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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
28 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
19 / 0
Average Mileage:
104,919 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Ford Escape steering problems

steering problem

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2008 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 24 of 54)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #613

Jan 292017

Escape 4-cyl

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Power steering failed repeatedly. Received recall14S05 and took to lehighton Ford 18235 June 21, 2016. Even after reporting failure, the action taken was to reprogram the computer module. January 29, 2017 power steering failed and would not recover while driving on a main thoroughfare and attempting to turn into a parking lot. Took to freedom Ford dealership in morgantown, wv where failure occurred. It was determined the steering column needed to be replaced which should have been taken care of on initial recall appointment. After multiple contacts with Ford, I have been informed that the recall was closed once the reprogramming took place and that I would have to pay $1200 for the resulting repairs due to the power steering failure. Upon further research, over 70,000 customers have experienced the same failure following the useless reprogramming dictated by Ford motors.

- Palmerton, PA, USA

problem #612

Oct 172016

Escape 6-cyl

  • 137,000 miles
Ford had a 2015 recall for power steering problems, during which this vehicle was checked. Two months ago my mechanic checked my steering because of a noise and advised me not to drive it on the highway. As I was driving into my driveway the power steering went out. What if this went out at highway speeds and had a baby in the car? reading online other people's experiences with power steering problems the car shouldn't be driven. Ford should be made to extend their recalls and give trade in credit to get these cars off the road. They are a danger to all. I had all the fuses checked and unhooked the battery. Everything points to the electric assisted power steering or such which is a $1200 repair that is not guaranteed to last long.

- Branford, CT, USA

problem #611

Jan 252017

Escape

  • 88,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 40 mph, the steering lost power and "faulty power steering" illuminated. The driver pulled over and the vehicle was driven home. The dealer determined that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

- Homer, AK, USA

problem #610

Jan 282017

Escape

  • 114,044 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was driving vehicle steering became unmanageable. Almost crashed with myself and my kid. Other vins have been recalled for the electronic steering system yet mine is not listed.

- Carnegie, PA, USA

problem #609

Jan 152017

Escape

  • 114,000 miles
The power steering assist failure warning light flashed 3 times and then my power steering went out. It was in motion on a city street. We had the car towed to a dealership. The torque sensor that was previously covered on the recall from July 2014 failed. Ford is refusing to fix the sensor stating that the recall was fulfilled even though the sensor was not replaced. The dealership mentioned that they have had the same issue with other vehicles under the same recall. I have attached a letter that was sent to Ford on our behalf.

- Oxford, MI, USA

problem #608

Dec 122016

Escape

  • 98,000 miles
Sudden onset of steering wheel shaking while driving 25 mph, difficulty turning left or right, while turning right steering stopped twice.

- Tomahawk, WI, USA

problem #607

Nov 102014

Escape 4-cyl

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of a manufacturer recall for the steering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to provide a remedy and they did not state for the contact to take the vehicle in once the failure had been experienced. The dealer indicated that there was no failure and cleared the recall out as a completed repair. The contact later experienced the steering wheel seizing with no warning. The dealer was notified and indicated that the vehicle would need to be diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The NHTSA campaign number was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. Updated 04/20/17

- Heyburn, ID, USA

problem #606

Jul 192016

Escape

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While driving various speeds, the power steering failed without warning. The vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The dealer stated that the recall repair was already performed; however, the contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.

- Chester, NY, USA

problem #605

Dec 152016

Escape 4WD 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
Takata recall: My car has a couple issues with the steering. While parked and idling the steering wheel twitches on its own, you have to find the right location and hold it there for the twitching to stop. When idling I can hold the sw off of center and the twitching will abate for short periods, less than 10 seconds. While driving streets from 30-60 mph, the steering wheel also twitches intermittently, perceptible to touch and has started pulling to the right slightly. No noted squealing or jerking noted on full wheel turn to right or left.

- Juneau, AK, USA

problem #604

Jan 042017

Escape 6-cyl

  • 65,500 miles
I took my car in when the recall 14S05/NHTSA recall 14V-284 was received and the dealership updated the appropriate modules to prevent loss of steering due to a torque sensor fault. At the time of the recall I was not having any steering problems, so I felt the module updates were to fix any steering problems. As of Jan 4, 2017, the steering wheel started vibrating while in idle. I does not do it all the time. I called the local Ford dealership and they ran the diagnostic test which showed the steering torque sensor was bad and they will be getting me an estimate for repairs. I was told the part itself is relatively inexpensive, but the labor is intense. I feel Ford has taken the easy way out of fixing a potentially hazardous problem. I have always driven Ford cars, but after this costly manufacturing defect I may switch to another make of car.

