2008 Ford Escape Complaint Log

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER ESCAPE DOWN THE FREEWAY AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE EMERGENCY SHOULDER AND CALL ME. WHEN I GOT THERE I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD TELL ME A MAJOR FAILURE HAD HAPPENED. I STARTED THE ESCAPE AND THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SOME OF THE ESCAPES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING SENSOR. THEY QUOTED ME $1200-1400.00 TO FIX IT. THIS MAKES THIS CAR DANGEROUS. FORD SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

VEHICLE STARTED WITH A JERKING MOTION IN STEERING WHEEL. THEN PROGRESSED INTO SPORADIC LOSS OF POWER STEERING. NO WARNING LIGHTS. TURNING THE ENGINE OFF THEN BACK ON RELEASED THE STEERING WHEEL. IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS FORD NEEDS TO RECALL IT. IT IS NOT ABOUT REGULAR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE THIS IS A PRODUCT OF FAILURE. *TR

MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND STARTED DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, WHEN SHE GOT TO THE STOP SIGN THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT AND STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I WENT OUT THERE AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT AND IT WAS WORKING AGAIN. I'M VERY GLAD IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY. SHE WOULD HAVE CRASHED. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED WITH HOW MANY INCIDENTS THAT HAVE BEED REPORTED. *TR

NOTICED A VIBRATION IN STEERING ON THE WAY HOME YESTERDAY ON THE HIGHWAY. MADE A LEFT TURN ONTO STREET AND STEERING WHEEL GOT EXTREMELY TIGHT AND HARD TO STAIGHTEN. THIS MORNING STARTED THE 2008 ESCAPE AND HAD NO POWER STEERING. I AM A FAIRLY LARGE MALE AND IT IS TOUGH FOR ME TO STEER IT WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND REALLY DO NOT KNOW HOW A FEMALE COULD. IT WAS LUCKY I WAS DRIVING IT WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT OR ELSE I GUARANTEE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT, IF NOT WITH ANOTHER CAR, INTO A HOUSE OR BUSINESS BUILDING. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS ONLINE OF INSTANCES JUST LIKE MINE AND SOMEBODY WILL EVENTUALLY BE KILLED. LETS HOPE A RECALL HAPPENS BEFORE THIS HAPPENS! *TR

MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE HAS A BAD STEERING SENSOR THAT CAUSED ISSUES WITH STEERING AND HAD PULLING TO THE LEFT. FORD INFORMS ME THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN TO FIX FAILED SENSOR AND ARE QUOTING $1675. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I SEE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORD ESCAPES 2008-2010. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TO ALLOW THE SYSTEM TO RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 03/12/14*LJ

DESPITE PERFORMING FORD'S SAFETY RECALL 14S05, MY VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING CONTINUES TO FAIL, CEASING TO OPERATE FOR HOURS OR DAYS, ALONG WITH LOSS OF TRACTION CONTROL. THE UNPREDICTABLE FAILURES SEEM TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH TORQUE SENSOR (WHEEL ANGLE) FAULTS AT LOW OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES (<10F). THE LAST FAILURE OCCURRED WITH A GUEST AT THE WHEEL (IN THE DRIVEWAY, THANK GOODNESS) RESULTING IN HER BACKING INTO A SNOW BANK AND DAMAGING THE TAIL PIPE. DESPITE THE CLEAR DOCUMENTATION OF THIS PROBLEM IN NHTSA RECALL 14V-284, AFTER TWO FULL DAYS AT THE DEALER, THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATES FORD WILL NOT AUTHORIZE ANY ACTION UNTIL THEY CAN REPLICATE THE FAILURE IN REAL TIME. DOES THAT MEAN THEY NEED TO KEEP THE CAR UNTIL THE NEXT COLD FRONT? OR SHOULD I CONTACT SOMEONE FROM FORD TO COME IMMEDIATELY TO WHEREVER I AM WHEN THE STEERING NEXT FAILS? WILL THAT BE FROM A DITCH ON THE SIDE OF AN ICY ROAD WHEN STEERING SUDDENLY ACTIVATES OR DEACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING? GIVEN THE VERY WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD ESCAPE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM, I WOULD EXPECT FORD TO AUTHORIZE AT LEAST THE NEXT STEP IN REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. I WOULD ALSO EXPECT A VERY REASONABLY PRICED REPAIR OF THE DAMAGED TAIL PIPE CONNECTION. UNFORTUNATELY, ACCORDING TO [XXX], A SECOND TIER FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER, "THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FORD CAN DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM UNLESS IS OCCURS WHILE AT THE DEALER." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

PULLING AWAY FROM COMPLETE STOP AT STOP SIGN THE ENTIRE CAR SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT ANY POWER TO PULL TO CURB OR TO SAFELY LEAVE ROADWAY. MESSAGE ON DASH READ "STOP SAFELY NOW". CAR TOTALLY DISABLED. RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. STAR FORD OF GLENDALE HAD CAR FOR A COMPLETE DAY TO DETERMINE NATURE OF PROBLEM - AT END OF DAY HAD NO REASON FOR COMPLETE AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. DRIVER AFRAID TO TAKE CAR ON FREEWAY FOR FEAR CAR WILL LOSE POWER ON FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HESITATED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE 2-4 BAND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

ON 1-18-2014 MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE EXPERIENCED SHAKING AND PULLING ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I WAS SITTING IDLE IN MY DRIVEWAY, THEN IT JUST STOPPED. DROVE ABOUT 1/2 BLOCK AND STARTED PULLING; TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND IT IS THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING $1200-1500 TO REPAIR AND ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC WHEN HE TALKED TO THE LOCAL FORD PARTS HOUSE THEY TOLD HIM THIS PART# HAS BEEN CHANGED 17 TIMES BECAUSE THEY KEEP FAILING. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! HOW CAN A PROBLEM WITH YOUR STEERING NOT POSSIBLE BE A RECALL ITEM? *TR

AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN AND BRAKING AT A STOP SIGN, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *TR

WITHOUT WARNING, THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE SIMPLY WENT OUT. I HAD NO ISSUES OR INDICATION THAT THE STEERING WAS ABOUT TO FAIL AND SUDDENLY, THE POWER STEERING SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING. FORTUNATELY, THIS LOSS OF POWER STEERING DIDN'T RESULT IN A CRASH IN MY CASE. I QUICKLY SCHEDULED AN INSPECTION AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD IN FACT FAILED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF MY STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS ALMOST A $1,600 REPAIR BUT HAD TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY DUE TO THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THE FAILURE. IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND SCORES OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I DISCOVERED THAT FORD HAD CHANGED FROM A HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM TO AN ELECTRIC SYSTEM STARTING IN 2008. CLEARLY THIS SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY. I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT ONE DAY SOME ONE WILL BE KILLED WHEN THIS SYSTEM FAILS AGAIN. DON'T LET THIS TURN INTO ANOTHER ISSUE LIKE IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING WITH GM IGNITIONS AND LIVES ARE LOST. *TR

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH ON. THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.LJ

NO POWER STEERING UPON VEHICLE START UP. POWER STEERING RETURNS AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING VEHICLE 1-4 TIMES. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT. WAS NEAR HOME AND ABLE TO GET VEHICLE INTO DRIVEWAY. AFTER SHUTTING OFF AND RE-STARTING POWER STEERING WORKED. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING UNTIL REPAIR MADE. *TR

THE VEHICLE'S STEERING BEGAN TO SHUTTER. THEN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY GAVE OUT. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE TURNS TO THE RIGHT TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THE CONDITION GOES AWAY AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING BUT LESS THAN A MINUTE AFTER RESTARTING, THE CONDITION RETURNS. I HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR OF THIS ISSUE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *TR

