2008 Ford Escape Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I AM WRITING TO YOU TO SEEK HELP ON SENDING A FORMAL COMPLAIN TO FORD MOTOR CO. TO INVESTIGATE AN ISSUE WITH THE 2008 FORD ESCAPES WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS IN WHILE DRIVING. AT FIRST, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED ONLY ONCE SO FAR WITH MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE ON 3/13/14 WHEN I WAS TAKING MY YOUNGER DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. I COULDN'T REALLY MOVE THE CAR AND IT GOT SO STIFF TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT THAT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BREAK THE THING. I TURNED IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON RIGHT AWAY AND NOTHING HAPPENED AND I GOT SADDENED BECAUSE I HAD A FIELD TRIP TO GO TO THAT DAY WITH MY DAUGHTER. I DECIDED TO GO BUT IT WAS "PAINFUL" DRIVING THE SUV WITH A VERY STIFF WHEEL.. ..PARKING THE CAR AT THE FIELD TRIP LOCATION IT WAS PRETTY BAD BECAUSE I COULDN'T TURN THE CAR ,I ENDED UP USING 2 PARKING SPACES .I ASKED ONE OF THE PARENTS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HE ASKED ME IF IT WAS LEAKING OIL,ETC(NO LEAKS) ... THE WEIRD THING THAT HAPPENED LATER THAT DAY WHEN HE CHECKED MY CAR , IT WAS FINE,LIKE NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.....TIME WENT BY AND AFTER HEARING THE LAST FEW DAYS IN THE NEWS ABOUT GMC COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES NEVER REPORTED, I DID A SEARCH ENGINE ON THE WEB ABOUT ISSUES WITH FORD ESCAPES. I WENT TO "CARCOMPLAINTS.COM" AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE OVER 160 COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND NO SOLUTIONS,NO RECALLS FROM FORD. I SENT AN EMAIL TO FORD MOTOR CO. WITH NO RESPONSE AND I DECIDED TO CONTACT 10TV INVESTIGATES TO START"SOMETHING" ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NOW MORE THAN EVER I WILL BE DRIVING NERVOUSLY THINKING WHEN THE STIFFNESS ISSUE IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND GOD FORBID GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

AFTER STARTING MY CAR TO LEAVE THE PARKING LOT FROM MY WORK, I NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING AS I WAS BACKING OUT. I PULLED BACK INTO MY SPOT, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, SHOOK THE STEERING WHEEL TO TRY TO GET IT TO WORK, AND NOTHING. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, RESTARTED IT, STILL NOTHING. I RESTARTED IT ONCE MORE, SHOOK THE WHEEL WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE AND IT WORKED FINE. I NOW HAVE TO WIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TURNS ON. *JS

WE'VE OWNED AN '08 ESCAPE 2WD XLS. AT 46300 MILES, SHE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ACCELERATION BETWEEN 10-20MPH; AT 22MPH THE CAR INTO GEAR; AT 50MPH SHE GOT THE WRENCH LIGHT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY HOOKED IT UP ON THE IDS COMPUTER, CAME BACK WITH CODES P0732 AND P0743 INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT WOULD NEED TO BE TORN DOWN TO FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED HOW MUCH FOR THAT I DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER AND HE WENT TO SAY HOW IF THEY DID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ALREADY BE OUT AND OPEN SO FIXING IT AT THAT POINT WOULD BE THE BEST. AFTER I ASKED THE SECOND TIME HOW MUCH IS WHEN HE SAID APPROX. $2500 PLUS TAX... COULD BE HIGHER OR LOWER FOR THE TEAR DOWN AND REPAIR. I DECLINED AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO AAMCO. THEY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE COST TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE ALMOST AS MUCH AS GETTING A REMANUFACTURED TRANS WITH ALL THE PROBLEM AREAS UPGRADED AND A 3YR 50,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHEREAS A REBUILD WOULD ONLY GET 1 YR WARRANTY. WE ENDED UP BUYING THE REMANUFACTURED THAT WAS THE BETTER CHOICE. AT THE END WITH LABOR, INSTALL AND TAX $2837.51. I EMAILED FORD PRIOR TO BRING TO AAMCO AND DIDN'T HEAR FROM THEN UNTIL 2 DAYS BEFORE MY WIFE'S CAR WAS DONE. THEY CALL TO ASK IF THERE WAS ANY WAY THEY COULD HELP BUT WHEN I TOLD THEM THE ESCAPE WAS NO LONGER AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I TOLD THEM WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO WAIT TO HEAR FROM THEM AND THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WE TOOK IT TO. THEY SAID THAT THEY CANNOT STAND BY THE WORK AN OUTSIDE (NON-FORD) SHOP DOES. I THEN TOLD THEM HOW I KNEW FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS TECHS ADVISING THEM OF THE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE THAN 1 PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. FORD KNOWINGLY PUT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTERS LIVES IN DANGER WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DON'T CARE. *JS

