NHTSA Complaint #10947000 — 2011 FORD ESCAPE

WE PURCHASED A USED 2011 FORD ESCAPE ON JAN 17,2017. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AND DRIVING HOME, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. WE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND RESTARTED IT. THE POWER STEERING WAS FUNCTIONING AGAIN. AS WE TURNED THE CORNER ON MY STREET, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO GO STRAIGHT TOWARD A LIGHT POLE ON THE CORNER. WE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND WE WERE ABLE TO FORCE THE STEERING MANUALLY TO TURN INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. I CONTACTED THE NON-FORD DEALER TO ADVISE THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF LEAVING THEIR DEALERSHIP. REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE YET. FORD SAYS THAT MY VIN IS NOT UNDER THE RECALL, DESPITE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL STATES. I RESEARCHED OUR VEHICLE AND CONTACTED FORD TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED ON MAY, 2014. HERE IS THE RECALL: RECALL NUMBER 14V284000 RECALL DATE 05/29/2014 COMPONENT STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM SUMMARY FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FORD) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 FORD ESCAPE AND MERCURY MARINER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AUGUST 18, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 11, 2010. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE A STEERING TORQUE SENSOR THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY DETECT DRIVER STEERING INPUT. AS A RESULT, THE SYSTEM COULD REMOVE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) ASSIST. CONSEQUENCE IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, GREATER DRIVER EFFORT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO STEER THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. FORD'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS 14S05 ATTACHED IS THE CODING FROM THE DEALERSHIP. *TR