THIS HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES ON A LONG DRIVE OVER 30 MINUTES. AS I AM DRIVING THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLT WILL FAIL AND I WILL LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER MY VEHICLE. I HAVE ALMOST HAD SEVERAL SEVERE ACCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENS AT 70MPH. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING ONLINE TO SIMILAR 2008 ESCAPES. FORD HAS BEEN SILENT ON THE ISSUE. THIS NEEDS A RECALL IN PLACE IMMEDIATELY. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HOW TO FIX IT. AVERAGE REPAIR COSTS ARE >1400. I CAN NOT AFFORD THAT AND WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE/RISK MY LIFE UNTIL THIS IS RECALLED BECAUSE I HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS. THE PROBLEM RESOLVES ITSELF AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE BUT HAPPENS A SHORT TIME LATER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, I DON'T FEEL SAFE AND THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

WHEN I WOULD COME TO A STOP OR EVEN START TO SLOW DOWN AND START TO GO AGAIN MY CAR (TRANSMISSION) WOULD JUMP, REV UP TO 4/5 RPMS AND STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, I WOULD TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AS SOON AS IT WOULD DO THIS AND IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING WITHOUT ME EVEN ON THE GAS, ALWAYS TWICE MEANWHILE AGAIN STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. MY (WRENCH) LIGHT ALSO CAME ON WHICH SHOWED POWERTRAIN/CONTROL THROTTLE. AFTER TAKING IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP THEY ARE QUOTING ME $3500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM OH AND DID I MENTION MY WARRANTY ENDED A MONTH IN A HALF AGO! I KNOW I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHERS THIS IS HAPPENING TO AND SINCERELY BELIEVE FORD IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT OR WANTING TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN POSITION AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION. THE DRIVER HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN IT MIGHT OCCUR. *TR

STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE OR SHIMMY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND IDLING. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON... THE BEGAN TO DRIVE, POWER STEERING WAS OUT COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WOULD STEER - BUT WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. PULLED OVER SHUT VEHICLE OFF, POWER STEERING RESUMED, BUT STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING AGAIN AT IDLE. VERY DANGEROUS IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN AT AN SPEED. MY DAUGHTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, I AM VERY STRONG AND IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO CONTROL. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED - AS SO FAR I SEE 190+ COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, AND MANY OTHERS ON DIFFERENT SITES, WHILE TRYING TO FIND A DIAGNOSIS FOR THE PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THIS IMMEDIATELY. *TR

POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT GOING AROUND THE CURVE. DID NOT TURN THE CAR OUT BECAUSE A TEST WAS DONE ON THE BATTERY YESTERDAY AND IT WAS GOOD, BUT LEFT WORK TODAY AND HAD TO HAVE IT JUMPED. BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND STILL NO POWER STEERING. WILL BE FIXED TOMORROW FOR A TOTAL OF 1200. I COULD HAVE BEEN WITH MY SMALL SON TODAY, BUT LUCKILY I STAYED HOME FROM WORK AND MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS CAR AND THE STEERING WENT OUT, IE: STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN.SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN SHE RE-STARTED, THE STEERING WAS FINE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IN THE EXACT SAME MANNER. LUCKILY, NEITHER OF US WAS GOING TERRIBLY FAST BUT THIS COULD HAPPEN ANYTIME AND AT ANY SPEED. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS RECALLED, AS I SEE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I CANNOT ALLOW MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN THIS CONDITION.TAKING IT TO MECHANIC FOR CHECK TODAY, BUT THEY TOLD ME ON THE PHONE THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 2008, AND HAVE BEEN VERY DILIGENT IN MY MAINTENANCE. THIS REPAIR COULD EXCEED $2000! THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS A DEFECT! *TR

MY WIFE ENCOUNTERED A STEERING FAILURE ON OUR VEHICLE YESTERDAY. UPON REVIEW BY MY MECHANIC HE REPORTED A FAILURE OF CODE B2278 AND THE REPORTED FIX IS THE REPLACEMENT BY FORD OF THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. HE ALSO SUGGESTED I LOOK ONLINE BECAUSE THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THE MID-2000'S FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS. THERE ARE DOZENS OF WEBPAGES, EACH WITH DOZENS OF ENTRIES SUCH AS THIS PAGE ( HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2008/FORD/ESCAPE+HYBRID/STEERING ) DETAILING STEERING COLUMN FAILURES WITH NEAR TRAGIC RESULTS. A CLEAR PATTERN OF STEERING FAILURE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE NHTSA'S EYES AS EVIDENCED IN THIS EMAIL. I AM IMPLORING YOU TO ACT. IT IS BAD ENOUGH THAT THE COLUMN COSTS $2,000 TO REPLACE. DOES MY SON HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THE AGENCY TAKES ACTION? PLEASE TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS AVAILABLE TO THE AGENCY TO ENSURE THE REASONABLE SAFETY OF FORD ESCAPE DRIVERS. I WILL BE HAPPY TO DIRECT YOU TO THE OTHER FORUMS OR ASSIST IN ANY MANNER THE AGENCY REQUESTS. TAKE CARE. *TR

A FEW WEEKS AGO MY 2008 FORD ESCAPES STEERING WHEEL INTERMITTENTLY STARTED VIBRATING AND MAKING CLICKING NOISES WHILE IDLING. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS AN INDICATOR THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AND IT CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AT ANYTIME. PEOPLE ON FREEWAYS OR WHILE TURNING WOULD LOOSE THERE POWER STEERING WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS AND POTENTIAL DEADLY CRASH. I LEARNED THAT AFT FIRST IF YOU LOOSE YOUR POWER STEERING YOU CAN TURN YOUR ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING WILL RETURN. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER REGARDING THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THERE ISN'T ANY RECALL. WHEN I ASKED THEM WHY FORD HASN'T STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THEY SUGGESTED I CALL FORD CORP AND ASK THEM. WHEN I DID, ALL I WAS TOLD WAS THERE ISN'T A RECALL; THEY WOULDN'T SAY ANYTHING FURTHER. MY HUSBAND HAS SINCE CALLED AND FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH FORD. IN THE MEAN TIME, MY POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT MANY TIMES WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP OR PARKING SPOT. YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED IT WENT OUT WHILE ACTUALLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE, PEOPLE TO START DYING? *TR

THERE ARE TWO SPECIFIC BUT RELATED PROBLEMS REPORTED TO FORD WITHOUT RESOLUTION: 1. DOME LIGHT ASSEMBLY - SWITCH BURNT: IN EARLY 2014 THE MANUAL SLIDE SWITCH ON THE DOME LIGHT SHORTED OUT AND MELTED ? BURNING THE INSIDE OF THE ASSEMBLY. THUS, THE SWITCH WOULD NO LONGER OPERATE PROPERLY. IT WAS DISCONNECTED BY THE OWNER. A FORD REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER, 2014, WHICH REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLY. THE ASSEMBLY HAD AN ENGINEERING CHANGE WHICH ELIMINATED THE MANUAL SLIDE SWITCH. OWNER HAS PICTURES AND HAS RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLY. NOTE: THE MELTING OF THE SLIDE SWITCH AND BURNING OF THE PLASTIC HOUSING COULD HAVE IGNITED THE HEADLINER. VERY DANGEROUS. 2. AIR BAG FUSE: WHEN REPLACING THE DOME LIGHT ASSEMBLY, IT WAS NOTICED THAT A FUSE HAD BLOW DUE TO THE SWITCH MELTING. THE FUSE PANEL WAS ACCESSED AND IT WAS VERIFIED THAT FUSE #25 (DEMAND LAMPS) WAS OPEN. A SPARE FUSE, PER THE OWNER?S MANUAL, WAS MOVED FROM POSITION #32 (SPARE) TO POSITION #25. THE NEW DOME LIGHT NOW WORKED PROPERLY. HOWEVER, THE NEXT DAY IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE SRS (SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM) LIGHT WAS ON WHICH INDICATED A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE SRS. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2014. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE DEALER THAT FUSE POSITION #32 IS REALLY NOT A SPARE AS INDICATED IN THE OWNER?S MANUAL ? IT IS INSTEAD THE FUSE THAT CONTROLS THE RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE CIRCUIT WHICH WHEN IT WAS REMOVED CAUSED THE SRS LIGHT TO APPEAR. (OF COURSE THE DEALER CHARGED FOR THE SERVICE!) SUBJECT VEHICLE OWNER?S MANUAL CAN BE FOUND ONLINE.) NOTE: THE OWNER?S MANUAL MUST BE CHANGED TO REFLECT THE APPROPRIATE FUSE LOCATIONS. IF SOMEONE HAD TO USE THE SPARE FUSE INCORRECTLY MARKED, WHILE DRIVING REMOTELY, AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY! VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED PULLING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000. UPDATED 04/14/14*LJ UPDATED 04/22/14

I WAS COMING TO A STOP AND THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST STEERING LOCKED UP, PROCEEDED TO PULL AWAY FROM STOP SIGN AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION WITHOUT ANY STEERING ASSIST. UPON ARRIVAL, TURNED OFF CAR AND RESTARTED TO GET STEERING ASSIST BACK. I'M GLAD NOTHING HAPPENED THIS TIME!!!!!, CAR IS UNDRIVABLE, AND TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, TOO MANY CORPORATIONS LEAVE THE DEALER AND/OR CONSUMERS WITH PAYING THE BILL FOR THEIR NEGLECT. *TR

WHEN I START THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY I HAVE NO POWER STEERING UNTIL I TURN OFF THE CAR A RESTART IT. ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE STEERING WILL GO OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE TURNING CORNER--CAR HIT MAIL BOX @ 10MPH. POWER STEERING GOES OUT ANYTIME. *TR

WHILE STOPPED AT INTERSECTIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM THROUGH THE INTERSECTION IT WILL STALL OUT. *TR

CAR STALLED WHEN DRIVING ON HWY IN SNOW STORM ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ALSO, RPM'S CLIMB, JUST HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED 2 MONTHS AGO. *TR

JUST AS MANY OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS LOGGED ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE MY ISSUES STARTED WITH A RATTLING OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I WAS IDLING OR BREAKING. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER I TURNED MY CAR ON AND MY POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT WHICH RESULTED IN THE STEERING WORKING AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I WAS STARTING TO THINK MAYBE THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AN I SHOULD GET IT CHECKED OUT. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON ICE. I AM VERY GLAD I WAS BEING CAUTIOUS AND GOING SLOW. IF I HAD BEEN GOING FASTER I COULD HAVE HAD A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. NOW I'VE READ ENDLESS COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND AM HEARING IT COULD COST 1-2,000 TO FIX! PLEASE RECALL THIS BEFORE IT BECOMES FATAL! *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE ON JANUARY 15 2013 AT 67,000 MILES IT HAS 78,000 MILES AND IS DOING WHAT SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS SAID ARE DOING. WHEN I GO TO TURN LEFT ESPECIALLY MAKES A LOUD BANG CLICK NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN. I DO HAVE A WARRANTY BUT OTHERS DON'T. THERE IS OVER 500 COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ON SAFE CAR.GOV. PLEASE DONT LET A DEATH BE A DECIDING FACTOR FOR A RECALL TO BE ISSUED AND TO SAVE A COUPLE BUCKS. EVIDENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM. LIKE I SAID HAD MY CAR FOR ONE YEAR. *TR

ENGINE JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND I ALMOST GOT INVOLVED INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. I PULLED OVER MY CAR AND SHIFTED THE GEAR TO P AND RE-STARTED THE ENGINE. IT WORKED BUT I FELT ENGINE WAS NOT FUNCTIONING OKAY. IT FELT LIKE IT KEPT BURPING CONSTANTLY. I COULD FEEL THE MOVE. I DROVE BACK HOME TO WORRY ABOUT THE ISSUE. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT, THEN RESET ITSELF. HAS GONE OUT AGAIN, AND HAS NOT RESET. WENT OUT WHEN HIGHWAY DRIVING. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

HEY BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2013 I WAS DRIVING HOME AND I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE. IT WASN'T A VIOLENT SHAKE BUT IT WAS NOTICEABLE. NOW I KNEW I NEED MY SWAY BAR LINKS REPLACED SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE ISSUE. AS WE ENTERED INTO 2014, (JANUARY) IT WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. ON 1/16/2014 (THURSDAY) THAT MORNING BEFORE I WENT TO WORK, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STIFF. SO I HAD TO CUT THE CAR OFF AND CUT IT BACK ON AND IT LOOSENED UP. I KNEW AT THAT POINT THAT IS WASN'T THE SWAY BAR LINKS. SO THAT FRIDAY (1/17/2014) I TOOK IT IN TO A CAR SHOP CLOSE TO MY HOUSE (WASN'T A FORD DEALERSHIP) AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN WAS BAD AND THAT THE SENSOR WAS DYING. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING UNTIL I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY AND IN CANADA WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. TO BE EXACT THE SAME PROBLEM!! FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THIS ISSUE. I'M SURE FORD HAS TONS OF PEOPLE THAT REVIEW ALL ONLINE COMMENTS, SO THEY HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE JUST TODAY(1/21/2014) MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND SHE CAME TO A RED LIGHT. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GO, THE STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF AND MADE IT HARD TO TURN. THE SENSOR WENT OUT AND IT WAS MANUAL TURNING. SHE GOT TO WORK AND WHEN HER SHIFT WAS OVER, SHE STARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS LOOSE AGAIN. WE CAN NOT DRIVE LIKE THIS AND KNOW ONE ELSE WITH AN FORD ESCAPE SHOULD HAVE TO DRIVE LIKE THIS EITHER. I ALSO FOUND OUT THROUGH VARIOUS WEBSITES THAT 2008 WAS THE FIRST YEAR THEY WENT TO THIS ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN. THEY COULDN'T HAVE DONE THE PROPER TESTING ON THIS VEHICLE, I ONLY HAVE 63000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE SO SOON! PLEASE EMAIL ME BACK AND TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO TO MAKE FORD RECALL THIS. THANK YOU *TR

WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 80 GOING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUDDERED AND QUIT. A RED TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT IN THE CENTER APPEARED ON THE DASH WITH THE MESSAGE "STOP SAFELY NOW". FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A SHOULDER AND NO TRAFFIC IN THE RIGHT LANE, SO WE PULLED OFF. WE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED IT A FEW MINUTES LATER. WE PROCEEDED, STAYING IN THE RIGHT LANE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS OCCURRED 5 TIMES INCLUDING ONCE ON THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY BRIDGE. IN RESEARCHING THIS, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS AND THAT IT IS A FAULTY MOTOR ELECTRONICS COOLANT PUMP. FORD HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (TSB08-24-5), BUT HAS NOT YET ISSUED A RECALL. SINCE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO FORCE FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

ON DEC 27 2013 WE WERE DRIVING ESCAPE . WHEN TRYING GO AROUND CURVE FORD LOST ALL POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSED US TO ALMOST HIT WALL. MY HUSBAND DROVE TO SIDE ROAD. SHUT IT OFF . WAITED FEW MINUTES STARTED IT POWER STEERING WAS BACK. TOOK IT TO GARAGE WAS TOLD POWER STEERING SENSOR WAS GOING OUT . WAS TOLD IT BE 1123.00 COST. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON JANUARY 3RD 2014. WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT FORD KNOWS ITS NOT WORKING RIGHT. NEED A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. OUR ESCAPE IS NOT ONLY ONE DOING IT. THE ONES WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ARE FAILING. I'M SCARED DRIVE IT MUCH. *TR

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, POWER STEERING WAS UNABLE TO WORK. THERE IS NO POWER STEERING LIQUID IN THIS MODEL, AND INSTEAD USES A COMPUTER TO ASSIST WITH POWER STEERING. AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS, A SECOND ATTEMPT WAS MADE, AND POWER STEERING SUCCESSFULLY RESPONDED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF A SIMILAR NATURE REGARDING 2008 MODELS AND SOME FOR THE 2009 MODEL OF THE FORD ESCAPE. IS THERE A RECALL OF ANY FORM GOING ON FOR THESE DANGEROUS ISSUES OR DO WE HAVE TO SHELL OUT A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING THAT WE WERE UNAWARE OF WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE? *TR

AFTER YEARS OF INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH MY GAS PEDAL IN COLD WEATHER - STICKING, HIGH IDLE, NOT ACCELERATING ETC... I FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A "CARBON BUILD UP"! I MENTIONED THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND GETTING WORSE. I MENTIONED THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RECORDED HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP (POCORRO FORD RACINE WISCONSIN) IS NOT WILLING TO ADMIT IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE PART FROM DAY ONE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A LOUD CLICKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE DASHBOARD IN ADDITION TO A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY UPON RESTARTING. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,800.

THE FIRST TIME MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON AT A RED LIGHT. THEN IT STOPPED AS I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE LEFT. I THEN WAS WORRIED BECAUSE I HAD MY LITTLE BOY WITH ME. I RAN INTO THE STORE AND THEN WENT HOME AND IT STOPPED. TODAY, I DROVE 36 MILES PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, STOPPED WAITING FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE. I TRIED TO TAPE IT WITH MY PHONE AND IT STOPPED AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES. WILL HAVE IT CHECKED OUT BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO DRIVE MY LITTLE ONE AND HAVE THE POWER STEERING GO OUT IN IT. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. I WOULD HAVE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTART UNTIL IN ENGAGED. WHEN IT WAS OPERATING, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHUTTER BACK AND FORTH. I TOOK IT IN TO THE FORD DEALER AND SCAN CODE B2278 CONFIRMED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR WAS BAD IN THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST. REQUIRED THE STEERING COLUMN TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,439.68. *TR

OUR FORD ESCAPE LOST POWER STEERING RIGHT AS WERE GOING INTO A CURVE IN THE ROAD. THERE WAS NOT WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED. ONCE I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN THE STEERING STARTED TO WORK. THIS PROBLEM STARTED TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHICH PROMPTED ME TO RESEARCH WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I WAS SURPRISED TO DISCOVER THAT MANY FORD ESCAPE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. EVERYTHING I HAVE READ STATES THE STEERING COLUMN IS FAULTY AND NEEDS REPLACED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THIS IS MY WIFE'S DAILY DRIVER. *TR

I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF MY SLOPING DRIVEWAY ONTO A VERY NARROW AND BUSY HILLSIDE RESIDENTIAL STREET. WITH CARS COMING DOWN THE HILL PAST OUR DRIVEWAY IT IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL THAT I HAVE AN OPERATIONAL BRAKING SYSTEM. WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AND I WENT SHOOTING OUT INTO THE STREET. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY REPAIR SHOP THAT I FREQUENT FOR MOST SERVICE APPOINTMENTS. THEY GOT IN THE CAR TO TEST DRIVE IT AND HAD NO PROBLEM WHATEVER WITH THE BRAKES. THEY PUT AN ELECTRONIC SCANNER ON THE ENGINE AND IT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS ONE OR MORE PROBLEMS IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM ALTHOUGH THE TEST DRIVE WENT FINE. THEY SAID THAT WITH THE SCANNER MESSAGE THAT WAS REPORTED, I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH SAME AND WILL HAVE THE OUTCOME IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. NONE OF THAT REALLY MATTERS AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I NOW HAVE A CAR THAT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, LET ALONE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DRIVE IT. FROM ALL OF THE SIMILAR, IF NOT EXACT, INCIDENTS I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT ON THE WEB IT DOES NOT SOUND LIKELY THAT THE DEALER IS GOING TO FIND A DEFINITIVE ANSWER AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. FURTHERMORE, THAT CAR IS USELESS TO ANYONE ELSE SO WHAT DO I DO WITH IT. *TR

SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED THE POWER STEERING DOESN'T WORK, AND WHEN IT DOES THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING AS WELL AS WHEN IT'S DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER BECAME STUCK ON EVERY SEAT EXCEPT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT ON AN INTERSECTING ROAD FROM A STOP SIGN, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. IT TOOK ALL OF MY STRENGTH TO GET OUT OF THE INTERSECTION AND OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING THE CAR A COUPLE OF TIMES, IT BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $1,300.00 WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS PURCHASED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS AND THIS CAN HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY TIME. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT FORD HAS NOT MADE A RECALL ON THIS! I CAN'T BARE TO THINK OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR AS I WAS TAKING HIM TO SCHOOL. *TR