NHTSA Complaint #11170069 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

MY VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING A STIFF STEERING WHEEL AFTER LEAVING WALMART SATURDAY 10/6/19. IT WAS THEN TOWED 10/9/19 TO FIRESTONE AT WHICH TIME THEY INSTALLED AN ALTERNATOR TO SUPPOSEDLY TO ELIMINATE THE STIFF STEERING WHEEL, WHICH WAS FINE UNTIL 1/5/2019 AT WHICH TIME UPON DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY I-290 HEADING TO ELGIN FROM BELLWOOD AT 45 MILES PER HOUR OR SO I BEGAN EXPERIENCING A STIFF STEERING WHEEL AGAIN. I HAD TO TURN AROUND WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY AND FEARFULLY BACK TO BELLWOOD AND PARK VEHICLE AT AUNT'S HOME AND WAIT FOR ANOTHER TOW BACK TO FIRESTONE AGAIN. I WAS TOLD ON 1/7/19 BY FAUSTO, SERVICE MANAGER OF FIRESTONE THAT IS A DEFECT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS A RECALL WITH FORD REGARDING THIS MATTER. I INFORMED THEM THAT THE RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE, BUT IN ANOTHER BATCH RECALL #14S05. SO, I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD ON 1/11/2019. I WAS PREVIOUSLY TOLD IN EARLY OCTOBER, 2019 BY FORD THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. I DON'T GET WHY I AM STUCK WITH THIS BILL FOR SOMETHING THAT I PERCEIVE AS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST IN MY OPINION. ULTIMATELY, ON TODAY 1/11/2019 I WAS CHARGED $1,578 PLUS THE COST OF AN ALTERNATOR ON 10/11/2018 TO FIRESTONE PURSUANT TO THE STIFF STEERING WHEEL ISSUE. THIS DOESN'T SEEM FAIR THAT BECAUSE I AM NOT IN A PARTICULAR BATCH I HAVE TO ASSUME THIS RESPONSIBILITY, BUT I KNOW THAT I AM NOT ALONE. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AT 17,781 MILES SO I VIRTUALLY HAVE ONLY DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN OUT OF TOWN, AND ONCE TO SOUTH HOLLAND, ILLINOIS IN ALL OF THIS TIME. PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP PURSUE THIS RECALL IN THE BEST INTEREST OF MYSELF AND OTHER CONSUMERS OF THIS FORD MANUFACTURING PRODUCT DEFECT. ITS STATED ON MY RECEIPT THAT IT IS CODE B81342 INTERNAL FAULT. SEE ATTACHMENTS. THANK YOU.