NHTSA Complaint #10929862 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

THE VEHICLE IS LOSING POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WHILE IN THE MIDST OF LEFT HAND TURNS. THE CAR SUDDENLY BEEPS, NO WARNING LIGHT APPEARS, AND FOR 1-2 SECONDS THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. APPARENTLY THIS IS DUE TO A FAILING TORQUE SENSOR, AS THE DEALERSHIP REPORTS THAT IT IS SHOWING CODE B2278. THE FAULTY TORQUE SENSOR IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE WITH FORD ESCAPES, PART OF RECALL 14S05. BUT, RATHER THAN FIX THE PROBLEM (FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THEY FREELY ACKNOWLEDGE THE ORIGINAL TORQUE SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND THE NEW PARTS ARE OF AN IMPROVED, MORE DURABLE, AND SAFER DESIGN), FORD IS ONLY ISSUING A SOFTWARE UPDATE. APPARENTLY I HAD THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE COMPLETED IN 2014, AND YET HERE I AM WITH THE SAME MECHANICAL SAFETY ISSUE TWO YEARS LATER. THE SOFTWARE UPDATE, AS FAR AS MY RESEARCH REVEALS, DOES NOTHING TO ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, IT JUST MAKES THE CAR BEEP WHEN IT LOSES POWER STEERING. THERE ARE APPARENTLY 740,878 VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE, WHICH MEANS NEARLY A MILLION UNSAFE FORD ESCAPES AND MERCURY MARINERS ARE DRIVING AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH DEFECTIVE STEERING CONTROLS THAT COULD FAIL AT ANY POINT MID-TURN. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM (WITH PART REPLACEMENT) BEFORE TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED! *TR