The first time this occurred was approximately 5 months ago (est. 132K miles) while driving in city traffic, I swerved and brake quickly to avoid a road hazard (large pothole) estimated speed was under 20 mph. The power steering failed and the vehicle continued to run in electric (hybrid) mode and was able to muscle it off to the side of the road. Restarting the engine resolved the issue and the car has been fine until two weeks ago. The second time was in late November, mileage 135K, was slowly turning into a traffic circle at approx. 10 mph, without warning power steering failed the same as the previous time. I was able to stop and restart the car which restored the power steering. After the second experience I did some research online and am seeing that this is a known issue and has been reported to your Agency (three different web sites with multiple complaints). I find it hard to believe that a recall has not required - someone will get hurt if this happens at highway speed to an inexperienced driver. I have worked as a professional mechanic and have a decent comprehension of vehicle systems (1974 - 1995), my comments are based on years of experience. I have not verified this, but one of the web posts states that Toyota experienced the same issue and did a recall. www.escape-city.com/viewtopic.php"F=38&T=21918&P=316290&hilit=steering+failure#P316290 www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/F26/loss-power-left-turn-29211/ www.hybridcars.com/forums/showthread.php"100317-power-steering-failure/page5 I will appreciate your attention to this so that Ford will take steps to rectify this dangerous condition. I have not had any other safety concerns with this vehicle since we purchased it new in 2008. I plan to report this to my senator, and state officials. Please advise the best way to move forward.

- Edgewater, MD, USA

After backing out of my garage, I put my vehicle in drive and went to turn the wheel to point it to drive down the alleyway and suddenly realized I could not turn the front wheels. I almost hit the tree beside the garage and had to take my foot off the gas and hit the brakes hard. I tried again and again to turn the wheels and could not figure out what had happened as it was fine when I drove it and parked in the garage the day before. I turned the vehicle off and restarted and found I could barely steer so had to backup and then go forward a couple inches at a time until after about 30 times back and forth could line up enough to pull straight into the garage. The vehicle is still waiting to be towed to the Ford dealer for repair. I had been starting on my way to the airport to pick up my daughter, son-in-law and three year old granddaughter so thank heavens the power steering did not go out when I was on the freeway going to or from the airport because we could have lost control and been killed.

- Arvada, CO, USA

I was driving on the freeway at approximately 60 mph when all of a sudden my steering wheel tightened up where it made it very difficult to maneuver. Fortunately, it wasn't a busy day and I was able to get off to the side of the road. I'm confused why Ford has not issued any recall on this issues before someone gets killed. I understand my vehicle has a lot of miles, but 85 percent of my miles are freeway miles. My resolution was to spend $2,000 out of pocket and have the issue repaired.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

For the past two or three weeks I have noticed a progressively worse shaking and vibrating in the steering column, especially when the vehicle was coming to a stop or resting. On the 27th of March, 2013 I started the vehicle and the steering was really difficult, as in the power assist wasn't helping. The brakes were still working fine. When I shut the vehilce off and restarted it, the steering was being assisted by the eps again. This was the first time it happened, but researching the problem it seems like it will get progressively worse.

- Wasilla, AK, USA

While coming to a stop I felt the steering wheel get tight and I noticed that the vehicle had lost it's power steering. I then noticed the wrench light had illuminated. This is a very dangerous defect if this were to happen going around a curve or making a turn if could cause an accident.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

I was driving along and loss all power steering it was very hard to turn around a corner and if I was going any faster I probably would have not made it. I have been reading online that this is not a random occurrence several escape owners have had loss of steering.

- Richland, MO, USA

Steering wheel has been shaking when car is stopped and at low speeds. Power steering does not work at times when car is started, I turn it off and restart the car and it works. While coming to a stop at around 35 mph the power steering failed, shut off the car and turn it back on and it still did not work. Steering wheel shakes left and right and makes a bad noise while in park and at low speeds. Have not taken car to be serviced yet.

- Altoona, IA, USA

Power steering quits working while driving. Can happen at low speeds or normal driving speed. Malfunction was intermittent. Power steering would start working properly after shutting engine off and restarting engine. Problem has become more frequent and getting power steering to come back in operation after restarting has become less frequent. Steering this vehicle is very hard without power steering, making it very un-safe to drive.

- Dover, FL, USA

The auto had just had the pump that cools the hybrid engine replaced at a cost of $590 when we noticed that there was a jerking in the steering wheel when stopped. The wheel would jerk to the right and left and make a "clucking" noise. Once the car was moving the jerking seemed to stop. But then we found that when we started the car there might be no power steering or power forward. The car would have to be forcibly steered to the side and the engine turned off. Starting the engine again, the car had power steering and engine power. This began to happen nearly every time the car was started, and the jerking of the wheel every time the car was stopped at a traffic signal or stop. While the problem has yet to cause a dangerous situation the potential is certainly there should the same circumstances occur while driving. Having reviewed the web sites for problems with the 2008 escape there are literally dozens of similar complaints. One site lists nearly one hundred complaints exactly like mine and in some there have been accidents and potential injury. Ford is stonewalling everyone on this even when the mileage is less than 50, 000 miles. Often they say they know nothing of the problem and refuse to offer assistance in meeting charges that range upward to $1700. Given the information that I now have I consider this to be very dangerous and am hesitant to drive the car. The lack of concern by Ford seems to me to be a serious matter and one that should concern NHTSA.

- Taos, NM, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. While driving approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the power steering assist deactivated. The contact depressed the brake pedal and was able to stop the vehicle. The contact then shut the engine off and after a several minutes, was able to restart the vehicle and regain power steering assist capabilities. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the steering column would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

When I was driving on several occasions, the steering wheel would lock up and scare the heck out of me. Just today, while driving in town, I was turning left in the home depot and the steering locked up. Having experienced this several times before, I knew to grab the wheel tightly and continue my turn. My real problem is that I am now giving this car to my (daughter) new driver as her daily car. I am very concerned. I just read several blogs on several sites and all of them state that the dealers don't know and can't duplicate the problem. I have around 70,000 miles now on it, and no longer have a warranty. Besides a very tight budget, I am concerned for my daughter. Please advise. Also, please don't tell me you haven't heard of this problem either...

- South Lyon, MI, USA

Does someone have to die before Ford recalls these cars to fix the hybrid cooling system in these vehicles. I have fixed the problem once myself (two years ago) and now it is happening again. These cars shut down on the highway with out warning because of something going on with the hybrid system. This time my wife was in the passing lane when it happened. One day someone is going to die from this problem because it only happens when you are traveling at higher speeds (on a highway) the red triangle light comes on and automatically shuts down the car. Some family will be killed because of this and Ford will be caught knowing about the problem and doing nothing to fix it.

- Owasso, OK, USA

Vehicle gave "stop safely now" readout on display and red triangle light on dash. Power dropped off and I had to pull of the road. I was traveling from la to santa cruz in the evening. Happened four more times on the same drive. Just happened again coming back from palm springs also in the evening. Took me seven hours to drive 140 miles. Car stopped over twenty times.

- Venice, CA, USA

I started the vehicle to leave my office at the end of the day and noticed a tugging sensation at the steering wheel. On the freeway, it seemed fine, but when I slowed to a stop I could feel it again. The next day, the power steering completely failed. It was like driving a tank. There were no warning lights on the dash display. My Ford dealer replaced the electronic steering column at a cost of $1,374.40. The vehicle was no longer under warranty due to the mileage, but is only 4 years old.

- Pacoima, CA, USA

While driving normally at 40 mph on a straight good road the steering wheel began kicking right to left abruptly. Almost like a big right left vibration. This lasted for several minutes before the power steering completely failed and made the steering difficult to control. I pulled to the side of road. Turned off the car and restart and took it immediately to the Ford dealer. Dealer said the electric power steering units were back order 5 - 8 weeks because many failures. This is a safety issue and people could die with the power steering failures. Please recall them before somebody's dies.

- Ivins, UT, USA

I was driving and gave a friend a ride. I waited in the car with the car still on while she got her things. When she hopped on I accelerated and when I tried to make a turn the steering wheel was so hard. I couldn't turn it. I pulled over and turned it off. When I started the car, it was back to normal another day I went to the drive through. Same thing happened. I tried to turn after and couldn't. I had to turn he car off and then back on. I went to the dealer. They said that on their bulletin there is a msg that the steering wheel column must be replaced. They said it would be about $1300 for me to replace. I do not understand why I would have to pay. There are other blogs with the same problem.

- Daly City, CA, USA

Problems with power steering motor suddenly shutting down on the hybrid vehicle. The problem occurs at vehicle turned on up to moderate vehicle speeds. When the problem first occurred, it confused the driver, as the power steering would experience sudden loss during when the vehicle is in electric mode (0-30mph). The sudden loss of power steering puts the driver is at risk of losing control of the vehicle, and accident. Complaints to the mechanic about the steering problem are difficult. With the motor off in electric mode, and sudden loss of power steering, the driver is led to believe that motor is at fault, and will complain to the mechanic in such way. Picture the vehicle completely shut down with no power steering. Your led to believe that vehicle motor is malfunctioning. This is not the case with the hybrid, as the vehicle is not actually shut down, it's in electric mode. No indicators are present within vehicle computer system to indicate that the problem is with power steering. Service department indicates that there is an electronic power steering motor problem, causing a binding issue with the column. Two service departments report that this is a unique issue. Several forums online are indicating that this issue is not unique, and rather common. Service department andy gates (Ford, victorville, ca) reports that the vehicle is not safe to drive in it's current state. The report from service department victorville, ca indicates that the steering column was designed with safety flaws, and Ford is having difficulty diagnosing the problem early on.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

The ABS light and the brake light came on when I turned on the car. The brakes felt different.

- San Ramon, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. The contact was driving approximately 70 mph when the steering locked abnormally and he was unable to control the vehicle due to a disability. The contact would allow the vehicle to coast off road before attempting to restart. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer three times and they repaired the entire electric steering assembly each time. The failure would recur within three years. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised the contact to trade the vehicle. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.

- Fort Mohabe, AZ, USA

While driving at about 50 miles per hour on a two lane undivided highway, I tried to turn the steering wheel to the right to follow a curve but the steering wheel would not turn. The steering wheel felt locked, as I was drifting over the center line into the oncoming traffic lane, I quickly hit the brake to slow the car, and proper steering resumed. Even the short term loss of steering can and will result in an accident, injury, or death. A safety recall needs to be considered on these vehicles with electric power steering.

- Ranchita, CA, USA