10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 13 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 13 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 96,112 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 freezes randomly for 1-2 seconds when turning left. I've owned this vehicle (bought used) for one year.
- Goshen, IN, USA
First noticed steering wheel shaking and a noise.soon after power assist fault sensor came on.next steering wheel was so tight could not turn it.I was driving when power assist sensor came on.then I was sitting in my driveway trying to pull out when steering wheel got tight
- St Louis, MO, USA
Very scary moment. Turning left with on coming traffic and lost all power stirring. Was nearly hit. This Escape had been taken to the dear in December of 2014 under a recall. The pscm and the icm were updated as per the Ford 14S05C recall number. I could have been hurt or worse, the family in the car that nearly missed me. I have been reading online about the overwhelming amount of people this is happening to. It is wrong and Ford Motor Company needs to take responsibility for a faulty component on these vehicles. Ford is aware of this situation and thus far refusing to make it right. I am in the process of obtaining quotes for repairs.
- Fenton, MI, USA
I noticed an issue with my power steering about a month ago. Wheel shakes while driving as well as when stopped... but not consistently. I tookmy vehicle to my local mechanic and he wasn't sure what the problem was. I felt it was something in the power steering just by the way it was acting. Two days ago, when I started up my car, the dash indicated a warning with the power steering. The shaking, on and off, has become more apparent. I went on line to see what if anyone else has had this experience and here I am... lots of complaints, and no results. Extremely disappointed. This is my second Escape and will definitely be my last and probably my last Ford product. Vehicle has roughly 195,000 miles.
- Brunswick, OH, USA
My vehicle was subject to safety recall 14S05. I am the 2nd owner, and according to Ford the recall repair was completed in 2014(reprogramming the pscm. However, the actual torques sensor in the steering column was not replaced. This morning it went out on me on my way to work while exiting I96 wb in Wixom, mi. We had 7 inches of snow fall last night, so road conditions were snowy and icy. When the electronic steering assist went out, the vehicle only had manual steering, which is very difficult to use. As a result, I temporarily lost control of the vehicle, nearly striking another motorist. I then corrected the steering wheel back in the other direction, and ran off the left shoulder of the road into a snow drift. I was not injured, and there was no damage sustained by my vehicle. I was able to get the vehicle out of the snow drift under it's own power, and continued on to work. I am very lucky to be writing this complaint today, I very nearly could have suffered serious injury or death, or injured or killed another motorist. I researched this problem on the internet to try to diagnose, only to find that this is a prominent problem with these vehicles, and that the safety recall had been issued. But as I soon learned, like many, many others, after the initial recall repairs are completed, Ford will no longer do any other remedies for this problem. I find this to be alarming, and unacceptable. As of right now, the condition still exists, and I am trying to get estimates on the repairs. I would like this issue to be investigated thoroughly, and I believe that there is more to this problem than simply reprogramming the pscm. I believe that the steering torque sensor and/or steering column is more likely the problem, and that Ford should fix or replace as necessary.
- Redford, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to drive the vehicle, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering shaft needed to be replaced. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The approximate failure mileage was 46,000. Consumer state the steering problem was intermittent. Happened twice but not while driving. The wheel could barely turn. Updated 8/23/18 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired.
- Weymouth, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The local dealer (arrow Ford, 4001 S. 1st street, abilene, tx, 79605) was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
- Abilene, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. While driving 35 mph, the steering wheel seized and the electric power steering assist failed without warning. The vehicle was taken to Ford Lincoln of franklin (1129 murfreesboro rd, franklin, tn 37064 (615) 800-6500) where diagnostic testing was completed and a failure code in the torque sensor was detected. The contact was informed that the torque sensor needed replacement. The vehicle was currently at the dealer for repairs. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering) in 2014, but the remedy failed. The manufacturer did not assist and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
- Spring Hill, TN, USA
Power steering failed while driving sat highway speeds approx 70mph, and resulted in crossing lane into opposing traffic, nearly causing head-on collision. Dealership claims no knowledge of this being a problem with this model of vehicle. Internet search indicates this has been a recall issue in the past. Ford will not resolve issue through recall, and repair is very expensive.
