NHTSA Complaint #10380349 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING A BIT. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WENT OUT ENTIRELY. I BROUGHT TO A LOCAL SHOP OF A TRUSTED MECHANIC, WHO STATED IT LOOKED LIKE THE STEERING COLUMN. HE THOUGHT PERHAPS IT JUST NEEDED TO BE RESET, AND SUGGESTED I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FIRST BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE THE CODES YET FOR THE RESET. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED IT NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING ACTUATOR AND WOULD COST OVER $1600 IN PARTS AND LABOR. THEY ALSO STATED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE, DESPITE VARIOUS NEAR-IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS, AND OTHER FORUMS ON THE INTERNET. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THIS GETS INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED, AS THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO INTEREST IN FIXING IT FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN THEIR $1620. 2008 WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT FORD TESTED THIS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM ON THE ESCAPE, AND IT CLEARLY STILL HAS FLAWS. *TR