NHTSA Complaint #11063008 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

RECALL # 14S05 > MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEEL/DRIVE CAR. IT OCCURRED WHEN SHE STOPPED TO FILL CAR WITH GAS AND CONTINUED FOR THE SHORT TRIP TO A SERVICE STATION. THE LOCAL FIRESTONE SERVICE SHOP FOUND CODE 2278 WHICH WAS FOR STEERING TORQUE SENSOR AND TOLD HER THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVE-ABLE FOR SAFETY REASONS. IT WAS TOWED TO WINNER FORD IN CHERRY HILL, NJ. I WAS ALERTED TO THE RECALL AND RESEARCHED IT, DISCOVERING RECALL # 14S05, ISSUED IN 2014, WHICH APPEARED TO AFFECT OUR VEHICLE. DEALER AND FORD SAY THEY WILL NOT HONOR THIS RECALL BECAUSE THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN WHEN NOTICE FIRST RECEIVED IN 2014 AND RE-PROGRAMMING WAS DONE TO FIX PROBLEM. FORD'S RESPONSE WAS THAT ONCE THE RECALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE, THEY ARE NO LONGER OBLIGATED. FORD REP ALSO COMMENTED THAT THE AGE/MILEAGE OF THE CAR DID NOT WARRANT FURTHER ACTION. MY POSITION IS THAT THEY PUT A BAND-AID ON A PROBLEM AND NOW THE REAL PROBLEM IS SURFACING - THE TORQUE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL NOTICE WHEN CODE 2278 IS FOUND. AGE OF CAR DOES NOT MATTER - IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE FORD CREATED. WHEN I ASKED FOR A COPY OF THE VOICE TAPE OR TRANSCRIPT OF THE CALL, I WAS GIVEN FORD CASE NUMBER IS: CAS13915472