NHTSA Complaint #11193065 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

ELECTRIC ASSIST POWER STEERING - MY VEHICLE HAS GONE WITHOUT POWER STEERING FOR OVER 2 YEARS , THERE IS AN ISSUE IN THE ELECTRIC ASSIST TORQUE SENSOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT SENSE THE NEED FOR POWER STEERING IN TURNS. THIS BEING A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN BEING ABLE TO STEER REGULARLY. I HAVE OBSERVED A RECALL ONLINE FROM THE KANSAS CITY PLANT , MY VEHICLE IS KANSAS CITY BUILT AND I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO MECHANIC SHOP FOR THE REPAIR ONLY TO BE INFORMED THAT FORD WILL NOT COVER THE ISSUE THAT I WILL BE OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR WORK. THIS WAS A SECONDHAND VEHICLE FOR ME AND FINANCIALLY I WAS AND AM NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THE COSTLY REPAIR OF WHAT THEY WILL CHARGE FOR WORK. THUS LEAVING ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO POWER STEERING OR HAVING THE TROUBLE CODE CLEARED TO ALLOW A VERY LOOSE STEERING COLUMN WHERE IT SHAKES AND RATTLES WHILE IDLING AND CAN BE OBSERVED FROM EXTERIOR SIDE SEEING THE DRIVE WHEELS SHAKING AS IF THE VEHICLE IS ATTEMPTING TO TURN ITSELF. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE AS I DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE OPTION AT THIS TIME. MY CHILDREN TRAVEL IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND I FEAR FOR OUR SAFETY WHILE DRIVING IT.