2016 Ford Escape SEVERE STEERING ISSUES

I purchased a new 2016 Ford Escape from a dealership in my area. Despite the fact that it's not even a year old yet, my vehicle is making a very unsettling grinding noise when I turn the steering wheel. In addition, when making turns, my steering wheel does not simply glide back into place after the turn is completed, but it has to be manually turned to return to its former position.

I took it to the dealership from which I purchased it today and the mechanic who listened to the noise that my steering wheel was making made a nasty face and said, "To be honest, I have NEVER heard that noise in my life. You should not drive this vehicle." HOWEVER, despite it being LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, my warranty is expired because I have accrued 36,000 miles (part of warranty agreement) because my job requires me to travel.

Does anyone have any advice as to what my options are? I can't believe after not even owning this vehicle for a year that Ford would abandon their brand and integrity to suck up more than $1,000 from me.

Obviously the warranty is used up. It is 3 year OR 36,000 miles. Sounds like a bad rack and pinion or steering box, depending upon what you have if the power steering pump is working correctly. Obviously you have checked to see if part of the suspension/steering is broken/damaged.

I can't believe you put that many miles on it when you knew something was wrong!

In Europe you get 3 years unlimited mileage waranty.
Take it to a decent mechanic
You need this on a lift to find out where the noise is.
I suspect a steering rack.

HI well guess what it is a cheap made car and in some cases they would just walk away. So especially if it has been tampered with such as modified by it's owners to do things it should not like mufflers removed and catalytic converter removed so it makes more noise as it has changed it's original design parameters.