- Mesa, AZ, USA
Steering gave out suddenly causing the wheel to become stiff. Car was stationary at the time.
- Chester, VA, USA
Power steering assist failure had the power steering reprogrammed which temporarily fixed problem, steering is starting to fail again 2.5 months later. Ford claiming my vehicle was covered by 14S05 only for reprogramming and not replacing power steering column or torque sensor
- Hendersonville, TN, USA
Sudden loss of power steering assist even after the recall reprogramming. My vehicle was previously taken in for for recall number 14S05 in July. 2014. Trouble codes were not found at that time so the dealer supposedly did a reprogramming which was designed to prevent the loss of power assist. Our vehicle had a complete loss of power steering assist while driving on 11/7/17 I took the vehicle to my local Ford dealer and they found trouble code B1342 which if found during the 2014 recall appointment, it would have resulted in the steering column being replaced. I was told by the dealer that the steering column needs to be replaced but that my vehicle was no longer eligible for the recall due to the previous reprogramming, even thought it was completely ineffective in resolving the critical safety issue. Clearly, my vehicle experienced the exact power steering loss and failure code that was related to the recall. The reprogramming did not have the intended result whatsoever - I still experienced the power steering loss. I have tried to escalate this issue within Ford customer service but they are denying any responsibility to resolve this known defect under the recall warranty due to the previous reprogramming. I'm hoping NHTSA can help resolve this critical safety issue - I'm sure we're not the only ones affected! im a single mom and do not have the $1300 to replace this part which should of been replaced the first time!!!!!
- Demotte, IN, USA
Power steering failure
- Demotte, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. While driving 20 mph, the power steering became difficult to operate without warning. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. Rowe Ford auburn (699 center St, auburn, me 04210, (207) 784-2321) stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but the office was not yet open for business. The approximate failure mileage was 156,961.
- West Garidner, ME, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. While at a complete stop, the contact heard an abnormal noise and the vehicle beeped. A warning alert appeared that indicated "power steering assist stalled". the contact was able to drive the vehicle home; however, the steering wheel stiffened and had to be turned manually. The vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering) in December of 2014, but the remedy failed. The local dealer (westfield Ford Inc, 6200 South la grange rd, countryside, il, 60525) was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer the following day where it was diagnosed that the remedy failed and the steering column failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer provided case number: [xxx], but no further assistance was offered. The vehicle was repaired at the contact's expense. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- La Grange Park, IL, USA
Power steering failure, previously recalled and "reprogrammed" instead of replaced
- Demotte, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that there was a sudden loss of power steering, and the steering wheel was tight and difficult to turn left or right. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted and remained parked at the contact's residence due to the failure. The dealer (roy O'brien Ford, 22201 E 9 mile rd, St clair shores, mi 48080, (586) 776-7600) indicated that a manufacturer recall for the steering had been provided for the pscm reprogramming before the contact owned the vehicle; however, the instrument cluster module was not replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
- Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA
Recall14V28400 my call was assembled in kc and based on edmonds.com I should have received this recall to correct the electrical power steering. I'm have this problem and garvis Ford in ayer mass said that it was vechicla and based on VIN its nopt part of the recall, but the problem is there and I really don't believe them. Thjhis problem was present years ago and now the power steerring is no more.
- Clinton, MA, USA
In the past two months the power steering began to stop operating intermittently. Took it to dealership 2 times and they could not find the problem. Finally on Oct 24 the power steering failed to operate completely. It is being repaired at a cost of over 1000. Since only some of the 2009 Escapes were recalled in 2014, and mine was not included, I believe Ford should recognize this problem and recall my vehicle. This is a serious moving safety hazard. There is a major defect in the steering which can happen at any time.
- East Hampton, NY, USA
- Burbank, IL, USA