VEHICLE GASOLINE ENGINE POWER QUITS WITH NO WARNING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ONLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONLY WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAT APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. A "PULL OVER SAFELY NOW", OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT, APPEAR ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN. THE ELECTRIC ENGINE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK IF IT HAS CHARGE. THE CAR WILL RESTART ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, BUT WILL QUICKLY STALL AGAIN IF THE ENGINE IS NOT ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT OCCURS ONLY AT HIGH SPEED. *TR

REFER TO TSB-08-24-5 AND RECALL 14S19. ESCAPE HYBRID EXPERIENCED THE EXACT FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 70 MPH. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND A RED TRIANGLE APPEARED. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE NEXT DAY AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE BY AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER WHO NOTED THE TSB NUMBER ON THE REPAIR INVOICE. THIS VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM FORD'S LIST AS A COVERED VEHICLE. FORD REPRESENTATIVES DENIED ANY INTEREST IN REFUNDING THE REPAIRS COSTS EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GROUP AND FAILURE WAS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. NTSB NEEDS TO EXPAND THIS RECALL TO ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS FAILURE EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT ON FORD'S LIST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IDLING, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND LOST POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN ORDER TO REGAIN POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V284000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,119.

MY DASHBOARD DISPLAYED AN ABS SYMBOL IN MARCH 2014. THE BRAKES BECAME ERRATIC AND I HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED FOR A PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC FOUND A BROKEN AND LOOSE ABS TONE RING ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AXLE. THE TONE RING AND WHEEL AXLE WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THEN, IN FEBRUARY 2015, MY DASHBOARD DISPLAYED ANOTHER ABS SYMBOL. AGAIN, I HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED AND THE MECHANIC FOUND ANOTHER BROKEN AND LOOSE TONE RING. THIS TIME IT WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AXLE. AGAIN, REPAIR WAS DONE AT MY EXPENSE. THESE PROBLEMS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE AND COMPENSATION FROM THEM. THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE FOR THESE PROBLEMS SINCE THEY ARE NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL OR WARRANTY PROGRAM. MY CAR PROBLEMS SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL OR SAFETY PROGRAM FROM THE NHTSA. *TR

AFTER DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES, I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE WHEEL WITHOUT A LOT OF FORCE. I WAS UNABLE TO STAY ON THE ROAD AND CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP ALONG SIDE THE FREEWAY. IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION (AT 69000 MILES) AND NOW THIS. I AM NOT AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER AND FEEL THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THE STEERING IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL! *TR

MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN OCCURRED ON 3/8/2014 BEGINNING WHILE TRAVELLING ALONG A 2-LANE HIGHWAY (CA-74 AROUND IDYLLWILD AREA) AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 P.M. VEHICLE DISPLAYED RED TRIANGLE ICON WITH EXCLAMATION POINT INSIDE THE TRIANGLE AND WORDS IN RED "STOP SAFELY NOW", AT WHICH POINT POWER TO THE ENGINE WAS DISABLED ALTHOUGH POWER STEERING APPEARED TO STILL BE ACTIVE. I THEN PULLED OVER AT A TURN-OUT (LUCKILY ONE WAS NEARBY SINCE I WAS GOING UPHILL AND LOSING SPEED QUICKLY). I PROCEEDED TO TURN THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION AND WITHIN MINUTES RE-STARTED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT UNTIL APPROXIMATELY MIDNIGHT AT WHICH POINT I WAS TRAVELLING ALONG A MAJOR FREEWAY IN SAN DIEGO I-15 SOUTHBOUND AT A SPEED OF 65-70 MPH. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE BECAME DISABLED AFTER DISPLAYING THE RED ICON AND WORDS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN 4 SEPARATE TIMES. THESE 4 INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN A 6 MILE STRETCH OF EACH OTHER AND WITHIN A 20 MINUTE WINDOW. THERE WAS NO OTHER INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE - NO SYSTEM NOTICE OF OVERHEATING, FAULTY ELECTRICAL, ETC. *TR

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT ZERO WARNING SIGNS AND ZERO WARNING SIGNIFIERS FROM VEHICLE DASH. WAS DRIVING ON I-10 AT 75 MPH - STEERING HAS ALWAYS SHOOK AT SPEEDS OVER 70 MPH - STEERING JUST LOCKED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, AND WENT INTO MANUAL MODE. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM WITH FORD, BUT THE SAME ISSUE, AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA (UP INTO CANADA AS WELL. CANADA HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER FOR THEIR CITIZENS. A REPORT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO FORD AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP - IT IS MY PERCEPTION THAT ALL OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING. HOWEVER, A RESOLUTION MUST BE MADE - AND NOT AT THE COST OF THE OWNERS BECAUSE THIS SEEMS CHRONICALLY DEFECTIVE. THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE WAS THE FIRST TO HAVE THIS SPECIFIC POWER STEERING PLACED IN IT. *TR

CAR GOES LIMP. FORD HAS TSB 08-24-05. MECP FAILS. POOR DESIGN. HAS GONE LIMP ON ME ~8 TIMES. EACH TIME CAR DRIFTS TO A STOP REGARDLESS OF LOCATION, SPEED, ETC...(EG, CAN BE GOING 75MPH ON HIGHWAY) AND IT GOES LIMP. CANNOT MOVE AFTERWARDS FOR MINUTES. MANY CASES OF THIS HAPPENING HAVE BEEN REPORTED. TSB 08-24-5 STATES THAT SOME 2005-2008 ESCAPE HYBRID AND 2006-2008 MARINER HYBRID VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A RED TRIANGLE LIGHT AND CODES INDICATING A TRANSAXLE OVERTEMP. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN REDUCED POWER AS THE SYSTEM ACTIVATES FAIL SAFE OPERATION. CODES P1A0E, P1A0F, P0A3C, P0A3E, P0A7A, P0A7C AND P1A0D MAY ALSO BE SET. *TR

AT IDLE AND WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL TWITCHES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT UNCONTROLLABLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. MANY CONSUMERS I'VE RESEARCHED ARE HAVING SAME PROBLEM FOLLOWED BY TOTAL POWER STEERING FAILURE AND EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT WAS UNABLE TO PRODUCE A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,979. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED CORROSION NEAR THE REAR WHEEL RIMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INNER AND OUTER FRAME WAS CORRODING AND CAUSING IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,400.

I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE THE IGNITION SWITCH WON'T START MY CAR. SINCE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING MY KEY IN FURTHER AND FURTHER TO TRY TO GET MY CAR TO START. SOMETIMES IT TAKE 10-15 MIN BEFORE I CAN ACTUALLY GET IT STARTED. READING COMMENTS ABOUT THE CAR THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL DONE. *JS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT THE POWERSTEERING CUT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED THE STEERING WHEEL HAS STARTED TO RATCHET BACK AND FORTH. AFTER LOOKING AT A FEW FORUM I FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR FAILS AND CAUSES THESE PROBLEMS REGULARLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

WHILE DRIVING I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. THE SUV BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO MUSCLE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE BACK AND FORTH ON ITS OWN. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON THIS WENT AWAY FOR A SHORT TIME. THEN AFTER ABOUT A MONTH OR SO IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. I CANT DRIVE WITHOUT THIS HAPPENING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE FROM SIDE TO SIDE THEN LOST POWER TO STEERING WHEEL LIKE IT WENT FROM EASY TO VERY HARD TO STEER. TURNED CAR OFF THE RESTARTED AND IT WAS OK. NOW IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. WHEN I START CAR UP NO POWER, WHILE I'M DRIVING AND I LOSS POWER. *TR

UPON STARTING MY CAR, I REALIZED I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT GREAT EFFORT. TRIED IT THE NEXT DAY, AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING, ALTHOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING STRANGELY. HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES. AFTER READING NUMEROUS OTHER ENTRIES ON NHTSA WEBSITE ON THIS SAME ISSUE, I LEARNED THAT IF I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURNED IT ON, POWER STEERING RESUMED. THIS WORKED FOR ME THIS MORNING AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS. BROUGHT INTO MECHANIC AND THEY COULD NOT ASSESS ISSUE. WILL BE BRINGING INTO DEALER THIS WEEK. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF I'M DRIVING AND THIS OUTAGE RECURS. *TR

