NHTSA Complaint #10597742 — 2010 FORD FLEX

I HAVE A 2010 FORD FLEX ECO BOOST. THE ELECTRIC ASSIST POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT. THE PROBLEM BEGAN SPORADICALLY AND THEN BECAME MORE PREVALENT. IT USUALLY OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS. THE FORCE REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL WHEN IT GOES OUT IS RIDICULOUS. IT CAN BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. INITIALLY, THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT FOR A SHORT DISTANCE (LESS THAN 1 MILE) AND THEN COME BACK. THEN, IT REMAINED OUT FOR A 3 MILE PERIOD BEFORE COMING BACK. THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I JUST WENT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY QUOTED $2,200 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. HOWEVER, THEIR DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT DIDN'T RAISE ANY WARNINGS EITHER. SO, THIS WAS JUST A GUESS ON THEIR PART. I TOOK THE FLEX IN TO ADDRESS SOME TSBS, AFTER WHICH THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN FOR ABOUT 1,000 MILES. SIX MONTHS LATER, IT WENT OUT COMPLETELY AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO HOOKED IT UP TO THE LATEST DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT, AND AGAIN EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD - NO CODES. THE POWER STEERING IS COMPLETELY GONE. HOWEVER, ON START-UP IT WILL OCCASIONALLY COME BACK FOR ONE TURN OF THE WHEEL. *TR