NHTSA Complaint #10593325 — 2013 FORD ESCAPE

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON MAY 21, 2014 I SUDDENLY HEARD A CHIME AND A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER ALERTING OF A "STEERING ASSIST FAULT". OUR FORD IS EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTOMATIC PARKING STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM. I THEN FELT THE STEERING LOCK UP AND DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THE ABILITY FOR ME TO STEER THE VEHICLE FROM ONE LANE TO THE OTHER ON THE STRAIGHT AWAY THAT I WAS PRESENTLY ON. THE SENSATION WAS THAT OF TRYING TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT COMPLETELY LOST POWER STEERING AND FEEDBACK. AFTER APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER MILE OF EVALUATING THE VEHICLE, I PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE CAR, THUS REGAINING NORMAL CONTROL WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT, AND PROCEEDED TO DELIVER THE VEHICLE FOR EVALUATION. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT LINDSAY FORD IN SILVER SPRING, MD NOW AND WILL BE EVALUATED 5/22/14. THIS IS AT LEAST THE THIRD TIME I HAVE SEEN THIS FAULT MESSAGE, HOWEVER IT WOULD APPEAR WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE BUT NEVER ELIMINATE STEERING ABILITY. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE TO BE A LEMON IN THE EYES OF THE LAW, I HAVE PREVIOUSLY REQUESTED A BUY BACK FROM FORD BASED ON DISMAL FUEL PERFORMANCE AND OTHER UNRELATED MATTERS. FORD HAS NEGLECTED TO FULLY RESOLVE THOSE MATTERS, AND WITH THIS INCIDENT ON HAND, I AM REQUESTING ANY ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT I OWN A SAFE VEHICLE, BECAUSE MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH FORD HAS BEEN UNACCEPTABLE. *TR