The fan switch and relay box has a electrical melt down according to the service advisor at the Ford dealer. The fan switch was replaced once before. The last time it cost me about $250 with extended warranty. Now the warranty has expired and will cost me about $1000 to replace. I feel Ford did a patch job during the extended warranty and it was never correctly fixed. I checked one website and there was 923 complaints about the faulty fan switch. This is a potential fire hazard and Ford needs to recall and replace the defective fan switch and relay box on the 2008 Ford Escape.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

I was heading to work one morning, and I started the car up and didn't have power steering. I shut the car off, and the steering came back. (at the beginning, shutting the car off would fix the problem right way.) I pulled out of my driveway and drove down the road with the steering wheel shaking. There was also a quiet grinding noise coming from the steering column. As the car slowed down (at stop lights etc.), the steering wheel shook more and the noise grew a little louder. As the days went on (3-4 days later), the shaking and noise got worse until it was an uncontrollable, constant shaking of the steering wheel and the noise became so loud and horrid that I thought the car might break down. Within that week, as I started my car, the power steering went out about a total of 10 times, and I had to shut off the car and restart it. Unlike at the beginning, by the end of the week, I had to shut my car off 4-5 times before the steering would come back. The last day of driving the car, the steering wheel was so loose that it was hard to control on the back roads/highways/freeways and over pot holes. At one point, I made a right hand turn, and I almost thought I was not going to be able to bring the steering wheel/car back. Thankfully, I (and no one else) has died from this manufacturer defect in the 2008 Ford Escapes, but is that what it is going to take in order for something to be done?

- Three Rivers, MI, USA

Steering wheel started to shake from side to side then lost power to steering wheel like it went from easy to very hard to steer. Turned car off the restarted and it was ok. Now it happens all the time. When I start car up no power, while I'm driving and I loss power.

- Manchester, NJ, USA

Power steering works intermittently steering wheel has a slight twitch most definitely a safety hazard when it just randomly stops seems to be a common issue among Ford Escapes.

- Barry , IL, USA

When I started my vehicle, a warning light in the shape of a wrench stayed on. I look in the manual and this said powertrain. Upon further checking, I found this is a problem in these Escapes. When I stop at the railroad track or at a red light, the vehicle will surge forward when I take off. The shifting is rough at times. I also just had to have the dome light in the vehicle replaced. This, too, I was told was a common problem. The lights would not work when I opened the door and also the dash lights would go off and on. This was a $103.88 repair job and the dome light, after being replaced, is loose and does not fit properly. When this having to be replaced frequently, I would think there would be a replacement light that fit the roof correctly.

- Lynnville, TN, USA

Steering wheel initially started to pulsate at stop light.. next incident I started the vehicle and there was no power steering, turned vehicle off and restarted and had steering back...next incident steering wheel pulsates while driving and loses power steering while at speed.. pull vehicle to roadside and restart and regain steering.. not having this vehicle recalled to fix this issue is the most insane thing I have ever heard of.. if a frail person or elderly has this happen to them, people will die.. its not a matter of if this happens but when it will.. if it hasn't already.. anybody reading this I hope you or your children or family or friends or anybody for that matter does not die as a result of this matter going unresolved... it is mindboggling that Ford turns its back on this issue..im not alone in this, there are complaints all over the internet.. can you imagine a loss or multiple losses of lives after so many complaints being registered? please help

- Lynbrook, NY, USA

After making a left turn and braking at a stop sign, I experienced a sudden loss of power steering.

- Pawleys Island, SC, USA

On Dec 27 2013 we were driving Escape. When trying go around curve Ford lost all power steering which caused us to almost hit wall. My husband drove to side road. Shut it off. Waited few minutes started it power steering was back. Took it to garage was told power steering sensor was going out. Was told it be $1123 cost. It happened again on January 3rd 2014. Was told that this is a safety issue and that Ford knows its not working right. Need a recall before someone gets hurt or killed. Our Escape is not only one doing it. The ones with electric power steering are failing. I'm scared drive it much.

- Monticello, KY, USA

Car stalled when driving on hwy in snow storm on two different occasions. Also, RPM's climb, just had the steering column replaced 2 months ago.

- Wilmington, MA, USA

While driving at 45 mph, the electric power steering (eps or epas) failed. The car instantly lost all ability for power steering, without alerting the driver. The problem is intermittent, and may fail at any time. The epas can sometimes be re-instituted by stopping the car (in the middle of the road at times, or freeway), turning off the car completely... waiting 10 seconds, and restarting the car. But this does not mean that the problem will not occur again at any time within the same driving incident. The epas continues to fail at inopportune times, without alerting the driver until failure has occured.

- Romulus, MI, USA

I was awake sitting at my dinning room table, I smelt something (burnt rubber) so I check all room in the house. I walk outside and saw smoke coming out from my Ford Escape that was park. I woke my kids, called the fire department and grabbed the water hose. Once the fire fighters were on the scene, they opened the driver door, smoke exited the doors exposing oxygen causing some flickering of the flame to start. Water was discharged onto the smoldering interior of the vehicle & cooling down ignition of dash area (radio is located). The heat was so hot that it cracked front windshield, melted all plastic frame inside the vehicle (middle area near radio & shift gear) and blacken all the windows. Once fire was under control, fire fighter stated it was an electrical wire. Battery cable was also cut to prevent any deployment of the air bags. But then I was in shock just thinking omg! I was driving the vehicle to work all week and park it later that night. Today I still don't know the electrical fire started, very puzzling because the vehicle was not running and there are no recalls from Ford dealer on this model. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough money to pay for my vehicle insurance for another month so there fore am stuck with the bill. I bought the use vehicle at drive time in phoenix Arizona and the finance company has nothing to do with my situation but for me to pay the vehicle off. Like I said I still don't know the exact cause of the fire expect it was cause by wiring. I could see the V shape outline of where the fire started. Not only that but I had problems with the ignition, I had to turn the key all the way around in order for the vehicle to start (no recalls)" I am still sad by all of this but very thankful that no one was driving the vehicle......who knows what could have happened"

- Tuba City, AZ, USA

My 2008 Ford Escape's transmission started slipping while in overdrive. It then went out and revved up to 5,000 RPM's and would not move while in over drive or drive on the interstate causing me to almost get rear ended. I had to shift to second gear and limp it home.

