NHTSA Complaint #11281261 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING GARAGE AND DROVE ABOUT A HALF A MILE THROUGH CITY STREETS. AS I TURNED LEFT AND INCREASED SPEED TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T LET ME OUT OF THE TURN. WITH CARS COMING BEHIND ME, I BRAKED AND LET THE CAR CONTINUE IN ITS TRAJECTORY TOWARDS THE SIDE OF THE ON RAMP. I PUT ON MY HAZARDS, CUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN TURNED IT ON AGAIN. THE STEERING RETURNED. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY GOT THE COURAGE TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE HOME AGAIN. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2010, AND THIS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE AROUND 2012-2013. I HAD THE RECALL DONE, HOWEVER, AND I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. APPARENTLY NOT. THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, AND I CRINGE TO THINK OF WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF I'D HAVE MADE IT ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND COULDN'T STEER OUT OF A CURVE GOING 60 MPH IN TRAFFIC.