NHTSA Complaint #10427756 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING LOCKED UP. LUCKILY, THE CAR WAS ONLY TRAVELING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAPPENED A FEW MOMENTS LATER, AGAIN, AT A LOW SPEED OF DRIVING. THE ONLY REMEDY INITIALLY WAS TO TURN OFF AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FEAR OF SERIOUS INJURY/DEATH AND WAS PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE STEERING TO FAIL. AFTER RESEARCH, THERE APPEARS TO BE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ONLINE WITH THIS EXACT SAME SITUATION, ALL IN THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE, WHICH IS THE VEHICLE I DRIVE. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS MODEL YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT FORD EQUIPPED A VEHICLE WITH ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING VS TRADITIONAL POWER STEERING. AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH FORD SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS AND URGING A VOLUNTARY RECALL, I WAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE OR REASSURANCE THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED FOR SAFETY OF OTHERS THAT MAY BE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHEN THE STEERING FAILS. *TT