NHTSA Complaint #10717512 — 2013 FORD ESCAPE

I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE ON APRIL 30, 2015, STARTED THE VEHICLE AND A WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON THE CONTROL PANEL-I DON'T RECALL THE EXACT VERBIAGE BUT IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE "IMMEDIATE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED-POWER ASSIST STEERING FAULT FAILURE". I TRIED TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, WENT BACK INTO THE BUILDING I HAD JUST LEFT. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER AND STARTED THE CAR THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT AND I COULD STEER THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED ONLINE THAT NIGHT AND SAW THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FORD CUSTOMERS WITH 2008-2013 VEHICLES THAT HAVE/ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. FORD STATED THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAVE NOT YET ISSUED A RECALL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING. I WAS TOLD THE STEERING BOX HAD FAILED. THE COST IS $1800. I CALLED FORD DIRECTLY AND LET THEM KNOW I FEEL I SHOULD HAVE NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I LET THEM KNOW I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, BUT THIS ISSUE IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND FORD IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM. FORD OFFERED TO PAY $600 OF THE $1800. THEY KEEP TELLING ME TO KEEP MY RECEIPT AND THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME THE REST, IF A RECALL IS ISSUED. I DRIVE 100 MILES PER DAY TO AND FROM WORK. IF MY STEERING HAD FROZEN 2 HOURS EARLIER ON THAT DAY, I QUITE POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HOW DO YOU CONTROL AN SUV GOING 70 MPH WITHOUT ANY STEERING? THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFAULT THAT I FEEL FORD IS NOT TAKING SERIOUSLY AND CHARGING THEIR CUSTOMERS TO FIX.