NHTSA Complaint #10558348 — 2010 FORD ESCAPE

I'VE HAD 2 INSTANCES OF LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST ON MY 2010 FORD ESCAPE. THE FIRST INSTANCE WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR MY HUSBAND TO TURN. HE SLOWED THE CAR DOWN, TURNED ON THE HAZARDS, AND PULLED OVER. THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND STARTED AGAIN. POWER ASSIST WORKED AGAIN AT START-UP. OUR THREE CHILDREN AND I WERE ALSO IN THE CAR, AND I'M SURPRISED WE WERE NOT REAR-ENDED. THE SECOND INSTANCE WAS WHEN I WAS IN LINE AT A DRIVE-THROUGH. I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL WHEN PULLING FORWARD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. POWER ASSIST WORKED AT START-UP. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP, WHO WAS VERY AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND QUOTED ME $1100-1400 REPAIRS. CAR WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUES AS A FAULTY POWER ASSIST MOTOR. REPLACEMENT WAS QUOTED AT $1400. I COMMUTE 50 MILES ROUND TRIP EVERY DAY. I AM VERY WORRIED OF THE STEERING ASSIST FAILING ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHILE MY CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR AGAIN. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 75,000 MILES. *TR