2009 FORD ESCAPE Steering Problems

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD ABOUT 5 MIN AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE WHEN I LOST POWER STEERING AND HAD TO PULL OVER. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE STEERING WORKED BUT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN IT IS IN THE CENTER POSITION. NOW EVERYTIME I START THE CAR I HAVE NO POWER STEERING. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND LETTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO RESET. BUT THAT DOES NOTHING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING CULUMN AND THEY WOULD CHARGE ABOUT $1300. NOW AS I AM STARTING THE CAR IF I PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT I HAVE POWER STEERING BUT THE STEERING WHEEL STILL SHAKES IF IT IS IN THE CENTER POSITING. IF I JUST START THE CAR LIKE NORMAL THE POWER STEERING NEVER WORKS. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED...

POWER STEERING CUTS OUT OF ITS OWN ACCORD. HOWEVER WHEN THE STEERING WORKS THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND TWITCHES, PULLING THE STEERING WHILE IT MOVES A LITTLE EACH TIME. I HAVE TO USE BOTH HANDS TO STEADY THE WHEEL AS I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY EVERYDAY. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL CUT OUT MID TURN, RESULTING IN MANY POTHOLE STRIKES, I AM SURPRISED THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO SWERVE AROUND ANOTHER CAR IN TIME OR HEAVEN FORBID A PERSON OR ANIMAL AND THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS OR SO, UPON TURNING KEY, MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT ENGAGE, STAYING LOCKED - AT FIRST WAS A RARE OCCURRENCE, BUT LATELY HAVE HAD TO RESTART VEHICLE 2-3 TIMES TO GET THE POWER STEERING. MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE IS ALSO LOSING STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING - ON ONE INSTANCE, JANUARY 3, 2014, I WAS TURNING LEFT IN AN INTERSECTION, AND MY STEERING WHEEL FROZE MID-TURN, WITH TRAFFIC COMING RIGHT AT ME! I WAS ABLE TO SPEED UP AND FORCE TURN, BARELY CLEARING A VEHICLE PARKED ON THE SIDE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE - UPON RESTARTING THE ENGINE, IT STEERED JUST FINE. I ASSUMED IT WAS A MINOR GLITCH IN STEERING, BUT THE INCIDENTS BECAME MORE FREQUENT, FINDING MYSELF UNABLE TO STEER TO TURN INTO/OUT OF DRIVEWAY, PARKING LOT AND EVEN TRAFFIC. YESTERDAY, 2-26-2014, TOPPED IT. I WAS DRIVING...

STARTED VEHICLE THIS MORNING AND DROVE ABOUT 1 MILE TO LOCAL STORE. THE STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT INDICATING A LACK OF POWER STEERING. AFTER SHOPPING AT STORE, I DROVE ABOUT .25 MILES TO A BANK. AGAIN THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. AFTER THE BANK, I DROVE 25 MILES TO WORK (WITH POWER STEERING) AND THEN ANOTHER 25 MILES HOME IN THE EVENING. WHEN I STARTED THE DRIVE HOME, I HAD NO POWER STEERING. AFTER TALKING TO MY FORD DEALER EARLIER IN THE DAY AND AFTER READING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB OF THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOM, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THIS TIME I HAD POWER STEERING. APPARENTLY THERE IS A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ACTIVATES THE ELECTRICAL (?) POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS SWITCH CAN BECOME INTERMITTENT CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL. REPORTED REPAIR COST IS $1400 BECAUSE OF DIFFICULT ACCESS TO SAID SWITCH....

WHEEL LOCKS UP AND DOESN'T MOVE, POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK EITHER. HAVE TO TURN CAR ON AND OFF CONTINUALLY UNTIL NORMAL STEERING FUNCTIONS RETURN. DROPPED CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY! AFTER SOME RESEARCH I SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NO RECALL? VERY UNSAFE NOT ONLY FOR DRIVERS BUT SURROUNDING CARS ON THE ROAD AS WELL!! *TR

POWER STEERING/STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT. 250 MILES INTO MY TRIP I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I ACCELERATED AND WITHOUT WARNING I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT TO GET OFF THE BUSY STREET. HOPING FOR A SIMPLE ANSWER I CHECKED THE "FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE (EPAS) , PARK AID MODULE" FUSE AND IT WAS FINE. IT WAS LATE EVENING - THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED, NO RENTAL CARS AVAILABLE. THE POLICE ENDED UP TAKING ME, MY DOGS, MY LUGGAGE, ETC. TO A MOTEL. IN THE MORNING ARRANGED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND RENTAL CAR. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WAS A JERK BECAUSE I HAD PULLED THE FUSE AND RESET THE ERROR CODE. TOLD HIM WHEN YOU'RE IN A STRANGE AREA WITH NO HELP TO BE FOUND, YOU'RE DESPERATE AND WILL TRY WHATEVER YOU CAN. WAS NOT IN THE...

I HAVE A 2009 FORD ESCAPE AND I ALMOST GOT IN A ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. AS I WAS TURNING MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO MANEUVER. AS I DID MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD ESCAPE. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS BUT THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS IT IS AS IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY BUT ALL THEY DID WAS APOLOGIZE AND NOTHING MORE. THE COST TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED IS ABOUT 1500.00 WHICH MY CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY UNDRIVEABLE SINCE I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPAIR IT AT THIS TIME. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE STEERING OF MY VEHICLE. THE STEERING TIGHTENS AND I'M UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AS I AM DRIVING MY VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE, MY STEERING TIGHTENED UP AND I REALIZED MY POWER STEERING HAD MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE CURVE SAFELY BUT STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND IT IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. *TR

WENT TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND SPED UP TO 45 MPH AND LOST ALL THE ASSISTANCE IN POWER STEERING. FELT LIKE I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEELS AT ALL. I SLOWED DOWN AND BARELY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. TOLD MY KIDS EVERYTHING WILL BE OK. STARTED UP THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT WAS FINE UNTIL 10 MIN LATER...SAME ISSUE. ALMOST WRECKED TWICE WITH THE KIDS WITH ME. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WRENCH AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. CAR WAS TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO FORD AND THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN BRING IT IN. AFTER MULTIPLE TIMES ON CITY STREETS AND INTERSTATES WHICH I FEARED FOR MY LIFE, THE CAR WOULD HAVE NO POWER AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I WOULD STEP ON GAS. HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART TO MAKE ANYTHING WORK. AFTER THAT I TOOK IT TO FORD AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THROTTLE BODY-AIR INTAKE WHICH THEY SAID THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET DUE TO OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THEY SURELY KNOW THERE IS A DEFECT THERE IN THE THROTTLE BOTTLE AND CERTAINLY AN ENDANGERMENT TO THOSE...

POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. CAN BE OUT IF YOU TURN THE CAR ON. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND YOU START IT AGAIN THE POWER STEERING MAY COME BACK ON. MOST OF THE TIME YOU HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND RECONNECT THIS USUALLY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A DAY THAN YOU HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING HAS ALSO GONE OUT DURING DRIVING AS WELL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD IS MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OFF AN EXIT RAMP, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND ONCE RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAD INDEPENDENTLY RESET. THE FAILURE WAS AN INTERMITTENT RECURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. *TR

FIRST TIME HAPPENED AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, I NOTICED THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. THIS WAS RESOLVED AFTER I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT TIME WAS 2 DAYS LATER WHEN I IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. POWER STEERING CUT OUT COMPLETELY, THANKFULLY I WAS THE ONLY ONE AROUND BECAUSE IT TOOK A SECOND TO GRAB THE WHEEL TIGHTER AND TURN. I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY EVERYDAY AND IT IS ESSENTIAL TO SAFETY THAT I AM ABLE TO STEER. I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS FOR NOW BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD A $1200-$1800 REPAIR WHEN I JUST PUT MONEY INTO THIS CAR. ALSO I NOW NOTICE THAT MY WHEEL HAS A LOT MORE "WIGGLE ROOM" WITH STEERING AS WELL...

WHILE DRIVING DURING BOTH INCIDENTS THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING, STALLED, AND ENGINE STARTED MISSING. TUNED VEHICLE OFF THEN TRIED TO RESTART AND WOULDN'T CLICK, CONTINUED MISSING. RPMS WOULD RISE WITHOUT ANY MOVEMENT. TURN VEHICLE OFF AGAIN TO RESTART AND IT STARTED CORRECTLY. WHILE ALWAYS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL JOLT WHILE MOVING AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T CATCHING GEARS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER IN A VIBRATING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL OUT OF ITS LANE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND CONTINUE DRIVING WITH DIFFICULTY IN MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

STARTED ENGINE AND POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. LOOKED UP IN MANUAL AND IT SAID IT WILL GO INTO MANUAL STEERING IF POWER STEERING GET HOT. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES BUT THEN THE POWER STEERING WOULD WORK AFTER EACH OCCURRENCE. NOW THE STEERING CHATTERS AND SHAKES THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN WHEN IN PARK AND ENGINE OFF. *TR

WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, LUCKILY WITH NO TRAFFIC PRESENT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER. AS I WAS MAKING MY TURN INTO MY WORK'S PARKING LOT THE STEERING FAILED, MID TURN, AND I WAS UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SLAM INTO A SNOW BANK THAT WAS PILED UP ON THE EDGE OF THE CORNER. THIS WAS HARDLY A CRASH, BUT A CRASH NONE THE LESS. LITTLE COSMETIC OR BODY DAMAGE WAS INCURRED BUT THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE, WHICH TOUTS STRONG SAFETY RATINGS, WAS IN AN INSTANT UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE EPS SYSTEM MAKES THIS REVIEWING HUNDREDS OF POSTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE, NATIONWIDE, IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY FRUSTRATIONS THAT FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. STEERING IS UNDENIABLY AN ESSENTIAL FUNCTION OF OPERATING A VEHICLE AND BEING IN POSSESSION...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I WAS TRYING TO DET OVER WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING ACTED LIKE IT WAS LOCKED UP AND VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON. THE PROBLEM QUIT. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AND IS VERY SCARY. *TR

SAFETY ISSUE: MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE'S STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHUDDER/VIBRATE AT IDLE. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL CANNOT BE MOVED LEFT OR RIGHT. IT LOCKS UP. I HAVE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RE-START IT IN ORDER TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE. TODAY, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I COULD HARDLY CONTROL THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. I HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AGAIN AND TURN IT BACK ON IN ORDER TO PROCEED. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS HAD THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON IT SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN JAN 2009. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND...

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY FROM ALBUQUERQUE TO LAS CRUCES WHEN MY STEERING BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. I QUICKLY PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND CALLED MY BOYFRIEND TO ASK HIM WHAT TO DO. HE SAID RESTART YOUR CAR SEE IF THAT RESETS IT. IT DID WORK. THEN LATER I PARKED AND THE STEERING WHEEL JUST STARTED SHAKING VIGOROUSLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX MORE TIMES SINCE THEN RANGING FROM SPEEDS OF 20 TO 75 MILES AND HOUR. I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE A VERY UNSAFE THING TO HAVE HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY. VERY SCARY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU CAN'T STEER OR ITS VERY HARD TO STEER. I ALSO DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD WOULD REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN VERSUS JUST THE SENSOR. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A BIG TURN...

I PURCHASED A 2009 ESCAPE NEW. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 142,00 MILES AND IS HAVING AN ISSUE. MY WIFE CALLED ME ON DECEMBER 24 2013 AND SAID THAT THE CAR WAS HARD TO STEER. SHE SAID THAT EARLIER IN THE DAY SHE WAS TURNING INTO AN ENTRANCE TO A GAS STATION AND MISJUDGED WHERE THE RAMP WAS AND THE CURB AND HOPED THE CURB WITH DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. SHE SAID SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE INTO THE STATION TO GET GAS. I TOLD HER THE NOISE WAS MOST LIKELY THE STRUT BOTTOMING OUT. I ASKED HER HOW WAS THE STEERING AFTER THAT SHE SAID IT WAS FINE. THIS TOOK PLACE IN THE AM. SHE CALLED ME AROUND 5 PM. AND SAID THE CAR WAS HARD TO STEER AGAIN I TOLD HER TO TURN THE CAR OFF TAKE OUT THE KEY AND OPEN THE DOOR AND...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED WHAT CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE TURNPIKE WHEN ALL AT ONCE MY CAR JERKED THEN LOST POWER, I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR SO I COASTED ON THE MEDIAN TILL THE CAR ALLOWED ME TO TURN ONTO AN EXIT RAMP. MY HUSBAND CAME AND CHECKED THE TRUCK, IT STARTED AND SEEMED TO BE OKAY. THE ENTIRE MONTH OF NOVEMBER THE TRUCK STARTS HOWEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. I HAVE TO CUT THE CAR OFF AND ON AT LEAST 6 TIMES WHILE TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL BEFORE IT UNLOCKS AND ALLOWS ME TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND I WOULD HAVE TO BEAR THE COST. I DON'T FEEL THIS IS FAIR BECAUSE I RESEARCHED THIS MATTER AND FOUND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MATTER. I AM NOT...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC RE REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

WAS DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS ON RESIDENTIAL ROADS AND POWER STEERING STOPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND COULD NOT TURN THE WILL WITHOUT HARD FORCE AND IT STILL WOULDN'T TURN FULLY ONLY TURNED ABOUT MAYBE 20 DEGREES LEFT OR RIGHT, VERY DANGEROUS THE EPAS IS TERRIBLE TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AND IT STARTED WORKING UNTIL MY WIFE DROVE IT AND GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD... TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM IM TAKING IT TO A FORD DEALER TODAY AND WILL PAY AN ARM AND A LEG TO PROTECT MY WIFE AND 8 MONTH OLD SON FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE FAULTY IN THE FIRST PLACE VERY UNNERVING TO KNOW FORD WOULD ALLOW NO REMEDY FOR SOMETHING SO DANGEROUS. *TR

OUR 2009 FORD ESCAPE HAS LOST IT'S POWER STEERING, WHILE I WAS DRIVING, TWICE THIS WEEK. IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, YET IT WAS STILL RUNNING. IT IS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SO THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT IT (I INITIALLY THOUGHT MY POWER STEERING FLUID MUST BE LOW). THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, ON FRIDAY, I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THE DASHBOARD AT THE TIME AND NOTHING SHOWED UP ON HIS SCANNERS. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS STARTED AGAIN THE STEERING WORKED FINE. WE DECIDED IT MUST BE A FLUKE. WE ONLY HAVE 85,505 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IT JUST HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY HUSBAND WAS SUPPOSED TO DRIVE TO OUR FRIEND'S HOUSE NORTH OF BOSTON (WE ARE SOUTH OF BOSTON). HE CANCELLED. IT TERRIFIES ME TO THINK OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED...

WHILE MAKING A SLOW RIGHT TURN THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. I GOT OFF THE ROAD, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD & FOUND NOTHING. GOT OUT THE MANUAL, IT SAYS POWER STEERING IS ALL ELECTRIC AND THERE IS NOTHING TO CHECK. I RESTARTED THE ESCAPE AND POWER STEERING WAS FINE. AFTER 80MILES ON THE ROAD A SUDDEN POWER STEERING FAILURE WITH NO WARNING IS DANGEROUS. *TR

STARTED CAR AND WOULDN'T STEER CORRECTLY HARD TO TURN WHEEL. *TR

I AM TRYING TO PARK MY CAR AND STEERING BECAME SO HARD THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR INTO THE PARKING SPOT. THIS IS HAPPENING FOR 3 RD TIME AND I AM REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING REPEATEDLY FAILS; USUALLY WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE, BUT ONCE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH. LOCAL FORD DEALER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING SYSTEM; APPROXIMATELY A $1500 REPAIR BILL. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN OUR NEIGHBOR AT 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET HOME AND PARK SINCE SHE WAS CLOSE BY. THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS MORNING WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THE STEERING WAS WORKING. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR TESTING. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 80 DEGREES SO CLEARLY COLD WAS NOT A FACTOR. THANK GOODNESS THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC. *TR

AFTER BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITHOUT INCIDENT, THEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF FEELING LOCKED UP. AFTER PULLING OVER AND CHECKING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, THEN TURNED BACK ON IN A MOMENT AND THE WHEEL FREED UP AND NORMAL TURNING RESUMED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME, A FEW MILES AWAY, WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ABOUT THE 2008 AND 2009 ESCAPE ON THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE WITH EACH REPORT HAVING ALMOST THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AND "SOLUTION", OF TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. SEE WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2008/FORD/ESCAPE/STEERING HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2009/FORD/ESCAPE/STEERING THIS PROBLEM COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENTS OF A FEW ON THAT SITE, ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. NUMEROUS POSTS STATE THE DEALER INDICATED THE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT...

AT HIGHWAY SPEED, POWERSTEERING LOCKED UP. AFTER SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING, PUMP RE-ENGAGED. THIS HAS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY SINCE, AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE. STEERING BECOMES SO TIGHT THAT ANY ADJUSTMENT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AND DRIVER IS AT THE MERCY OF SPEED UNTIL ABLE TO STOP. DEALERSHIP REPORTS THIS TO BE "COMMON" BUT A MAJOR REPAIR, AND NOT THE RESULT OF EXCESSIVE USE OR ABUSE. CLEARLY, THIS IS A DESIGN AND SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE, A 2009 FORD ESCAPE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE OF THIS I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC, AND TURN THE CAR OFF. UPON STARTING THE CAR BACK UP THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BACK TO NORMAL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES LATER THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AGAIN. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO FIX IT, IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS COST ME APPROXIMATELY $1,400.00 TO REPLACE. I HAVE DONE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF RESEARCH AND HAVE THAT FOUND THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE. WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO RECALL IN RESPONSE TO THIS ONGOING ISSUE? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN NOT CONTINUE TO GO UNNOTICED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE STEERING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. *TR.....UPDATED 05/09/13 *BF UPDATED 05/24/2013 *JS

AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE DOWN A TWO LANE ROAD WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING THE PROBLEM STOPPED. AFTER A FEW WEEKS IT STARTED DOING IT MORE FREQUENT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A INTENSE SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL THE VEHICLE CAN'T EVEN BE DROVE NOW DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES IT POSES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 39 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND ONCE RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST THEN OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME JUMPY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,686.

ON 2/9/2013 I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT 25MPH WHEN I LOST MY POWER STEERING. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG THEY SAID IT CORRECTED ITSELF. I TOOK THE CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON 2/18/2013. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TOLD ME THE SENSOR IN THE STEERING CONTROL ASSEMBLY WAS ONLY OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE MODULE AND HAD TO ALIGN THE VEHICLE. THIS COST $1256.22. I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE PART AS IT WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. I CHECKED WITH ANOTHER GARAGE IN ANOTHER TOWN AND WAS TOLD THAT HE HAD JUST GOT THE SAME COMPLAINT ON ANOTHER 2009 FORD ESCAPE. HE SAID THAT THE NATIONAL BACKORDER INDICATED THIS WAS A PREVALENT PROBLEM AND HE FELT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE...

THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE SINCE THE SYSTEM WAS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE STEERING SYSTEM WASN'T WORKING, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP IN CLEVELAND, OH. THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE AT A COST OF $1500.00. *TR

ON THE FIRST INCIDENT DATE MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WOULDN'T MOVE. SHE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RE-STARTED AND THE STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. THEN TWO DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS JERKING AROUND A LITTLE, FEELING LIKE IT WAS STICKING THEN RELEASING.THE MOVEMENT WAS OCCURRING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. I THEN STOPPED AND TURNED OFF THE CAR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. WHEN I RESTARTED THE STEERING WAS VERY, VERY HARD TO MOVE. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED, THE STEERING WAS EASIER, BUT THERE WAS NOTICEABLE MOVEMENT IN THE WHEEL WHILE STILL PARKED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE REP STATED THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE A STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT TO FIX FOR APPROX $1500. I WAS QUIT SURPRISED THAT THE SERVICE REP WAS SO FAMILIAR WITH THE...

WHEN I'M DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN AND IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. RE-STARING THE VEHICLE FIXES THE PROBLEM. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING, RESTARTING CAR TEMPORARILY FIXES PROBLEM. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK. DOESN'T MATTER IF CAR IS COLD OR WARM, AND DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS SHUT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS OR LONGER FOR THE PROBLEM TO CORRECT ITSELF. EFFECT IS AS IF THERE'S NO POWER STEERING, DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. (I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT ACTUALLY POWER STEERING, THERE'S NO FLUID, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO CALL IT.) STEERING WHEEL HAS STARTED TO RATTLE AND VIBRATE WHILE IDLING. DEALERSHIP SAID COMPUTER SENSOR WAS OUT OF CALIBRATION, RE-CALIBRATED, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY NEEDS WHOLE NEW STEERING COLUMN, A $1500 FIX. GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM OTHER REPAIR SHOP, SAME CONCLUSION. I KEEP UP ON ALL MAINTENANCE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A REPAIR ON THIS VEHICLE BEFORE. I'M SURPRISED THERE'S NOT A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AS I'VE...

FIRST OCCURANCE WAS WHILE AT IDLE THE WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN WITHOUT EXTREME PRESSURE. NOW, 1/24/2013 THE POWER ASSIST GOES IN AND OUT WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE STEERING COMES CLOSE TO LOCKING UP BUT DOESN'T ACTUALLY GET THERE. *TR

THE VEHICLE IS HAVING INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS. POWER STEERING IS FAILING DURING TRANSIT. STERRING WHEEL IS VIBRATING AND MAKING LOUD NOISES. *TR