2006 FORD ESCAPE HEV Steering Problems

MY SON AND I WERE LEAVING A PARKING LOT WHEN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I GOT A WARNING CHIME AND THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE MESSAGE "SERVICE PWR STEERING" ON THE DASH. LUCKILY (I THOUGHT) I WAS NEAR A AUTO PARTS PLACE SO I SLOWLY DROVE THERE. I PULLED IN, TOOK OUT THE MANUAL AND REALIZED THAT THERE IS NO POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR TO CHECK OR FILL (AS WOULD HAVE BEEN MY QUICK SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM). DRIVING WAS SLOW AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DUE TO INABILITY TO TURN (AT SPEED). THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY PURCHASED FOR MY MOM, WHO WAS 75 AT THE TIME. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FOR HER WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS.DRIVING WITH MANUAL STEERING IS DIFFICULT AND MUSCLE BUILDING. I HAD TO DRIVE 25 BACK HOME ON CURVY, MOUNTAIN BACK ROADS. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT/INJURIES...

PART TWO: NOTE FROM CUSTOMER: NO PARTICULAR DASHBOARD LIGHT ISSUE (EXCEPT FOR ONE) WORKED FINE UNTIL UTTER SYSTEM COLLAPSE OF CAR -- UTTER AND QUICK DEATH, LIES LIFELESS ON DRIVEWAY,LEAVING ME W/BROKEN HEART -- MY LOVE AFFAIR W/FORD ROCKED TO DEPTHS. HAD 3 PERFECT TAURUSES, & I NEVER EXPECTED A $5000 FIX ON A CAR WHEN IT'S BEEN DONE TO OTHERS WITH NO GOOD RESULTS. WE ARE AS POOR AS PICKLES. I HAVE READ SO MANY EXACT SAME STORIES ONLINE THAT I BELIEVE THERE IS A "KNOWN ISSUE" & THAT YOU ALL WILL BE (NO OFFENSE) BE HIT BY A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT OR A BUNCH OF LEMONS LAW SUITS. I'VE READ THE SAME STORY OVER AND OVER -- BATTERY FAILURE, NEW BATTERY ALSO FAILED IN DANGEROUS PLACES WITH CHILDREN CAR. ALL HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING; OUR BATTERY WAS PRETTY NEW. BUT A NEW BATTERY BOUGHT, INSTALLED & FAILED...

REPAIR QUOTE FROM JOURNEY FORD, NOVATO: J#1: STEERING CONCERN-CUSTOMER STATES NO POWER ASSIST (?) TO POWER STEERING & "SERVICE POWER STEERING IS ON MESSAGE CENTER. TEST DROVE VEHICLE & CONFIRMED POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. RAN TESTS & PULLED CODE B2277. PERFORMED PIN POINT & FOUND EPA'S MODULE & GEAR FAILING. SUGGESTED REPLACING MODULE & GEAR & RE-TESTING.CUSTOMER DECLINED REPAIR. J#1: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT: CUSTOMER STATES WRENCH IS ON & BRAKE LIGHT IS ON. HAS BEEN HIT ON RT SIDE & REPAIRED. INSPECTED VEHICLE & MULTIPLE LIGHTS ARE ON IN DASH. PULLED CODES & HAVE CODES B1239. REAR DOOR MODE FAILURE. RAN TESTS & FOUND HYBRID BATTERY MODE DOOR IS FAULTY. SUGGEST REPLACING & REPROGRAMMING BCM. CODE P0A81 & P0A8D FOUND TSB FOR UPDATED HBRD BATTERY & COOLING FANS. SUGGEST REPLACING & RETESTING. RAN TESTS & FOUND U2060 FOR ABS CONCERN. RAN TESTS & FOUND TSB FOR UPDATED HARNESS &...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HEV. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP COMPLETELY. THE FAILURE FELT AS IF THE VEHICLE HAD SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. WHEN THE CONTACT SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,000.