2008 FORD ESCAPE Steering Problems

WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE GOING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR, THE STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY LOCK UP MAKING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE BROUGHT IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WERE TOLD IT IS AN ELECTRONIC CENSOR THAT IS IMBALANCED VS. HAVING POWER STEERING FLUID IT RUNS ELECTRONICALLY. THE WAY IT IS BUILT, YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DRIVE SHAFT VS. JUST THE CENSOR. HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE, YEAR AND MODEL. IT IS A DEFINITELY SAFETY CONCERN. WE CALLED BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NEITHER IS WILLING TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OR ASSIST. *TR

WHILE ENTERING INTO TRAFFIC ONTO A BUSY STREET THE STEERING FAILED. WAS ABLE (WITH GREAT EFFORT) TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE AND THEN SAFELY PULL TO SIDE(FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING AS SHE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE STRENGTH TO CARRY THIS OUT AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CRASHED). TURNED IGNITION OFF AND LOOKED UNDER HOOD TO SEE IF BELT HAD BROKEN, ETC. COULD NOT FIND TRADITIONAL POWER STEERING PUMP. TURNED IGNITION ON AND STEERING WORKED! AND HAS WORKED SINCE. DISCOVERED THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP. AND THEY ARE FREQUENTLY FAILING. CALLED DEALER-ROUGHLY 3 WEEK BACKLOG FOR PART-WHICH IS THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN-PUMP NOT ABLE TO BE REPLACE SEPARATELY. HOW COULD A CAR DESIGNER OR THE GOVERNMENT ALLOW THIS TYPE OF STEERING PUMP TO BE PUT ON A VEHICLE(PROBABLY JUST TO SQUEEZE OUT AN EXTRA MPG)? IT IS NOT ONLY PLAIN DANGEROUS, BUT IMPRACTICAL. IF...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

MY POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK WHEN I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. IF I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND THEN STARTED IT AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WOULD WORK. THIS STARTED HAPPENING DAILY, THEN MANY TIMES A DAY AND NOW, SOMETIMES I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AT ALL, AND SOMETIME IT WILL WORK FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT IT GOES OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE REPAIRS WILL BE ABOUT $1200, WE ARE WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR

LIKE MANY OTHERS THE EPS (ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING) SYSTEM GAVE OUT ON MY 2008 ESCAPE (106,000 MI.). IT STARTED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OCCASIONALLY CLUNKING AND SHAKING BOTH WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN THE CAR WAS IDLE (AS LONG AS IT WAS STARTED). AS SOON AS THE WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THE POWER STEERING WOULD ENGAGE AND IT WOULD BE FINE. THE PROBLEM QUICKLY GOT WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE THE CLUNKING/SHAKING WAS HAPPENING AT ALL TIMES UNTIL THE POWER STEERING JUST FLAT OUT FAILED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY I WAS IN A POSITION TO REACT AND MANUALLY STEER WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT I WAS DEFINITELY WORRIED AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING THERE IS NO FIX WITHOUT SWAPPING OUT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. $1250 PARTS+LABOR+TAX. I CALLED FORD DIRECTLY AND THEY JUST TOSSED ME AROUND SAYING THAT THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT...

STEERING LOCKS UP PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIABLE SPEEDS, AND SITUATIONS, THERE IS A GRINDING WHEN YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL BOTH DIRECTIONS EVEN WHILE PARKED. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE & MODEL. *TR

MY STEERING WHEEL KEEPS SHAKING WHILE DRIVING FOR THE LAST WEEK. IT FREEZE UPON INITIAL START-UP AND I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT ON AGAIN FOR THE STEERING FUNCTION TO BE RESTORED. THE FREEZING OCCURRED SPORADICALLY OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS BUT NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I START MY CAR. HAVEN'T TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP YET BUT WILL DO SO SOON BEFORE THIS PROBLEM PROGRESSES ANY FURTHER AND CAUSES AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM I FEAR THAT IS WHAT TO COME. WHO HAS TO DIE FOR THE FORD COMPANY TO CONDUCT A RECALL? I SUBMITTED THIS INFORMATION TO MY LOCAL NEWS STATION AND MAYBE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE MATTER. *TR

I WAS DRIVING WITH TWO FAMILY MEMBERS WHEN POWER STEERING FAILED ON A FREEWAY OFF RAMP. STEERING FAILED WHEREAS I NARROWLY AVOIDED A MAJOR COLLISION. VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN WITH ELECTRIC STEERING FAILURE. *TR

