NHTSA Complaint #11164608 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK SEVERELY AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY DRIVEN TO MATTHEWS CURRIE FORD (LOCATED AT 130 N TAMIAMI TRAIL, NOKOMIS, FL 34275, (800) 248-2378) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,588.