NHTSA Complaint #11186080 — 2011 FORD ESCAPE

FAILED POWER STEERING. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM ON MY ESCAPE HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I HAD JUST LEFT A PARKING LOT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE CAR GOT VERY HARD TO TURN. IT WAS ACTING LIKE THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED. SO, FEELING COMFORTABLE ENOUGH THAT I KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG, I DROVE HOME TO GET OUR OTHER VEHICLE. NOW AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A TRADITIONAL POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT RATHER AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. I AM SHOCKED THAT I MADE IT HOME NOW THAT I KNOW THAT THE SYSTEM WAS FIGHTING MY ATTEMPTS TO TURN, NOT JUST SIMPLY NOT SUPPLYING POWER ASSISTANCE. I UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER VINS OF MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED DUE TO ISSUES WITH THIS SYSTEM, BUT MINE IS NOT COVERED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO OTHER VINS OF ESCAPE. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE KNOWING THAT THIS. PRIOR TO THIS TOTAL FAILURE, WE HAD EXPERIENCED THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING AND MOTOR RPM REDUCTION. THIS LET ME TO THINK THAT IT WAS A TRADITIONAL POWER STEERING PUMP. I DID NOT TAKE ACTION BECAUSE NO WARNING CODES OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYED AND I WAS NOT HEARING THE TELL TALE WHINE OF A FAILING POWER STEERING PUMP.