NHTSA Complaint #10944531 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

REMEDY RECALL 14S05 -- POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE (PSCM) SOFTWARE UPDATE PERFORMED (AS DIRECTED) DID NOT ADEQUATELY REMEDY THE SAFETY DEFECT (THE TORQUE SENSOR ITSELF) AND MAY IN FACT CAUSE FURTHER ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLES POWER STEERING. FORD CURRENTLY DOES NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIRS UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL. PERHAPS THEY ARE WAITING FOR MORE INJURY /CIVIL LAWSUITS BEFORE ADDRESSING THESE CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERNS. THE NHTSA ALSO PARTLY SHARES THE BLAME FOR THIS ... AFTER ISSUING RECALL 14V-284 (VOQ 10670665), THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE CONTINUED PSCM ISSUES AND HAVE NEGLECTED TO GRANT A DECISION THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE STEERING WHEEL TORQUE SENSOR DEFECT. SHAME ON YOU. DATE OF RECALL PERFORMED ON 9/3/2014 AT ODO 116,044. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE OBSERVED AND TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP ON 1/11/2017 AT ODO 139,151. FORD CUSTOMER CARE DENIED ASSISTANCE IN REPLACING THE TORQUE SENSOR AS NOTED IN RECALL 14S05. I WAS TOLD, "THE RECALL ADDRESSED THE SOFTWARE ISSUE, NOT THE DEFECTIVE PART(S) AND TOO MUCH TIME HAS ELAPSED FOR OUR COMPANY TO HELP YOU PAY FOR THE REPAIR." FORD WOULD RATHER ITS DRIVERS (VEHICLES) OPERATE IN CONDITION THAT IS UNSAFE AND AT AN INCREASED RISK OF CRASH OR INJURY, THAN GO THE EXTRA MILE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY CONCERN IS RESOLVED. SEEING AS OTHER PETITIONERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THIS IS AN OPEN AND ONGOING INVESTIGATION, MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS WOULD APPRECIATE AN EXPEDITED RESPONSE FROM THE NHTSA TO RECONCILE AND RE-MEDIATE THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR