NHTSA Complaint #10491451 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC MY STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY TURNED ON ITS OWN SLIGHTLY. AS I STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD I REALIZED THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND APPEARED TO HAVE NO POWER STEERING. I WAS JUST NEAR THE DEALERSHIP SO I WAS ABLE TO GET IT IN TO THEM. IT TURNS OUT THE STEERING COLUMN IS ELECTRONIC AND BROKE REQUIRING VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON-LINE AND I AM FINDING IT TO BE A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING WITH OTHERS WHO WERE ACTUALLY MOVING AT THE TIME OF THE COLUMN FAILURE. MANY AT LOW MILEAGE (LESS THAN 55,000). I FEEL THIS IS BEING IGNORED BY FORD AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING. *TR