LIKE MANY OTHERS THE EPS (ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING) SYSTEM GAVE OUT ON MY 2008 ESCAPE (75,000 MI.). IT STARTED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OCCASIONALLY CLUNKING AND SHAKING BOTH WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN THE CAR WAS IDLE (AS LONG AS IT WAS STARTED). AS SOON AS THE WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THE POWER STEERING WOULD ENGAGE AND IT WOULD BE FINE. THE PROBLEM QUICKLY GOT WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE THE CLUNKING/SHAKING WAS HAPPENING AT ALL TIMES UNTIL THE POWER STEERING JUST FLAT OUT FAILED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY I WAS IN A POSITION TO REACT AND MANUALLY STEER WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT I WAS DEFINITELY WORRIED AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE PLACE I BOUGHT IT WON'T HONOR MY WARRANTY AS THIS ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN(UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT STILL VERY FRUSTRATING) AND WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING THERE IS NO FIX WITHOUT SWAPPING OUT THE...

MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED I HAVE TO PULL OVER, TURN OFF THE CAR ONCE I TURNED IT BACK ON IT WAS REALLY HARD TO STEER, VERY DANGEROUS AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY 1100.00 TO GET THIS REPLACED WHICH IS TOO MUCH FOR A 2008, THEY SHOULD RECALL THIS SINCE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 65MPH ON OUR FREEWAY AND I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY POWER STEERING. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY 3 OTHER VEHICLES AS I WAS UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. I THEN PUT MY CAUTION LIGHTS ON AND USED ALL MY FORCE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I THEN POWER THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED IT BACK ON MY STEERING WAS THEN FINE. I GOT BACK ON THE FREEWAY AND WITHIN 3 MINUTES I LOST ALL OF MY POWER STEERING AGAIN. SO I THEN DID THE SAME THING MULTIPLE TIMES JUST TO MAKE IT HOME. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY FORD ESCAPE. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED OCCASIONALLY JITTERING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THEN WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE A PARKING LOT THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONING. IT HAS SINCE BEEN SPOTTY. *TR

I WAS MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY FROM AN ENTRANCE. AS I WAS GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, I WAS ABOUT TO PULL ON, WHEN MY STEERING LOCKED UP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, I STARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS FINE. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. I COULD NOT FIND ANY RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. WILL THERE HAVE TO BE A DEATH BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. I WILL PURSUE THIS FURTHER, THRU THE MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND LEGALLY. *TR

AS I WAS GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM AN ENTRANCE, MY STEERING FAILED. I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO CONTROL THE CAR. THANK GOD I WAS GOING SLOW AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS COMPLAINT AND THERE ARE MANY FORD ESCAPES, WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT. I HOPE THAT SOMETHING WILL BE DONE BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS. I PLAN ON PURSUING THIS FURTHER EVEN UP TO INVOLVING MEDIA AND LEGAL ACTION. *TR

ON 12-13-2011, THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME BY EXERTING GREAT FORCE ON THE THEN MANUAL STEERING. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE ACTUALLY IN MOTION I DOUBT THAT I COULD HAVE CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP. THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED THE CAR TO TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND THE STEERING WORKED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. I THEN TELEPHONED THE MANUFACTURE AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME UNLESS THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. I TOLD THE PERSON THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS TOLD UNLESS THE DEALER CAN FIND THE PROBLEM WE CAN'T HELP. I TOLD THE PERSON I WOULD REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO THE NTSB AND WAS TOLD THAT IS YOUR RIGHT. *TR

OUR ESCAPE HAS LESS THAN 44,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS PAST SATURDAY THE POWER STEERING JUST FAILED! AND I HAD 3 CHILDREN WITH ME!! THANK GOD WE WEREN'T DOING 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE...OR IN A CURVE...NEXT TO AN 18-WHEELER...OR WHERE I HAD TO MAKE A QUICK AVOIDANCE MANEUVER! I LEARNED (FROM INTERNET POSTINGS...'CAUSE IT SURE ISN'T IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL...) THAT IT USUALLY WORKS PROPERLY AGAIN AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING...I GUESS THE COMPUTER 'REBOOTS'???, BUT, WHO KNEW?! WELL, IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN LESS THAN A WEEK LATER TO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER AND SINCE THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY ISSUE, WE'VE TAKEN IT TO A DEALERSHIP. I LIVE IN TN AND IF ANYONE RECALLS (NO PUN INTENDED), THIS IS ALSO THE PLACE WHERE A LOCAL INVESTIGATIVE NEWS REPORTER BROKE THE INFAMOUS TOYOTA ACCELERATION STORY. HMMM...MAYBE I'LL CONTACT HIM AND SEE IF HE CAN FIND OUT IF...

