I drove my 2009 Ford Escape to a local gas station and it was running fine. I shut the car down and when I came back out from the store and went to leave I had absolutely no power steering, the message power steering assist fault came across the dash.

- Scranton, PA, USA

Car drove great one second then next power steering failed vehicle was stationary

- Toledo, OH, USA

My steering wheel has been locking up. It seems to happen when I first start to drive but it has happened a couple of times while I was making a turn on the road. I have not driven it on the highway since this has been happening.

- Auburn, NY, USA

It was a heavy rainy night when windshield wipers started acting up with their rhythm making it hard to see through a slightly blurred windshield then windshield & sunroof starts leaking water all over me, inside the front light switch, down into floor boards plus all in the seats !! if that wasn't enough I was slowing down to go around a few curves when brakes acted like they didn't want me to stop scary. Key is hard & sticky feeling to turn in ignition cylinder therefore making the ignition switch not being able to catch any voltage at all to start the engine..after a million tries it'll finally start.. it still leaks, very hard to start & replacing brakes again...

- Trussville, AL, USA

The power steering quit working and the message "power steering assist fault" showed up.

- Eagle Lake, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact started that while driving at 55 mph, the battery warning light illuminated. Within a few moments the steering ceased. The contact was still able to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer gustafson Ford 112 N lexington ave, kewanee, il 61443 (309) 852-2107 was contacted and the contact was informed that the VIN was not subjected to a recall and also that the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact mentioned NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering) as a possible solution to the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Keywon, IL, USA

While parked and trying to start the steering column would not unlock. After wiggling the column back and forth while turning the key the vehicle would start. As soon as you put the vehicle in drive the steering column would lock.after a while it would remain unlocked but it was too difficult to steer. No maintenance code or warning light indicators. Two days prior had driven approx. 470 miles from pa to nh with no issues. Initial research suggest an issue with a worn key switch. A less than $200 fix.had it towed to the local Ford dealer (dover nh). Diagnosis - adaptive collapsible steering column: Power steering control module fault. (part of column). This is causing your steering concern. Item description: The adaptive collapsible steering column is an integral part of the steering and safety system. This is the part that transfers your turning of the steering wheel to the steering gear. The adaptive collapsible is a very important safety feature it will actually collapse during a frontal impact accident to keep the driver from being thrown directly into the steering wheel.reason - if the adaptive collapsible steering column is broken then you will be unable operate your vehicle. Quote 3-4 days for parts - $1,995.69 to repair. I am a female college student on my own and can't afford a $2,000 repair or a car payment. I need a safe car to drive but unfortunately feel I am being taken advantage of.

- Mechanicsburg, PA, USA

My vehicle is experiencing the exact problem described by recall 14S05 but it is not on the recall list so Ford won't pay for the repair.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the steering wheel was loose. The power steering assist fault malfunction light illuminated and the contact struggled to be able to steer. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle. The dealer tipton Ford (3840 North expy, brownsville, tx 78526 (956) 350-5600) diagnosed the issue as the power steering assist and informed that there was no recall. The contact did not authorize the repairs to be done and drove vehicle home where it was currently unrepaired. The manufacturer also stated that the vehicle was not part of a recall. The manufacturer stated that they would see if there was a chance to add the vehicle to the recall even if it was too late the manufacturer then transferred the contact's call to NHTSA without alerting the contact. The failure mileage was 198,000.

- Los Fresnos, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired at downtown Ford located at 525 North 16th street sacramento, ca 95811 (916) 442-6931 under NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering) however, the repair failed to fix the vehicle. The vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist which required a greater driver effort to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure however, no assistance was provided. A case was filed by the manufacturer. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000. The consumer stated the dealer and manufacturer would not honor the recall. The consumer was charged for the repairs.

- Rancho Cordova, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, without warning the power steering ceased to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken to richmond Ford West located at 10751 w broad St, glen allen, va 23060, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed thay the power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering) as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

- Maidens, VA, USA

I was exiting the freeway, turning left when all the sudden my steering wheel froze and I was unable to turn. I barely got myself to a safe place to park my car and was lucky to not cause an accident. I took it to a Ford dealership/ repair shop where they told me the steering shaft torque sensor needed to be replaced and that they had to fix the steering column too. There was a recall on 2008-20011 Ford Escapes for this exact issue!! however when I called Ford to set things right they told me they would not honor the recall. The previous owner got a software update though this was only 1 of 3 fixes that Ford should have done. Ford knows they have unsafe cars on the road and yet they tell the consumer to pay for their improper and faulty product. I don't see why I should have to pay for this when this has been an issue that was recalled; an issue that is exactly what happened to my car. Ford is choosing to not fix the problem and it is a major safety issue to myself, my family and those on the road. How can you get around not fixing your recall" how is that legal"

- Eugene, OR, USA

After leaving the highway (70mph), and travelling on a main road (45mph), the power steering stopped responding and did not work. There is an active recall for this issue on Ford Escapes from '08-'11 (14V284000) but this specific VIN is not listed as one of the affected ones. Similar to the listed issues in the recall, the power steering appeared to recover a few days later, at low speeds (in a parking lot). The mechanic said that the control module would need to be replaced, as Ford has issued an update to the part.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

Power steering stopped working while driving. NHTSA recall # 14S05 was repaired on 10/14/14 according to Ford database. Clearly, the steering torque sensor Ford used to replace is faulty as well.

- Ijamsville, MD, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 15 mph, while attempting to make a right turn the steering ceased. The vehicle was moved to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the electronic power steering failed and needed to be replaced. Beau townsend Ford Lincoln located at 1020 w national rd, vandalia, oh 45377, (937)898-5841, was contacted by phone and informed of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 158,000.

- Dayton, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 mph, the power steering functionality became inoperable. The contact stated that extra effort was needed to operate the vehicle in manual steering mode. The contact stated that the vehicle also overheated. The contact stated that as instructed by the owners manual, the vehicle was turned off and allowed to sit to have the engine temperature return to normal operational temperatures. The contact stated that after the vehicle sat for approximately two hours, the vehicle was towed to the residence. Lithia Ford Lincoln of fresno (195 E auto center dr, fresno, ca 93710, (559) 435-8400) was contacted and appointment was scheduled to have the vehicle diagnosed which was still pending. The contact was concerned that the failure was due to NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

- Fresno, CA, USA

The contact called on behalf of her daughter who owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at approximately 35 mph, without warning the steering wheel ceased. The contact also stated that the failure recurred while the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and the vehicle operated as intended. The contact stated that on one occasion the vehicle was restarted three times before the vehicle operated as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic on site where the vehicle last experienced the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was contacted and an appointment was scheduled to have the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

Power steering assist fault parked at my work. I started my Escape hybrid and I couldn't move the steering wheel. The dash showed "power steering assist fault" somebody told me there was a recall, with the "torque sensor" on the electric power steering, on 2008-2012 Escape models, but not the hybrid models. Why" don't the two vehicles have similar parts" (beside the electric motor)

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

When I was driving the power steering failed almost causing me to hit another vehicle while turning the corner onto a city street. A light in the vehicle came on and stated power steering assist fault.

- Niagara Falls, NY, USA

Driving home the steering locked up and almost crashed.

- Clintondale, NY, USA