NHTSA Complaint #10683803 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

THIS IS A LETTER RELATED TO SAFETY AND QUALITY. I AM A 55 YEAR OLD CHEMICAL ENGINEER AND AM A LONGSTANDING CUSTOMER OF FORD CARS. I PRESENTLY OWN A 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND A 2014 FORD FIESTA. BOTH VEHICLES WERE PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALERSHIPS IN ILLINOIS. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING THE FORD ESCAPE ON INTERSTATE 69 IN INDIANA, WHEN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED. THE "KNUCKLE" COMPLETELY DISENGAGED, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO BRAKE AND STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT, ALBEIT COMING TO REST AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE ON THE SHOULDER. I FEEL I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A FT. WAYNE, IN FORD DEALERSHIP. I HAVE THE PART IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING PHOTOS OR WOULD BE HAPPY TO ELABORATE FURTHER ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES. I WOULD HATE TO THINK THAT THIS COULD OCCUR TO ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH RESULTS FAR MORE CATASTROPHIC. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. *TR