NHTSA Complaint #11298585 — 2013 FORD ESCAPE

MY WIFE WAS LEAVING FOR WORK AND HER 2013 FORD ESCAPE HAD A STEERING ASSIST FAILURE LIGHT COME ON ON THE DASH BOARD. THE STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. SHE PARKED IT AND USED MY VEHICLE TO GET TO WORK. I LOOKED THIS UP AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS EXCEPT FOR 2008 -2011 FORD ESCAPES. BUT THE PROBLEM IS CONTINUING THROUGH TO 2017 FROM WHAT I READ ONLINE MILEAGE RANGES FROM 700 AND UP . FORD HAS NO FIX FOR THIS, THEY TELL YOU THEY NEED TO FLASH THE COMPUTER AND THAT FIXES THE ISSUE. BUT IT DOES NOT I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS THAT THIS WONT FIX ISSUE AND THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK/PINION GEAR ASSEMBLY AND THE COMPUTER PORTION OF IT ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM COME BACK AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER HAVING NEW PARTS INSTALLED. I AM OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER DRIVING VEHICLES WITH OUT POWER STEERING NOT TO BIG A DEAL FOR ME, BUT SOME PEOPLE SAY THERE STEERING LOCKS UP COMPLETELY AND CANT TURN WHEEL. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED, I DO NOT WANT TO LOSE MY WIFE IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE FORD IS NOT FIXING THE ISSUE. THEY NEED A FIX FOR THIS THAT WILL NOT RETURN IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE TRIED TO DUPLICATE WHAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING AND HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL, IF I CANT THEN FORD CANT AND THERE FOR NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOME ONE LOOSES A LOVED ONE.