NHTSA Complaint #11046926 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEEPED. A WARNING ALERT APPEARED THAT INDICATED "POWER STEERING ASSIST STALLED". THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME; HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED AND HAD TO BE TURNED MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) IN DECEMBER OF 2014, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE LOCAL DEALER (WESTFIELD FORD INC, 6200 SOUTH LA GRANGE RD, COUNTRYSIDE, IL, 60525) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REMEDY FAILED AND THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX], BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000. *BF INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR