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.
Power steering failure and shaking while idling in park. Went out fully while pulling out of parking lot. whole vehicle inspected by dealership before purchasing. No warning lamps. Felt like had a bad tire while driving down the road and steering wheel started shaking in park 24 hours prior to it failing.
On January 22, 2022, I was driving my 2008 Ford Escape from Everett, WA to Puyallup, WA. A few miles from my destination, the wrench indicator came on at the same time my steering wheel jerked from my hands for a second, then went back to normal driving and the wrench indicator turned off. Several more miles passed and I arrived at my destination, but as I was backing up to park, the wrench indicator came back on and I had complete loss of steering. Later that afternoon, I started my car again and the wrench indicator was still on and I had still had complete loss of steering. I had to have my car towed to my mechanic. After diagnostics, they confirmed there was an issue with the steering torque sensor, but that they would have to refer me to a Ford Dealership for further diagnostics. My car was then towed to the Ford Dealership. I was told the torque sensor was faulty and I had two options. I could replace the steering torque sensor or replace the entire steering column. But as steering columns are on back order with no ETA of when they will be back in stock, the sensor was my only option to have an operable vehicle. The dealership replaced the sensor and recalibrated the system on Feb 15, 2022. I picked up my car on Feb 18, 2022 and drove it home with no issues. A couple hours later I drove to a FedEx and the wrench indicator started coming on and off, accompanied by my wheel jerking slightly, and loss of steering. Vehicle was returned to Ford Dealership on 2/21/22 for further diagnostics of why the new sensor was also failing immediately.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel started shaking and it was slightly difficult to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that she then went to a local auto store to have power steering fluid added to the reservoir however, she was informed that the vehicle was equipped with an electronic power steering. The following day after starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering assist functionality and was difficult to steer. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
My 2008 Ford Escape XLT electrical power steering will stop working while driving the vehicle. It is available for an inspection at anytime. The safety issue is the car is next to impossible to steer once it stops working. My wife just missed running into a power pole while driving in a roundabout when it stopped working while she was driving it. It has happened more then this one time. If it happens at low speed it-??s even harder to steer. I called a recall number to see if it was in a recall but was told it was not in a recall due to where it was manufactured. I have not taken the Escape to a Ford dealer yet because of what I was told about the recall. However since that time I found out my Escape was manufactured at the plant where the recall is for. There has not ever been a warning light that comes up on the dash before it stops working, it just stops working. It has the same symptoms that are given in the recall.
Steering wheel starting clicking and moving on its own, a few days later a power sterring assist fault error message came on and the same day the power steering went completely out.
- Monterey , TN, USA
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The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the steering wheel suddenly became difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the steering torque sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced however, the part was on back order. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 50 MPH, the power steering assist warning light illuminated, and remained illuminated. The driver continued driving the vehicle in manual steering mode until arriving at his destination. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,832.
While I was driving my car my power steering stopped working.I took it to my service garage and he did some kind of a rebate on it.But he also said he dosen"the no how long it will work.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the "Power Steering Assist Fault" warning message was displayed. The steering wheel was difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic reset the computer code B2278 (Power Steering Shaft Torque Sensor) and performed steering angle torque sensor calibration; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 124,510.
I have a 2008 Ford Escape. I was driving with my 7 year old and 4 year old and my power steering out, out of nowhere and went into manual steering. Without me being aware of that I went to turn and my car would not turn, I almost wrecked (because I could not turn the wheel) into the person at the stop light while my kids were in the car. Thankfully I hit my breaks and did not but it was a very scary moment for myself and my kids. I had my car towed to my mechanic who then told me the torque sensor went out. He looked online and it said there was a recall on the exact problem I am having for the exact model I have. I called Ford and one person told me that the software was cleared. I talked to another guy from a different ford who then told me that my car doesn-??t and has never had a recall done and it doesn-??t qualify. So I am frustrated trying to get this recall done that I-??m getting misinformation on from multiple different people at ford. I can not drive my car because the steering is a safety hazard one and two I am not strong enough to turn the wheel if I wanted to. I need to get my children to and from school and myself to and from work and can-??t because of this problem. I don-??t understand how one person can tell me I had a recall done and the other tell me I did not and can-??t. I-??m having a hard time believing that I don-??t have a recall on this problem when I have the exact problem and my car is a 2008 escape and the recall they have is for a ford escape models 2008-2011 for the torque sensor and software. I am a single mother who doesn-??t have the extra money to have this problem fixed especially when there is a recall on my exact problem but no one at ford is being kind enough to help and they are all giving me different information. At this point I don-??t know what to do because they are leaving me confused and with no options. I just want this safety hazard fixed as soon as possible.
Vehicle lost electric steering assistance system while driving causing a crash in a street curve. This system problem is now intermittent. The Ford dealer told there is nothing they can do if I don't pay for the repair. I think this is a secury issue and Ford is responsible for it.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing out of her driveway, the power steering assist failed without warning. The contact called an independent mechanic to her home who informed her that there had been a recall placed on similar vehicles for the power steering, which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and informed her that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer then referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, the power steering failed while the contact was making a left turn. The failure caused the contact to crash into a parked vehicle. The air bags were deployed upon impact. The contact sustained injuries to her neck, back, left hand, and ringing noises were heard in her ears. However, no medical attention was received. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. Prior to the failure, the steering rack and pinion and lower steering coupler shaft were replaced by the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the power steering assist fault warning message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle to continue driving. The contact called the dealer where she was informed that her vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH and attempting to make a right turn, the steering wheel inadvertently lost power. The Power Steering Assistant Fault message was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated she was able to pull to a nearby gas station and she turned off the vehicle. The contact stated when she restarted the vehicle, the steering wheel was significantly more difficult to maneuver. The contact stated she was able to forcefully maneuver the steering wheel and drove to her residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that she would be responsible for the cost of the repair since the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 179,643.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 5 mph or a slower speed, the steering wheel pulled to the left. The contact would turn the steering wheel with force to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that an unknown warning light illuminated on the instrument panel and a sound was heard when the failure occurred. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a safe location. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic for a diagnostic test to be performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer advised that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Hello, While I was driving on the highway suddenly my steering became very stiff and it required much more effort to to turn the steering wheel. This was a very scary and dangerous situation in which could have led to a potential accident. There were no warning lights prior to this issue. I did some initial investigation and found out that there was a big recall for Ford Escapes for this same issue. (Issue with the torque sensor within the steering column, which may result in the loss of electric power steering assist). I called Ford and they informed me that my car had already been recalled and that they had already fixed it and that I would have to fix it at my own cost. It obviously wasn't fixed 100% and now I am being forced to pay the cost even though it is obviously the same issue that the vehicle had originally been recalled for.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Johnson, NE, USA