I WAS HEADING TO WORK ONE MORNING, AND I STARTED THE CAR UP AND DIDN'T HAVE POWER STEERING. I SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND THE STEERING CAME BACK. (AT THE BEGINNING, SHUTTING THE CAR OFF WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM RIGHT WAY.) I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND DROVE DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING. THERE WAS ALSO A QUIET GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN (AT STOP LIGHTS ETC.), THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK MORE AND THE NOISE GREW A LITTLE LOUDER. AS THE DAYS WENT ON (3-4 DAYS LATER), THE SHAKING AND NOISE GOT WORSE UNTIL IT WAS AN UNCONTROLLABLE, CONSTANT SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE NOISE BECAME SO LOUD AND HORRID THAT I THOUGHT THE CAR MIGHT BREAK DOWN. WITHIN THAT WEEK, AS I STARTED MY CAR, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ABOUT A TOTAL OF 10 TIMES, AND I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. UNLIKE AT THE BEGINNING, BY THE END OF THE WEEK, I HAD TO SHUT MY CAR OFF 4-5 TIMES BEFORE THE STEERING WOULD COME BACK. THE LAST DAY OF DRIVING THE CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SO LOOSE THAT IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL ON THE BACK ROADS/HIGHWAYS/FREEWAYS AND OVER POT HOLES. AT ONE POINT, I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN, AND I ALMOST THOUGHT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE STEERING WHEEL/CAR BACK. THANKFULLY, I (AND NO ONE ELSE) HAS DIED FROM THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE 2008 FORD ESCAPES, BUT IS THAT WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE IN ORDER FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE? *TR

LOST POWER STEERING TOTALLY ON MY FORD ESCAPE. NO WARNING LITES WERE DISPLAYED. HAVE HAD THE STEERING STOP A FEW TIMES BEFORE AND STOPPED VEHICLE AND RESTARTED AND NO PROBLEMS. PER FORD WHEN I ASKED IN PAST IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SENSOR LOCATED IN STEERING COLUMN BUT NOTHING SHOWED UP IN THE COMPUTER. I HAVE EMAILED FORD AND RECEIVED A RESPONSE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR PROBLEM. THEY RECOMMEND I SAVE THE RECEIPT OF ABOUT $1700.00. IN CASE THEY DO A RECALL LATER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING WAS ENGAGED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED THIRTY TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF A MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING PULLED OVER STOPPED ENGINE RESTARTED STEERING WORKING AGAIN GOOGLE PROBLEM WHEN I RETURNED HOME FOUND MANY ANGRY PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT IS NOT AN EASY FIX AND COMMON TO THE STEERING OF THE 2008 FORD ESCAPES. *TR

POWER STEERING QUIT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD FAST ENOUGH FOR ON COMING TRAFFIC. I SEE THAT THERE HAD BEEN QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT SURE WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN MADE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TO A NEARBY GARAGE THEY INFORMED ME NOTHING WAS WRONG ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER WHERE THEY KNEW OF THE ISSUE AND SAID IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE IN THE 2008 FORD ESCAPES. THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. A QUICK SEARCH OF THE INTERNET FOR 2008 FORD ESCAPE POWER STEERING FAIL YIELDED MULTIPLE RESULTS AND A PENDING RECALL IN CANADA FOR AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING SENSOR. *TR

I WAS MAKING A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN MY POWER STEERING GAVE OUT. IF I HAD NOT BEEN A WRESTLING COACH, I WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY GOT MYSELF TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE OF A BROKEN PART. I HAVE HAD TWO FRIENDS WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED. I JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 14S05/NHTSA RECALL 14V-284. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT THE RECALL WHICH AFFECTS THE STEERING MECHANISM IS A COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT PRODUCES THE SAME EFFECT AND NOT A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I AM HAVING THE REPAIR DONE TODAY, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER DANGEROUS STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS OUT THERE WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. MY EXPERIENCE HAS NOT BEEN UNIQUE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO VIBRATE AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT. MY VEHICLE WAS DOING THE SAME THING LAST SUMMER AND I RECEIVED A MAILED POSTCARD WITH A POWER STEERING RECALL. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY RESET A SENSOR. IT HAD BEEN WORKING FINE UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO. THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT SEVERAL MORE TIMES FOR SHORT PERIODS. I CALLED FORD REGARDING THE ISSUE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME THIS TIME & THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. I FEEL AS IF THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND BECAUSE OF THE RECALL FROM LAST SUMMER, FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. UPDATED 09/23/15.*JB