- Wray, CO, USA

problem #603

Dec 242016

Escape 4-cyl

  • 133,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact experienced a loss of power steering while the vehicle was being operated at a moderate speed. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering control module and instrument cluster needed to be replaced. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was remedied per NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The manufacturer stated that due to the elapsed time period between the failure and the initial repair, the cost would be at the contact's expense. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000......updated 03/08/17 updated 08/11/2017

- Happy Valley, OR, USA

problem #602

Jan 082017

Escape 4-cyl

  • miles
While starting the car the wheel started shaking, you can hear a clicking noise...while driving the vehicle the wheel shakes non stop and the noise continues, followed by a code saying (power steering assist fault). It's getting worse the more we drive it.

- Geneva, IL, USA

problem #601

Jan 092017

Escape 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 127,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While driving, the steering wheel became difficult to operate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the power steering sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000. Updated 03/07/17 updated 12/04/2017

- Temecula, CA, USA

problem #600

Jan 082017

Escape

  • 120,000 miles
Electric power steering is out. Ford dealer initially fixed via original recall (Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.) by updating the computer code in 2014. The power steering has lost all power now. This is 2 years later, but the loss is directly related to the original recall issue.

- Richmond, TX, USA

problem #599

Jan 062017

Escape 4WD 4-cyl

  • 102,000 miles
Steering shaft torque sensor went out when driving vehicle on highway which made it very hard to steer when slowing down and turning.im very strong and it took effort from me to steer. If my wife or daughter would have been driving they could have very easily had an accident!.this seems to be an issue with a lot of these but my VIN# is not on the recall according to our local Ford dealership.

- Cherokee, IA, USA

problem #598

Jan 062017

Escape

  • 150,000 miles
While parked in a parking lot, dash warning indicated "power assist steering failure" when engine was started. Steering is now considerably harder, bordering on impossible while sitting still. Vehicle had recall 14S05 performed in Oct 2014. Since there was no physical problem at the time of the recall, a software update was performed (which will do nothing for a mechanical failure) and the recall for this particular vehicle was closed. Now with the apparent mechanical failure of the power steering motor, or steering position sensor, or both, Ford will not cover the repairs due to the recall being closed. So Ford closed the recall by performing it before the parts failed and now expects the owner to be responsible for the $1800 (quote from dealer) to perform the repair.

- Raymore, MO, USA

problem #597

Jan 052017

Escape

  • 157,500 miles
The electric power steering system failed on my vehicle. The system had the same issue before but was fixed following the 2014 recall for the issue. Less than 3 years after the fix, the power steering system failed again.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #596

Dec 262016

Escape

  • 143,000 miles
My Ford Escape's power steering suddenly went out in my while driving, it made the rest of the ride home from work extremely difficult and unsafe. I did my research and found there was in fact a Ford recall on this issue for my year and model car, however my VIN was not included in the recall, only the software update which I did handle in September 2014 at the dealership. The recall states the affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect steering input. As a result could remove the esp assist (electric power steering) we talked with Ford corporate and they said it was not part of recall but if the exact part that is included in the recall that will be replaced at no charge, they would work with us to have it replaced. When we brought it to local dealership, they confirmed after getting the error code the torque sensor did need to be replaced. They would not assist us in fixing it and after 2 calls to a supervisor we got them to escalate to Ford that still denied claim, and service manager even agreed that it should be added to the recall list when we picked it up that night. We called Ford again and talked with customer service and they said it had been too long since the software upgrade and nothing they could do. I will be reporting Ford to the BBB and still trying to escalate further as this car should be included in the recall due to the safety issue. All they said was to report it to the NHTSA site.

- Valparaiso, IN, USA

problem #595

Dec 202016

Escape

  • 103,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While driving 25 mph and making a right turn, the steering wheel seized and the wrench sensor indicator illuminated. In addition, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart after the first attempt. The vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (electrical system, steering), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 103,000.

- Linden, NJ, USA

problem #594

Jul 202015

Escape

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While driving 35 mph and making a left turn, the steering wheel pulled abnormally. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the power steering system was updated. The vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering), but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the torque sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

- Moline, IL, USA

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