NHTSA Complaint #10510583 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

AFTER BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITHOUT INCIDENT, THEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF FEELING LOCKED UP. AFTER PULLING OVER AND CHECKING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, THEN TURNED BACK ON IN A MOMENT AND THE WHEEL FREED UP AND NORMAL TURNING RESUMED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME, A FEW MILES AWAY, WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ABOUT THE 2008 AND 2009 ESCAPE ON THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE WITH EACH REPORT HAVING ALMOST THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AND "SOLUTION", OF TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. SEE WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2008/FORD/ESCAPE/STEERING HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2009/FORD/ESCAPE/STEERING THIS PROBLEM COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENTS OF A FEW ON THAT SITE, ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. NUMEROUS POSTS STATE THE DEALER INDICATED THE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $1200-$1800. *TR