2008 FORD ESCAPE Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING), THE POWER STEERING SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY RECALIBRATED THE TORQUE SENSOR, BUT DID NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE NO FAULT CODE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR DAYS LATER BECAUSE A FAULT CODE APPEARED. THE POWER STEERING SENSOR ILLUMINATED, BUT THE DEALER FAILED TO REMEDY THE RECALL ONCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,068.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (POWER STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE TORQUE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED HONORING THE RECALL SINCE THE REPAIRS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 11/12/14*LJ THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY UPDATED THE MODULES. A MONTH LATER, A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT STATED POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TORQUE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. UPDATED 02/03/15*JB

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON ATTEMPTING TO NEGOTIATE A CURVE NOTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING RESULTING IN DIFFICULTY ACCOMPLISHING CURVE, STOPPED AT SIDE OF ROAD WHEN OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED ITSELF TURNED OFF IGNITION, RESTARTED AND VEHICLE RETURNED POWER STEERING. RETURNED VEHICLE TO PLACE OF PURCHASE AS WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY WERE NOT A FORD DEALER, MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO WIRING HARNESS THEY FELT WAS AT FAULT, VEHICLE PERFORMED NORMALLY FOR SOME WEEKS. THEN VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY LOSE POWER ASSIST AND AT TIMES UPON STARTUP WOULD NOT HAVE POWER STEERING, EACH INSTANCE WAS RELIEVED BY TUNING OFF AND RESTARTING VEHICLE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH AND CONVERSATIONS WITH FORD PERSONAL WAS ADVISED ENOUGH PROBLEMS REPORTED TO EXPECT RECALL AND TO WAIT TILL THEN FOR REMEDY. UPON RECALL TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER THEY REPROGRAMMED AND ASSURED PROBLEM WAS FIXED. PROBLEM RETURNED THAT PM, RETURNED TO DEALER THEY REFUSED TO DO MORE WORK AS THEY CLAIMED RECALL WAS...

POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL OFTEN. AT FIRST IT WOULD NOT WORK RIGHT AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN AND RESTARTING IT WOULD OFTEN KICK BACK IN AND WORK. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AND ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER INITIAL INCIDENT IT WOULD OFTEN FAIL WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS UP TO 70 MPH. THIS IS MY WIFE'S PRIMARY VEHICLE AND IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED AT THOSE SPEEDS SHE WOULD NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PROPERLY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OUT OF DANGER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 2008 FORD ESCAPE ELECTRICAL STEERING WOULD QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND GO INTO MANUAL STEERING MODE. IF THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE ELECTRICAL STEERING WOULD WORK. CHECKED TO SEE IF THE VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR THE STEERING PROBLEM ONLINE AND THE VEHICLE DID. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR 2008 FORD ESCAPE ELECTRICAL STEERING FAILURE RECAL # 14S05. TOOK THE 2008 IN FOR REPAIRS AT ED KOEHN FORD DEALERSHIP IN WAYLAND, MICHIGAN FOR REPAIRS. MECHANIC STATED THAT STEERING HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED. NOW AFTER THE FIX (PROGRAMING) VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE NOT IN MOTION WHILE PARKED. UNABLE TO USE VEHICLE. FORD STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS BEEN FIXED AS FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD SPECIAL SERVICES FOR THE SHAKING STEERING (WHILE THE VEHICLE IS SITTING MOTIONLESS) AND DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE STEERING WHEEL...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (POWER STEERING), THE FAILURE SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL NOTICE OCCURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,222.

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (POWER STEERING) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. DJR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED AS A RESULT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V284000 (POWER STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,409. UPDATED 09-04-14 *BF UPDATED 11/28/2014 *JS

2008 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING RECALL PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DEALERS ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE WHEN TRYING TO START CAR.THE WHEEL HAS TO BE TURNED SEVERAL TIMES BACK IN FORTH IN ORDER TO START CAR.IT HAS NOW BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO START,TAKING 4-5 MINUTES OF TURNING AND JOSTLING THE KEY TO START THE CAR. *JS

MY CAR IS UNDER RECALL FOR A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS THE STEERING CAN GO DOWN. I HAVE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET A HOLD OF FORD DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND CANNOT EVEN GET THEM TO ANSWER THE PHONES IN ORDER TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED. IT IS A DANGER AND I HAVE NO OTHER CAR THAT I CAN DRIVE. *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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V284000 (STEERING), HOWEVER HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATED 10/22/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE BEING REPAIRED. UPDATED 4/1/2015 *JS

I RESPONDED TO A RECALL NOTICE 14S05. I CALL THE FORD DEALER IN MY AREA AND WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT FOR 11/5/2014. THIS IS UNREASONABLE. HAD I CALLED FOR REGULAR SERVICE THAT WOULD NOT HAVE ME WAIT THIS LONG. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SEIZED AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

DRIVING IN THIRD LANE ON INTERSTATE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED VEERING TOWARDS THE LEFT AND HAD NO CONTROL. IT VEERED ME INTO THE CONCRETE WALL AND THEN I STOPPPED. BOTH AIR BAGS EXPLODED. *TR

POWER STEERING LOCKED UP ON SEVERAL OCCASION UPON START UP AND A COUPLE OF TIMES WHILE DRIVING, ALTHOUGH SPEED AT THE TIME STEERING LOCKED UP IS UNKNOWN. STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED IN JAN 2013 AT MY EXPENSE AND TOTALED $1244.60. DUE TO THE RECENT RECALL OF THE NUMEROUS FORD ESCAPE'S STEERING, I FEEL FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE EXPENSES RELATED TO THE DEFECT. *TR

RECENTLY ON 2 OCCASIONS I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND MY STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. ONCE MAKING THE TURN I HAD TO QUICKLY PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY OFF AND THEN ON AND THE STEERING WAS OK. *JS

FOR ALMOST A YEAR, TO START MY CAR I HAD TO PUSH KEY IN VERY FIRMLY, THEN TURN. FOR ABOUT ONE MONTH NOW, I HAVE TO PUSH IN, THEN JIGGLE IN AND OUT UNTIL IT CONNECTS AND STARTS CAR. SOMETIMES IT TAKES 5 MINUTES TO FIND THE CONNECTION. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM OF HAVING NO POWER STEERING (POWER STEERING COMES AND GOES - USUALLY NONE) WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS ALSO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

FRIDAY JUNE 6TH, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30PM WHILE DRIVING AROUND A MODERATE CURVE IN GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED, LEAVING THE STEERING WHEEL 'LOCKED' IN A RIGHT TURN. BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING, THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE TURN AND LEFT THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WENT HEAD ON INTO A LARGE STONE LINED CULVERT (APPROXIMATELY 6-8' DEEP), HIT THE FRONT END INTO THE CULVERT WALL, FLIPPED ACROSS THE DRIVE DOWN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CULVERT, AND THEN ROLLED SEVERAL MORE TIMES UNTIL IT CAME TO REST ON IT'S WHEELS, APPROXIMATELY 20-30' FROM THE INITIAL POINT OF IMPACT. ALL OF THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. THERE WAS NO FIRE, BUT THE ENGINE DID SMOKE. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE AND, MIRACULOUSLY ONLY HAD SEVERE STRAINS, BRUISING, LACERATIONS, AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. THERE WERE MULTIPLE WITNESSES TO THE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT APPROXIMATELY 22 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CROSSED OVER THE YELLOW LINE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE THREE PASSENGERS WERE UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,191.

MY WIFE WAS TURNING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. SHE HAD TO RESTART THE ENGINE TO GET IT WORKING AGAIN. *TR

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

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. IT COMES AND GOES NOW. USUALLY IF CAR IS TURNED OFF, IT WORKS FOR AWHILE. NO WARNING WHEN IT GOES AGAIN--NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. *JS

POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. POWER STEERING GOES OUT. *TR

COMPLAINT DESCRIPTION CASE # [XXX] IN THE PAST I HAVE BEEN A SUPPORTER OF THE "AMERICAN" COMPANY, FORD. FORD HAS NOT STOOD BY ITS PRODUCT (AND POST THE LINKS THAT ARE ON THE INTERNET CONCERNING YOUR "STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM"!) I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED THE DAY THE STEERING COLUMN WENT OUT!!! I WANT MY MONEY BACK! $1,300.00 (I HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN, JUST 7 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I AM DEFINITELY OF AGE, I WORK HARD AS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT, AND KNOW THAT YOU HAVE/ARE ROBBING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, BY NOT DOING A RECALL. (LET ALONE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IN POSSIBLE INJURY AND EVEN DEATH!!!) IN YOUR 2008 FORD ESCAPE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. YOU; AN AMERICAN COMPANY, MEANING I AM NOT DEALING WITH SOME FOREIGN CAR DEALER! I HAVE HEARD THAT YOU HAVE REPLACED 5...

THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. THE CAR NEEDS TO BE PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. THE POWER STEERING WILL COME BACK ON AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RESTARTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN AT 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,101.

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT AT A STOP SIGN. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TURNED, THEN PARKED FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, THE STEERING WORKED CORRECTLY AGAIN. *JS

AS I WAS DRIVING, I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN AND THAT'S WHEN I LOST POWER TO MY STEERING WHEEL. THE WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I STOPPED MY VEHICLE, SHUT IF OFF, AND RESTARTED. IT BEGAN TO GO BACK TO NORMAL BUT THE STEERING WHEEL IS SHAKING ON IT'S OWN. EVER SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT, OFF AND ON, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL HAVE NO POWER. TODAY, I ALMOST CRASHED WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. IT TOOK ALL OF MY STRENGTH TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T HIT THE MEDIAN. I WAS COMING TO A STOP TO MAKE MY TURN AND IT WENT OUT RIGHT THEN AND THERE. AFTER LEAVING WORK TODAY AGAIN IT FAILED. I WAS ONLY BACKING OUT WHEN I LOST POWER. I ALREADY GOT IN TOUCH WITH FORD AND THEY DID SAY IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE BUT NOT A RECALL. *TR

SPORADIC LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT NOTICE. NO ERROR CODES. STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. KNOWN FAILURE IS SENSOR IN STEERING COLUMN. POTENTIAL OF AN ACCIDENT IS HIGH. CANADA ALSO HAS AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION. ( [XXX]). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 2 CHILDREN AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CHANGE LANES EVEN WITH THE ASSIST THAT THE VEHICLE GIVES. IF IT WAS MY WIFE IN THE CARE I DON'T THINK SHE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL IT. SO I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND READ THE MANUAL AND WAITED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. WHEN I TRIED IT AGAIN THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. IT THANKFULLY WHICH IS NOT GOOD WENT OUT AGAIN BUT I WAS CLOSE TO HOME SO I WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME AND PARK IT. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THAT IT IS A CURRENT PROBLEM FORD IS HAVING AND QUITE COMMON. I CHECKED FOR RECALLS BUT THERE WAS NONE. I HOPE THIS DOESN'T TURN INTO A PROBLEM LIKE GM WHERE IT COSTS PEOPLE THEIR LIVES. I HOPE NHTSA CAN HELP...

I WAS PICKING UP MY TODDLER FROM DAYCARE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I WAS TERRIFIED AND UNABLE TO STEER. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND TRIED TO EXERCISE THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT LOOSENED A LITTLE BUT WOULD KEEP LOCKING UP AFTER A FEW MINUTES. FOUND OUT LATER THIS HAPPENED TO MAY OTHER 2008 FORD ESCAPE DRIVERS AND THEY EXPERIENCED THE SAME TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE OF DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKING UP. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND COST WAS ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR. HAD TO GET A BRAND NEW STEERING COLUMN. A MONTH OR TWO LATER I FIND OUT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON PREVIOUS YEAR ESCAPES, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE FOR MOST OF THEM. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL ON 2008'S THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. IF THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED, I...

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER AND TURNING LEFT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AND VERY PAINFUL. I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO PARK THE CAR. I WAS VERY AFRAID THAT I WOULD LOSE ALL STEERING CAPABILITY AND GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

STARTING IN ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF MARCH, POWER STEERING WILL FAIL UNEXPECTEDLY. SINCE THEN IT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT. IF YOU JUST START THE CAR WITH THE STEERING WHEEL BASICALLY ON CENTER, THERE WILL BE NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. IF YOU CRANK THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AS YOU START THE CAR, THE STEERING WILL WORK FOR A WHILE BUT THE WHEEL WILL SHAKE AND MAKE A NOISE WHEN IT IS ON-CENTER. IT WILL THEN SOMETIMES FAIL COMPLETELY AFTER A FEW MINUTES. STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR MAY GET IT TO WORK FOR A WHILE.

WHEN I START MY CAR THE POWER STEERING WONT WORK. I HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT AND IT WILL WORK. I NOTICED MY ESCAPE WAS LEAKING FLUID TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE. AFTER 2500. ITS FIXED AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON BOTH AS THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON BOTH OF THESE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND LOST STEERING! BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS NOT KILLED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER THAT WAS NEXT TO ME. MY HUSBAND GRABBED THE WHEEL AS IT WAS LOCKED AND WE BARELY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAD IT TOWED TO FORD. THEY SAID THERE WAS A TSB AND THEY THOUGHT IT HAD A BAD SENSOR. THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF HAVING THE CAR, THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. I PAID THE $2,000. BILL BUT DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO AS FORD SHOULD BE RECALLING THESE VEHICLES! THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME SITUATION PEOPLE HAVE HAD THAT I FOUND ONLINE. LOCALLY I COMPLAINED, AND THE FORD REGIONAL OFFICE DENIED MY REQUEST. I WROTE TO FORD'S PRESIDENT AND DID NOT GET A REPLY. IF I HAD DIED AND IT GOT INTO THE NEWS, THEY WOULD...

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

EXPERIENCED FREQUENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT SPEED AND AT STOP A FEW MONTHS AGO. REPLACING THE BATTERY RESOLVED IT FOR 2 MONTHS. THEN IT STARTED AGAIN WHEN IN TUCSON. EXTREME WOBBLE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AT ALL TIMES. RESTARTING THE CAR HELPED RESET POWER STEERING FOR THE FIRST 2 DAYS IF THE CAR LOST POWER STEERING WHILE AT REST. RESTARTING THE CAR AT SPEED IS NOT POSSIBLE AND LOSING POWER STEERING IS PRETTY SUDDEN AND SCARY. WAS DRIVING AT 70MPH ON INTERSTATE 10 AND LOST POWER STEERING SEVERAL TIMES. HAD TO PULL OVER WITH AVAILABLE MANUAL STEERING, WHICH WAS HARD. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE--LOSS OF POWER STEERING BOTH AT REST AND AT SPEED. FILING COMPLAINT. *JS

AT FIRST THE POWER STEERING DIDNOT WORK UPON STARTING CAR, RESTARTED AND IT WORKED. AS TIME WENT ON THIS GOT WORSE, HAVING TO RESTART SEVERAL TIMES AND NOW ONCE POWER STEERING WORKS IT WILL GO OFF ANYTIME EVEN JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO WHEN POWER STEERING IS WORKING THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS THAT FORD HAS OFFERED A TORQUE SENSOR KIT INSTEAD OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. *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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STOP SIGN WITH THE VEHICLE IDLE THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE LEFT INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,693.

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...

ONCE AGAIN, MY POWER STEERING FAILED AND HAD TO RESET IT. IS FORD WAITING FOR A LAWSUIT OR A DEATH TO RECALL THIS HAZARD? IF SOMEONE'S VEHICLE DOES THIS WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS- A LAWSUIT IS WAITING TO HAPPEN. *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

MY POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT AND ON AND OUT AND ON AT ANY RATE OF SPEED. I CAN'T AFFORD THE 1500.00 TO REPLACE IT SINCE I JUST HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 4,000.00 IT IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND I'VE SEEN 1000 OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE. FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. GM JUST DID A RECALL AND IT IS THE SAME PART. CAN SOMEONE HELP WITH THIS MATTER PLEASE? *TR

!ST TIME STARTED TO LEAVE, NO ASSIST. DROVE SHORT DISTANCE TO MY HOME. HARD TO STEER BUT DRIVABLE. SECOND TIME MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND STARTED TO MAKE A TURN ,NO ASSIST. WAS ARRIVING AT DESTINATION. BOTH TIMES WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED THE POWER ASSIST WORKED NORMALLY. THE 2 ABOVE INCIDENTS WERE ABOUT 2 WEEKS APART.THE LOSS OF ASSIST WILE DRIVING WAS ON 04-01-14. *TR