NHTSA Complaint #10567278 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD ABOUT 5 MIN AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE WHEN I LOST POWER STEERING AND HAD TO PULL OVER. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE STEERING WORKED BUT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN IT IS IN THE CENTER POSITION. NOW EVERYTIME I START THE CAR I HAVE NO POWER STEERING. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND LETTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO RESET. BUT THAT DOES NOTHING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING CULUMN AND THEY WOULD CHARGE ABOUT $1300. NOW AS I AM STARTING THE CAR IF I PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT I HAVE POWER STEERING BUT THE STEERING WHEEL STILL SHAKES IF IT IS IN THE CENTER POSITING. IF I JUST START THE CAR LIKE NORMAL THE POWER STEERING NEVER WORKS. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD BUT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR ANY DRIVER AND THE CARS AROUND THEM. MANY OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.