NHTSA Complaint #11206793 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO RESET THE COMPUTER DUE TO THE EPS FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE EPS WARNING INDICATOR MAY FLASH IN THE EVENT OF THE FAILURE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. APPLE FORD LINCOLN APPLE VALLEY (6961, 7200 150TH ST W, APPLE VALLEY, MN 55124, (952) 204-9657) INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE SCHEDULED FOR AN APPOINTMENT, THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED FOR FURTHER TESTING AND DIAGNOSIS WHICH HAD NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED AS OF YET. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS TO TEST AND DIAGNOSE THE EPS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCLUDED THE VIN FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) HOWEVER THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.