While driving on a county road, my wife experienced a sudden loss of power steering. The instrument panel behind the steering wheel displayed a power steering assist failure notification. When she restarted the vehicle, the notification went away and the power steering returned. We took the vehicle to greg darnell Ford in midwest city, ok for diagnostics and were told a gear assembly in the steering column had gone bad (part no. Hv6Z-3504-cd). The repair cost is $2129 after a 10% military discount. The problem is very similar to NHTSA campaign 14V284000 for the 2008-2011 Escape, but the recall has not been extended to cover more recent model years. Fortunately, my wife was able to brake and safely exit the road, shaken but without incident. However, had she been traveling at highway speed, the sudden loss of power steering could easily have resulted in loss of control and a potentially deadly accident. Several others have reported the same issue with 2013 Escapes on carcomplaints.com. When I contacted Ford customer service, they dismissed my concern and told me there was nothing they could do.

- Midwest City, OK, USA

Upon driving the vehicle without notice the steering assist fault light came on and the power steering went out and almost hit another vehicle.

- Salisbury, MD, USA

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the power steering became inoperable. The loss of power steering assist warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to fairview Ford sales Inc located at 292 N G St, san bernardino, ca 92410, where the steering column was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

- Colton, CA, USA

Steering assist fault service required light and steering wheel locks up. This has always happened when I first start my car and go to back up. This has happened multiple times to me and I have read that this is a common problem with this car. Other years have had a recall, this is a safety issue and needs to be looked into.

- Nortonville, KS, USA

2013 Ford Escape with less than 90000 miles, went to crank car and steering assist fault came up on dash cut car off and recranked and was fine next day was driving it on a rural road and lost power steering same fault came up now no power steering at all if wife had been driving she would have probably wrecked because of hard steering, looked online and see it has been a problem with this model and no recall has been issued

- Greensboro, NC, USA

I am constantly adding coolant to my Escape. It has broken down / shut off on me twice as a result of overheating caused by lack of coolant. Ford claimed the coolant loss was caused by a sensor. Something along the lines of a faulty sensor tricking the engine into thinking it was overheating and the coolant was being dispersed to cool the engine. I explained to the dealership that I purchased the car in 2017 with 52,000 miles and that by September of 2017 I was adding coolant. This continue until October 2019 when I finally got fed up after the vehicle powered off on me going down hill as a result of 'overheating' needing more coolant. I tried sharing this information with my dealership to no avail and mentioned previous recalls on 2013 1.6L Escape engines that my vehicle was not included in but many of the recalls involved coolant leaks! I allowed Ford to convince me the $4,000 sensor would solve all my problems. Unfortunately on December 3, 2019 less than two months after the sensor was repaired I got a maintenance notification to add coolant and another on January 20, 2020. In addition, I want to comment on the power steering defaulting. This happened to me as well in May 2019 on I 85. My power steering completely went out and never returned. Previously in April a brief power steering default notification appeared and after restarting my car, the notification went away and power steering was fine. In my opinion, power steering should not be going out on a vehicle after barely 6 years. Might I add when I purchased the vehicle in 2017 it only had 52,000 miles on it. The power steering went out a little over 2 years after I purchased the vehicle.

- Sandy Springs, GA, USA

When started, vehicle displays 'power steering assist failure-requires service' warning and power steering is lost. This has happened three times over the course of two days. It does not happen every time the car is started, it just randomly happens. I drove home last night from work with no power steering, and along with this issue my usb ports would not charge my phone. My phone recognized that it was plugged in, but not enough power was being supplied to actually charge it. I'm nit sure if that is linked with the power steering module, but I've never had that issue before all of this mess.

- Minot, ND, USA

My wife was leaving for work and her 2013 Ford Escape had a steering assist failure light come on on the dash board. The steering was very difficult to drive. She parked it and used my vehicle to get to work. I looked this up and there are no recalls on this except for 2008 -2011 Ford Escapes. But the problem is continuing through to 2017 from what I read online mileage ranges from 700 and up. Ford has no fix for this, they tell you they need to flash the computer and that fixes the issue. But it does not I have read many reports that this wont fix issue and that most people have had to replace the entire rack/pinion gear assembly and the computer portion of it only to have the problem come back again shortly after having new parts installed. I am old enough to remember driving vehicles with out power steering not to big a deal for me, but some people say there steering locks up completely and cant turn wheel. This can be very dangerous on the road and should not be allowed, I do not want to lose my wife in an accident because Ford is not fixing the issue. They need a fix for this that will not return in the future. I have tried to duplicate what happened this morning and have been unsuccessful, if I cant then Ford cant and there for no fix for the problem. This needs to be resolved before some one looses a loved one.

- La Mesa, CA, USA

When I start my 2013 Ford Escape light will display says steering problem and will no move into reverse. I have to turn it off and start it again then it will shift into gear. This has happened several times. Engine light will come on for about a few days and will not come on for about several weeks. I purchase this vehicle in 2019. I also noticed this vehicle has 15 recalls. Just a little concerned about that.

- Dover, DE, USA

I was just slowly driving my car into a parking space when all of a sudden I had no steering and could not turn my wheel fortunately I was just about in the space and coasted to a stop in the middle of two spaces. I don't know what would've happened had this happened while I was in traffic making a turn at a crossroads.

- N Ft Myers, FL, USA

Steering locks up when started

- Snohomish, WA, USA

While backing out of driveway, I was unable to turn the steering wheel. Power steering was not engaged. Could not drive the vehicle in this condition. I had the vehicle towed to Ford dealer. Diagnosed as a faulty power steering rack - electronic - cost to replace the rack was $2000. Ford has already issued a recall for the 2013 Explorer but not the 2013 Escape.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

Steering assist failures... hi, I own a 2013 Ford Escape. And several times I have had a 'steering assist failure', and my steering is almost impossible to turn. I am concerned it will cause an accident and it happens randomly, sometimes moving and sometimes when I start the car. There are hundreds of complaints about this on the nthsa site and other sites and it is a very expense fix, up to $2000.. is there any chance of a recall on this safety incident. I understand the 2011 Escapes and 2013 Explorer had a recall on the exact same safety issue. Someone is going to get hurt or killed unless Ford steps up and does the right thing.

- Winchester, KY, USA

Steering assist failure. Anyone reading this knows that this should be a recall!!! you recall 08-11 Escape and 11-13 Explorer. But not the '13 Escape. Honest, hard working people are on the hook for the better part of $2,000!!! this is a widespread issue. We bought this car new. It has been very, very well cared for. Recall this power steering issue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Rogers, AR, USA

This incident occurred while the car was in motion. I was driving on a sunny day on the highway going 70 mph on a long curve. Without warning my steering wheel completely locked up. I was so scarred because people were going the same speed or above what I was. I thought quick enough to put on my hazards, I couldnt direct the car to go to the curve, so I figured I would slow to a stop and go from there. A couple minutes later when I was down to about 10 mph and people honking and flying past me the power steering assist. Failure light came on and all of a sudden my wheel jerked to the right a little and I was able to slightly start going to the shoulder. It took both hands and all the strength I had to move the wheel but I managed. I called my husband to come pick me up, while waiting I turned the car on to make sure it was the power steering light that came on, when I turned the car on the steering was back to normal, my husband followed me home while I drove slowly. The next day the car was still fine, until I was driving back from the store on a country road that is hilly and winding going 30 moh the light came on and then the steering was really hard to turn or move in any direction. I managed to get home and that is where my car has sat since, I'm too scared to drive it again. This is beyond dangerous.

- Spicewood, TX, USA

When driving, not related to speed or curves, you'll be driving along and feel the steering tightening and are then down to manual steering. You have to pull off and turn the car off. When you turn it back on it has reset and the power steering resumes. We have plugged in to an error code reader and it is not returning a code. An online search has shown an internal service memo (csp # 14N02 put out 8/26/2014) regarding the issue. This has happened several times, most recently twice last week.

- Batesville, AR, USA

Power steering defect. My cars power steering has failed and I was told I need an epas rack, the code is U3000 pscm internal failure. I have 72,875 miles on this 2013 Ford Escape. I tried to pull out of a parking space at work and the steering wheel would not move. I understand Ford has had to recall over 1.1 million SUV's for power steering defects. This repair will cost me $1,800 to repair. I am told my VIN # is not included in the recall but with all the problems the other 1.1 million SUV's have had I feel like mine should be included in the recall. Joe cooper Ford of edmond, ok has my vehicle now for repair 405-475-9000. I can only imagine what would have happened if I had been on the highway doing 60 mph and this power steering failure would have happened.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the power steering failed to operate as intended most of the time. The failure occurred while driving forward and in reverse at slow speeds. Superior Ford of Plymouth (located at 9700 56th ave N, Plymouth, mn 55442, (877) 735-4755) was contacted by phone and informed of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. The consumer stated steering rack and steering gear replaced.

- Maple Grove, MN, USA

I was backing into my driveway and completely lost my power steering.

- Harwichport, MA, USA

Steering assist faulty when vehicle is first started then goes out. Has fone this 3 different times.

- Donora, PA, USA