Vehicle felt slightly stiff in steering. Next day operated fine until switched off and later started up again, at which point steering was very stiff (dangerous to drive)! I then parked it and turned the engine off. Later I started the engine and steering was again ok. Sometimes it gets hard to steering while driving...I never know when the steering will go out. It changes at different times, at different speeds and on flat or unlevel streets. This is a safety related defect and poses a very dangerous situation! I have found many reports of this same issue on the same and similar vehicles. The recall began on July 18, 2014...Ford's number for this recall is 14S05."?"

- Lynn Haven, FL, USA

Vehicle intermittent hard to steer. Starts up fine you drive for a while then car is very hard to steer. Shut car off then car is fine. Then a week or two later same issue. Car does not throw any codes.

- Stanwood, WA, USA

I purchased my used Escape in March of this year. Its a 2011. I have had it now for 8 months. 2 days ago my car showed a msg "power steer assist fault" it still drove fine that night. Then yesterday morning my car was incredibly hard to turn. I looked up the msg and got recall info. Took it to the dealer paid $100 bucks for diagnostics on the car. My last $100. They got error code B2278. Ive called repeatedly and searched online. My car was manufactured where the recalls were, the error codes are the same, and im being told that there is no recall for my vehicle. How is that possible when the exact conditions that other recalls had my car has? I dont know if the car had the recall fixed before, bc I bought it used. Idk if the dealer knew. I just need help fixing this. I use my car for work. I am a mail carrier, and delivery driver. I have no idea who to go to for help.

- Junction City, KS, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized at vehicle start-up. The contact was unable to move the steering wheel in either direction. After waiting for approximately ten minutes, the steering wheel released and operated as intended. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 166,000.

- Philiadelphia, PA, USA

I am writing this as my concerned I haven't had my vehicle less then year and I have noticed my steering wheel will lock up on me while I am driving. I have noticed it has happened 3 times since driving it and it seems like it was 2-3 weeks apart from when it do it. I'm not really sure on the dates of when it happened. I typically drive mostly country. My typical drive is 60 miles a day going from work and home.

- Morgantown, IN, USA

The steering wheel of vehicle locks up while driving making the vehicle very difficult or impossible to steer. After stopping the vehicle, putting the gear in park, and then shutting off the engine and restarting the vehicle, the driver can once again gain control of the steering wheel. However, this has been happening with increasing frequency, that it makes driving the vehicle very hazardous as you never known when this loss of steering may occur. The loss of steering control has happened both on city streets and on the highway, but appears to be more noticeable when turning because that is when the driver should be able to turn the steering wheel. I am concerned about how this impacts safety in regards to being able to control the direction of the vehicle, especially on snowy winter roads. According to the service station where I brought my vehicle, it showed a dtc code of B2278, indicating that the issue is with a torque sensor that is part of the electronic power steering system and that this code is linked to safety recall #14S05. However, the Ford dealership in my area told me that this safety recall does not pertain to the VIN number associated with my vehicle.

- Elk River, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, her daughter experienced complete power steering failure with an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to either an independent mechanic or a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

- Morgan Town, IN, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to gordie boucher Ford of menomonee falls (N88W14300 main St, menomonee falls, wi 53051) and the contact was informed that the mechanic was unable to troubleshoot the failure because the vehicle was not currently experiencing the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

- Manomonee Falls, WI, USA

Power steering just randomly went out while driving. I know previously there was a recall for this, however I've only had the car a couple years and it's just now a problem. If I turn the car completely off and restart it starts working again. Also, there was a recall for a front bearing part, I'm having issues there as well. Front right.

- Barnesville, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 15 mph, the vehicle loss power steering assist without warning. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle however, the failure recurred without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to steer and was parked several blocks away from his residence. The contact called star Ford (1101 S brand blvd, glendale, ca 91204) and bob wondries Ford (400 S atlantic blvd, alhambra, ca 91801) and was informed that there were no recalls on his vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at various speeds, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact stated that upon restart of the vehicle, the steering resumed normal operation. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The contact's wife called an independent mechanic and was informed that the vehicle was under recall for the steering. The contact's wife called covert Ford Inc. (11514 research blvd, austin, tx 78759) and was informed that the VIN was not under. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000(steering) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

- Austin, TX, USA

The electric power steering has gone out unexpectedly. The tech at the shop is very surprised that my VIN isn't covered under the recall for the power steering. I was quoted $2,000 for the repair. Definitely not worth the repair at that cost.

- Hamilton, OH, USA

All off these events I am describing happened all while driving and still occur while in park. All of these also slowly progressed into one big issue over a month and a half period. It started off as my headlights were dimming and flickering, then it progressed to my dash lights doing the same, flickering and dimming on and off. Then it started affecting my ac and heat, it would get locked to stay on and I would have it turned off but if my gauges were in a certain position sometimes it would just turn on by itself. Then my battery light would turn on and off, and then my power steering was making like a click sound and it would go in and out. One time my locks were going on and off by themselves as well. I replaced the battery thinking it was dying, that didn't help. I took it to get the battery and alternator tested and it was giving a 100%. I'm at a loss and do not know what else to do as the power steering is an issue.

- Salut Ste Marie, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to steer while making turns. The contact stated that when he got to his residence, he turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle operated as designed. The vehicle was taken to cavalier Ford greenbrier (1515 S military hwy, chesapeake, va 23320), and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The contact scheduled an appointment for the repair which was still pending. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,116.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

When im starting to drive the Escape it makes a warning sound and the steering wheel does not feel natural. At times it feels stiff and hard to turn and at other times it turns so easily. On the dashboard it shows me a warning sign telling me, 'power steering assistant fault, ' its happened three times these past few months. The third time this happened, I did a reset but it still shows up. I dont feel comfortable driving the vehicle because it feels dangerous.

- Houston, TX, USA

Light came on for power steering assisted fault after I put car in park and opened the door while engine was still running. After turning car off and restarting turning steering wheel became very difficult.

- Medford, OR, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to his residence. The contact spoken to an independent mechanic who associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering) however, the VIN was not included. The contact called autonation Ford orange park located at 7700 blanding blvd, jacksonville, fl 32244, (904) 270-9943, to notify the dealer of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 66,864.

- Orange Park, FL, USA

My steering keeps going out on me to where I cannot move the steering wheel. This has happened twice to me within 20 minutes. I have children in the car and I have to put on my four ways put my car in park and then turn it off and on and it works again.

- Trafford, PA, USA

The power steering goes out on the car, initially restarting the vehicle did allow it to work for a time but now it does not work at all. When it initially failed it happened at slow speeds in a parking lot as well as at high speeds on the highway. Appears to be a recurring problem that Ford attempted to fix with a "software" patch but it is clear that there is a critical flaw in the power steering units in these cars.

- Pittsburg, KS, USA

Random loss of power steering.

- Chunchula, AL, USA