The steering on my 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid keeps vibrating even when the car is in idle. Plus, the car veers right so I constantly have to steer it left to keep it on the road. I took it to the dealership, where they found things wrong with the power steering but had no fix for the vibrating steering. They said, you need to spend $1,500 to fix your power steering but these fixes have nothing to do with the vibrating steering wheel and you'll just have to live with it. I took it to another mechanic who noticed the mechanical problems but also advised me that the vibrating steering wheel could be due to faulty power steering electronics which he cannot fix without replacing the entire power steering electronics package. So I had the mechanical problems fixed and decided to just put up with the vibrating steering. Two days after the repairs, the vibrations have become the least of my concerns as the power steering assist is failing completely and I have no power steering on the car. Since I've had the mechanical problems fixed, the only thing I can think of that might be causing these problems is the power steering electronics.

It was the day after Christmas and I was making a u-turn and all of a sudden, mid turn, my steering wheel completely locked. I almost hit a traffic light pole, another car, and almost ran up a curb into a business. Thankfully, with the help of my sister I was able to turn the steering wheel with extreme effort. After the turn I tried to turn right and turn into a parking lot, but since the steering wheel was still locked I almost slammed into a rock/boulder sign! It was a miracle that I was able to miss the boulder and make it into the parking lot where I proceeded to turn my car off and almost hysterically cry.

After calming down I turned my car on and hesitantly drove home. In the next few days, 1/13.12, I then took my car to my mechanic who kept my car for WEEKS! He was constantly on the phone with Ford, his good friend who works for Ford, and the manufacturer in hopes to get a new steering column. Apparently, there has been so many instances with this problem that the new part was on back order for weeks because it was finally delivered to my mechanic. While waiting for the part to arrive, and having NO car, I called my local Ford who told me that they never heard of this problem before and to have my car dropped off there for them to see. I declined due to my car already being at my mechanic who I trust and decided to do some research before contacting Ford directly.

I then spent days on the internet researching this problem and was APPALLED at how many people this problem has been happening to, and how many people wanted to start a Class Action Suit against Ford! I then went straight to Ford through their website and contacted them and explained my entire problem, as well as telling them this is happening to thousand others, and was so angry when they contacted me back saying there is NO PROBLEM EVER DOCUMENTED and that there is no recall for this massive and deadly issue! I swore right then and there that I will NEVER get another Ford!

I was so angry that I went to Michael Finney, who does 7 On Your Side, and asked for his help. Unfortunately, due to the nature of this problem I was told that they were unable to help me. Frustrated and defeated, I gave up on my whirlwind storm full of hate and anger and was relieved when my car was ready for pick up. The price for this problem cost me $1064.35 which I paid for, but my fire was rekindled when my mechanic told me that this is a very common problem with Ford. I went home with a new hatred for Ford along with my OLD, BROKEN, AND F*CKED UP steering column in a box, which has been stored in my garage for two and a half years just in case this problem was finally acknowledged.

On 10/26/13 I was making a two hours drive home on a freeway, at midnight, when my car suddenly "slipped." I was very tired so I figured that this was just my tired mind playing tricks on me..until my car "slipped" again and I almost slammed into the median barrier. I quickly exited the freeway and called my mother, who was out of the country, and began to cry hysterically on the phone while explaining this problem. I called my car insurance, State Farm, but was told that their computers were down and I had to call a tow service to tow my car home since they were unable to help me. The towing service would cost me $69 a MILE! I was still TWO HOURS away from my house and knew that having a tow truck come would cost me thousands of dollars that I don't have. Reluctantly, I drove home as carefully as I could.

During my drive home anytime I had to turn my steering wheel I almost ran into the freeway median, and even another car, and prayed that I would make it out of this alive. My hands gripped my steering wheel so hard, and drove well under the speed limit that I could have been pulled over, but I finally made it home safe. The next morning I called my insurance and they sent a tow truck and took my car to my mechanic. Once my car was at my mechanic he took a thorough look at my car and explained that this time my U-Joint had to be replaced and that this is also a huge problem just like the steering column issue- the same f*cking problem that Ford refused to acknowledge. He also told me that the U-Joint and Steering Column go hand in hand, and I was extremely lucky to be alive. I gritted my teeth and forked over another $287.06 and had my U-Joint replaced and began my online research.

Once again, thousands of people were having this problem along with the steering column issue. I am DONE with Ford! I have spent a total of $1351.41 on a problem that Ford refused to acknowledge. So f*ck you, Ford. I was ecstatic, and livid, when I received this Recall letter in the mail and was PISSED when I read that I may be "ELIGIBLE" for the previous repairs. Are you f*cking kidding me? I have to be ELIGIBLE for a fuckup that THEY did and refused to acknowledge for YEARS?! Once again, f*ck you Ford. F*ck you. This upcoming Monday, 7/21/14, I am going to go to work and make photo copies of my receipt (because those f*ckers want the original copies, and I don't trust those bastards so I am making copies in-case they say that I never sent them or lie about what's written). I plan to make an appointment at Ford, for this Tuesday, so they can replace the part that needs to be replaced.

The steering column of our 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid totally froze up several months ago. The power steering stopped working. I was able to drive it back home but it was extremely tough to maneuver the car. Took it to the Ford dealer and they charged us $2k to fix. Yesterday I took the same car to a different Ford dealership because the ABS warning lights went on and they tell me that it will cost me $4300 to repair THAT problem. Man alive what is happening to this car? All this at 52,000 miles. My Honda Accord was going strong at 100k without any major problems when I sold it. Should have kept buying Hondas I guess.

At least the guy at the dealership told me that Ford may be issuing a recall on the steering issue. I wonder if I can get my $2k back. Could sure use it to pay part of the $4300 brake repair.