I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND A LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. IT STATED POWER STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT BECAUSE I STILL HAD THE POWER STEERING AT THAT TIME. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND RETURNED HOME. MY STEERING WENT OUT BEFORE I GOT HOMW. I HAD TO REALLY STRUGGLE TO TURN ONTO MY STREET AND INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I CONTACTED LIBERTY FORD (IT WAS LOCATED AROUND THE CORNER FROM ME) AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE MY CAR SERVICED. I ALSO CHECKED THE INTERNET ABOUT MY PROBLEM AND I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TORQUE SENSOR IN MAY OF 2014. LIBERTY FORD INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL NOW ON THIS AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR SERVICE. WHY DID I NOT RECEIVE NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL EARLIER THIS YEAR AND WHY IS IT NO LONGER IN EFFECT?

Lost power assist while driving to work. Scared the bejesus out of me as it came out of the blue. By the time I stopped the car had traveled across the left lane into oncoming traffic and it forced the oncoming cars to stop.

Luckily this was on a two lane street and the speed limit was 50 klms. My dad had mentioned to me about a lot of complaints regarding this problem so I turned the ignition off and on and the power assist worked again so I drove to work.

I had extended warranty on the vehicle and it was about to expire within the next two weeks so I wanted to get it checked out. The dealer refused to to do it unless I agreed to pay for it and I refused. Then I called the Ford customer complaints department who basically said take it to the dealer and they'll check the steering out. I didn't do it so I decided to keep driving it and hope that there would be a recall and limited my driving with that vehicle. I checked out the cost of the steering column about $1450.00 Canadian and found out there were 13 changeups for that model since 2008. My escape only had 85,000 kilometers on it.(June 2013) In the last two months I have lost the power assist three times and have received a 14S05 they call a notice from Ford Canada that a defect that relates to motor safety exists in your vehicle. So on thursday my dad took the vehicle to the ford dealership to have the safety issue repaired. The dealer said there was no codes and had updated the PSCM and Chime Module behind the dash cluster. My dad was furious and the service manager and him left each other in exchanging pleasantries and at the end my dad asked him for a kiss. My dad didn't believe that the few commands uploaded to the PSCM would eliminate this problem as he thinks these losses of signals should have registered a code. He knows it could have been other causes too such as heat, amperage draw on the steering motor,a worn wire rubbing, bad connector connection, bad gears in the rack and pinion, lose wiring and other things. but the dealership refused to deal with him but asked my daughter to make another appointment and I suggested she doesnt. The next day my dad called the Ford customer relationship line in Oakville Ontario (for Recalls and Safety) ( 1 800 563-3673) The rep said to take it to another dealer and the Ford Rep. opened a case file for me and suggests my dad to confirm the outcome with him. I suggested to the rep if they cant satisfy me that I will purchase a steering column and take Ford to court in small claims and his reply was you shouldnt have to go that far. Well my dad is too familiar with the system and hope he keeps his word. So I have an appointment with this other dealer on Friday Sept 19. They have already told my dad if there is no hard codes that they will only update the PSCM and Chime Module. Today my dad called Transport Canada (Road Safety-Defects and Recalls) (1 800 333-0510 Canada) and left a message which they will hopefully get back to my dad on Monday. It was closed for the day 8;00-4;30 pm. Ontario. My dad is adament that if the PSCM doesnt get the signal it cant send a command to the steering motor to do its job and that updating the PSCM wont correct the problem. Anyone want to comment as maybe my dad is barking up the wrong tree. I love my dad and he`s only been a Certified HD and Auto Mechanic for forty years but he always has a open mind and knows he may be wrong. Please comment

Update from Sep 20, 2014: Took 2008 escape to another dealer and they tried to make a hard code but failed. they reprogrammed the software and warranted for a year so if it loses assist they will look for another code again. Have not had time to confirm this with ford customer relations yet but the 2nd dealership did not charge to reprogram the 2nd time. They may have talked with ford customer relations. I couldn't talk with the ford dealership service manager about this as it was late Friday and he left for holidays and I my schedule won't allow me to talk to ford customer relations or service manager for another three weeks but my daughter will keep driving the vehicle. With the reprogramming of the computer (they extend the time of the signal to the steering motor to allow you time to get to the side of the road safely if the computer senses a problem that senses a CODE.) Also a check engine light (wrench and warning chime) should come on. Also called a soft landing by Transport Canada mechanic. They also claim that if you cycle the ignition over 20 times the hard code and check engine light may disappear. Hence should check for codes if concerned. Here is a eye opener as I (MAY) have understood from Transport Canada regarding Recall and Bulletins. I seem to understand that Transport Canada cannot force any Auto Corporations to pay for any repairs for recalls etc. This only applies to Canada but in the United States the law says they have to repair the vehicles. So the auto corporations only do this for Public Relations and if it involves a large number of vehicles. It seems that Transport Canada uses moral persuasion. WOW. So if this is true it bodes bad for the consumer. In Canada we have paid lobbyists to prevent the regulations from having any teeth. In the U.S. you seem to be luckier even thou your lobbyists try to do the same thing. I will continue to confirm my case file with the ford customer relations to try to bring some other kind of action and will update in time. For legalities this information (May) be true.

Remember that if your battery voltage is too low you will also lose power assist as this system relies on direct battery voltage to your ignition switch.

Will update on the final solution.

I have my Escape sitting at a dealership, failed power steering, i was in mid repair (put in a new torque sensor, waiting to calibrate it) when the recall was issued so took it in thinking they'd automatically fix it. No. They are saying the issue is because I didn't take it to a Ford dealership for repair, that my mechanic broke my car and they won't repair it. horrible customer service- I am driving a car with no power steering, they issued a recall and are penalizing me for not using a dealership for repair. Unreal.

Electronic power steering goes out while driving without warning. When stopped at a light, the steering wheel will move back and forth on it's own as if it is possessed. Sometimes it happens when starting the car, and other times it just happens while driving making it very difficult to turn the car. You can either stop or put the car in neutral (while coasting) to turn the engine off to reset the on-board computer for the power steering to come back on.

Very dangerous while driving on the highway when the power steering goes out unknowingly if needing to make a quick lane change.

Should definitely be a Safety Recall Issue!!!! I have heard it is a predominate problem only with the 2008 year model of Escapes.

steering got stiff all of a sudden

No option for recording or taking picture o the problem. This happened in a d cold morning day on tthe way to my daughter'sschool . It was so hard to steer the wheel I th o ught it was the belt. I turned car off and started back on almost inmediately and didnt solve tthe problem right then. My daughter had a school fiel trip which I volunteered for and didnt know whether to cancel the trip o tak my car to a garage early morning. I decided to drive it BUT the experience of a stiff steering wheel was awful and painful specially when turning leftor right. I had to risk my life goin to this special evsnt for my daughter(since she was in 3rd grade- she is in 5th grade now)

I managed to arrive to the location o the fieldtrip and all day was thinking about what was I going to do if car doesnt wo r k? I couldn't even park straight. I asked on of the parent whom were helping ou too and he helped me to check the c a r. Odd l y enough after being parked for5.5 hrs, the Escape workred fine as nothing didnt happened. It has been a scary experience.

This condition of the Assisted Electronic Power Steering in the 2008 early Escapes-Limited , XLTs and etc, , has been reported to Ford by many-also to Federal Transport Safety Departments and similar Departments in Canada. Ford has done nothing to correct the problems. We have stopped buying Ford and have purchased A new Equinox LTZ. We told Ford Customer Service of our intent if nothing done -we hope so many other original happy ford owners do the same. This was the first year -2008- of the Power Assisted Electronic Steering and evidently had some troubles until corrected them-and they do not want to now make a Recall on them;We still have the Escapdel-not fair to sell to anyone and endanger that family. We use it sparingly and locally only.

Same complaints as everyone else...locks up and has to be shut off and restarted to work. It is the newest and most reliable vehicle we have and its in the worse shape. Our mechanic had to call a Ford mechanic and explain the problem, he told him he was working on one and the entire steering column needed to be replaced and electrical rewired, costing about $1500. My husband has banned my son and I from driving it. He drives to work and back, about 4 miles each way and it locks up anywhere from 4-6 times on him. Repairs are too costly. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT!!!

Felt like someone grabbed my wheel to the right, then let go. I thought , what the hell was that? I started to turn left & could barely turn wheel either direction. After at least an hour of trying to locate steering pump or belt that may have broken I got ahold of my dealer. Guess what? NO STEERING PUMP. All electric stuff.

Tow it to Ford to see for sure what it is. Started it to back it up for tow truck & steering works fine. Decided to get it towed anyway. I love AAA. I had it fixed but I don't think the car needs me for an owner much longer. No one at dealership said these had this problem , not that they had ever heard of. After reading what I have about these cars tonight I am not very secure about driving it. I'll be on the phone to Ford in the a.m. to file a complaint. This is a definite safety issue. I am really pissed that they haven't recalled or re-reimbursed their customers. They haven't heard the last of me for sure. Oh yeah, I'm still making payments.

I purchased this 2008 Ford Escape XLT for my 16 yr. old son to drive for school. Recently he complained about a steering problem with his car. The Steering locks up when you are driving. When parked, the whole steering column vibrates uncontrollably. So, I drove it myself. And....yes, it's all true. You lose control of the power steering while driving! You have to stop the car, which then the whole steering wheel shakes, then restart it to get the power steering back. This is RIDICULOUS and DANGEROUS! After reading numorous other complaints on the internet with the same exact problem, you'd think Ford would recall this issue before someone gets killed! If there isn't someone already! What are you waiting for Ford? You are obviously aware of this problem but choose to do nothing? Really? So, how many accidents or deaths will it take before you do recall it? This car is NOT SAFE TO DRIVE! This may be the last Ford I buy if you don't fix the problem!

I am so glad that I was not on the highway or on a trip when my power steering went... I only live 10 minutes away from the Ford dealership and drove to them but it was very hard to turn the wheel. I was not happy with the almost $2000.00 repair bill and shocked that this could happen - it is definitely a safety issue and really feel that Ford should have a recall on this problem, as I discovered from this website that it has happened to a lot of people. I am going to take this to my lawyer and get an opinion on this issue.