The most annoying thing is this is the second time I've taken my car in for this issue, within 4 years. Costed around 2k the first time, and was quoted $2400 this time around. Hard to want to pay that much for something that is obviously faulty.
And agreeing with everyone else here - this is a terrifying issue. I was driving on the highway when my steering started acting strange. I exited the highway and tried to find a safe place to park, running over a curb... obviously it could have been a lot worse.
The power steering suddenly failed on me on two separate occasions. Just DIED without any warning signs whatsoever. But fortunately the rest of the electricals held and I was able to BRAKE immediately.
Fortunately on both occasions the vehicle was traveling really slowly. The first time I had just gotten out of a car park and turned 90 degrees onto a street when it failed. On the second occasion, I had just gotten INTO a car park and was turning to align myself into the parking slot when the steering failed.
On both occasions I was able to quickly do all these in succession... BRAKE safely; Put the vehicle in PARK; turn OFF the ignition; RESTART the car and drive away with the problem seemingly solved.
So apparently, from just the two instances, I am surmising that this phenomenon occurs with LARGE turning actions, perhaps not with small steering movements.
God forbid that it happens when turning left into incoming traffic from the opposite direction!!
We bought our 2011 Ford Escape in December of 2018. It had 33,000 miles on it when we bought it, so was almost like getting a new rig. We got a wrap warranty with it, just in case (was told it would cover all but standard maintenance, emission and corrosion issues). Last fall, around 45,000 miles, the car started acting up with it's power steering. I'd be driving down the road, and suddenly without warning, I'd loose my power steering. If I turned the rig off, it usually would solve the problem upon startup. I'd never have any indication, before or during, that it was going to happen. Would be fine, for a week or two, or longer, then would suddenly act up. Other times, it would happen daily or multiple times a day. It acted up for a couple months, then, it didn't act up all winter. Went 6 months with no issues. Suddenly, a couple weeks ago, it started acting up again. The day it started up again, I'd driven about 15 miles, no problem. As leaving the store I went to, I lost my power stearing. It would not come back, no matter how many times I turned the rig off, so wound up driving the 15 miles home, with our 8 year old, with no power steering. I contacted Ford. They said I'm not part of the recall based on my VIN even though the problem fits it exactly. They said contact the wrap insurance. The wrap insurance said to take it to the shop. So we took it in to a Ford service center. They diagnosed the problem as the electronic power steering was bad, based on the code, and said we needed to replace the power steering column. They contacted the wrap warranty company (Alpha), who, to a shock to the service center and to us, said it's not covered. We are not only pissed that this is an issue, with only 53,000 miles on our rig, but that Ford or Alpha is not making it right. Have been quoted 2,000 dollars to fix it, which is not an option for us. So, we will continue fighting Alpha, but will have no choice but to drive without the problem fixed. Very frustrating. Shame on Ford for not making this right, since many rigs are affected, not just the ones who's VINs match the recall, and shame on Alpha as well.
Unfortunately today is NOT the 1st time this has happened, just getting worse. For the last month I have had a "rattle" in my steering column, mostly when Idling at a stop. However, in the past week I have succesfully LOST ALL power steering.
After doing my research I realized there is an electric power steering assist in this particular vehicle. Got really excited because there had been a recall on this TYPE vehicle a few years ago and thought they just missed me! APPARENTLY NOT!!! My Escape was not part of the recall and there are NO open recalls on mine.
After more reading it is apparent that mine isn't the only 1 with the issue! What the hell happened to a power steering pump that I can add fluid to or change out fairly inexpensive???? I cant afford at the moment the $1000+ that it could cost me to have this replaced. My vehicle is my mobile office and makes it almost UNSAFE to drive. Thankfully I am old enough to know how to drive with no power steering but this is ridiculous!!! Today alone I have lost the power assist at least 8 times and it is only 130pm. It continues in manual steer mode until I shut the car off and restart.
FORD truly needs to take responsibility for all of the escapes having this issue. Go back to the normal pump and you wont have to worry about this!!!!!
