NHTSA Complaint #11163631 — 2012 FORD ESCAPE

ON OCTOBER 26, 2018, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WAITING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PROCEEDED TO MAKE MY TURN, MY WHEEL WAS TIGHT AND LOCKED INTO ONE POSITION. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STRAIGHTEN IT OUT. I DROVE ABOUT ONE MILE BEFORE I COULD SAFELY TURN IT INTO A PARKING LOT. I HAD TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN IT AND STRAIGHTEN IT OUT. I SAT IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHILE MAKING SOME PHONE CALLS TO FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT MY SITUATION. AT ONE POINT, I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WAITED 5 MINUTES AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WAS WORKING. VERY SCARY SITUATION. I DROVE IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WAS A STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR MALFUNCTION B2278 CODE 100.427. SINCE MY MECHANIC CLEARED THE CODE, 3 SEPARATE FORD DEALERS REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT WITHOUT AN ACTIVE CODE. SO I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND HOLDING MY BREATH EACH TIME I MAKE A TURN AND KEEP LOOKING FOR THE STRAIGHTEST PATH WHEREVER I GO. BUT LUCKY FOR ME, ON DECEMBER 24, STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND COULDN'T START CAR FROM A PARKED POSITION. HOPING THIS INCIDENT IS RELATED TO THE FIRST. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR, NOTHING. I WAITED 5 MINUTES AND THE CAR STARTED. MY WHEEL WAS TURNED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AS I WAS PARKED ON A DOWNWARD INCLINE. HOPING THE TWO INCIDENTS ARE RELATED SO I CAN GET THIS NERVE WRACKING SITUATION REPAIRED. ALSO FILED FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH FORD CORPORATION.