NHTSA Complaint #11170531 — 2011 FORD ESCAPE

WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL ERROR LIGHTS APPEARED ON MY DASH FOLLOWED BY CLICKING NOISES. SHORTLY AFTER MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WAS MAKING A TURN AT A MODERATE SPEED AND THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND I STRAINED MYSELF AND PULLED SEVERAL UPPER BODY MUSCLES IN THE PROCESS. I AM A SMALL WOMAN AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANUALLY TURN THE WHEEL. I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS PART. EVEN THOUGH MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING ITS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. IT IS A 2011 ESCAPE AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE VEHICLES INCLUDING MINE, THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THE DEFECTIVE PART ALMOST CAUSE A TRAGIC ACCIDENT, AND ALTHOUGH I AVOIDED THAT, I DID INJURE MYSELF IN AN EFFORT TO STEER MY VEHICLE WITHOUT THE ASSIST OF THE POWER STEERING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY ENGAGED TWICE WITHIN A WEEK OF IT ORIGINALLY GOING OUT. BOTH TIMES IT REINGAGED WHILE I WAS TURNING MY VEHICLE AND AGAIN THIS SUDDEN CHANGE ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. I'VE NOW HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE THIS PART AND I FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE.