I own a 2008 Escape with the eps system. I love the vehicle in general, but over the past year I have had 3 incidents where the power steering fails completely while driving, rendering the vehicle unsteerable. In all three episodes, I had to stop the vehicle (on the roadway), shut off the engine, then restart it, and the power steering again functioned. I did contact my local dealer who searched the Ford service bulletins, and found nothing, however, had serviced a few vehicles having the exact same intermittent-type problem, by replacing the steering column. (they said this would cost me $972.77). I also researched the issue with the NHTSA and found many owners of Ford vehicles with the eps system having exactly the same problem. Since this is (obviously) a significant safety concern, it surprises me that Ford has not yet addressed the issue via a recall or at the very least a service bulletin. I do not want to trade in or sell this vehicle, but I currently do not feel confident about its safety reliability. Any information that can be provided regarding this significant issue would be helpful.

- New Cumberland, WV, USA

"we own a 2008 Ford Escape XLS with approximately 76, xxx miles on it. ?4/2: within 2 hours of being on the road in the early morning, we went to pull off the road into a gas station and it took great effort to turn the car. This was sudden and very dangerous as there were other cars at the entry/exit point and we were not expecting the need to apply such pressure to turn the wheel. If there had been a car at the entrance, we would have hit them due to the wide turn we made. Owe were able to engage power steering after moving the steering wheel back and forth several times. Successfully pulled out of parking lot, but power steering went out again within 5 minutes of being on the road. Subsequently stops had similar results. Sometimes the power steering engaged immediately, and sometimes it took several turn off/turn on attempts for it to re-engage. Owe have also noticed that the steering column began to pulsate upon ignition when power steering was engaged. There is also a low-level vibration noise associated with this. However, when power steering goes out, the vibration and noise is eliminated. ?we contacted both our local Ford dealer as well as another dealer near our destination. Both service departments were unaware of any service bulletins of this being a common occurrence in Ford Escape?S. ?while the car is still drivable with manual steering, not knowing when the power steering will disengage makes for very hazardous driving conditions, especially when making turns or sudden maneuvers. "upon searching the internet, it would appear that this is becoming a more common occurrence in Ford vehicles that possess the eps technology and have similar mileage. *additionally, customers are reporting many different attempts to fix this problem, including the replacement of wiring harnesses, steering columns, and other costly repairs that may or may not fix the issue.

- Columbia, MO, USA

I have a 2008 Ford Escape and experienced vibration and loss of power steering while driving my daughter to school last week. I was told through Ford that I needed a new steering column and because I did not buy the extended warranty they said that I had to pay $1363.10 for the repair! I was so upset! I called Ford manufacture number spoke to one of their lawyers and still I was turned down for a malfunction that could have turned into a very bad accident. I lost all power to my steering wheel as I was on the highway taking my daughter to school. I feel at 76,000 miles a vehicle should not have issues with the steering column at that young age of the vehicle and that Ford should stand behind its product even though a customer did not buy the extended warranty at the time we could not afford the warranty.. it has not been documented yet but I had an issue of my accelerator freezing up on me 3 weeks ago and I had to get off the road to try to get the peddle to unstick and after trying a minute or so I was able to get startedagainbut was so very nervous that I would lose the flexiabilityof the peddle again! Ford told me that they have had no other complaints with this issue. I am wondering if there are any other people experiencing these issues as well and if there is any way I can get Ford to pay for these malfunctions of my Ford Escape" I have to say I feel like my life has been in a very stressful place lately with a vehicle that should be backing their customers patronage! even if an extended warranty was not purchasedthese electrical problems that Ford has seen on my vehicle should be documented so that they understand the concerns of there customers! is there anyone else that have had any of these same experiences as myself"

- New Boston, NH, USA

I was driving home from work when all of a sudden my steering became very stiff and I noticed my traction control light come on, it was raining so I didn't think anything about it, but when I started to make a left hand turn the steering was very very stiff, no power steering. I had my vehicle towed to my dealership and they said the electronic power steering control module was 'fried' and they have never seen this before. Approx $1100. Unbelievable!! I have had my veh for 3 yrs to almost the day and approx 43,000 miles. This is unacceptable.

- Waunakee, WI, USA

I have a 2008 Ford Escape and the power steering is going in and out. The steering will lock up while driving. 3-27-11, steering locked up while driving and I had almost ran over a child riding her bike. I could not control the steering. When the car is shut off and then turned back on the problem stops.have seen many complaints on this issue and Ford has not had a recall yet. Hey Ford, what is it going to take, a fatality before you recall this on going problem. I would hope that a huge company as yourself would get to this matter immediately, before the unthinkable happens and then what?

- Warren, MI, USA

On the morning of 3/1/11 I got into my Ford Escape to drive to work. I started the car, and backed out of my parking space, I noticed that the steering was very stiff, which I attributed in my mind to the ice storm from the night before. That evening when I returned home from work the steering was fine. However, the next day, again the steering was stiff as if there were no power steering. I shut off the engine and restarted the car and the steering was fine. Again that evening all was fine, but the next morning no power steering. Repeating my steps from the day before, I restarted the engine and all was fine, however that evening again there was no power steering. I referred to my owners manual and found that there is no power steering reservoir to check or fill. I contacted a mechanic and he wasn't sure with no reservoir, so he and I both began researching on the internet and found several websites which listed my very same problem, and stated that the steering column would need to be replaced with estimates ranging from $1100 to $1700. There were several entries which mentioned accidents which could have been avoided had the power steering been working. This is apparently an electrical problem within the steering column which leads me to wonder about the air bags working during an accident. I had my mechanic look at it, he contacted Ford and they gave him a couple of things to check, but doubted any of them would be the cause. He took the Escape to his local Ford dealer to get a reading from the cars computer, and they confirmed that a steering column was necessary. My concern is that Ford is not acknowledging that there is a problem with the power steering. I would hate to think that someone has to die before this problem gets the attention it requires to start a recall.

- Sycamore, IL, USA

Have a 2008 Ford Escape. This car is having issues where the power steering will go out in the middle of driving and turning. This has been going on for a couple of months. I took it to a Ford dealer and they said they have never heard of this problem before. Although you can go on Ford Escape customer forums and see countless instances where this has happened to other people some resulting in accidents. I have asked Ford several times to help me with this issue and they say that we need to replace the whole steering column $1700 charge. This is happening with most of the postings I saw and with my own vehicle at relatively low mileage. It seems that this would not be a normal wear and tear on the vehicle with low mileage. Continuously people I have seen and also for myself have gotten the answer from Ford that they haven't heard of this issue before. I am not happy because I have to expend the money to fix this but more so I want to have this issue corrected before someone really gets hurt. If an elderly person were driving this vehicle with that problem they would wreck because of not having the strength to keep the wheel in motion correctly. Same may be with a younger driver. Please please take a look at this problem for me.

- Dayton, OH, USA

We bought our 2008 Ford Escape in June of 2011. It was a certified used vehicle with about 48,000 miles on it. Over the last few days my husband and I have noticed that the steering wheel on our 2008 Ford Escape suddenly begins vibrating at stop lights. On three occasions now, the steering has become extremely hard, almost as if the power steering just quick working. The problem seems to happen for a few seconds and then it stops. This morning when we started the vehicle the power steering was almost completely locked. My husband turned the car off, then on, then off, then on and the power steering returned to normal. We are extremely worried that the steering may fail while we are driving the vehicle. My husband contacted the dealer this morning to tell them that we are bringing the vehicle back to be fixed.

- Olathe, KS, USA

I have a 2008 Ford Escape and the steering wheel would shake so hard especially when I was just sitting at a stop light or not even in drive that I was shaking while holding it. Then the power steering started to go out intermittently without any sign or lights or anything indicating a problem. My issue only happened once in 2-3 week period when I would start the car and drive I didn't realize there was a problem until I had to turn the wheel and it was soo hard to turn. Then it started to happen almost everytime I started the car so I would start the car try and move the wheel and if I felt the tension turned off the car and kept restarting hoping it would "fix itself". I looked up the issue online and saw all of these complaints for the same issue, some had this issue while they were driving and lost power steering and had to avoid accidents. I have two toddlers in the car with me and I did not want to risk this issue getting that bad. I took it into the shop and it was told the steering shaft torque sensor and that the entire steering column assembly would need to be replaced costing $1100.+ with all of these complaints and safety issues I'm shocked that nothing has been done to fix this problem that we, the consumer, have no control over.

- Bolingbrook, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel became stiff and the power steering failed. The contact stated the traction control light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The manufacturer was contacted and stated the vehicle would have to be taken to the dealer for diagnostics. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.

