NHTSA Complaint #11171678 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

THE INITIAL PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED IS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR THOUGH STOPPED. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND WAS INFORMED OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING A TORQUE ANGLE STEERING SENSOR, WHICH WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER THAT REPAIR, THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER SHAKES UPON BRAKING. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PRESSURE TO THE RIGHT, BUT NO RESISTANCE TO THE LEFT, AND IS THEREFORE ALWAYS STEERING TO THE LEFT. I DID ALERT THE SHOP TO THE PROBLEM AND THEY MADE CERTAIN IT WAS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE ALIGNMENT. THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY WHICH THE NEW TORQUE ANGLE STEERING SENSOR IS NOT ABLE TO CALIBRATE AGAINST. THE VEHICLE IS NOW LARGELY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE SECOND ROUND OF REPAIRS ARE DONE. THE SHOP WHERE I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE, BELIEVE FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ASSEMBLY - THE REASON THEY BELIEVE FORD IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE IS BECAUSE THEY CALLED A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THAT THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS THIS ENTIRE ASSEMBLY IN STOCK. THE CHOICE TO KEEP THIS ASSEMBLY IN STOCK, I WAS TOLD, IS INDICATIVE OF ROUTINE NEED TO REPLACE THIS PART.