE LINCOLN DEALER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I WAS NOTIFIED THE CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR. WHEN I WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP I WAS INFORMED THAT, ON A DEALER TEST DRIVE JUST BEFORE I ARRIVED, THE STEERING HAD FAILED AGAIN WITH THE NEW STEERING GEAR INSTALLED. I WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE AND IT WAS SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO GET AND INSTALL A SECOND NEW STEERING GEAR. THE STEERING HAS PERFORMED PERFECTLY SINCE. THIS EXPERIENCING WAS TERRIFYING FOR US AS WE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM 4,000 MILE TRIP, MOSTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HAD THE STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED DURING THE TRIP IT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A FATAL CRASH. I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED THAT THE NEW REPLACEMENT STEERING GEAR INSTALLED BY A LINCOLN DEALER UNDER WARRANTY ALSO FAILED. WOMEN OR ELDERLY PEOPLE SHOULD BE TERRIFIED AT THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS OCCURRING TO THEM. THEY SIMPLY WOULD NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO CONTROL THE CAR IN SUCH A SITUATION. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER NEW-CAR WARRANTY.