10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 28 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 19 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 104,919 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Steering wheel began to shake or shimmy when the vehicle was stopped and idling. Turned vehicle off and back on... the began to drive, power steering was out completely. The vehicle would steer - but was very hard to control. Pulled over shut vehicle off, power steering resumed, but steering wheel was shaking again at idle. Very dangerous if it were to happen at an speed. My daughter would not be able to control the vehicle, I am very strong and it was hard for me to control. This should be recalled - as so far I see 190+ complaints on this site, and many others on different sites, while trying to find a diagnosis for the problem. Ford should address this immediately.
- Newmarket , NH, USA
It first happened when you started the vehicle, no power steering !!!!! shut it off, , restart it and you had power steering again. This happened around 20 more times in the next month. Then the power steering would shut off while driving it, regardless of speed. It was worst than having old standard steering. As long as you were rolling you could steer it, but when you stopped it took both hands to turn the steering wheel. It was very scary and dangerous. My wife drives this vehicle to work Monday through Friday. She has been scared to drive it not knowing what might take place when the steering goes completely out. Well it finally went out today !!!!!!!! don"T know what it"S going to cost ? I think Ford should have to take care of this problem. It a very serious safety problem. Thank you
- Pinewood, SC, USA
Power steering completely went out going around the curve. Did not turn the car out because a test was done on the battery yesterday and it was good, but left work today and had to have it jumped. Bought a new battery. Started the vehicle again and still no power steering. Will be fixed tomorrow for a total of 1200. I could have been with my small son today, but luckily I stayed home from work and my husband took the car.
- Vicksburg, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to function properly while making a turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the electronic power steering had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 87,800.
- Simi Valley, CA, USA
A few weeks ago my 2008 Ford Escapes steering wheel intermittently started vibrating and making clicking noises while idling. I researched this issue on the internet and discovered that this is an indicator the power steering will go out and it can happen while driving at anytime. People on freeways or while turning would loose there power steering which is a safety hazard and can cause a serious and potential deadly crash. I learned that aft first if you loose your power steering you can turn your engine off and back on again and the power steering will return. I called the local dealer regarding this serious problem and they said there isn't any recall. When I asked them why Ford hasn't stepped up to the plate and taken responsibility for this serious safety issue they suggested I call Ford Corp and ask them. When I did, all I was told was there isn't a recall; they wouldn't say anything further. My husband has since called and filed a formal complaint with Ford. In the mean time, my power steering has gone out many times while pulling away from a stop or parking spot. Yesterday while driving it to the dealership to be repaired it went out while actually driving down the road. What will it take for Ford to take responsibility for this issue, people to start dying?
- Placerville, CA, 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
I was coming to a stop and the electronic assist steering locked up, proceeded to pull away from stop sign and continued to drive to my destination without any steering assist. Upon arrival, turned off car and restarted to get steering assist back. I'm glad nothing happened this time!!!!!, car is undrivable, and too expensive to fix. Ford needs to step up and stand behind their product, too many corporations leave the dealer and/or consumers with paying the bill for their neglect.
- Leechburg, PA, USA
My husband and three young children were driving on the interstate from atlanta to miami when the steering instantly became close to impossible to control. With my husbands assistance in pulling the wheel with me we were able to pull to the shoulder. I immediately assumed that there was a leak/or low power steering fluid. After searching the internet on my phone, on the shoulder of the interstate, I learned soon enough that the vehicle actually had power assisted steering and that many people had run into this issue. I was able to restart the car and the steering was fixed, for the moment. Approximately every hour or so the wheel would lock again and while going 70 mph I would have to recrank the car while in neutral to gain back control. The repair cost me $1251.17 and had me unable to return home for 5 extra days longer than I planned. This could have killed my family had the traffic been heavy or had I needed to drive defensively.
- Conyers, GA, USA
Upon starting the vehicle, power steering was unable to work. There is no power steering liquid in this model, and instead uses a computer to assist with power steering. After sitting for several moments, a second attempt was made, and power steering successfully responded. There are hundreds of complaints of a similar nature regarding 2008 models and some for the 2009 model of the Ford Escape. Is there a recall of any form going on for these dangerous issues or do we have to shell out a few thousand dollars for something that we were unaware of when purchasing the vehicle?