I TURNED MY CAR ON AND STARTED DRIVING STRAIGHT FORWARD. SHORTLY AFTER I REALIZED I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THE ONLY WAY I COULD TURN WAS TO MUSCLE THE WHEEL. BACKED UP AND PARKED THE CAR FOR THE NIGHT. NEXT MORNING STARTED IT AND HAD NO ISSUES. THE WEEK BEFORE I HAD NOTICED SOME KNOCKING AND TICKING IN THE WHEEL. SO FIGURED I'D GET IT CHECKED OUT AFTER LOOSING IT COMPLETELY. STOPPED TO GET GAS AND AS I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO THE BUSY HIGHWAY LOST IT AGAIN HAD TO MUSCLE THE WHEEL TO AVOID BEING T-BONED. IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY KNEW THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY AND GAVE ME HIGH ESTIMATES WHICH WAS A RED FLAG FOR ME THAT IT MIGHT BE A COMMON ISSUE IF THE RECEPTIONIST CAN DIAGNOSE IT. DID SOME RESEARCH TO CHECK OTHER OPTIONS LIKE FLUID OR BELTS. SAW 1000'S OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND 100'S HERE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE FORD RECALL THIS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.EVEN IF SOMEONE DIES IT PROBABLY WON'T GET FIXED BECAUSE THEY AREN'T AROUND TO TELL THAT THEY LOST STEERING. PLUS THE PROBLEM FIXES ITSELF AFTER BEING TURNED OFF SO IT MAY NOT SHOW IN INVESTIGATIONS OF A FATALITY. ALSO THE ISSUE SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER THE CAR REACHES 100,000 MILES. SO COMPLAINTS AND INCIDENTS WILL ONLY GO UP AS MORE CARS HIT THAT 100K MILE MARK. NOW IT THE TIME TO ATTACK THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE EMITTED UNDER THE FRONT AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT TRAFFIC BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH FORCE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN AND ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. *TR UPDATED 11/20/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 5/5/2015 *JS

I WAS GOING TO DRIVE HOME FROM WORK, UPON GOING TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE I REALIZED I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME, 25MINUTES ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER GETTING HOME AND GOING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC THE STEERING WAS FINE. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS ELECTRONIC AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PART THIS EVENING I FOUND HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT. JUST EMAILED FORD FROM THEIR WEBSITE, WILL ALSO TRY CALLING ON MONDAY. THIS PART FAILURE IS GOING TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, ACCIDENT OR DEATH AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED. *TR

POWER STEERING WORKS INTERMITTENTLY STEERING WHEEL HAS A SLIGHT TWITCH MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN IT JUST RANDOMLY STOPS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AMONG FORD ESCAPES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

STEERING WHEEL DEVELOPED EXCESS PLAY AND NOW PULSES AND VIBRATES WITH MINIMAL PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. STEERING HAS NOT YET FAILED BUT TAKING CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. AFTER READING ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH FORD'S ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING I'M NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. OTHER PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE REPORTED AT SIMILAR MILEAGE TO OUR VEHICLE'S. *TR

STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING, NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. NOW WHEN YOU SIT STILL THE STEERING WHEEL JITTERS AND A KLICKING SOUND FROM WHERE STEERING GOES THRU FIREWALL. POWER STEERING WORKING AGAIN BUT STILL NERVOUS ABOUT IT. CAR IS NOW SETTING AT AUTO MECHANIC. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES ON IT WITH A HISTORY OF NO ACCIDENTS AND WELL KEPT MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER, THIS MORNING WITH NO NOTICE THE BRAKE ABS INDICATOR LITE UP WITH A WARNING "REGEN BRAKED DISABLE" AND "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM MESSAGE CENTER" FOR WHICH I DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. ONE HOUR LATER AND TWO CODES I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF C-1475 AND C-1312 AND AN ESTIMATE OF $5400 FOR THE REPAIR LEFT ME IN SHOCK. NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND A CAR BARELY USED IN 5 AND A HALF YEARS COULD HAVE SUCH A MAJOR CATASTROPHIC PROBLEM IF IT COULD NOT BE LINKED TO A PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURER? I AM LUCKY I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY, AS THE BREAKS BECAME DIFFICULT TO USE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP. FORD NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM, AS THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS BEGINNING AS EARLY AS 2005 MODELS. I UNDERSTAND WEAR AND TEAR ON A CAR IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER, HOWEVER, IF IT IS MAINTAINED WELL AND EVEN THE MECHANIC HAS NEVER SEEN THE HCU AND ECU GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME, FORD NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKE. *TR

WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND THEN GOING TO MAKE A TURN THE CAR GAS AND STEERING SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE ANY LONGER. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO GOT STUCK IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING AND. THE GAS PEDDLE ALSO HAVE BEEN GETTING STUCK BEFORE THIS INCIDENT IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST 3YRS 2011 UNTIL 2014 THE PRESENT WE HAVE GONE TO CHECK IT PUT NO DIAGNOSIS WAS DONE TO LET US KNOW THE STEERING COLUMN SYSTEM WAS OUT UNTIL THIS YEAR WHEN THE CAR WENT OUT COMPLETELY. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE PROBLEM AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT REPAIRED. *TR

WHILE IN MOTION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS A LIKE A DEAD WEIGHT DROPPED ON IT AND WAS VERY HARD TO STEER AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE. MAKING IT VERY UNSAFE TO OPERATE. I RESEARCHED MY ISSUE AND FOUND OTHER COMPLAINS REGARDING THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR. *TR

THE STEERING ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE "FAILED" INTERMITTENTLY. IN ESSENCE, THE POWER STEERING BECAME NON-POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON 3 OR 4 OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER THAN A CAR THAT HAD STANDARD STEERING. IF THE CAR WAS RE-STARTED, ON OCCASION IT WOULD RECOVER THE POWER STEERING. I NEEDED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED, WHICH WAS A REPAIR THAT COST $970.60. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE JUST WENT OUT, BEFORE IT WENT OUT THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED LEFT TO RIGHT ON ITS OWN AT A IDLE. SOON AFTER THAT THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WHERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS AND THAT I SHOULD BRING IT IN AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT. AFTER SEARCHING FOR THIS PROBLEM I FOUND OUT THERE ARE VERY MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AS THE ONE I OWN EVEN THE SAME MILEAGE AT THE POINT OF BREAK DOWN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IT WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO, THE REPAIR IS CLOSE TO 2,000.00 AND I'M WONDERING WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE CONSIDERING LIVES COULD BE LOST VERY EASILY IF IT DECIDES TO GO OUT DURING A SHARP TURN OR AT FASTER HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. USUALLY IF YOU PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF, LET IT SIT FORE AWHILE THEN START IT BACK UP IT WELL EVENTUALLY RELEASE. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENS REGULARLY AND IS A DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN SUDDENLY. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO HER KARATE CLASS WHEN THERE WAS SUDDENLY A LOT OF VIBRATION IN THE WHEEL.THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP CAUSING MY WIFE TO LOSE POWER STEERING ON A SMALL TURN. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO GET OUR CAR OFF THE ROAD AS THERE WAS A DIRT PULLOFF TO THE SIDE. WE TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THEY SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS WILL HONOR A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. FORD IS NOT HONORING ANY RECALLS AND IS MAKING MONEY OFF OF THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. IT IS SAD TO SEE A CAR MANUFACTURER WHO IS WILLING TO PUT FAMILIES LIVES AT RISK TO MAKE EXTRA CASH. AFTER TALKING AROUND MY MOTHER ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER ESCAPE OF THE SAME YEAR. I HAD ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF FORD PRODUCTS, HOWEVER I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHIMMY AS IF A WHEEL WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I PULL OFF INTO A SERVICE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND I WAS ABLE TO STEER AGAIN. IT HAPPENS REPEATEDLY WHEN AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED AND I START THE CAR UP, THE STEERING FREEZES. I'LL RESTART THE CAR 3 OR 4 TIMES BEFORE THE STEERING UNFREEZES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WHICH MAKES IT VERY HARD TO TURN CORNERS. *TR

STARTED VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT. AS I WENT TO BACK OUT, I REALIZED I HAD NO POWER STEERING. TURNED VEHICLE OF, THEN BACK ON AND POWER STEERING CAME BACK. HOWEVER, NOW THE STEERING CHATTERS AT IDLE. AFTER HAVING READ THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA SIGHT, I DECIDED TO ADD MINE TO THE LIST. OVER 1/3 OF ALL THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED FOR THIS MODEL ARE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN IS THERE GOING TO BE A RECALL? *TR