NHTSA Complaint #11300890 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

WHILE PARKED AND TRYING TO START THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT UNLOCK. AFTER WIGGLING THE COLUMN BACK AND FORTH WHILE TURNING THE KEY THE VEHICLE WOULD START. AS SOON AS YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK.AFTER A WHILE IT WOULD REMAIN UNLOCKED BUT IT WAS TOO DIFFICULT TO STEER. NO MAINTENANCE CODE OR WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS. TWO DAYS PRIOR HAD DRIVEN APPROX. 470 MILES FROM PA TO NH WITH NO ISSUES. INITIAL RESEARCH SUGGEST AN ISSUE WITH A WORN KEY SWITCH. A LESS THAN $200.00 FIX.HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER (DOVER NH). DIAGNOSIS - ADAPTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMN: POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE FAULT. (PART OF COLUMN). THIS IS CAUSING YOUR STEERING CONCERN. ITEM DESCRIPTION: THE ADAPTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMN IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STEERING AND SAFETY SYSTEM. THIS IS THE PART THAT TRANSFERS YOUR TURNING OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE STEERING GEAR. THE ADAPTIVE COLLAPSIBLE IS A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE IT WILL ACTUALLY COLLAPSE DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT TO KEEP THE DRIVER FROM BEING THROWN DIRECTLY INTO THE STEERING WHEEL.REASON - IF THE ADAPTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMN IS BROKEN THEN YOU WILL BE UNABLE OPERATE YOUR VEHICLE. QUOTE 3-4 DAYS FOR PARTS - $1,995.69 TO REPAIR. I AM A FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENT ON MY OWN AND CAN'T AFFORD A $2,000.00 REPAIR OR A CAR PAYMENT. I NEED A SAFE CAR TO DRIVE BUT UNFORTUNATELY FEEL I AM BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.