Was driving and taking a turn when the power steering went out. Stopped the car and then shut it off. When I restarted the car the power steering was back on. However, there was considerable shaking in the steering wheel with a rattling noise coming from the steering column. This was only the latest incident. Earlier in the morning when I started my car there wasn't power steering. I turned the car off and then on again at which time it worked. This has been going on for about a month happening maybe 1 or 2 times a week. The shaking and noise from the steering column is getting louder while idling.

- Chisago City, MN, USA

I was driving down the street and my power steering stopped working for the third time in a month causing me to run off the road because I couldn't make the next turn. If I pull over, turn off the car, and restart then it works fine. If I was going any faster, this could have been fatal.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

I was driving in town and all of a sudden my power steering locked up and would not release. Usually if you put the car in park, shut it off, let it sit fore awhile then start it back up it well eventually release. However, it happens regularly and is a dangerous thing to have happen suddenly.

- Farmington, NY, USA

I was attempting to leave a gas station when the power steering failed. Turned the vehicle off for about 10 seconds, then on again. Still no power steering. With great difficulty and with no power steering, backed away from the gas pump to an out-of-the-way area. Turned the vehicle off then on again. Power steering returned. I checked online to find that other Ford/Escape owners have experienced the same thing. It also happened again two weeks later at another location.

- East Orange, NJ, USA

Power steering stopped working while turning corner--car hit mail box @ 10mph. Power steering goes out anytime.

- New Baltimore, MI, USA

When I start the ignition en various occasions I don't have power steering I have to turn the ignition on and off multiple times until I regain power steering. While I'm driving my steering wheel starts trembling and shaking. When that occurs and I come to a stop I loose my power steering. I have to turn the ignition on and off multiple times until I regain power steering.

- Cedar City, UT, USA

While driving at highway speeds the steering wheel began to pull and shake to the left and right. The power steering also shuts off entirely while driving, and randomly when starting the car. The car is incredibly difficult to steer when this occurs, making it almost impossible for me to drive. Shutting off and restarting the car will sometimes restart the power steering, but the shaking and pulling does not stop.

- Weatherford, TX, USA

This is the fourth time that the powering steering has gone out on my Escape. I have reported the other incidents as well. Just impatiently waiting for Ford to recall this issue that is life threatening!! these last two times have been at a low rate of speed thank goodness! its really scary when the steering goes out while driving. I really like my vehicle but I think I am going to trade it so driving will be less stressful for me, even though I have invested thousands of dollars in this vehicle. Ford sucks and needs to help save lives... I will not buy Ford again, this neglect really makes me angry!

- Airville, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the power steering assist suddenly malfunctioned as the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. The contact stopped the vehicle and turned the engine off. After restarting the engine the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column was faulty and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. No additional information was available. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 82,000.

- Norwich, ND, USA

My Escape had a faulty power steering sensor or steering column that would allow the power steering to stop working at unknown times. This happened several times while driving and affected the way the car would steer. I had to replace this at the Ford dealership at a cost of $1,200 to me. This should be a recall item that Ford is required to pay for.

- Middleton, WI, USA

While driving in regular traffic, I noticed that my steering wheel would shudder when stopped. After parking, shutting off car, and then returning, my car had lost its power steering. It has intermittently returned after turning car. Off/on, but it is happening more often. Quick internet search listed very similar issues and symptoms. All pointing towards the electronic steering assembly. Which looks like it costs nearly $1400 to fix usually. I find this extremely dangerous and will not be having my wife or child in this vehicle.

- Apple Valley, MN, USA

Without warning, the power steering on my 2008 Ford Escape simply went out. I had no issues or indication that the steering was about to fail and suddenly, the power steering simply stopped working. Fortunately, this loss of power steering didn't result in a crash in my case. I quickly scheduled an inspection at the Ford dealership and they confirmed that the power steering had in fact failed. In researching this issue on the internet, I have found scores of other people with the same issue. I discovered that Ford had changed from a hydraulic power steering system to an electric system starting in 2008. Clearly this system is defective and should be looked into immediately. I was lucky not to have had an accident but one day some one will be killed when this system fails again. Don't let this turn into another issue like is currently happening with GM ignitions and lives are lost.

- Chesterfield, MI, USA

I was driving down the highway slowing down to make a left hand turn and was unable to turn wheel. After researching it found out if you have the heat on it will cause the sensor to over heat. This is unacceptable.

- Evansville, IN, USA

For the last couple of days, whenever I put my car in reverse and begin to back up, I lose my steering ability. The only way I can get my steering wheel to work again is if I turn my car off and then turn it back on again. Well, today, it happened again, but this time I tried multiple times to turn my car off and turn it back on and my power steering would not kick back in. I have read through many complaints on here as well as other sites and see that a lot of people are having the same issue with their 2008 Escape. I have seen that it can cost over $1400 to get it fixed!! I do not have that kind of money right now!! the fact that there was no warning light to tell me that something in the power steering was going is ridiculous!! in the past 2 years I have had to replace the transmission, get a new battery, get brakes, tires, new gas tank, new sensor for the heating control, and the list continues. This car is only 6 years old and just past 100,000 miles!!! I should not have had to replace all these things already!! I am not about to put another $1400+ in this vehicle especially since it seems to be an ongoing problem with many other Escapes. Time to do a recall people or you can gladly take this car back!!

- Franklin, PA, USA

While driving I lost all power steering. The SUV became very difficult to steer. Once I was able to muscle it over to the side of the road the steering wheel started to shake back and forth on its own. After turning the car off then back on this went away for a short time. Then after about a month or so it happened again. Now this happens frequently. I cant drive without this happening. This is very dangerous and needs to be recalled.

- Nashua, NH, USA

This happens multiple times on a long drive over 30 minutes. As I am driving the power steering in my 2008 Ford Escape XLT will fail and I will lose the ability to steer my vehicle. I have almost had several severe accidents on the highway when it happens at 70mph. This is a huge safety issue and there are many reports of this happening online to similar 2008 Escapes. Ford has been silent on the issue. This needs a recall in place immediately. Ford is aware of the problem and how to fix it. Average repair costs are >1400. I can not afford that and will continue to drive/risk my life until this is recalled because I have no other options. The problem resolves itself after restarting the vehicle but happens a short time later. Please look into this, I don't feel safe and this is a huge safety issue.

- San Marcos, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape.. the contact stated when he attempted to pull out of the parking space, he was unable to steer. The contact stated that the failure had occurred multiple times. The vehicle had not been taken the dealer or independent mechanic for a diagnoses of the failure.the manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was aproximately 119,000.

- New Albany, MS, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the power steering assist failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Lubbock, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel became very difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering column sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 118,000.

- West Orange, NJ, USA

At idle and while driving the steering wheel twitches from left to right uncontrollably and without warning. Many consumers I've researched are having same problem followed by total power steering failure and extreme difficulty in steering.

- Northville, MI, USA