2008 Ford Escape Hybrid: steering wheel locks up

Filed Mar 21, 2022 · Steering · IL

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist failed and the steering wheel seized. The power steering failure warning message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with power steering assist failure. The mechanic informed the contact that an unknown part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that a recall for the steering had expired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Oct 24, 2018 · Steering · 140,000 miles · MD

Sunday afternoon around approximately 3pm (10/21/2018) I was driving and my steering wheel became stiff without any warning, and I was unable to move it. In the car with me was my friend, and myself. On the first instance this day, I was pulling into a parking lot, and without warning my car beeped twice, and the steering wheel went completely stiff. Thankfully, I was able to just park where I was, turn the car off and back on, and the problem seemed to be gone. About 15 minutes later, as I was in the intersection coming out of that parking lot, my steering went out again. There were no lights on the dashboard, and no beeping occurred. I could not move the wheel, and I was traveling in the direction of other vehicles that were turning, and I was very close to hitting them. Again, thankfully, I was able to get to a spot straight ahead to park and I ended up leaving my car there overnight. My friend and I almost wrecked in a busy 4-way intersection due to a manufacturer mistake, as I have recognized online through multitudes of other complaints for similar situations. This is dangerous. Someone needs to take responsibility, as the vehicle (a 2008 ford escape hybrid), gave me no warning whatsoever before the steering wheel seized up.

Filed Dec 8, 2016 · Steering · 150,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. While driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering shaft torque sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 05/04/17*lj

Filed Jan 27, 2016 · Steering · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the power steering seized without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown. Updated 04/08/16*lj

Filed Jun 17, 2015 · