NHTSA Complaint #11443180 — 2010 FORD ESCAPE

After a few minutes of driving, the power steering assist began to fail. First, the "power steering assist fault" notification/error appeared in my message center, and steering became difficult, but the error disappeared after a few seconds and I was then able to steer easily. I parked my car and turned it off. When I turned the car on again about three minutes later, the "power steering assist fault" message appeared at startup and did not disappear. The power steering has not worked since. The error code "power steering assist fault" signifies that the power steering control module cannot determine the driver's steering input. Because the electric power steering system cannot determine what direction the driver is steering, the EPS shuts down. This exact error was the cause of a recall that began May 27, 2014 (see NHTSA campaign # 14V284000) (see also Ford recall # 14S05). The recall states that "vehicles potentially affected are certain 2008-2011 model year Fold Escape & Mercury Mariner vehicles built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant from August 18, 2006, to September 11, 2010." My vehicle meets all of these criteria; my vehicle also has experienced the specific error mentioned in the recall documents. I noticed no other errors or malfunctions with the vehicle at the time. The vehicle is available for inspection as needed. The error has been examined by an individual with knowledge of vehicle error codes and repair. The first EPS system fault occurred while I was actively driving. If the EPS had not briefly restored itself, I would have been stuck in an intersection and blocked the entrance to a large parking lot. Additionally, I had just pulled off of a highway; if the EPS had faulted a minute earlier, I would have been unable to leave the highway and would have been in a more perilous situation.