NHTSA Complaint #10910758 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RANDOM SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING THAT PROGRESSED FOR OVER TWO YEARS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER FAILED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AND INSPECT THE TORQUE SENSOR. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE WAS INSPECTED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE DEALER ONLY PROVIDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE PSCM AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT PROVIDED NO RECOMMENDATION OR SOLUTION OTHER THAN THE CONTACT REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED STEERING COLUMN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.