NHTSA Complaint #10759170 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

IN A FIRST INCIDENT, I WAS IN N.Y. AND I PARKED THE CAR. WHEN I WANTED TO GO HOME, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STIFF AND IT TOOK MY WHOLE STRENGTH WITH BOTH ARMS TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WHEN TO SLEEP. THE NEXT MORNING, I WENT TO THE CAR THAT STARTED NORMALLY AND STEERED NORMALLY. COME TO BE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR FOR THE STEERING WHEEL. I MADE AND APPOINTMENT, THE NEXT WEEK, WITH A FORD DEALER AND THE FIXED THE RECALL BY GOING ON THE COMPUTER. THE SECOND INSTANCE WAS AROUND 8/12/15, THE CAR WAS PARKED NEAR MY HOME AND I INTENDED TO MOVE IT INTO THE STREET AND DRIVE OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE, BUT A FEW INCHES, EVEN WITH TOTAL STRENGTH. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALER. THE MECHANIC IN CHARGE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE CAR AND THAT TO CHECK IT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AROUND $90. I HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING SYSTEM (EPAS).