- Mukwonago, WI, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact was driving approximately 35 mph when the power steering assist suddenly failed. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously diagnosed by an independent mechanic, who determined that the power steering sensor had malfunctioned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
This problem originally occurred on Dec 12th 2013. When I started my car, the steering wheel was locked. I then turned off the car, pulled the key out of the ignition and restarted it, and the wheel was fine then. As I was driving, my steering wheel would shake slightly back and forth without me touching it. There were no indicator lights lit up on my dashboard. Then while driving some more, I heard a faint click, and my steering wheel was locked again, it had absolutely no power steering and it took all of my strength to turn the steering wheel. That has continued to happen every time I drive now, and recently it has gotten to the point where the steering wheel is always locked with no power steering. I took the car to the mechanic and was told that the electronic steering sensor is malfunctioning and the whole steering coloumn needs to be replaced and it is a very big job. I am still awaiting my quote to see exactly how much it will cost me.I have had this car for only 7 months and it seems like this is a common problem among the 2008 Ford Escapes. I do not understand why this issue has not been recalled, they can recall things like a power window for locking up and not being able to go up or down, but not this. This problem could cause serious injury and possibly death. This is the only car I have and I rely on it heavily. It it almost impossible to turn the steering wheel and this issue needs to be taken care of by Ford already. How many complaints do they need before this problem is addressed??
- Albuquerque , NM, USA
The first time my steering wheel started to shake for no apparent reason at a red light. Then it stopped as I proceeded to drive down the road the steering wheel jerked to the left. I then was worried because I had my little boy with me. I ran into the store and then went home and it stopped. Today, I drove 36 miles pulled into my driveway, stopped waiting for the garage door to open and the steering wheel started to shake. I tried to tape it with my phone and it stopped after a couple of minutes. Will have it checked out because I would hate to drive my little one and have the power steering go out in it.
- Vicksburg, MI, USA
Started vehicle and began to back out of driveway when I noticed the power steering wasn't working. Turned the vehicle off and upon re-starting, power steering began to work again. This has occurred several times since.
- Hartford, IL, USA
While attempting to turn left on an intersecting road from a stop sign, the power steering went out with no prior warning. It took all of my strength to get out of the intersection and off of the side of the road. After turning off the engine and restarting the car a couple of times, it began working again. The car was taken to the nearest Ford dealership and they said the steering column had to be replaced for $1,300 which is not covered under my extended warranty that was purchased when I bought the car brand new. I could not drive the car because after researching on the internet, I have found hundreds of the same complaints and this can happen intermittently while driving at any time. This is a major safety concern and I can not believe that Ford has not made a recall on this! I can't bare to think of what could have happened with my child in the car as I was taking him to school.
- Greenville, SC, USA
I had been having an issue with my vehicle starting and the steering wheel not unlocking. Had to turn it extremely hard or put the key in and out a few times turning to unlock. Upon starting the prior 2 weeks it would hesitate- like it had to think about starting. I had it checked out by my mechanic and he said everything looked good - no issues with starter, alternator or anything. On 11/27 vehicle wouldn't start - ended up with a new battery. Now two weeks after battery install I have a very loud clunk in my steering wheel column and my steering wheel is loose. Makes me very nervous. Of course the extended warranty just was up.
- Port St Lucie, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving in reverse at an unknown speed, the steering wheel failed to maneuver in any direction. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- New Brunswick, NJ, USA
Help! I bought a brand new 2008 Ford Escape and have a pretty good record of maintenance. A week ago, I noticed my steering wheel is locking. I have to restart so many times before I can move it. Two days ago, I was exiting from the freeway and as I turned, the wheel locked and almost crashed, straight head on to the opposite side. That was frightening! I checked online and surprised to find thousand of complains about the same incident for 2008 model and up. I believe this is a mechanical problem and Ford should have update the way how they make the electrical sensor/power steering wheel that is causing this and should not be stuck to pay $2,000 just to have this parts fixed. There should be a recall for this before someone gets really hurt and cause death.
- Seattle, WA, USA
Started car and attempted to turn wheel to find absolutely no power steering, was able to get car to repair shop. Once car was shut off and restarted, power steering worked perfectly, then once driving it intermittently would stop working causing severely dangerous driving conditions. No warning lights on vehicle regarding power steering control issues were ever displayed. Diagnostic test done at Ford dealership shows error with the sensor in steering column, which requires a complete replacement of steering column. Ford online forum list hundreds of complaints with that exact same issue, similar mileage on vehicle. Car is scheduled to be repaired by Ford dealership, unable to drive until repaired do to sporadic loss of power steering.
- Cottonwood, CA, USA
I started my Escape on day and noticed that the steering wheel was locked up, I could not turn it, so I turned the truck off and started it back up and it was working. It has done this several times, sometimes it takes quite a few time of turning it off and on to reset it. I have not had issues with it locking up while driving, but I am worried about it, so have not been driving it. While in the park position the steering wheel does shimmy a little and makes a noise.
- Carlsbad, NM, USA
- Dana Point, CA, USA