NHTSA Complaint #11480011 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

Intermittent failure of power steering, beginning at startup—at each startup, power steering either worked or it didn’t. After one month, power steering failed entirely. Vehicle is still drivable, but with no power assist to steering. My mechanic says the power steering control module requires replacement. There is an active recall for this exact failure that applies to my model and year, but Ford customer service says it does not apply to my VIN, and will not tell me exactly why. Internet forums show this failure is common and often not covered under recall. Ford no longer manufactures the necessary replacement part, and my mechanic so far has been unable to find a used replacement.