NHTSA Complaint #10505057 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE, A 2009 FORD ESCAPE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE OF THIS I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC, AND TURN THE CAR OFF. UPON STARTING THE CAR BACK UP THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BACK TO NORMAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES LATER THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AGAIN. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO FIX IT, IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS COST ME APPROXIMATELY $1,400.00 TO REPLACE. I HAVE DONE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF RESEARCH AND HAVE THAT FOUND THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE. WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO RECALL IN RESPONSE TO THIS ONGOING ISSUE? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN NOT CONTINUE TO GO UNNOTICED.