NHTSA Complaint #11003435 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO TURN BACK AND FORTH INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (POWER STEERING); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL REPAIR REMEDY WAS PERFORMED AT WESTLIE MOTOR COMPANY (LOCATED ON 500 S BROADWAY ST, MINOT, ND, 58701). DUE TO THE CONTACT BEING OUT OF TOWN DURING THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER (HAVRE FORD LOCATED AT 1991 2ND AVE, HAVRE, MT, 59501) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BEGUN TO FAIL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALER, WESTLIE MOTOR COMPANY, ONCE SHE RETURNED AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT LIKELY THE SAME PART THAT FAILED AND, EVEN IF IT WAS, IT WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THE CONTACT HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ACTIVE RECALLS AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE IT UP WITH HER LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000.