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A JERKING MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL (FEELS LIKE FORCE FEEDBACK FROM A DRIVING SIMULATOR), MOST NOTICEABLE AT A STOP. IT APPEARED TO BE A MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM. I HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THIS IS BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IS LOCATED IN THE COLUMN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME AND ARE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER PUSHING THEIR AVAILABILITY OUT 5 MONTHS OR SO. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IN A WORSENING CONDITION UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. POWER STEERING WILL COME BACK AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, BUT NOW THE STEERING GOES OUT 3 OR MORE TIMES ON MY 30 MILE HIGHWAY COMMUTE. I HAVE ALSO...

I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE WORK AND WHEN I STARTED THE CAR TO PULL OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT CARS TO KNOW THAT THIS WAS RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING...NOT KNOWING AT THE TIME THAT MY CAR HAD AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD TO CHECK THE FLUID THEN I WENT TO GET MY WAREHOUSE MGR TO COME TAKE A LOOK AT IT FOR ME. WHEN HE STARTED THE CAR THE STEERING WAS FINE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME BUT WAS VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT IT. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE NOTICED OVER THE PAST WEEK THAT MY STEERING WHEEL WILL VIBRATE OR SHAKE WHEN STOPPED AND THEN THIS OCCURS. FROM WHAT I AM READING THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND DON'T WANT TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT...

WAS MAKING A TURN AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT. IN THE MIDDLE OF MY TURN I FELT THE POWER STEERING FAIL. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME WITH GREAT EFFORT MADE TO STEER. I GOT HOME AND TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF. MY HUSBAND STARTED MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. AFTER POPPING THE HOOD, HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, THERE SEEM TO BE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME EXACT THING HAPPENING AND RESTARTING THE CAR SEEMS TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE STEERING COLUMN. I AM WONDERING WHY NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? I AM ALSO VERY AFRAID OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

I OWN A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY STREET,STARTED TO TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD A HARD TIME TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE POWER STEERING TOTALLY SHUT DOWN. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT AND EVERYTHING WAS OK. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. CHECKED ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. INTERESTED TO SEE HOW FORD HANDLES THIS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED - IT DIDN'T LOCK UP BUT BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO MANEUVER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP & THE MAN I SPOKE WITH SAID HE'S NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEING A PROBLEM. *TR

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. LOOKED ON INTERNET SEEMS TO BE COMMON. *TR

THE POWER STEERING IN THIS VEHICLE FAILED TWICE. BOTH TIMES WERE AT LOW SPEED, AND I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALS THIS TO BE A SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM WITH ESCAPES, BUT HAS YET TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY FORD. I WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BUT AM AFRAID THAT I'LL HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS OTHERS, IN THAT THE PROBLEM WILL NOT BE PRESENT WHEN THE DEALER LOOKS AT IT. AT THIS POINT I NO LONGER CONSIDER THE VEHICLE SAFE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO THE PART BEING ON BACK ORDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT IDLE SPEEDS WHEN A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT FOR THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

NOTICED STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT POSTED SPEED 70 MPH. CONTINUED TO VIBRATE AND MOVE WHILE STOPPED AT STOP LIGHTS. ON 10-25-11 MY WIFE DROVE ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AND LOST POWER STEERING WHILE IN PARKING LOT. TURNING VEHILCE OFF AND RESTARTING APPEARED TO SOLVE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST STEERING. STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO MOVE SLIGHTLY SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING TO DEALERSHIP. CURRENTLY UNDER INSPECTION AND WE ARE WAITING FOR PRICE ESTIMATE AT THE TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT. *TT

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2008 FORD ESCAPE WITH 70K MILES, THE STEERING SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS RARE, BUT I HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (EPS) MODULE HAS FAILED. FORD HAD MODIFIED THIS MODULE 8 TIMES SINCE 2008 WHEN IT WAS FIRST USED. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $1300. FORD IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE REASON THE PROBLEM IS RARE IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN AROUND 45K MILES OR ABOVE. MOST 2008 MODEL CARS ARE JUST NOW COMING INTO THAT MILEAGE. THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH DEFECT AS THE DRIVER LOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAPPEN TO BE IN THE FIELD OF BROADCAST. I INTENT TO LAUNCH A NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN TO ALERT 2008 ESCAPE OWNERS OF THE TICKING TIMEBOMB THEY ARE DRIVING...

THE 2008 ESCAPE I OWN HAS BEEN THE MOST DANGEROUS VEHICLE THAT HIT THE ROAD. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE HAS BEEN THE STEERING SHAFT AND A JOINT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNABLE TO STEER. IT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AND I JUST SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES SO I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE CAR WAS CLUNKING AND MY MECHANIC SAID MOST LIKELY IT'S A BALL JOINT OR TIE ROD AND TO GET IT IN SOON, BUT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CATCH UP AS THIS VEHICLE WAS JUST IN DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLER WHICH WAS ALMOST A $1000 REPAIR. THE CAR AGAIN IS UNDRIVEABLE, AND FROM WHAT I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM IS ANOTHER $1500 TO REPAIR. FORD IS MAKING MONEY HAND OVER FIST WITH THESE VEHICLES AND WILL NOT REPAIR ANYTHING. SECOND MAJOR ISSUE WHERE I...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND REGAINED POWER STEERING AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING LOCKED UP. LUCKILY, THE CAR WAS ONLY TRAVELING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAPPENED A FEW MOMENTS LATER, AGAIN, AT A LOW SPEED OF DRIVING. THE ONLY REMEDY INITIALLY WAS TO TURN OFF AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FEAR OF SERIOUS INJURY/DEATH AND WAS PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE STEERING TO FAIL. AFTER RESEARCH, THERE APPEARS TO BE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ONLINE WITH THIS EXACT SAME SITUATION, ALL IN THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE, WHICH IS THE VEHICLE I DRIVE. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS MODEL YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT FORD EQUIPPED A VEHICLE...

I OWN A 2008 ESCAPE WITH THE EPS SYSTEM. I LOVE THE VEHICLE IN GENERAL, BUT OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE HAD 3 INCIDENTS WHERE THE POWER STEERING FAILS COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSTEERABLE. IN ALL THREE EPISODES, I HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE (ON THE ROADWAY), SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, THEN RESTART IT, AND THE POWER STEERING AGAIN FUNCTIONED. I DID CONTACT MY LOCAL DEALER WHO SEARCHED THE FORD SERVICE BULLETINS, AND FOUND NOTHING, HOWEVER, HAD SERVICED A FEW VEHICLES HAVING THE EXACT SAME INTERMITTENT-TYPE PROBLEM, BY REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN. (THEY SAID THIS WOULD COST ME $972.77) . I ALSO RESEARCHED THE ISSUE WITH THE NHTSA AND FOUND MANY OWNERS OF FORD VEHICLES WITH THE EPS SYSTEM HAVING EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE THIS IS (OBVIOUSLY) A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN, IT SURPRISES ME THAT FORD HAS NOT YET ADDRESSED THE ISSUE VIA A RECALL OR...

I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND EXPERIENCED VIBRATION AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL LAST WEEK. I WAS TOLD THROUGH FORD THAT I NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY SAID THAT I HAD TO PAY 1363.10 FOR THE REPAIR! I WAS SO UPSET! I CALLED FORDS MANUFACTURE NUMBER SPOKE TO ONE OF THEIR LAWYERS AND STILL I WAS TURNED DOWN FOR A MALFUNCTION THAT COULD HAVE TURNED INTO A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. I LOST ALL POWER TO MY STEERING WHEEL AS I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. I FEEL AT 76,000 MILES A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE ISSUES WITH THE STEERING COLUMN AT THAT YOUNG AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT EVEN THOUGH A CUSTOMER DID NOT BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AT THE TIME WE...

?WE OWN A 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLS WITH APPROXIMATELY 76,XXX MILES ON IT. ?4/2: WITHIN 2 HOURS OF BEING ON THE ROAD IN THE EARLY MORNING, WE WENT TO PULL OFF THE ROAD INTO A GAS STATION AND IT TOOK GREAT EFFORT TO TURN THE CAR. THIS WAS SUDDEN AND VERY DANGEROUS AS THERE WERE OTHER CARS AT THE ENTRY/EXIT POINT AND WE WERE NOT EXPECTING THE NEED TO APPLY SUCH PRESSURE TO TURN THE WHEEL. IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR AT THE ENTRANCE, WE WOULD HAVE HIT THEM DUE TO THE WIDE TURN WE MADE. OWE WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE POWER STEERING AFTER MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL TIMES. SUCCESSFULLY PULLED OUT OF PARKING LOT, BUT POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF BEING ON THE ROAD. SUBSEQUENTLY STOPS HAD SIMILAR RESULTS. SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING ENGAGED IMMEDIATELY, AND SOMETIMES IT TOOK SEVERAL...

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AND I NOTICED MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COME ON, IT WAS RAINING SO I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT WHEN I STARTED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN THE STEERING WAS VERY VERY STIFF, NO POWER STEERING. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE WAS 'FRIED' AND THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. APPROX $1100. UNBELIEVABLE!! I HAVE HAD MY VEH FOR 3 YRS TO ALMOST THE DAY AND APPROX 43,000 MILES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND THE POWER STEERING IS GOING IN AND OUT. THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. 3-27-11, STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AND I HAD ALMOST RAN OVER A CHILD RIDING HER BIKE. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING. WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON THE PROBLEM STOPS.HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND FORD HAS NOT HAD A RECALL YET. HEY FORD, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE, A FATALITY BEFORE YOU RECALL THIS ON GOING PROBLEM. I WOULD HOPE THAT A HUGE COMPANY AS YOURSELF WOULD GET TO THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS AND THEN WHAT? *TR

ON THE MORNING OF 3/1/11 I GOT INTO MY FORD ESCAPE TO DRIVE TO WORK. I STARTED THE CAR, AND BACKED OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF, WHICH I ATTRIBUTED IN MY MIND TO THE ICE STORM FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE. THAT EVENING WHEN I RETURNED HOME FROM WORK THE STEERING WAS FINE. HOWEVER, THE NEXT DAY, AGAIN THE STEERING WAS STIFF AS IF THERE WERE NO POWER STEERING. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS FINE. AGAIN THAT EVENING ALL WAS FINE, BUT THE NEXT MORNING NO POWER STEERING. REPEATING MY STEPS FROM THE DAY BEFORE, I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND ALL WAS FINE, HOWEVER THAT EVENING AGAIN THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I REFERRED TO MY OWNERS MANUAL AND FOUND THAT THERE IS NO POWER STEERING RESERVOIR TO CHECK OR FILL. I CONTACTED A MECHANIC...

HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THIS CAR IS HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND TURNING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ALTHOUGH YOU CAN GO ON FORD ESCAPE CUSTOMER FORUMS AND SEE COUNTLESS INSTANCES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE SOME RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. I HAVE ASKED FORD SEVERAL TIMES TO HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY SAY THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN $1700 CHARGE. THIS IS HAPPENING WITH MOST OF THE POSTINGS I SAW AND WITH MY OWN VEHICLE AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. IT SEEMS THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE WITH LOW MILEAGE. CONTINUOUSLY PEOPLE I HAVE SEEN AND ALSO FOR MYSELF HAVE GOTTEN...

WE BOUGHT OUR 2008 FORD ESCAPE IN JUNE OF 2011. IT WAS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE WITH ABOUT 48,000 MILES ON IT. OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ON OUR 2008 FORD ESCAPE SUDDENLY BEGINS VIBRATING AT STOP LIGHTS. ON THREE OCCASIONS NOW, THE STEERING HAS BECOME EXTREMELY HARD, ALMOST AS IF THE POWER STEERING JUST QUICK WORKING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN IT STOPS. THIS MORNING WHEN WE STARTED THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY LOCKED. MY HUSBAND TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN ON, THEN OFF, THEN ON AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. WE ARE EXTREMELY WORRIED THAT THE STEERING MAY FAIL WHILE WE ARE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND CONTACTED THE DEALER THIS MORNING TO TELL THEM THAT WE ARE BRINGING THE VEHICLE BACK TO BE FIXED. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE SO HARD ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS JUST SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT OR NOT EVEN IN DRIVE THAT I WAS SHAKING WHILE HOLDING IT. THEN THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT ANY SIGN OR LIGHTS OR ANYTHING INDICATING A PROBLEM. MY ISSUE ONLY HAPPENED ONCE IN 2-3 WEEK PERIOD WHEN I WOULD START THE CAR AND DRIVE I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL I HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL AND IT WAS SOO HARD TO TURN. THEN IT STARTED TO HAPPEN ALMOST EVERYTIME I STARTED THE CAR SO I WOULD START THE CAR TRY AND MOVE THE WHEEL AND IF I FELT THE TENSION TURNED OFF THE CAR AND KEPT RESTARTING HOPING IT WOULD "FIX ITSELF". I LOOKED UP THE ISSUE ONLINE AND SAW ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, SOME...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING A BIT. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WENT OUT ENTIRELY. I BROUGHT TO A LOCAL SHOP OF A TRUSTED MECHANIC, WHO STATED IT LOOKED LIKE THE STEERING COLUMN. HE THOUGHT PERHAPS IT JUST NEEDED TO BE RESET, AND SUGGESTED I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FIRST BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE THE CODES YET FOR THE RESET. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED IT NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING ACTUATOR AND WOULD COST OVER $1600 IN PARTS AND LABOR. THEY ALSO STATED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE, DESPITE VARIOUS NEAR-IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS, AND OTHER FORUMS ON THE INTERNET. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THIS GETS INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED, AS THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO INTEREST IN FIXING IT FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN THEIR $1620. 2008 WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT FORD...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH OR ABOVE, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. ON OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND ALLOW THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TO IMMEDIATELY RESET ITSELF AND OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD TAKE OVER FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE ENGAGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP WHO ADVISED THAT THE STEERING PUMP FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE AND BE DISABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1100. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND THIS HAS NOT BECOME A RECALL THIS IS A VERY DANGERS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND HAVE TO MAKE A QUICK MOVEMENT AND YOUR STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO HANDLE. MY CAR AS TO SIT FOR MONTHS NOW BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY IN ORDER FOR IT TO GET REPAIRED. AND ALSO MY CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS AND A HALF I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF I BEAT ON IT OR IF IT WAS EXTREMELY OLD BUT ITS NOT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1100. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AS I AM TRYING TO MAKE A TURN. IF I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TURN IT OFF AND RESTART IT, IT WILL BE JUST FINE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, CROSSING A HIGHWAY, OR TURNING OUT INTO A LANE OF TRAFFIC IF THE STEERING FAILS YOU DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE WHEEL, REQUIRES GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH TO WRESTLE THE VEHICLE OUT OF HARMS WAY,

I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND WHEN YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL RANDOMLY JERKS YOU ALL OVER THE ROAD. *TR

STEERING COLUMNS HAS A CLICKING AND POPPING SOUND AS I'M PARKING MY CAR. *TR

MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE LOSES IT'S POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. HAS TRIED TO FIX IT TWICE AND IT CONTINUES TO FAIL. I AM AFRAID OF LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I SEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON LINE I FOUND IT HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. ONE WOMAN SAID SHE CRASHED WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. IN HER INSTANCE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH DID NOT SURPRISE ME. MY AIRBAG AND TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM LIGHTS APPEAR EVERYTIME THE STEERING FAILS. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THIS CAR IS HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND TURNING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ALTHOUGH YOU CAN GO ON FORD ESCAPE CUSTOMER FORUMS AND SEE COUNTLESS INSTANCES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE SOME RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. I HAVE ASKED FORD SEVERAL TIMES TO HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY SAY THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN $1700 CHARGE. THIS IS HAPPENING WITH MOST OF THE POSTINGS I SAW AND WITH MY OWN VEHICLE AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. IT SEEMS THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE WITH LOW MILEAGE. CONTINUOUSLY PEOPLE I HAVE SEEN AND ALSO FOR MYSELF HAVE...

MY 2008 ESCAPE HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR FOR MAJOR ISSUES. 1) I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL 2) I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL GETTING STUCK, 3) I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LEAK OF TRANSMISSION FLUID I THANK GOD THAT THE THIS HAPPEN TO THE CAR WHILE ITS UNDER WARRANTY, SO THE DEALER REPLACE THE PARTS FOR FREE. I JUST CANT UNDERSTAND WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO MANY UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS HAS TO SPEND EXTRA MONEY IN HARD TIMES TO GET THERE CAR REPAIR. I CALLED FORD AND THEY JUST TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NOTED IN MY ACCOUNT. WHAT WILL THAT DO FOR ME NOTHING! *TR