NHTSA Complaint #10823229 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

IN 2012 THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR WENT OUT AND CAUSED THE EPS TO CONTINUALLY FAIL. WE HAD THE PARTS REPLACED WITH FACTORY PARTS IN 2014 BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR $500. IN DECEMBER 2015 THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING ERRATICALLY AGAIN, INDICATING TORQUE SENSOR FAILURE. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD TELLING US TO TAKE OUR 2008 FORD ESCAPE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. ON JANUARY 19, 2016 THE ESCAPE WAS DROPPED OFF AT TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD IN MADISON, TN. WE PICKED THE ESCAPE BACK UP ON JANUARY 21, 2016. THE STEERING WHEEL STILL SHOOK ERRATICALLY. WHEN ASKED WHY THE MECHANIC DIDN'T REPAIR THE TORQUE SENSOR, THEY INDICATED IT WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY REQUIRED TO REPAIR BASED OFF OF VAG CODES OR FAULT CODES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE "DASH WAS LIT UP LIKE CHRISTMAS" AND HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PULL ALL OF THE FAULT CODES. WE LEFT MUTLIPLE MESSAGES FOR THE SERVICE DEPARMENT MANAGER AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. I CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AS DIRECTED IN THE NHTSA RECALL NOTICE AND EXPLAINED AS ABOVE. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT FORD SERVICE CENTER AND STATED THEY COULD NOT ENFORCE THE REPAIRS UNDER THE RECALL AS DEALERSHIPS ARE PRIVATELY OWNED. WE HAVE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING AFTER THE SERVICE DATES AS NOTED IN THIS COMPLAINT.