NHTSA Complaint #10100963 — 2002 FORD ESCAPE

THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE WITH ONLY 37000 MILES RECENTLY BECAME LOOSE WHILE I WAS DRIVING.THE VEHICLE'S 36000 MILE WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP (COWLES PARKWAY FORD) TO GET AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN (A $400+ COST). BEFORE MAKING A DECISION I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 630120). THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE 2001 FORD ESCAPE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 00V223001 )BUT NOT THE 2002 MODEL. I WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, BUT I WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY $400+ TO GET IT FIXED. I ALSO HAVE CALLED FORD COSTUMER SERVICE AND WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY ARE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS BECAUSE I HAD EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART.I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER FORD ESCAPE ON THE HIGHWAYS WITH THIS SAME SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEED TO BE RECALLED. THANK YOU. MICHAEL ESTES . *AK