NHTSA Complaint #11425313 — 2014 FORD ESCAPE

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Rack and Pinion Gear Assembly. Yes, but already inspected by Ford Dealership. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Stopped to get gas while on a trip, when turned the engine on, the steering wheel would not turn. It was completely locked with no prior warning. If this had happened on the interstate, I could have wrecked with children in the vehicle. I am not even sure I would have been able to turn the wheel to pull off to the side of the road. VERY dangerous. Had to be towed 24miles to closest Ford dealership and spent the night in a strange town as everything was closed and couldn't get rental as the supply was low in the tiny town. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, dealer service center confirmed problem and informed me it would cost $3K to fix on my 2014 Ford Escape, which only has 54K miles on it. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, by Ford's service center, where the vehicle is being repaired. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning until after the problem occurred. The reading stated, "Steering Assist Fault Service Required" when I started my car to a locked steering wheel.