NHTSA Complaint #10940305 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, DASH WARNING INDICATED "POWER ASSIST STEERING FAILURE" WHEN ENGINE WAS STARTED. STEERING IS NOW CONSIDERABLY HARDER, BORDERING ON IMPOSSIBLE WHILE SITTING STILL. VEHICLE HAD RECALL 14S05 PERFORMED IN OCT 2014. SINCE THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL, A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED (WHICH WILL DO NOTHING FOR A MECHANICAL FAILURE) AND THE RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS CLOSED. NOW WITH THE APPARENT MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING MOTOR, OR STEERING POSITION SENSOR, OR BOTH, FORD WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE RECALL BEING CLOSED. SO FORD CLOSED THE RECALL BY PERFORMING IT BEFORE THE PARTS FAILED AND NOW EXPECTS THE OWNER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $1800 (QUOTE FROM DEALER) TO PERFORM THE REPAIR.