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 locks while in motion with a message of power steering assist fault, very potentially dangerous, on a city street
- Ann Arbor, MI, USA
This is an addendum to a previous complaint. Recall on steering was performed by dealer in 8/2014 by simply resetting computer, not replacing steering column or it's components so failure was really not addressed properly. Now Ford refuses to do the repair at their cost as they stated that the recall was complete. Car has complete power steering failure with power steering assist fault" on the screen. Car is very unsafe to operate.
- Erwinna, PA, USA
A quick alarm sounded then a sudden loss of power steering while driving on a quiet road, then power steering quickly came back...happened twice more in a 4 mile stretch. The power steering assist fault warning came on the screen. After turning off engine and starting again in drive, the power steering never worked and made the automobile impossible to control. When researched, it was noted that this is an issue with many many Ford Escapes (2009 models and more, recall #14S05) yet I did not receive a notice and my local dealer just told me that our particular auto was not recalled when matched with our VIN.
- Erwinna, PA, USA
Lost all power steering on interstate at high rate of speed.
- Evergreen, CO, USA
The steering wheel binds upon engine start. When I turn it off and turn it back on it binds and goes into manual mode and it's hard to steer. If I turn it off and turn it back on, half the time it fixes itself and half the time it doesn't. it makes it really unsafe to drive because the wheel is really hard to turn. I have trouble steering and cannot control the vehicle the way I need to. We contacted Ford to see if there was a recall but we were told there wasn't. I believe there should be a recall for this because it is dangerous and not safe to drive.
- Beaumont, TX, USA
The steering wheel on our 2009 Ford Escape started shaking constantly and there's a warning showing "power steering assist failure." We took it to our local Ford dealer. They determined it was an issue covered under a recall and we scheduled a service appointment for repair. When we took it in for the appointment, they then told us it wasn't a recall and we would have to pay to have it repaired. We didn't continue with the repair at that time. We researched the problem and found there was a recall issued on 05/29/14, NHTSA campaign #14V284000, Ford recall #14S05. We owned the vehicle at that time of the recall and were never notified. I contacted Ford customer service regarding the issue, but the only resolution they offered was that we would have to resolve the issue with our Ford dealer, which won't fix the problem under recall. We took the vehicle to an independent repair shop and asked them to conduct a diagnostic check on it without telling them the background. They performed the check and determined it was the exact same problem and recall we were already aware of. They provided us with the recall documentation and advised us to go to the Ford dealership and they should repair the problem due to the previous recall. Could someone please provide us assistance or advice in getting our vehicle repaired under this recall? we're fearful of driving the vehicle due to the potential loss of steering loss and don't understand how Ford is refusing to repair a clearly obvious recall issue. Thank you.
- Dahinda, IL, USA
My Ford's VIN# [xxx]. my 2009 Ford Escape the power steering failed on my way to work. I stopped at a light and the power steering failed. It seems to fail after driving a certain amount of miles. The steering wheel becomes hard to turn and you need to turn the car off and back on to resume power steering. I called Ford customer service and they will not do anything for me. I'm very surprised that this is a know issue and Ford wont do anything to help its customers. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Valley Stream, NY, USA
14S05. I was driving the 2009 Ford Escape on the highway at approx. 70mph. The steering will stopped controlling the vehicle correctly and then the steering went completely out. I almost crashed, pulled onto the shoulder of the highway, gathered myself, cut on the hazard lights and cut the auto off. After a minute, I started the auto up again and moved forward to see if the problem still existed. The power steering was back in but it was very very loose. When I got it home I informed my mother that it needed to be looked at. She called the Ford hotline and they told her that the recall on her vehicle was closed but if the steering went out, that it was covered by the recall. She took it to the dealer that Ford told her too and they said they would repair it. She left the vehicle over night to be fixed but the next day they told her that it wasn't a recall and that she had to pay $89 for the diagnostic test that she didn't know she had to pay. They still refuse to help in any kind of way at all. My mother is in her mid 70's with a fixed income. It's impossible for her to come up with $2000. Https://www.facebook.com/fordwonthonorrecall14S05/
- Flint, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 70 mph, the steering ability seized. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road to a complete stop. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was turned off and restarted. The steering wheel shook left to right on its own. The vehicle was driven back to the house with the steering ability very loose. The vehicle was taken to the dealer two days later where it was diagnosed that the power steering and tipm failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
- Flint, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. While the vehicle was reversing out of the driveway, the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was towed to a service station. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 157,000. Updated 03/03/17
- Temperance, MI, USA
There was a recall for the power steering 14S05 July 2014. Which I brought my car in for and they reprogramed the computer. One time the power steering failed but restarting car made it work. Last week my power steering failed this was 2 years after the reprograming. I brought it to Ford livermore, ca and they diagnosed the torque sensor was the problem which was not fixed during the recall when I brought it in. Anyway just wanted to say Ford did not fix my power steering problem and is a safety issue. Vehicle was at a stop light restarted car and power steering came back. Drove home parked in garage and next time started car power steering was out
- Dublin, CA, USA
There was a recall for this model of the 2009 Ford Escape for a steering issue. They did not honour the recall, even though the dealer explained how dangerous of a problem this lack of electric steering was causing. I had to pay for an expensive repair out of my own pocket. The problem was that the electronic steering assist would stop functioning while the car was in motion, this caused heavy vibrations of the steering wheel and a lack of power steering.
- Tahlequah, OK, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. While driving 35 mph, the steering failed and the power steering assist pump sensor illuminated. In addition, the steering wheel shook vigorously. The dealer could not diagnose the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 148,000.
- Beford, WY, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. Without warning, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was turned off, restarted, and driven to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The mechanic indicated that the steering torque sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was not available.
- St Paul, MN, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. While making a turn, the power steering failed. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who stated there were no recalls or warranties related to the power steering. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 150,000.
- Hazlehurst, MS, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 40 mph, the power steering failed. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the failure was similar to NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering) the dealer stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. Updated 02/15/17
- Mechanicville, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. While driving 40 mph, the power steering failed. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 78,000.
- Bridgeport, VT, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the steering wheel failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 87,000.
- Grinnelle, IA, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact also mentioned that the check engine warning indicator illuminated on a separate occasion while driving and the steering wheel seized. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle; however, the steering wheel was still difficult to maneuver. The contact was able to get the vehicle back home. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
- Maineville, OH, USA
- South Salt Lake, UT, USA