Vehicle was traveling at app. 50 mph from interstate onto off-ramp. While turning, I noticed the wheel become very heavy. I put more force into the wheel, but it was if it was locked. This did not feel like a mechanical lock, such as when the vehicle is off - that generally has quite a bit of play. I stood on the kick panel and pulled the steering wheel with enough force to deform the steering wheel. It felt like it was pulling back just as hard. A screeching/hissing noise that sounded similar to a power steering whine was observed. A few feet short of going head-on into the guardrail, the wheel finally released, and the vehicle spun out. The steering was then acting fine. One mile later, the steering began to die completely. 0.5 miles later, it began to fight again. I was attempting to turn right with the dead power steering (being able to be controlled without much effort). The wheel suddenly froze up again, this time though, I turned the vehicle off and back on while in neutral. Control of the vehicle was regained, and the power steering system was dead after the flare-up. The vehicle traveled another 2 miles completely dead, but not locked up. The vehicle was parked, and I don't feel it is safe to drive. I contacted Ford of murfreesboro on 10/26/2020, who was unwilling to diagnose the safety issue without me first promising to pay $135 before tax. This is not a desired fail-safe operation, and I believe it may pose an issue with similar years of the Escape. I don't expect it to be fixed for free, but Ford needs to investigate the Escape's electric power steering to make sure this was a failure specific to this vehicle.

- Murfreesboro, TN, USA

There is a recall, campaign number 14V284000, for the electric power steering on Ford Escapes manufactured in the Kansas plant, however for some reason my car is not included in this recall. I have had the exact problem described in the recall complaint.the steering locks up making right turns at low speed and almost caused me to have an accident. This has happened several times. I sent in a complaint previously and have not received a response. Please help me with this problem asap. Thank you !

- Slidell, LA, USA

My wife was on the freeway going 60 and she took an exit and immediately couldn't steer. The orange wrench light came on but she could still drive any speed it didn't engage limp mode.we can still drive just not steer. There is a recall for this yr for this torque sensor, but its not showing up for our VIN #.

- Washougal, WA, USA

While my wife was beginning to back out of the driveway, T he steering locked up, and she pulled it into the garage and stopped and was afraid to drive, because you cannot steer the vehicle at all.

- Kalispell, MT, USA

The electric assisted power steering is locking up causing a severely dangerous driving condition. I believe after having done some research on the issue, this appears to be a prominent issue and this vehicle need to be included in the Ford / NHTSA recall. This issue happened while the vehicle was in motion, normal operating temperature and conditions on city streets.

- Lake City, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the power steering assist warning light illuminated and the steering became difficult to turn while pulling into a driveway and while reversing out of the driveway. The contact stated that a family friend drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was diagnosed and dtc code: B2278 (steering shaft torque sensor) was retrieved. The contact was informed that the steering shaft torque sensor needed to be replaced. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle was towed to a second independent mechanic and was informed that the software needed to reprogram the vehicle was available at the local Ford dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but, offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

- Phoenixville, PA, USA

I have lost my power steering (electric) which makes the vehicle difficult to operate at slow speed

- Clarksburg, MA, USA

I'm scared to drive my car. Sometimes the wheel locks when I'm driving, also the wheel shakes like I'm on a rollercoaster. I can't drive over 20 mph because the wheel starts to shake even more

- Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

Electric power steering went out. I did some research and there was a recall on my car. It was built at the same Kansas plant where they were recalled but I called Ford and let them know and they denied any recall.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while exiting the highway at about 40 mph, the power steering assist warning light illuminated causing the steering to become difficult. The contact veered to the shoulder of the road, turned the vehicle off. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. The contact managed to drive the vehicle to a dealer (bob moore Ford 8948 S I- 35 service rd, Oklahoma city, ok 73149) where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact mentioned NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

FIRST OF ALL THE SINGLE DATE BELOW DOES NOT DOCUMENT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. WHEN I'M MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT LOW SPEED THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HAVE AN ACCIDENT. IF I PULL DOWN HARD ON THE WHEEL IT BREAKS LOOSE AND RETURNS TO NORMAL STEERING. I'VE GONE ON YOUTUBE AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME DEFECT AMD AS ME THEY SAY THAT THAT THEY ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL THAT IS DOCUMENTED BELOW. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE KANSAS CITY PLANT AS THE OTHER CARS IN THE RECALL. I THINK THAT I SHOULD QUALIFY. PLEASE SEE TO THIS ASAP. THANK YOU ! [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Slidell, LA, USA

Vehicle was parked after driving for a few miles, went to move it and the steering wheel just went round and round without the tires moving.

- Ballston Spa, NY, USA

Several frightening incidents took place while driving this vehicle in which the steering gave out. I took it to the local Ford dealer and paid for them to look at it and they couldn't find anything wrong. It went out the third time and I refused to drive it because it was not safe. I got it towed to the dealer and they repaired it. The fact that this can happen while driving on an interstate ( it happened to me) is quite unsatisfactory. I was fortunately able to get it to the side of the road and turn off the engine and restart it and it worked. However the final straw came recently and I was nearly hit by a school bus. This steering issue needs to be recalled.

- Bozeman, MT, USA

The electronic power steering has power assist fault.

- Livermore Falls, ME, USA

About 4 months after purchasing my Ford 2008 the steering column locked up and has become difficult to drive. It was diagnosed with having an electrical power steering failure, which is similar to having no power steering fluid. As a result, I can't drive on highways and it's increasingly dangerous to drive the car period. I brought it to my local Ford dealership and it's a $1500 fix to replace the steering column; which is what's needed, which I don't believe I should have to pay for. When researching this on youtube, I found it to be a serious problem that comes up often. Ford is aware of it and it seems will only include VIN's they want to. I think mine and all 2008 should be covered under a recall, this is a dangerous problem that they new about and refuse to fix it because it cause to much? I could have been killed, not knowing this problem. My reactions as a safe drive is what prevented me from being in a serious accident at that time. I'm including the invoice which shows the evaluation of the car, Ford should not have a choice as to whether or not they should cover a vehicle. Ford produced a vehicle that has a problem, that shouldn't be on the consumer. Please view youtube on this topic, there are numerous videos on the 2008 topic and the problem people are having. Anything you can do to help this situation is greatly appreciated. Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Providence, RI, USA

I had just left the laundromat I was going to run grab me a bite to eat while waiting on my clothes and as I pulled out of the parking space, "power steering assist fault popped up on my dash. So I thought my power steering was low. There was a auto zone on the way to the restaurant so as I went to turn into auto zone I head a loud pop and then I couldn't turn my steering wheel and 2 cars almost hit me coming in from the opposite side.

- Kingston, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving there was pinging sound coming from the steering. The contact stated that the steering vibrated and moved from side to side. The contact stated that the vehicle followed in the direction of the movement of the steering wheel. Dorsch Ford Lincoln Kia located at (2641 eaton rd, green bay, wi 54311 (920) 469-3000) informed the contact stated that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall. The contact was informed that the failure was due to the failure of the steering torque sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,600.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon his daughter starting the vehicle, the power steering ceased without warning. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall. The vehicle was then taken to palmetto Ford Lincoln located at (1625 savannah hwy, charleston, SC 29407). The contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,530.

- Mount Pleasant, SC, USA

When the vehicle was parked the steering wheel would rock side to side about a quarter of an inch and then as we were driving down the highway taking a corner the elecktronic steering completely fail almost causing us to wreck.

- Sedalia, MO, USA

While driving my vehicle the power steering system reverted to manual steering mode due to an electric power steering system fault related to the torque sensor. The loss of steering assist while driving required higher steering effort at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of an accident. I took it into a Ford dealer to run some diagnostics and they confirmed that it needs a new steering shaft torque sensor. There was a recall from Ford (14S05) for this exact issue that impacted more than 1 million vehicles in North America. I am told my vehicle is not part of this recall but if it is the same vehicle with the same exact issue, I don't understand how it is not covered by this recall.

- Denver, CO, USA