- El Paso, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph or above, the power steering would fail without warning. On occasion, the contact was able to shut off the vehicle and allow the power steering assist to immediately reset itself and other times, it would take over five minutes before the engaging. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic shop who advised that the steering pump failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where the failure was confirmed. The manufacturer was contacted but did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

When coming to a stop, the steering wheel began shaking a bit. The next day while driving, the power steering assist went out entirely. I brought to a local shop of a trusted mechanic, who stated it looked like the steering column. He thought perhaps it just needed to be reset, and suggested I go to the dealership first because he didn't have the codes yet for the reset. I brought it to the dealership, and they stated it needed a new power steering actuator and would cost over $1600 in parts and labor. They also stated they had never seen the problem before, despite various near-identical complaints on this, and other forums on the internet. I sincerely hope that this gets investigated before someone is seriously injured, as the dealership has no interest in fixing it for anything less than their $1620. 2008 was the first year that Ford tested this electric power steering system on the Escape, and it clearly still has flaws.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

I have a 2008 Ford Escape. The power steering goes out intermittently when driving causing the steering wheel to shake and be disable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the steering column needed to be replaced at a cost of $1100. I can't believe there are so many complaints on the internet and this has not become a recall this is a very dangers problem especially when you are driving on a highway and have to make a quick movement and your steering wheel is hard to handle. My car as to sit for months now because I don't have that type of money in order for it to get repaired. And also my car is only 3 years and a half I would understand if I beat on it or if it was extremely old but its not.

- Hillsborough, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The power steering continued to fail intermittently while driving 35 mph causing the steering wheel to be disabled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the steering column needed to be replaced at a cost of $1100. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 45,000.

- Frederick, MD, USA

The power steering goes out as I am trying to make a turn. If I put the vehicle in park, turn it off and restart it, it will be just fine. This is a serious safety issue, crossing a highway, or turning out into a lane of traffic if the steering fails you do not have the time to put the vehicle in park and restart. Extremely difficult to regain control of the wheel, requires great deal of strength to wrestle the vehicle out of harms way,

- Shelbyville, TN, USA

I have a 2008 Ford Escape and when your driving down the road the steering wheel randomly jerks you all over the road.

- Englwood, TN, USA

Steering columns has a clicking and popping sound as I'm parking my car.

- Burlington, KY, USA

My 2008 Ford Escape loses it's power steering while driving. It happens at random times. The last time it happened I almost crashed into a brick wall. The dealership service dept. Has tried to fix it twice and it continues to fail. I am afraid of loosing control of the vehicle. When I searched the problem on line I found it has happened to several people throughout the country. One woman said she crashed while exiting the highway and was seriously injured. In her instance the airbags did not deploy which did not surprise me. My airbag and traction control problem lights appear everytime the steering fails.

- Hanson, MA, USA

I have a 2008 Ford Escape. This car is having issues where the power steering will go out in the middle of driving and turning. This has been going on for a couple of months. I took it to a Ford dealer and they said they have never heard of this problem before. Although you can go on Ford Escape customer forums and see countless instances where this has happened to other people some resulting in accidents. I have asked Ford several times to help me with this issue and they say that we need to replace the whole steering column $1700 charge. This is happening with most of the postings I saw and with my own vehicle at relatively low mileage. It seems that this would not be a normal wear and tear on the vehicle with low mileage. Continuously people I have seen and also for myself have gotten the answer from Ford that they haven't heard of this issue before. I am not happy because I have to expend the money to fix this but more so I want to have this issue corrected before someone really gets hurt. If an elderly person were driving this vehicle with that problem they would wreck because of not having the strength to keep the wheel in motion correctly. Same may be with a younger driver. Please please take a look at this problem for me.

- Elizabeth, CO, USA

My 2008 Escape has been to dealer for repair for major issues. 1) I had a problem with the steering wheel 2) I had a problem with the gas pedal getting stuck, 3) I had a problem with the leak of transmission fluid I thank god that the this happen to the car while its under warranty, so the dealer replace the parts for free. I just cant understand with so many complaints with all the same problems the government has not done anything about it. So many unhappy customers has to spend extra money in hard times to get there car repair. I called Ford and they just told me that they will noted in my account. What will that do for me nothing!

- Bushkill, PA, USA