NHTSA Complaint #10386103 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE SO HARD ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS JUST SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT OR NOT EVEN IN DRIVE THAT I WAS SHAKING WHILE HOLDING IT. THEN THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT ANY SIGN OR LIGHTS OR ANYTHING INDICATING A PROBLEM. MY ISSUE ONLY HAPPENED ONCE IN 2-3 WEEK PERIOD WHEN I WOULD START THE CAR AND DRIVE I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL I HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL AND IT WAS SOO HARD TO TURN. THEN IT STARTED TO HAPPEN ALMOST EVERYTIME I STARTED THE CAR SO I WOULD START THE CAR TRY AND MOVE THE WHEEL AND IF I FELT THE TENSION TURNED OFF THE CAR AND KEPT RESTARTING HOPING IT WOULD "FIX ITSELF". I LOOKED UP THE ISSUE ONLINE AND SAW ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, SOME HAD THIS ISSUE WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING AND LOST POWER STEERING AND HAD TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. I HAVE TWO TODDLERS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND I DID NOT WANT TO RISK THIS ISSUE GETTING THAT BAD. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND IT WAS TOLD THE STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR AND THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED COSTING $1100.+ WITH ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS AND SAFETY ISSUES I'M SHOCKED THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT WE , THE CONSUMER, HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. *TR