2001 FORD ESCAPE Steering Problems

ABS SYSTEM BURNED UP, HARD TO STOP BRAKES, LICKAGE UNDER THE HOOD

I AM NOT SURE IF I AM USING THE CORRECT WEBSITE OR CORRECT FORM. I WAS INVOLVED IN A VERY WEIRD CAR ACCIDENT. MY FORD ESCAPE SUDDENLY RUN TO THE SIDE (AS I WAS DRIVING ON ICE) IS THERE ANY HELP TO FIX THIS?. I WAS DRIVING NORTH DIRECTION. THE POSTED SPEED WAS 25 AND MINE WAS 20. THIS HAPPENED ON NORTH LELAND ST IN SAN PEDRO, CA 90731. LOOKS LIKE A MECHANICAL FAULT. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WAS WRONG. I HAVE A POLICE REPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

MY FORD ESCAPE DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT ANYMORE AND IT WILL NOT STAY IN PARK I HAVE TO HAVE A BRICK PUT IN FRONT OF IT BECAUSE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT EVEN WORK. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER BUT I CANNOT FIND MY LETTER ANYMORE. I WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE AND I CANNOT WALK AND MY SON HAD CLEAN THE HOUSE SO I HAVE LOST MY LETTER I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF I COULD GET ANOTHER RECALL LETTER SO I CAN GET MIKE'S ESCAPE FIXED PLEASE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED AND WAS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRAME AND OTHER COMPONENTS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,306. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING AND GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (SEELYE KIA OF KALAMAZOO, 4102 STADIUM DRIVE, KALAMAZOO, MI 49080) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS CRACKED, RUSTED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,193.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,600.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,345.

NHTSA 14V165/ FORD 14S02- BROUGHT 2001 FORD ESCAPE TO FORD DEALER WITH STEERING FAILURE DUE TO FAILURE OF LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATION AT SUB FRAME. CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. WAS TOLD THAT RECALL COVERED BRACKET TO SECURE CONTROL ARM IN CASE OF STEERING FAILURE. STEERING HAD ALREADY FAILED. WAS TOLD SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY WAS ROTTED & SEPARATED. I HAVE PHOTOS. FORD DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE SUB FRAME UNDER RECALL PROTOCOL BUT WAS PREVENTED BY FORD REPS FROM DOING SO BECAUSE THE SEPARATION WAS NOT EXCESSIVE ENOUGH TO MEET CRITERIA. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS OFF ON SEPARATION, THE FRONT WHEEL WAS COMING OFF, BUT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRACKET PLACEMENT UNDER RECALL WAS THE REMEDY TO PREVENT STEERING FAILURE. BUT THIS IS AFTER THE FACT, THE STEERING AND CONTROL ARM HAD ALREADY FAILED AND WERE UNSUSTAINABLE BECAUSE THE BRACKET AT THIS TIME COULDN'T HELP. THE RECALL...

HERE RECENTLY I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCURRENCES OF MY 2001 ESCAPE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. ON 2 OCCASIONS I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, SLIGHTLY UPHILL AND WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF LOSING ALL POWER AND STEERING AND I HAD TO "STAND" ON THE BRAKES TO STOP. A FEW OTHER TIMES IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS TURNING A CORNER AS WELL AS GOING THROUGH A STOP LIGHT TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT, NOT GOING FAST AT ALL. PRETTY SCARY STUFF. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM STARTING IT BACK UP AFTER THE OCCURRENCES, HOWEVER IT KEEPS HAPPENING. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, MAINLY ON THE INTERSTATE MAINTAINED SPEED OF 70MPH I FEEL THE STEERING GO VERY LIMP. IT'S BEEN MUCH LIKE HYDROPLANING. LIKE THERE IS AIR BETWEEN MY TIRES AND THE ROAD. IT LASTS JUST A FEW SECONDS. I NOTICE THE STEERING COLUMN IS RUSTED. THE TRUCK SWERVES IN THE LANE AND OFTEN GOING OVER LINE. THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. AFTER THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE STREET I BEGAN LOOSING CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FACING A 90 DEGREE RIGHT ANGLE AS I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AND EVERY TIME I WOULD HIT A BUMP THE CAR WOULD JUMP TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO HAD A LOT OF PLAY WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR STRAIGHT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE OR SAFE DUE TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATING FROM THE SUBFRAME WHICH HAS TO DUE WITH RECALL # 14S02. IS THE SUBFRAME BEING REPLACED AT SOME POINT? THEY PUT A CROSSBRACE ON THE VEHICLE BUT IT IS STILL BEING DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

DEAR SIRS, AS YOU ARE AWARE, THIS PAST WEEKEND ON THE SAN MATEO BRIDGE IN HAYWARD CA, A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT/FIRE OCCURRED WITH A LIMOUSINE, WHERE FIVE INDIVIDUALS WERE TRAPPED AND KILLED DUE TO A VEHICLE FIRE. UPON SEEING AND HEARING ABOUT THIS HORRIFIC TRAGEDY, MY WIFE INSISTED THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE RECALLS PERFORMED ON OUR 2001 FORD ESCAPE. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, WHEN I TOOK OUR ESCAPE INTO FREMONT FORD ON MAY 7TH, [XXX], THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, TOLD ME THAT HE WAS REFUSING TO PERFORM ALL OF THE RECALLS ON OUR TRUCK, BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXPIRED. AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE, PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW RECALLS INVOLVING SAFETY ISSUES EXPIRE? IS THIS A FORD COMPANY POLICY OR A FREMONT FORD DEALERSHIP/SERVICE POLICY? WHEN I PICKED UP OUR ESCAPE ON MAY 8TH FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I DOCUMENTED ON THE PAPERWORK THAT THEY...

IT WAS HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE HOT WEATHER CONDITION. I AM NOT SURE THAT WHERE THE MASSIVE VIBRATION SOUND COMES FROM BUT MOST LIKELY IT FEELS THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL(STEERING SHAFT ROD?) OR BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I FIRST REALIZED THIS PROBLEM, IT WAS VERY HOT SUMMER DAY AND AIR CONDITIONER (AC) WAS ON. I DROVE ABOUT FOR 15-20 MINUTES AND PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE (ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR SO). THEN I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND TRIED TO BACK UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE PARKING SPOT, IT WAS HAPPENED. AFTER THAT HAPPENING, I WAS HAVING SAME PROBLEM WHENEVER I WAS DRIVING WITH AC ON(I DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM DURING COLD SEASON AT ALL). NOW IS SUMMER OF 2012 AND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN COMING BACK MOST OF TIME OF DRIVING NO MATTER AC IS ON OR OFF (IT SEEMS LIKE GETTING WORST?). PAST...

I STOPPED MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE AND PUT THE SHIFT INTO PARK. THE SHIFT FLEW INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STAYED IN DRIVE, WHICH ALMOST SENT ME INTO A BAYOU. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THE SHIFT WAS JAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE MECHANICS THAT THE CABLE ON THE SHIFT BROKE LOOSE. HE SAID HE WAS SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON IT YET BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING ESCAPES AND ESCORTS IN THEIR SHOP WITH THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE DUE TO LOSS OF POWER IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND NO BRAKES. *TC

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTO SERVICE FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK THERE WAS GRINDING AND A ROUND METAL OBJECT SNAPPED AND BROKE OFF OF THE AC COMPRESSOR. THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG AND THE STEERING. *SC *JB

MY WIFE GOT DISTRACTED AND SIDE SWIPED THE TRAILER OF AN 18 WHEELER WHILE PASSING ......A VERY BAZAAR ACCIDENT......SHE WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY INJURED AND HER 2001 FORD ESCAPE WAS DESTROYED..... MY COMPLAINT IS......HER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY BROKE...NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT END.... HER STEERING WHEEL JUST SPINS AROUND .... BEING A CAR GUY I SEE THIS AS A FAILURE IN THE FORDS STEERING.....I WALKED THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND DID NOT SEE ONE THING SHE COULD HAVE HIT TO BREAK HER STEERING. HER IMPACT WITH THE TRUCK SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKE HER STEERING EITHER .....PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE PARTS STARTED FALLING FROM UNDER ENGINE DEPARTMENT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. *AK

NHTSA:VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A MIS-ASSEMBLED OR INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED NUT THAT ATTACHES THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE NUT COULD BE UPSIDE DOWN IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY, WHICH COULD OVERSTRESS THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT WHEN THE NUT IS TIGHTENED. IN ADDITION, SOME OF THE NUTS MAY HAVE BEEN CRACKED DURING MANUFACTURE RESULTING IN THE NUT FRACTURING WHEN IT IS TIGHTENED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL RETENTION ARMATURE AND, IF NECESSARY, THE STEERING COLUMN TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION.*AK

I WAS IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT IN MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE WHILE DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH ON A PRIMARY ROAD IN CRESSKILL, NJ. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND I SAW THAT I WAS GOING TO HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, WHILE BREAKING, BUT THE ESCAPE DID NOT TURN. I IMPACTED THE PARKED VEHICLE, FLIPPED, SKIDDED 64 FEET ON THE ROOF OF MY ESCAPE, AND WAS ABLE TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE CAR WHEN HE CAME TO REST. I HAVE INTERESTING PICTURES OF THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND STEERING LINKAGES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ONLY AT LOW SPEEDS, STEERING COLUMN WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND IT COULD CAUSE FUTURE STEERING PROBLEMS. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE COVER ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE SHIMMYS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE INSPECTED AND THE FRONT ROTOR WAS MACHINED AND THE FRONT PADS CLEANED. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A PECKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. CONSUMER STATES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS HARD TO PUSH BECAUSE THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED REPLACING. THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPS WHILE AT IDLE. ALSO, WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE HEATER IS NOT WARM. *JG

WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH, VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK. NUMEROUS PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED REGARDING THE STALLING, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, THE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN APRIL 2002, THE ENGINE COOLING FANS WERE REPLACED, AND ALSO THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED.*JB

MY ESCAPE STALLED 4 DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. MY SPEED WAS 40 MPH OR LESS. THERE IS THE TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND ALL POWER IS LOST.IT STARTS UP WITH NO PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING 15-20MPH ON A NEIGHBORHOOD SIDE STREET CONSUMER RAN INTO A PARKED CAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER 360 DEGREES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER SUFFERED A FRACTURED RIB IN THE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER THINKS THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE ROLLED OVER AS EASILY AS IT DID. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING AT 20-25 MPH STEERING PULLED SHARPLY TO LEFT. REAR WHEELS LOCKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO TRAVEL ACROSS LAINS, HITING STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHRE INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS VERY TIGHT AND WAS HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. NLM