2008 FORD ESCAPE Steering Problems

WHILE SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT I WENT TO DRIVE AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. NOTHING SEEMED TO BE WRONG BUT I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THEN POWER STEERING WORKED FINE. THIS HAS SINCE HAPPENED AGAIN ON 11/4/2013 WITH MY WIFE DRIVING. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE THEN RESTART AND EVERYTHING BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND FORD DOESN'T SEEM TO BE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT'S A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY YOU CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

SUNDAY OCTOBER 20TH, 2013. WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED. THIS WAS LIKE TRYING TO DRIVE A TANK. WHEN I GOT TO A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE STEERING WORKED OK AT THAT TIME. I TOOK MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE STEERING CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THE ONLY PACE TO GET THIS FIXED WAS AT A FORD DEALER AND THAT THIS TYPE FAILURE ON THE 2008 ESCAPE WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. LOOKING ON LINE I CONFIRMED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS VERY FREQUENT WITH THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED TO ME ON A QUITE SUNDAY MORNING WHEN THERE WAS LITTLE TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT ENDANGERING MYSELF OR OTHER DRIVERS. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR...

MY STEERING COLUMN WOULD SHAKE WHILE I WAS AT A STOP AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS I HAVE LOST THE ELECTRICAL STEERING (POWER STEERING). I NOW HAVE NO ELECTRICAL ASSIST FOR THE STEERING AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE SETTING AT A HANDICAP SPACE AFTER EATING. I STARTED MY CAR AND THE STEERING WAS HARD TO STEER GOING INTO REVERSE OR FORWARD. IT STILL HASN'T COME BACK TO ME YET AFTER SETTING FOR A WHOLE DAY. THE ONLY THING THAT I DID BEFORE PARKING WAS GO OVER A SPEED BUMP WITH ONE SIDE OF THE CAR AND MAKING ONE TURN AFTER 50 YARDS OF STRAIGHT DRIVING TO THE SPACE. *TR

THE INCIDENT REPORTED IS ONLY ONE OF MANY SIMILAR -IN 2012 REPORTED TO FORD-DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED CAR DID WORK ON THEIR OWN TO FIX-(NO-CHARGE-AND ONLY HAVE THE PARTS NUMBERS USED TO REPAIR-DO NOT KNOW THE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM THEN) IN 2013 THE STEERING ELECTRONIC ASSIST HAS FAILED BOTH MY WIFE AND I ON MORE THAN MULTIPLE TIMES! ALL EXCEPT ONE TIME AT LOW MPH IN PARKING LOTS-MALLS-AND BACK YARD. THE ONE EXCEPTION TIME WAS ON A HIGHWAY AT NORMAL 45 TO 50 MPH -COLOGNE AVE, MAYS LANDING NJ ONLY SOLUTION TO GET POWER STEERING BACK TO NORMAL IS TO STOP -SHUT ENGINE DOWN-RESTART ENGINE-AND THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST IS BACK AND OK AGAIN. ALL EXCEPT ONE TIME -HAD TO RESTART AND RUN AROUND THE BACK YARD -SHUT DOWN AND RESTART AGAIN. THESE INCIDENCES OF ACTUAL TIMES AND EVENTS REPORTED TO FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS--NO ACTION EXCEPT TO ADVISE RETURN TO DEALERSHIP...

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING JUST LOST ALL POWER, THIS VEHICLE HAS ELECTRIC STEERING CONTROL, WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT DOWN . RESTARTED AND STEERING CAME BACK. UPON RESEARCH ONLINE, THERE SEEMS TO BE QUITE A FEW OF THESE STEERING INCIDENTS AND FORD IS NOT DOING ANY RECALL. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MERGED SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

THIS OCCURRED IN 2012 ALSO. LOSS OF POWERSTEERING -WHEN PULLING INTO OUR YARD. HAD SON CHECK THE BELTS-FLUID LEVELS-ALL OK;RESTARTED AND IT WAS OK. TOOK AROUND BACK YARD AND IT IMMEDIATELY LOSS THE POWER ASSIST AGAIN. ACTUALLY STEERED IT AS WAS FOR ABOUT 400 YARDS AROUND THE LARGE BACK FIELD OF OUR FARM AS IT WAS-IT NEVER BECAME NORMAL AGAIN DURING THAT APPROXIMATE 400 YARDS --UNTIL I SHUT OFF ENGINE-RESTARTED AGAIN AND TIL TODAY SEPTEMBER 19, NO RE OCCURRENCE. HAVE BEEN ON MANY FORUMS AND SEEN SO MANY OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEMS. A STEERING ASSIST ELECTRIC MODULE OR SOMETHING SIMILAR SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE TWO TIMES -ONE IN THE BACK YARD AND ONE IN MALL PARKING LOT AREA. WE KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW-SHUT DOWN ENGINE AND RESTART; HOWEVER, IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE ON HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EITHER PASS OR...

THE CAR HAS RANDOMLY STARTED LOOSING POWER STEERING. *TR

THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING SYSTEM SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED SO THERE WAS NO RISK OF ACCIDENT AT THE TIME. THIS ISSUE HAS NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. I TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. I DID AN ON ONLINE SEARCH AND DISCOVERED THIS IS FAR FROM AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. I FOUND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2008 ESCAPE OWNERS REPORTING SUDDEN STEERING LOSS PROBLEMS WITH CHARACTERISTICS MATCHING PRECISELY WHAT I EXPERIENCED. THESE COMPLAINTS SEEMED TO BEGIN TO SURFACE WITHIN THE LAST 2 YEARS. IT APPEARS THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) MOUNTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN IS TO BLAME FOR THE FAILURES. I BELIEVE 2008 WAS THE FIRST YEAR FORD INTRODUCED THE ECU TO REPLACE CONVENTIONAL POWER STEERING PUMPS. WELL IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WHICH FORD HAS APPARENTLY IGNORED SO FAR. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT IN THE HOPES...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAP OF THE U-JOINT HAD BECOME DETACHED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED WITHOUT AN ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING GOES OUT SOMETIME WITHOUT WARNING MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT TO STEER. IF THIS HAPPENED DURING A HIGH RATE OF SPEED DURING A TURN IT WOULD 100% CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

I WAS TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE POWER STEERING/STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND I CRASHED INTO A CURB, *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 07/30/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND SHE HAD TO USE BOTH HANDS TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE TO RESUME PROPER STEERING CAPABILITIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE DIAGNOSIS HAD NOT BEEN PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT! I STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN THE ESCAPE ON THE CURVE. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE CAR, WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL BUT THAT DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG. I PARKED IT FOR AWHILE AND BORROWED A CAR BUT I HAD TO RETURN IT SO NOW I'M DRIVING AND JUST PRAYING I DON'T LOOSE ALL CONTROL. TODAY IT WAS DIAGNOSED, NEED A NEW POWER STEERING ELECTRIC MOTOR, COST BETWEEN 1300-1500 DOLLARS! THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING, FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I SEE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS THERE ARE WHEN I CHECKED IT OUT AT ALL LOCATIONS ONLINE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO WORK. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, THE STEERING WORKED, BUT HAD VIBRATIONS WHICH WERE MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN STOPPED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD CLICK AND MOVE ON IT'S OWN. IT HAS CONTINUED AND I AM NOT CONFIDENT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

DURING LUNCH HOUR SLOWED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND BRAKES SEEMED TO LOCK AND GRIND. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR SEEMED TO BE LOCKED UP FOR A FEW SECONDS. VEHICLE BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME DUE TO VEHICLE FAILURE. LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE AFTER ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 25 MPH. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MORE MINUTES THEY ILLUMINATED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. DURING DRIVE HOME THE SAME THING HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES AND ALWAYS WHEN SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. NOW ABS LIGHT WON'T GO OFF AT ALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. *TR

LOST POWER STEERING. TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN POWER RETURNED. FEW WEEKS LATER WHILE IN PARKING LOT SAME PROBLEM. WHEN LOOKED UP PROBLEM DISCOVERED THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF 2008 ESCAPES. THIS WAS THE YEAR FORD CHANGED TO ELECTRONIC STEERING. I COULD NOT TAKE THE CHANCE OF THIS HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR AT A HIGHER SPEED. I TRANSPORT MY GRAND CHILDREN A LOT SO I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE BILL WAS $1500.00 I REPORTED TO FORD BUT THEY HAD ALREADY DECIDED THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE!!! *TR

MULTIPLE POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURRENCES RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING AND JUMPING WHILE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE? *TR

MY WIFE'S ESCAPE SUDDENLY STARTED LOSING ITS POWER STEERING, BUT WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER A SHUTDOWN AND RESTART OF THE VEHICLE. ON THE SAME DAY, SHE STARTED NOTICING A CLUNK OR POP DURING TURNING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS NOT AT THE END OF THE TURN, BUT SOMEWHERE AT AROUND 40-50 PERCENT IN EITHER DIRECTION. IF HER CAR FAILS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I WILL SUE THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS FAILURE. THAT IS A PROMISE. *TR

WE LOST POWER STEERING UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT ROAD SPEED WE MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HEARD A CLICK IN THE STEERING AND THEN WHEEL LOCKED UP COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR HAD TO PULL OVER ON SIDE OF THE ROAD PUT CAR IN PARK TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART THEN THE STEERING WAS OK THIS HAS HAPPEND 5 TIMES SINCE MY PURCHASE OF MY ESCAPE VERY DANGERES WHEN DRIVING I HAVE HAD MY ESCAPE TWO WEEKS I PUCHASED USED THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO THE FACT IT IS VERY DANGERES. *TR

GOT OFF WORK DROVE ACROSS STREET, PARKED FOR AN HOUR, GOT BACK IN STARTED TO BACK UP AND IT WAS LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE POWER STEERING. LET OTHER CAR GO, CONTINUED ACROSS STREET TO GAS STATION TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. NOTHING LOOKED WRONG. STARTED CAR BACK UP AND WE HAD POWER VERY CONFUSED. I GUESS IT'S POSSESSED. LIKE WHEN THE HORN WOULD MAKE NOISE ON ITS ONE COUPLE YRS BACK. DIDN'T GET TOO FAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL MADE SHAKIN NOISE LIKE IT WAS GRINDING AND WE LOST POWER AGAIN. TURNED AROUND AND HEADED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS STEERING COLUMN CONTROL BOARD. 1400.00 TO FIX. DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. NEED TO SEE IF WE CAN INSTALL IT OURSELVES. FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT LOOKS AS IF THEY SHOULD HAVE THIS RECALLED, FOR WE WILL BE ON THE HUNT FOR A NEW...

BEGINNING IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2012 MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING. THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT JUST AS I WAS TAKING A TURN ON THE FREEWAY. I JUST BARELY MANAGED AVOID HITTING SOMEONE HEAD ON. *TR

AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP TO TURN RIGHT AT A CORNER, I HEARD A CLICK AND FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I THEN TRIED TO COMPLETE MY TURN, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I COMPLETED MY TURN, DROVE ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE AND THEN PULLED OVER. I WAS ABLE TO REACTIVATE THE STEERING BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND TURNING IT BACK ON. THE PROBLEM REPEATED ITSELF LATER IN THE DAY AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING WENT OUT. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH NO POWER STEERING PUMP, IT HAS ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST. FOR ABOUT THE PAST MONTH, THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT ACTIVATE AND I HAD TO TURN OFF MY CAR AND IT CAME BACK ON. THE STEERING WHILE HAS BEEN SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. TODAY THOUGH, WAS THE FIRST TIME IT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. I CALLED FORD CONSUMER LINE AND THEY SEEMED UNCONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. LUCKILY, WE LIVE IN THE COUNTRY AND DO NOT HAVE MUCH TRAFFIC, SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER BEFORE IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. LOOKING ONLINE, THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS SAME ISSUE. THE LINK BELOW, CURRENTLY HAS 113 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME TYPE OF ISSUE. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE SOMEBODY DOES GET INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S STEERING GOES OUT ON THE FREEWAY AT A HIGH...

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD APPROXIMATELY 40MPH GOING AROUND A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER IT WAS LIKE HAVING NO POWER STEERING THIS HAPPENED VERY SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. ONCE I FINALLY GOT IT TO A PULL OFF AREA, I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG FROM THE OUTSIDE NOTHING TO BEEN SEEN. I THEN GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT, THEN THE STEERING WAS NORMAL. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY MOMENT, AS I HAD THREE CHILDREN WITH ME. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE TONIGHT I HAVE FOUND ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME SITUATION FROM MANY OTHER 2008 ESCAPE OWNERS. REALLY SCARY PART IS: THIS COMPLAINING PEOPLE ALSO STATING RECURRING INCIDENTS. SURE WISH FORD WOULD RECALL THIS DANGEROUS HAZARD. *TR

POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING IN AND OUT. USUALLY IT WILL NOT WORK WHEN I START THE CAR BUT IF I TURN IT BACK OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO VIBRATES OR PULSATES WHEN I AM DRIVING. HASN'T HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING YET BUT I AM SCARED THAT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. SEEN A LOT OF FORD ESCAPES HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A LIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, POWERING STEERING SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND UPON RESTARTING, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AT AROUND NOON ON 3/11/2013, MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 75 MPH. AFTER RUNNING SOME ERRANDS AND DEALING WITH THIS ALL DAY, I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY TO THE FEEDER ROAD (DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC) AND MY POWER STEERING TOTALLY WENT OUT. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PULLED A MUSCLE IN MY ARM PULLING SO HARD OUT OF SHEER PANIC. IT'S A MIRACLE I DIDN'T HIT ANOTHER CAR, AS IT WAS BUMPER TO BUMPER ON EACH SIDE OF ME DUE TO THE TIME OF DAY. ONCE I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, I HAD CONTROL OF THE STEERING AGAIN BUT THE VIBRATING HAS NOT WENT AWAY AND IT IS GETTING WORSE! I'M AFRAID TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD AND SINCE THE CAR IS AROUND 130K MILES...NO WARRANTY....

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STARTED THE IGNITION AND THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND UPON RESTARTING THE POWER STEERING ASSIST BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ALSO SHAKE INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DURING INITIAL START UP OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE IN MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE. AT THIS TIME I STILL HAD POWER STEERING BUT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO VIBRATE. AS I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE LIGHT, IT CONTINUED TO SHAKE WITH A SLIGHT GRAB TO THE RIGHT PERIODICALLY. AS I CONTINUED ONTO THE FREEWAY, THE SHAKE CONTINUED UNTIL THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY. AFTER GETTING HOME, I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES, STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BACK BUT THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE SHAKE WAS GONE AND SO WAS THE POWER STEERING. TO THIS DATE, 03/10/13, I DO NOT HAVE POWER STEERING AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TORQUE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

POWER STEERING GOES OUT FOR NO REASON. IT CLICKS IN THE HOUSING UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, IN THE STEERING COLUMN. NEEDED TO ADD THAT WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL INJURIES AND MORE THAN ONE ACCIDENT WHERE A VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. *TR

AS I WAS BACKING UP, I LOST POWER STEERING. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL WITHOUT GREAT FORCE, AND BACKED INTO THE PORCH. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON, THIS RESOLVED. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY GOING FORWARD AT 40 MPH. I COULD HEAR SOMETHING IN THE STEERING COLUMN CLICK AND THEN LOST POWER STEERING. NOW THE POWER STEERING HAS COMPLETELY GONE OUT. WHEN I START THE CAR, I CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY ONE DIRECTION AND "TRICK" IT INTO HAVING POWER STEERING FOR A MOMENT BEFORE IT CLICKS OFF AGAIN. I HAVE SUSTAINED A NECK AND SHOULDER INJURY FROM HAVING TO USE MY ENTIRE BODY TO TURN THE WHEEL, AND SLAMMING INTO THE PORCH WHEN THE WHEEL GOT "STUCK" IN A TURNED POSITION AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT BACK. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT NO ONE HAS DIED AS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,359. *TR...UPDATED 05/22/13 *BF UPDATED 06/05/2013 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL PULSATED AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING ASSIST. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, THE POWER STEERING WOULD ACTIVATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. A DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SECURED FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 4/24/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED ON MARCH 15, 2013 AT A COST OF $ 1366.50

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN VIBRATING AND COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RESET INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE GOING 45MPH MY POWER STEERING FAILED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. ONCE I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. I LOOKED UP ON LINE ABOUT THIS AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I'M SURPRISED NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET BUT IT WILL HAPPEN IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE ABOUT IT. I CONTACTED MY FORD DEALER AND THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF...

THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING IS FAILING ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING SYSTEM SO IS NOT ATTRIBUTED TO LOW FLUID LEVELS, HOSES, OR LINES. THIS IS A POPULAR PROBLEM AMONG OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE. *TR

CAR INVOLVED IS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLT. WHILE ON A 250 MILE TRIP, I HAD EXITED I-20 AND WAS DRIVING APPROX 40MPH ON A 5 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A CLICK AND THE STEERING BECAME TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE. IT TOOK MY ENTIRE BODY WEIGHT AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL TO GUIDE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, THE STEERING CAPABILITY RETURNED TO NORMAL. HAVE BEEN TOLD THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND SEVERE CRASHES, THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST A "SOFT RECALL" ON THE STEERING SENSORS, COLUMN AND POWER STEERING MOTOR. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHUTTER RAPIDLY. THE SHUTTERING MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY UNTIL THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. LATER THAT WEEK THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AS I WAS MANUEVERING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT. AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. *TR

WHILE BACKING UP AT A GAS STATION, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND IT JERKED THE WHEEL BACK STRAIGHT. POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING, I DID MANAGE TO GET THE VEHICLE BACKED UP AND WENT INTO NEXT PARKING LOT. WASN'T SURE WHAT TO DO, SO I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF, THEN STARTED IT BACK UP AND MY POWER STEERING WAS BACK. NOW AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS IT HAS ME SCARED TO DRIVE MY TRUCK. THIS PROBLEM HASN'T HAPPEN SINCE 02-14-13 BUT I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND IT'S SAD THAT FORD AND THE RECALL DEPARTMENT HASN'T TAKEN THE RIGHT ACTION ON THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY DEATHS MUST HAPPEN BEFORE YOU TO DECIDE TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM. IT'S NOT A CHEAP FIX FOR THE OWNER OF THESE TRUCKS. AND FORD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED PLENTY OF TIMES ABOUT...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE THE IT WAS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY THEN THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.