NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 Ford Escape. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Vehicle was involved in a minor car accident. Vehicle was parked outside my residence on the street. At the time there was only minor body damage. Next day was on my way to work and I noticed that my steering wheel was hard to turn while making a right hand turn. Almost cause an accident and was having a hard time maneuvering the vehicle to a safe location. Vehicle was taken to repair shop per insurance but they didn’t fix the problem claiming that the issue was pre existing prior to accident. Had no lights or indicators on dash. Vehicle was functioning properly before accident. It wasn’t listed in any recalls that were mentioned. I’m currently waiting for my vehicle to be fixed as the part that needs repair is on back order. Been without my vehicle since February 13th when it was towed by my insurance company at the time.
Brakes spontaneously failing. When you start the car the brakes go all the way to the floor. Despite bleeding the brakes and replacing the master cylinder no change. Appears to be ABS which is a common report of failure in these cars.
Loss of power steering
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the steering torque sensor under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 117,000.
I found out there is a recall on over 600,000 cars from 2006 to 2010. Mainly Ford fusion for the same problem I'm having on my 2010 Ford escape. There is an ABS breaking valve that sticks and the ABS module needs to be replaced. This is happened on my car and is not under the recall but it's the same model as the 2010 Ford fusion and the same part. Why is this? I brought this into my dealer the first time they said the brakes were bad and the rear brakes needed to be adjusted and the valve was sticking but they were able to get it unstuck. They flush the brake fluid as well after $500 nearly $600 I went to drive the car and it was exactly the same. That's when they said it was the ABS brake module, the valve sticking and needed to be replaced. This seems to be a pretty common problem with these cars. Why is there no recall on this?
My girlfriend's electric power steering went out when she got home. Something that it was previously recalled for. Also while she was driving she was getting really bad shaking in her steering wheel this is the second time this has happened and it is really dangerous.
Steering wheel began rapidly shaking when parked or when in drive. This shaking began to make steering dangerous as it would make me swerve while operating the vehicle. This began a week before the power steering went completely out and now the dash has a message for power steering assist fault. The vehicle is also throwing code B2278. I have seen on the ford official recall list that there is a recall on certain ford escapes made in certain manufacturing states but I believe my vehicle is affected by this recall.
The steering column assist motor malfunctioned while operating the vehicle. It quit while driving so I could not operate the vehicle properly. I had two young kids in the car when this occured and I had to swerve out of traffic because the steering column locked up. Yes the problem was assessed by an independent service center and it was determined that the steering assist motor did indeed malfunction. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure of the steering motor.
Me and my wife was driving on the highway and suddenly there was no steering. Show up massage on dashboard say ( power steering assistance faild ) was really scary because my wife can't control the vehicle but some how we was lucky can stop on the shoulder safely Our life was in real danger I see alot of people online like YouTube and Facebook they have same problem and I believe ford knows already about this problem but they do nothing . Anyway after couple day I took the car to the dealership and guess what they don't have the part and also its cost around 3k Thank you
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist with the power steering assist fault message displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Power steering assist fault is on the dashboard and I can barely turn the wheel. This happened while driving 65mph on the highway over wolf creek pass and with the snow I could have driven off the cliff or knocked another vehicle off. Unknown. Unknown. Not yet. No warnings it just jolted and then barely turns. Adaptive Cruise Control I will be driving using Cruise control or without and it will start up and just keep speeding up until I stop it. The car randomly speeding up on its own is dangerous if it does this at all. Unknown. Unknown. Not yet. No warnings and it has happened a good six times so fat. The Jerry app says I have 5 recalls on this vehicle I have already fixed the only one I knew about which is the gas line but I am wondering about the other 4? I am clearly having an issue that seems directly related to the recalls but your site says that I don't have any. I will double check the carfax but I am pretty sure that im the only one to address this. Please advise.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 15 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the steering wheel locked. The contact stated that the vehicle was stopped but the engine was still running. The contact stated that after the vehicle came to a full stop, the power steering regained proper functionality. The contact stated that his wife had heard a loud beeping sound but had not observed any warning lights being illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but occurred while the vehicle was driving at slow speeds and turning to the left or the right. The contact had driven the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed; and it was determined that the steering shaft torque sensor needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the mechanic ran a diagnostic test and retrieved Code: B2278. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while making a left turn at approximately 20 MPH, the power steering assist failed without warning. The contact used excessive force to drive the vehicle home. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer where he was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that his vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The dealer had the vehicle 6-7 months for power steering repairs.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the steering wheel was making abnormal rattling sounds. There was no further information provided. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to Ford Campaign Number: 13N03. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the campaign because the campaign had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 143,900.
When stopping for a red light, the engine shuts off. I can restart it. It has happened twice in a one year period . it is a Ford Escape 2010. Vin 1FMCU9DGXAKC64776
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, and then stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times and she was able to avoid having an accident. The contact stated that the power steering also became inoperable, and the steering column seized. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that an unknown Customer Satisfaction Program had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 141,246.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and switching lanes, the steering wheel stiffened followed by a beeping sound. The power steering assist fault message was displayed. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the mechanic stated that the power steering control module (PSCM) needed to be replaced; however, the contact was informed that the repair might not fix the failure. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 134,000.
Driver seat belt jams up and will not unlock at times while out. I am often left stuck in the vehicle. At time's the seat belt will NOT lock into place when starting my vehicle to leave. I often have to drive with no seat belt because I don't lock at times and other times I don't feel safe in the seat belt. The Dealership have not provided a fix and believe this is a defect that needs attention.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his daughter was having a routine oil change performed at an independent mechanic, she was informed that the subframe was rusted and there was metal missing. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000.
Power steering assist fail
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to veer to the side of the road and continued driving straightforward. The contact stated as she continued driving, the power steering became operative. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electric power steering assist had failed. The independent mechanic associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) and referred the contact to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure an informed the contact that they could not assist as the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module had been previously updated and the computer had been recalibrated under the recall. The contact contacted the dealer who previously completed the recall repair of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing the vehicle from his driveway, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact continued to experience the failure intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the steering column, the steering sensor, and the electronic board controlling the power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The dealer informed the contact that NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) was completed by the previous owner of the vehicle in 2014. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
8-26-2022 - Traveling on Highway in Colorado, clear evening, dry road conditions. While normal driving at 690 mph I came up to a stop light intersection. The light was green and turned yellow while I was coming up to the intersection. I pressed my brake normally and the pedal went to the floor, there was no warning of any brake issues, the brakes are in normal operating condition. Had there been any vehicles crossing the intersection, I would not have been able to avoid a serious collision. I pulled off and was able to pump the brakes back to where I could stop the vehicle. I have absolutely no confidence in this vehicle stopping.
Serious safety issue. Brake system complete failure in the driveway at my house. Luckily nobody was hurt and no damage to the vehicle or our home. Vehicle had to be towed to dealer. Critical electric brake component failed. Which one is unclear. There are several in "series" in the braking system. When the one failed it destroyed the others as well. Serious safety design flaw. One compenant detroys all? Fortunate we were not in traffic and or highway speed etc. Very popular vehicle. Millions sold. Unknown if others have eperienced the same catastophic failure. Vey expensive repair. They say it will be $4820 + tax.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate at slower speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact would accelerate to a faster speed and the vehicle would regain proper power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred four times. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
Component: Engine Cradle/Front Subframe - (9L8Z-5C145-A) Large holes rusting in it on passenger side. Mechanic recommends replacement as otherwise hole could weaken the structure to the point it breaks, control arm could pop out. Seems to have been a known issue on older models like 2001-2004, but any newer models are not covered by Ford's recall, despite many people on forums saying they have the same problem. Problem noticed by mechanic within the last year or so. Some people hypothesize the problem comes from where the AC leaks its condensate.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle rolled forward. Additionally, the vehicle was leaking transmission fluid. The contact stated that occasionally the vehicle would jump forward while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the transmission shifter cable bushing was faulty. The mechanic informed the contact that the transmission shifter cable bushing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 235,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while stationary at a traffic light, while depressing the accelerator pedal and making a left turn, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering was faulty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The contact also stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was flashing on and off. The vehicle was previously repaired, and the spark plugs were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 265,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while he was seated in the passenger’s side front seat with his daughter driving 50 MPH, the steering wheel seized inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's daughter turned on the hazard lights and depressed the brake pedal while the contact used extra effort to steer the vehicle to the side of the roadway. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle however, the steering wheel remained locked. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering module had failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist since the vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) in 2014. A case was opened. The contact was awaiting a call back. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
My wife was coming home from the grocery and before she left the parking lot the battery light came on and stayed until she got home, approximately 9 miles. When she was turning into the driveway, she lost her steering and nearly ran into a tree because the steering was so difficult. After she shut off the car I restarted it and the light was out and the steering worked properly. I searched for open recalls but your site says I have no outstanding recalls but this issue was on a past recall.
Driving down the road started hearing minor noises in the rear, then louder clunks when driving over road patches and bumps. Parked in our driveway, and inspected, found out the entire strut tower on the rear driver side tire is rusted from the frame and there is a large crack that has formed in the unibody has well. Our local Ford dealership in town sent us to the auto body shop and the auto body shop will not touch it and said park it and do not drive it. It is dangerous to myself, occupants and others on the road you can move the entire strut tower. We are stuck with a loan for a vehicle when we bought had no rust marks anywhere until after a few months. Also the roof leaks as well which was not visible when we purchased this vehicle of a lot. We took it back to the dealership we bought it from and since we bought as is, they would do nothing. They said they'd help get us in something different and will not return any calls. They had to have known this was a problem when they sold this.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the brakes was being serviced by an independent mechanic, the contact was informed that the engine cradle frame was fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
The front suspension subframe k-frame crossmember has excessive errosion creating large gaps and holes in the frame, directly under the ac unit on the passenger side. The rust hole on top from the leaking fluid from the ac has continued to pool inside the cavity and caused erosion near the control arm. Unknown to me or any daily driver, this excessive rust is not prevalent anywhere else or something I was aware I needed to check. Other owners have been contacted and have experienced the same issue, some have had the part completely fail and cause accidents. The vehicle is very close to failure and I was not aware, there are no apparent side effects. I could easily cause an accident when using the vehicle. No other part of the vehicle has excessive rust so it is not a concern otherwise. The k-frame needs to be replaced and a hose needs to be ran from the Ac to redirect the fluid being dissipated onto the k-frame as it is.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while her husband was at a stop sign and making a right turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's husband was able to continue to drive by using excessive force to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact's husband that the vehicle had already been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle started to veer to the right independently. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure as the torque sensor. The mechanic stated that the torque sensor needed to be replaced and the ECM needed to be recalibrated. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The contact researched the cause of the failure and determined that the failure was related to the torque sensor and referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
POWER STEERING WENT OUT DUE TO A FAULTY TORQUE SENSOR ON THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC LANE. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN THAT LANE. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, SEEMS THAT IS THE ONLY PLACE IT IS SAFE TO OWN!!!!!
Electric power steering failure. Complete loss of steering. Module in steering column failure. Cost me $4000.00 for repairs
My brakes were squishy, so I took it to a Ford dealership, where they replaced the master cylinder and the sender twice. After driving the vehicle about 10 times, they became squishy again, when I was approaching a red light. I became afraid that I would not be able to stop, so I started pumping them, and was able to stop. There were no lights to indicate where the problem was located. I took the vehicle to a different repair shop where they tested the replaced components under pressure, and they failed. Again, the master cylinder and sender unit were replaced. Today, 9-6-2022 a light came on stating the brake fluid was low. I returned to the repair shop where they determined the ABS unit needs to be replaced. Again, the brake fluid message was the only indication that something was wrong. To me this is a safety issue, and I was afraid to drive the vehicle thinking they could completely fail and I would not be able to stop causing an accident.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while the vehicle was in Park, the transmission would slip. The vehicle would move without the parking brake being deactivated. The contact researched and found a possible failure with the Park retention pin. The contact contacted the dealer who stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 10V222000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,500
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while pulling into the driveway, the steering wheel locked up. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the power steering failed to operate as needed. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated after the failure occurred. The contact stated that she was unable to reset the power steering. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who informed her of an unstated recall. The contact spoke with the dealer who confirmed that the VIN was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, he heard an abnormal popping sound as the "power steering assist fault" warning message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle but he was able to drive home. The contact called the dealer and manufacturer and was informed that his vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
hard to turn steering wheel when i driving I-65 have to pull over. that is really danger safety for my family.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH in the snow and icy road conditions, power steering failed and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. As a result of the failure, the contact crashed into a ditch. The contact stated that there were no injuries sustained, nor was medical attention needed. The contact stated that her husband was on the passenger side during the incident but was able to drive her vehicle to her residence after the crash. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and was advised to call NHTSA to check for a recall on the vehicle. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The mileage failure was 166,000.
On 12/16/2019, I took my 2010 Ford Escape, [XXX] to Kelly Ford, Beverly, MA for recall 14S05. Electric Power Steering could fail, due to a faulty Torque Sensor. Mileage was 84,977. I was told that dealer found that new Torque Sensor was not needed. System was reprogrammed. After this I experienced intermittent failure of the electric power steering. Brought vehicle to Kelly Ford 1/29/2020. Mileage was 85,811. They could not duplicate the steering failure. On 1/16/2022, the power steering has completely failed, & a power steering assist fault message has appeared. Mileage is now 91,945 Two Ford dealers told me that Ford will likely not cover the repair, since the recall was “closed” after they saw the vehicle. I called Ford customer service 1/19/2022, & was told the same. She said that Ford does not open recalls. I think this is wrong, since the problematic Torque Sensor was not replaced during my recall visit. This repair could exceed $2K, since the steering column must now be replaced. I think that Ford should be held responsible to repair my vehicle correctly. Especially since the vehicle can no longer be safely driven. Ford states that upon failure, vehicle will revert to manual steering mode. NOT TRUE. When power steering fails, it is much harder to turn than a manual steering equipped vehicle, & therefore unsafe to drive. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Power steering assist error and there is no power steering. The code has been reset several times but it keeps happening.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 - 20 MPH, the power steering assist failed, and the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.
My daughter was driving her 2010 Ford Escape on the highway and a warning light appeared stating "Power Steering Sensor Fault" and once she stopped she lost the ability to use power steering on the vehicle. The car currently doesn't have power steering and I took it to a Ford Dealership and they wanted to charge just over $2200 to replace the steering column. There was a recall on 2010 Ford Escapes, recall NHTSA 14V284000 Ford 14S05 for this problem on other 2010 Ford Escapes but the car we have the Vin number isn't part of this recall. There are many Ford Escapes built between the years 2008-2010 with this problem. Plus I had a 2008 Ford Escape a few years back with this problem and it was fixed by our local Ford dealership through the recall.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel was locked up. The power steering system disabled message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the failure was due to the steering column. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact to keep the receipts. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The approximate failure mileage was 160,000. The VIN was not available.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026