NHTSA Complaint #10622550 — 2010 FORD ESCAPE

FIRST INCIDENT: I WAS DRIVING ALONG RTE 95 HEADING TOWARDS THE TAPANZEE BRIDGE GOING 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING WENT AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO SAFELY EXIT THE HIGHWAY TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER, BUT THANKFULLY I FOUND A FAIRLY SAFE PLACE TO STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF. I WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. THEN I STARTED THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. SECOND INCIDENT: MY WIFE WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK ON APRIL 11TH, 2013 WHEN SHE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. WHEN SHE BEGAN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ONTO A BUSY STREET, THE POWER STEERING WENT AGAIN. LUCKILY SHE MADE IT HOME SAFELY AND INFORMED ME OF WHAT HAPPENED. I TURNED THE CAR ON AND TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE. THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK ON. THERE WERE AT LEAST TWO MORE TIMES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OFF AND AFTER AWHILE CAME BACK ON. WE HAD A NEW POWER STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY PUT IN OUR FORD ESCAPE ON JUNE 6TH, 2013. LUCKILY WE HAD A FORD PREMIUM CARE WARRANTY PLAN AND THIS PROBLEM WAS COVERED, BUT HAD TO PAY $100 DEDUCTIBLE. RECENTLY FORD HAS ANNOUNCED A SAFETY RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY ON FORD ESCAPES MANUFACTURED IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THAT SAFETY RECALL, YET I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY POWER STEERING. WHAT WOULD I HAVE HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THIS POWER STEERING IF I HADN'T HAD A WARRANTY PLAN? I WANT FORD TO REIMBURSE MY $100 DEDUCTIBLE, BUT THEY SAY SINCE MY VIN NUMBER AT THIS TIME WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL THEY WON'T REIMBURSE ME. WHAT KIND OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS IN THIS WITH A BIG COMPANY LIKE FORD WHO WANTS TO SELL CARS IN GOOD FAITH. IT IS LUCKY FOR THEM THAT MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE WAS NOT INJURED WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT IN MY FORD ESCAPE. *TR