NHTSA Complaint #11308423 — 2013 FORD ESCAPE

WHILE DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD, MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL DISPLAYED A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE NOTIFICATION. WHEN SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE NOTIFICATION WENT AWAY AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GREG DARNELL FORD IN MIDWEST CITY, OK FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND WERE TOLD A GEAR ASSEMBLY IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD GONE BAD (PART NO. HV6Z-3504-CD). THE REPAIR COST IS $2129 AFTER A 10% MILITARY DISCOUNT. THE PROBLEM IS VERY SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN 14V284000 FOR THE 2008-2011 ESCAPE, BUT THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN EXTENDED TO COVER MORE RECENT MODEL YEARS. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND SAFELY EXIT THE ROAD, SHAKEN BUT WITHOUT INCIDENT. HOWEVER, HAD SHE BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A POTENTIALLY DEADLY ACCIDENT. SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2013 ESCAPES ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY DISMISSED MY CONCERN AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.