NHTSA Complaint #10569005 — 2011 FORD ESCAPE

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT THREE SEPARATE TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. EACH TIME, I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF, WITHOUT BEING HIT BY TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TAKE MY SEATBELT OFF AND RAISE UP TO PUT MY FULL BODY WEIGHT ONTO THE WHEEL. AFTER THE THIRD ATTEMPT AT RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. I DRIVE ALMOST 50 MILES A DAY ON THE HIGHWAY TO AND FROM WORK, AND I'M VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR, AND WON'T LET MY KIDS RIDE IN IT NOW. PHONE CALLS TO FORD AND TWO LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN NO HELP. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DOUBT THAT A CODE WILL SHOW ANY PROBLEM WITH A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, AND THAT IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE, THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MINE IS THE FIRST REPORT OF THIS KIND, AND THAT A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT COST WILL BE UP TO ME AS MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, AND SHOULD NOT BE A WARRANTY ISSUE, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR