2012 FORD ESCAPE Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY AND MADE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOU FUSZ FORD (2 CAPRICE DR, CHESTERFIELD, MO 63005, (636) 532-9955) WHERE THEY SUGGESTED REPAIRING THE POWER BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,085.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DAMEROW FORD (12325 SW CANYON RD, BEAVERTON, OR 97005, 800-732-8633) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A STEERING SENSOR FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

THE FIRST TIME MY POWER STEERING FAILED WAS ON JANUARY 27TH 2018 WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY (696) GOING 75 MPH. I CALLED MY FORD SERVICE CENTER THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS DAY AND WAS TOLD MY CAR HAD ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND THAT "GLITCHES HAPPEN". IN 128 DAYS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED 30 TIMES (I STOPPED KEEPING TRACK AFTER JUNE 4TH BUT IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THEN). EVERY TIME IT FAILED, IF I RESTARTED MY CAR, THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. 10 OF THE 30 TIMES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, THE REST OCCURRED AT THE START OF THE ENGINE. THE TIMES IT HAPPENED AT THE START OF THE ENGINE, 5 OF THE TIMES IT FAILED TWO TIMES IN A ROW. SOME TIMES AT LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS AND SOME TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. SOMETIMES THE WEATHER WAS COLD (10 BELOW), SOME TIMES HOT (90 DEGREES). SOME DAYS...

THE STEERING COLUMN FREEZES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TURNING IN MOTION. CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT COMPLETE A FULL TURN.

MADE A COMPLETE STOP AT AN INTERSECTION AND EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOST OF POWER STEERING. CAN'T DRIVE VEHICLE, CAN'T STEER IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE UPON TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER RECALL. THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE EPS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

AT RANDOM POINTS IN TIME WHEN CAR IS ON, DOESNT MATTER WHAT SPEED, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND IS UNABLE TO BE MOVED UNTILL CAR IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. I JUST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY IN BRATTLEBORO VT WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FOR XMAS FROM COLLEGE WHEN I WENT RIGHT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO A SNOWBANK. AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND NOBODY WAS HURT AND LUCKLY I DIDNT HIT ANY OTHER CARS OR PROPERTY. CAR IS BEING TOWED BACK HOME TO A MECHANIC. I HAD GONE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE, IN MY DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEEDS, AND AFTER PAYING A $100 DIAGNOSIS FEE, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THAT I WAS IMAGINING THINGS. I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH SINCE THEN AND THERE ARE A LOT...

WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE ON MY TOWN STREETS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED AWHILE AND RESTORED THE VEHICLE. JUST AS SUDDENLY AS IT OCCURRED THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE POWER STEERING. MY FORD DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM AND SAYS THAT THEIR COMPUTER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS ARE REQUIRED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY STEERED LEFT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE NECK INJURIES, BROKEN RIBS, A BROKEN LEFT HAND, AND FRACTURES TO THE SKULL. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *TT *TR

AS I TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I MANAGED TO COMPLETE THE TURN & PARK THE CAR. (10/4/17) THE SECOND TIME THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. (11/10/17)

I HAVE HAD 3 SERIOUS INCIDENTS WITH THE FORD ESCAPE 2012. FIRST, TWICE THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS THANKFULLY DRIVING AT ONLY ABOUT 30-40 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VARIOUS MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT FIXED IT. SECOND, ON 11/11/17, I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WAITING TO TURN LEFT ON A MAJOR ROAD, AND UPON ACCELERATING AND TURNING, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO GO OUT ON ME. IT BECAME MUCH HARDER TO STEER. I PULLED OVER ON A SIDE ROAD AND AGAIN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, WHICH AGAIN SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY ONLINE FORUMS WHERE THESE TWO ISSUES ARE BEING REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS WITH THE SAME RESULT. MECHANICS CAN'T...

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING, MY STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED IN MY 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THIS MORNING IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY KIDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ENTERING AND EXITING THE PARKING LOT. BOTH TIMES, I HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP FROM HITTING OTHER CARS. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE WHERE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2012 MODELS. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLAN VIGIL FORD OF FAYETTEVILLE INC (275 GLYNN ST N, FAYETTEVILLE, GA 30214, (770) 461-1151) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. TOOK A LOT OF STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW NOVEMBER 2011. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED 3 TIMES IN 3 HOURS. TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREEETS, ONCE LEAVING A PARKING SPOT

THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE 2012 FORD ESCAPE STEERING THAT PLAGUED THE PRIOR YEAR MODELS, DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND ESTIMATE $1-$2K IN REPAIRS, THIS IS A EXTREME CONCERN AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THEY DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT AGAIN AFTER THE ISSUES WITH THE 2008-2011 MODELS. I'VE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WITH NO REPLY BACK.

MY WIFE BEGAN DRIVING OUR 2012 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED WITH AWD AND 6 CYLINDER MOTOR. WITHIN DRIVING LESS THAN HALF A MILE ALL POWER STEERING CEASED TO WORK ALMOST CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE STATIONARY IN A DRIVE-THROUGH LINE. DIAGNOSIS FOUND DTC B2278 IN COMPUTER MEMORY. ALL INVESTIGATION LED TO A STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR AS THE FAULTY COMPONENT. THIS SAME COMPONENT WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL FOR PRIOR YEARS ON THIS MODEL UP TO MODEL YEAR 2011. THIS REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL AT THIS TIME. REPAIR WAS PAID FOR WITH A COMBINATION OF AFTERMARKET WARRANTY AND OWNER PAYMENT. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. DOCUMENTATION IS INCLUDED WITH THIS COMPLAINT. TO DATE NO ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS HAVE SURFACED SINCE REPAIR.

DEC 31, 2015 VEHICLE STEERING WAS FINE, LAST DRIVEN 9PM. JAN 1, 2016 9:30AM POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK, STEERING WHEEL NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE. FORTUNATELY VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVEWAY NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. TWO HOURS LATER POWER STEERING WAS FUNCTIONING. NO LIGHTS ON DASH TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. DROVE SHORT DISTANCE TODAY JAN 2ND WITH NO ISSUE. BEING TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP JAN 4TH. VEHICLE MILEAGE IS ONLY 31,695, OUT OF WARRANTY SINCE END OF OCTOBER 2015.

THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED, FORCING THE WHEEL TO TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND TRYING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT. IT TOOK A LOT OF FORCE TO RE-CENTER THE WHEEL AND DRIVE STRAIGHT. AFTER RELEASING THE WHEEL, EVEN WHEN PARKED, THE WHEEL WOULD RAPIDLY ROTATE BACK TO THE LEFT MOST POSITION. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING TO AN EXPECTING VICTIM, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY TURNED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND/OR FLIPPED.

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING COULD NOT STEER AT ALL! COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, FINALLY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND MY STEERING RETURNED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2008-2011 YEAR MODELS AND THEY WERE RECALLED. WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN DONE ON THE 2012 MODEL?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

I WAS DRIVING AT A RATE OF 23 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE VERY HARD TO MANUEVER. I GOT THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE PLACE AND LOOKED TO SEE IF ANY BELTS HAD COME OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO APPEARANT EVIDENCE OF A LOOSE OR BROKEN BELT. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS WORKING FINE. I LOOKED INTO SEVERAL COMPLAINT BLOGS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT FORD SHOUDL BE LOOKING INTO FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL. I RESEARCHED SEVERAL BLOG AND CAR COMPLAINT SITES AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2012 ESCAPE AS WELL. I AM ONE MONTH OUT OF MY 3YR/36000 WARRANTY. THE THREE YEAR PART CAME FIRST. I DO NOT FEEL IT IS FAIR FOR SO MANY PEOPLE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WHEN PREVIOUS YEARS HAVE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A PROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,781.

JUST AFTER LEAVING A 4 WAY STOP, AS I TRIED TO ROUND THE CURVE THE STEERING IN OUR 2012 ESCAPE STOPPED WORKING AND I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I JUST KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. LUCKILY, I SLOWED DOWN WITH THE BRAKES BUT THE ESCAPE CONTINUED STRAIGHT AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND DOWN A 50+ FT EMBANKMENT. EVEN WITH ALL OF THIS IMPACT, NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE CAR ANYWHERE! THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WAS BAD ENOUGH, BUT AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THE CONDITION OF THE CAR AND THEN NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT- THAT WAS WAY TOO MUCH! *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH I LOST POWER STEERING. ALMOST IN ACCIDENT WITH BARRIER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT CAR SHUT OFF, BUT REALIZED COULD STILL STEER WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD ECU WAS BAD, $1050 FOR REPAIR. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THE 2008-2011 WAS ON A RECALL FOR A TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE. CALL FORD TO NO AVAIL. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED, NOR DID THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. DEALER FOUND CODE STATING THE ECU WAS BAD? WAITING ON PART. *TR

TOOK MY 2012 ESCAPE TO THE DEALER FOR AUTHORIZED RECALL REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE SENSOR. WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, FOUND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. BACKED IT BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND THE MECHANIC SAID HE WOULD TAKE A LOOK. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. NO CODES WERE THROWN. THIS IS AN ESCAPE BUILT FEBRUARY 2012 IN KANSAS CITY. *JS

WHILE DRIVING AT AVERAGELY ABOUT 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING ON THE FORD ESCAPE 2012 JUST FAILS. THIS MAKES IT INCREDIBLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO CUT OFF THE CAR AND START IT AGAIN. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST AND IS STILL CONTINUING TO HAPPEN SPORADICALLY EVEN AFTER BEING TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AT WHICH THEY CLAIM EACH TIME THAT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. I REALLY HOPE FORD TAKES TIME TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED AND THERE IS A HUGE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AS I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ON DIFFERENT FORD MODELS ACROSS MULTIPLE YEAR MODELS. *TR

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND ACCELERATION. I HAD TO TRY TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD USUALLY TURN BACK ON. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT, AS THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD FIXED IT EACH TIME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER TO BE RESTARTED AND IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 468.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND IT BECMAE EXTREMELY DIFFICUTL FOR THE CONTACT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 235. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.