- Marietta, OH, USA

This is my second complaint, same issue. Again, yesterday driving at about 30 mph the car just shut off. No problems immediately before, no sounds, nothing. It just stalled. Started up right away. No problems driving after except it did feel like it jerked a bit (almost unnoticeable except now I am very aware of this) on two occasions within 5 minutes after the stall. This car was purchases as a used vehicle back in Jan. It is a 2008. I also filed a complaint yesterday on this same issue which occurred just in the last few days and again a couple of weeks ago. So this is the 4th "stall" since I purchased the vehicle 7 weeks ago.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

This is an update to previous incident. $10486901 having spent the previous ($900) to find the problem, customer took the vehicle to a Ford dealership repair shop. They agreed with the other mechanics that the instrument cluster was defective, but said that they could not give anything in writing till I paid their diagnostic fee ($135) and saw for themselves. I agreed. Now I have spent another ($1120) to replace the instrument cluster. I also have in writing from the Ford dealership that the speed cannot be viewed while driving (it reads 0 mph) and is a safety issue. Contact me for the next step.

- Mississauga, NY, USA

As I was backing up, I lost power steering. I was unable to turn the wheel without great force, and backed into the porch. After turning the car off and turning it back on, this resolved. It happened again the next day going forward at 40 mph. I could hear something in the steering column click and then lost power steering. Now the power steering has completely gone out. When I start the car, I can turn the steering wheel all the way one direction and "trick" it into having power steering for a moment before it clicks off again. I have sustained a neck and shoulder injury from having to use my entire body to turn the wheel, and slamming into the porch when the wheel got "stuck" in a turned position and I was unable to turn it back. It is unbelievable that no one has died as a result of Ford's defect. Will the NHTSA wait until then to force Ford into a recall?

- Knoxville, TN, USA

Power steering goes out for no reason. It clicks in the housing under the steering wheel, in the steering column. Needed to add that we have had several injuries and more than one accident where a vehicle sustained damage as a result of this defect.

- Hendersonville, AA, USA

I turned on my seat warmer on driver's seat and heater, within a minute or so smoke started coming out bottom part of control panel where it meets the console. The smoke got worse. I was in the middle lane of heavy traffic and had a difficult time getting over to turn off and get stopped. By this time the smoke was quite bad (had electrical smell) I had all windows down & sun roof open. The car alarm went off, the heater would not turn off. I finally got stopped and got out of the vehicle. A lady pulled in to the church parking area where I was and called 911 for me. By this time you could see actual fire (flames) coming from the same spot as smoke. It was amazing how quickly it was in flames. The vehicle blew up. The fire department arrived in time to put out the fire. The only thing left is the metal shell and the tires. Nothing in the interior. All windows and sunroof blew out. Bumpers, lights, tail lights melted. Thanks Ford.

- Double Oak, TX, USA

I was driving down the 5 freeway. I had been driving for about 45 minuets. I changed lanes to the right and the steering got extremely hard to move. I pulled of the freeway at the next off ramp. The entire time the wheel was very hard to maneuver. I came to a stop turned off the car, checked all my fluids, and googled the issue on my phone. All results lead to electrical power steering. I turned the car back on and all function returned.

- Arvin, CA, USA

While backing out of a parking space the steering locked on my wife's 2008 Ford Escape. She called me to come help her as she was not able to move her Escape. Upon arrival I inspected the vehicle for obvious signs of problems, none were noted. I tried to move the steering wheel; I was quite shocked that the steering wheel could not be moved. Since I am 6'4" and 300lbs most things that I grab move?the steering wheel should have moved, just without the assist of the power assist. The vehicle was towed to a Ford dealership for them to diagnose the issue. I was informed that the sensors in the steering column are bad. The dealership stated that they were able to reset the computer and that the steering now functions. The dealership informed me that I have two choices drive the vehicle and see if the issue repeats or replace the entire steering column ($1,500). I explained that this is in fact a safety issue as the steering failed completely and locked up as I was unable to move the steering wheel. Ford customer care was contacted and they have offered no assistance in this issue and claim that they have no knowledge of any issues pertaining to this problem on record. This statement by Ford customer care seems to be highly suspect as a quick internet search found many identical issues. The complete failure of the steering system is beyond unacceptable! if someone with my strength cannot move the steering wheel than how is someone the size of my wife supposed to move the steering wheel if and in this case when the steering system fails. Ford needs to accept that there is in fact a major safety problem related to the failure of the electronic steering system of the Ford Escape. Complete failure of the steering is not acceptable. Again this was a complete failure of the steering system!!!

- Hagerstown Md , MD, USA

My Ford Escape is my family and work vehicle. One morning I started it after it was parked in cold overnight, engine started but the steering was stuck, thought battery was bad. Restarted several times until steering loosened up. Drove car and every stop light or while idling, the steering wheel vibrated so hard and have to hold it steady, thought, time to have my control arm replaced again. Took it to a friend's car shop, said, they've been having costumers bringing their Ford Escapes lately with the same problem. They couldn't fix it. Told me to go to my dealership. Dealership diagnosed it, electronic steering problem $90 for diagnosis, $1100 parts and labor, about 3-days to order for parts. Too expensive and dangerous, needs to have a recall.

- Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA