Video documents Ford Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) failure and identifies cause in 2010 Ford Flex Ecoboost. Evidence is presented suggesting Ford has been less than honest concerning electric steering failure disposition in millions of vehicles since 2008.

If you own a Ford vehicle equipped with electric power steering; you and your family have been placed at risk of injury or death. If you own pre 2011 Ford vehicle equipped with electric power steering; Ford and the NHTSB have excluded you from the 2015 recall affecting over 3 million Ford vehicles with identical EPAS equipment and failures. The reason for your exclusion is fact more than 12 million pre 2011 Ford vehicles include defective TRW EPAS steering gear. Ford's bottom line has been placed before your family's safety.

Failure modes include sudden and complete loss of power assist, noncommanded steering torques that can jerk wheel right out of your hands and send your vehicle out of control. Non power assisted (manual) steering gear ratios are low; so manual steering requires considerable effort at low speeds and superhuman strength at static.

Be advised there are catalysts that hasten Ford EPAS failures. These catalysts include front end misalignment, uneven tire wear, ball joints, wheel bearings, etc. These issues cause front wheel wander (both dynamic and static). Wander acts as a forcing function on the EPAS servo system; which the EPAS will compensate for. This constant servo compensation during driving requires additional energy; which translates to even more thermal energy production. In an already thermally stressed system, this additional stress causes breakdown. This explains why many consumers have reported suspension and tire problems coupled with EPAS failures. This fact does not however imply EPAS system failures cannot occur in absence of suspension and tire deficiencies.

Also note many consumers report replacement EPAS failures at alarming interval. This is due to fact Ford has not addressed or even acknowledged thermal design problem affecting millions of automobiles since 2008. Replacement EPAS assemblies have not been upgraded or redesigned in any way. Ford just keeps remanufacturing damaged units as new replacements. Placing remanufactured assemblies in same overheated engine compartment environment.

Most troubling is fact Ford cannot effectively correct engine compartment thermal issue. There is literally nothing Ford can do to correct a thermally stressed implementation short of total redesign. This implies Ford's only alternatives include replacement of millions of faulty vehicles sold since 2008; or implementing program to deceive, minimize, manipulate, delay and ultimately deflect problem at expense of unsuspecting consumers. The magnitude of the EPAS failure at Ford represents a company 'state of emergency'. Ford will do anything to save their $199B bottomline. The NHTSA will not push Ford on this one; because bureaucrats understand design faults of this magnitude and depth, will cost Ford dearly. The NHTSA, though sold as consumer safety advocate, is far more politically entwined in economics and US corporate business agendas, than safety. US based big businesses enjoy special considerations as compared to overseas companies like Takada; facing bankruptcy as direct result of NHTSA action. But Ford posts multiplebillion profit in 2016.

Comments are welcome; note any abusive, profane, inappropriate, or otherwise insulting comments will be immediately removed and reported. Note this video was published to assist Ford owners who have experienced failures and require insight and information associated with design defect. If you are a Ford enthusiast and just want to defend a juvenile and unnatural attachment to your automobile; go to another site. Your profane and disrespectful comments will be dealt with harshly.

Please note I am not am automotive mechanic by trade, my expertise is associated with electronic engineering design in robotics and autonomous vehicle systems. Although I do carry extensive experience associated with automotive and heavy equipment restoration and engine rebuilding (as a hobby); I make no particular claim of expertise associated with automobile mechanics, or service technician procedures.