NHTSA Complaint #11360960 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AND WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FAMILY FRIEND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND DTC CODE: B2278 (STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR) WAS RETRIEVED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SECOND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE WAS AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT, OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.