Loss of power steering. Turned car off it returned now it twitches shakes and goes off once and while. Need to replace steering column epas shot. Cost$$$ major safety issue this system needs to be looked at the car is dangerous to drive.

- Richfield, MN, USA

When I start my vehicle, the power steering fails, does not matter the temperature outside. Restarting the vehicle restores the power steering. Steering jerks and makes sounds like a gear mechanism is catching constantly while driving. While it has not failed while driving yet, it feels like it is always on the verge of failing.

- Lake Orion, MI, USA

I was driving down a side road about 5 min after leaving my house when I lost power steering and had to pull over. I shut the car off and restarted it and the steering worked but the steering wheel shakes when it is in the center position. Now everytime I start the car I have no power steering. I tried turning the car off and letting the electrical system to reset. But that does nothing. When I took the car to the dealership they said I would need to replace the steering culumn and they would charge about $1300. Now as I am starting the car if I pull the steering wheel to the left I have power steering but the steering wheel still shakes if it is in the center positing. If I just start the car like normal the power steering never works. This has only happened once while going down the road but could be very dangerous for any driver and the cars around them. Many other Ford Escape owners seem to be having the same problem.

- Forest Lake, MN, USA

Power steering cuts out of its own Accord. However when the steering works the steering wheel shakes and twitches, pulling the steering while it moves a little each time. I have to use both hands to steady the wheel as I drive on the highway everyday. I also noticed that the power steering will cut out mid turn, resulting in many pothole strikes, I am surprised this hasn't been recalled due to the fact that I would never be able to swerve around another car in time or heaven forbid a person or animal and that is a major safety issue.

- Westfield, MA, USA

Over the past couple of months or so, upon turning key, my steering wheel would not engage, staying locked - at first was a rare occurrence, but lately have had to restart vehicle 2-3 times to get the power steering. My 2009 Ford Escape is also losing steering in the middle of driving - on one instance, January 3, 2014, I was turning left in an intersection, and my steering wheel froze mid-turn, with traffic coming right at me! I was able to speed up and force turn, barely clearing a vehicle parked on the side. I pulled over and shut off the vehicle - upon restarting the engine, it steered just fine. I assumed it was a minor glitch in steering, but the incidents became more frequent, finding myself unable to steer to turn into/out of driveway, parking lot and even traffic. Yesterday, 2-26-2014, topped it. I was driving around town at max.30 mph, I lost steering, 5 times in 15 minutes, no warning of any kind on my dashboard. I had to fight the steering to pull over out of traffic - that is end of school day, parents and children walking/running around all over! this steering problem is a huge safety issue. This morning I set up an appointment with the local Ford dealership - and I better not have to pay what I'm seeing other people had to pay for exactly the same steering problem. This needs to be taken care of/recalled by Ford, as it appears to be a failure in their electronic power steering, and there are way too many people affected by it, risking crashes and loss of lives.

- Pine River, MN, USA

Started vehicle this morning and drove about 1 mile to local store. The steering was very difficult indicating a lack of power steering. After shopping at store, I drove about.25 miles to a bank. Again there was no power steering. After the bank, I drove 25 miles to work (with power steering) and then another 25 miles home in the evening. When I started the drive home, I had no power steering. After talking to my Ford dealer earlier in the day and after reading customer complaints on the web of the exact same symptom, I turned the car off and restarted it. This time I had power steering. Apparently there is a switch in the steering column that activates the electrical (?) power steering pump. This switch can become intermittent causing the power steering to fail. Reported repair cost is $1400 because of difficult access to said switch. Obviously this is a very disconcerting problem with huge safety implications. Web reports tell of losing power steering while driving at highway speeds. The vehicle can still be steered but only with great effort. Seems like a design flaw. It is hardly fail-safe.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Power steering/steering column replacement. 250 miles into my trip I was at a stop light and when the light turned green I accelerated and without warning I had no power steering. I managed to pull into a parking lot to get off the busy street. Hoping for a simple answer I checked the "four wheel drive, electric power steering module (epas), park aid module" fuse and it was fine. It was late evening - the dealership was closed, no rental cars available. The police ended up taking me, my dogs, my luggage, etc. To a motel. In the morning arranged for a tow truck and rental car. Dealership mechanic was a jerk because I had pulled the fuse and reset the error code. Told him when you're in a strange area with no help to be found, you're desperate and will try whatever you can. Was not in the mood to put up with his attitude. Got on the road in the rental car and hours later received a call from the dealership telling me the steering column needs to be replaced for $1,300+ and that the extended warranty I had purchased had expired 1/21/2014. I have seen so many posts regarding this matter. When is Ford going to realize this is not a random problem? I have had so many problems with this vehicle. In addition to the current issue I have also had to have the transmission replaced (at about 31K); front wheel bearings replaced; the left, front speaker that was replaced has gone bad again. I am not a bad driver (have never had a ticket or been in an accident where I was behind the wheel), I am careful with my routine maintenance. Next time it breaks down I'll be tempted to walk away from the thing and not look back.

- Bennett, CO, USA

Wheel locks up and doesn't move, power steering does not work either. Have to turn car on and off continually until normal steering functions return. Dropped car off at the dealership immediately! after some research I see this is a very common problem with no recall? very unsafe not only for drivers but surrounding cars on the road as well!!

- Romulus, MI, USA

I have a 2009 Ford Escape and I almost got in a accident with my children in the car. As I was turning my power steering locked up and it is extremely hard to maneuver. As I did my research I have found that this is a fairly common problem with the Ford Escape. There have not been any recalls but this should be recalled as it is as it is a safety concern that almost caused me to have an accident. I have contacted Ford Motor Company but all they did was apologize and nothing more. The cost to get my car repaired is about $1500 which my car is currently sitting in the drive way undriveable since I can not afford to repair it at this time.

- Wylie, TX, USA

I have experienced intermittent issues with the steering of my vehicle. The steering tightens and I'm unable to turn the steering wheel. I am extremely concerned with this issue since this is a safety issue as it happens frequently as I am driving my vehicle.

- Des Plaines, IL, USA

While driving the vehicle I suddenly lost power and wrench and engine light came on. I was able to turn the car back on after a complete stop. Car was taken immediately to Ford and they said nothing wrong with it and if it happens again bring it in. After multiple times on city streets and interstates which I feared for my life, the car would have no power and the engine would not accelerate when I would step on gas. Had to shut the engine off and restart to make anything work. After that I took it to Ford again and this time they replaced throttle body-air intake which they said there were other vehicles with similar issues. I had to pay out of pocket due to out of warranty but they surely know there is a defect there in the throttle bottle and certainly an endangerment to those driving the vehicle and to those around them.

- Houston, TX, USA

Went to drive my vehicle and sped up to 45 mph and lost all the assistance in power steering. Felt like I could not turn the wheels at all. I slowed down and barely pulled into a parking lot. Told my kids everything will be ok. Started up the vehicle again and it was fine until 10 min later...same issue. Almost wrecked twice with the kids with me.

- Dodgeville, WI, USA

While driving around a curve, my steering tightened up and I realized my power steering had malfunctioned. I was able to make the curve safely but steering was extremely difficult. It is my understanding that the electronic power assist steering had malfunctioned and it is not an uncommon problem.

- Topeka, KS, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph off an exit ramp, the power steering assist failed and caused the steering wheel to become extremely difficult to turn. The contact shut off the engine and once restarted, the power steering assist had independently reset. The failure was an intermittent recurrence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The failure mileage was 105,000.

- Ashland, OH, USA

Power steering goes out without any warnings. Can be out if you turn the car on. If you turn the car off and you start it again the power steering may come back on. Most of the time you have to disconnect the battery and reconnect this usually will fix the problem for a day than you have to disconnect the battery again. The power steering has also gone out during driving as well. I feel that this is a huge safety hazard is may cause accidents.

- Sarasota, FL, USA

First time happened after starting vehicle, I noticed there was a loss of power steering when backing out of a parking spot. This was resolved after I restarted the vehicle. The next time was 2 days later when I in the middle of turning my steering wheel to get off the highway. Power steering cut out completely, thankfully I was the only one around because it took a second to grab the wheel tighter and turn. I have read many accounts of the same thing happening, why hasn't there been a recall? I drive on the highway everyday and it is essential to safety that I am able to steer. I have to live with this for now because I cannot afford a $1200-$1800 repair when I just put money into this car. Also I now notice that my wheel has a lot more "wiggle room" with steering as well as a grinding noise that never was there before.

- Westfield, MA, USA

While driving during both incidents the vehicle lost all power steering, stalled, and engine started missing. Tuned vehicle off then tried to restart and wouldn't click, continued missing. Rpms would rise without any movement. Turn vehicle off again to restart and it started correctly. While always driving the vehicle it will jolt while moving as if the transmission wasn't catching gears.

- Killeen, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, she heard a loud noise followed by a sudden loss of power steering. The steering wheel had become extremely difficult to maneuver in a vibrating motion. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.

- Dallas, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph there was a sudden loss of power steering which caused the vehicle to travel out of its lane unexpectedly. The contact was able to regain control and continue driving with difficulty in maneuvering the steering wheel. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.

- Kknox, IN, USA

Started engine and power steering was not working. Looked up in manual and it said it will go into manual steering if power steering get hot. This has happened a few times but then the power steering would work after each occurrence. Now the steering chatters and shakes the steering wheel even when in park and engine off.

- Posen, MI, USA