- Dena S.,
Moline, US
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ford escape made in the kansas city plant as with the other escape models made there,
NHTSA Vehicle Safety Recalls
Recall Number
15E045000
Recall Date
06/03/2015
Component
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
Summary
The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have incorrect dimensions of a 42mm bore, 76mm outer dimension, and 39mm width, instead of a 42mm bore, 78mm outer dimension and a 45mm width.
Consequence
Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
What Owners Should Do
Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
Recall Number
16V777000
Recall Date
10/26/2016
Component
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
Consequence
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
What Owners Should Do
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 13, 2016. Owners will recieve a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S41.
Recall Number
14V284000
Recall Date
05/29/2014
Component
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
F*ck Ford. They put out a recall on only some of the VINs in my model year but didn't include mine even though it is the exact same problem as the ones recalled.
2011 ford escape limited with only 22,000 miles (inheritered from parent) but 5 year warranty just ran out. While driving on the freeway, power steering went out. Heard a loud click, and then just failed. Brought it in and needing $1800.00 steering column replaced. There should absolutely be a recall and free replacement.
electric power assisted steering failed, no power steering. Went out on the highway, was able to drive it home and it was very difficult. Towed to Kendall Ford, they said they would have to replace this unit and it with a 3rd unit, as all the previous fixes failed, the PART FAILED 3 times. Their charge for replacement is $1,400.00 My car only has 58,000 miles on it and we do not think we should be have to pay for replacement that has been fixed on other cars of my type 3 TIMES. Ford should pay for this as it OBVIOUSLY is a faulty system. WE DID NOT BUILD THIS CAR WITH A FAULTY PART, FORD DID!!!
We have been Ford owners for over 38 years, and have never ever complained or had any problems with previous Ford Products.
I am trusting that you will take care of this problem.
Power steering started going out at the beginning of June 2016. If I shut the car off and turn it back on, it will work. But, not always. There is no recall on this by Ford even though I have seen thousands of people with the same car and the same problem!
While driving the power steering just goes out. No lights or warnings. It just stops working. Sometimes it is out when you turn the car on. Usually it will temporarily fix itself by turning the car off and then back on but it is still only temporary. I took it to the dealership today and they said there is an internal EU fault and they have to replace the steering column and it is going to cost around $1500 for a problem that is known and there is a current recall, my car is just not included.
Recall that is out there doesn't cover vehicles after September 2010 our production date is January 2011 but yet we are having same problem as the recall sometimes power steering goes out and we have to turn car on and off several times before it works.
Last week I began to notice the steering wheel getting stiff. Apparently, there is no power steering. I have electric steering. When turning the wheel, I have to put my entire body to work to drive. How aggravating and dangerous.
Why is this not on the recall list? This is a wide spread problem. It is at the shop right now so I don't know how much it will be. Thanks to this being a pretty popular problem, I do know what's wrong but I just don't know how much my mechanic is going to charge. #Ridiculous.
When we started our car, there was no power steering and the TCS lights were on. Turning off and restarting the car didn't make any difference. As with the last time this happened (6 months prior), the temperature had dropped several degrees overnight. Later in the day, when the temperature went up, the car restarted OK.
We went to our service department but they said they would charge us to find out what the problem was since the car was working OK at the time! This is practically a new car and we had reported this problem before.
We contacted Ford Customer Assistance and were given a reference number (1350092651) on Sept 22. We were told that "Keisha" would get back to us "withing 48 - 72 hours". We never heard back from her. We contacted Ford Customer Assistance on Sept 30 and were told that "Keisha" would "definitely get back to us within the day". No called us. Ford's customer service is obviously VERY POOR. Does no one there ever listen to their customers???
Update from Oct 5, 2011: The cause: 14000 60 Scan Test. B13242-2F
Replaced steering column assembly. It now seems to be working.
Ford Customer Service NEVER contacted us. The service technician at the dealership was the one to handle this when we brought it in at a time when it wasn't working.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The most annoying thing is this is the second time I've taken my car in for this issue, within 4 years. Costed around 2k the first time, and was quoted $2400 this time around. Hard to want to pay that much for something that is obviously faulty.
And agreeing with everyone else here - this is a terrifying issue. I was driving on the highway when my steering started acting strange. I exited the highway and tried to find a safe place to park, running over a curb... obviously it could have been a lot worse.
- Lana P., Portland, OR, US