NHTSA Complaint #11362060 — 2015 FORD ESCAPE

WITHIN A WEEK OF REPLACING INNER & OUTER TIE RODS, A STEERING FAULT, SERVICE NOW MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INFORMATION DISPLAY ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2020. AT TIME VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WITHIN 35 MPH SPEED LIMIT ON A FOUR LANE NORFOLK, VIRGINIA CITY STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ABOUT A MILE FURTHER TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT. AFTER STOPPING AND CHECKING THE MANUAL, VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED ACCORDING TO MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS. THE MESSAGE CHANGED TO STEERING LOSS, STOP SAFELY. WE CONFERRED WITH THE CARMASTERS SERVICE CENTER THAT PERFORMED THE TIE ROD REPLACEMENT. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION ON AGAIN, THE STEERING LOSS, STOP SAFELY MESSAGE REMAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO CARMASTERS, UPON THEIR ADVICE, FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BINDING OF THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. DIAGNOSTIC TEST FAULT CODE C 102D WAS REPORTED. INSPECTION TO CONFIRM DAMAGE WAS ALSO REPORTED. RECOMMENDED REPAIR WAS REPLACEMENT OF POWER ASSIST STEERING RACK AND PINION, FOLLOWED BY FRONT END ALIGNMENT. COST ESTIMATE WAS $3,200 FOR FORD DEALER SUPPLIED REPLACEMENT RACK & PINION ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST ASSEMBLY INSTALLATION. FORTUNATELY NO PERSONAL INJURY RESULTED. VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE WITH GREAT EFFORT WITHOUT POWER ASSIST. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CALLED ON SEPTEMBER 29 TO CONFIRM INCREASING FREQUENCY OF SUCH ASSISTED STEERING FAILURE, AS NOTED IN NHTSA POSTING AND GENERAL INTERNET POSTINGS. APPEARS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY FAILURE ON A VEHICLE OF 45,744 MILES WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY INCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE DAMAGED THE RACK AND PINION IN THE OVER 2 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, DURING WHICH WE DROVE ABOUT 30,000 MILES. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISED WE WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO GET ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR, UNLESS THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY A FORD AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER AND THE NHTSA RULED THE RACK AND PINION POWER ASSIST WAS FAULTY.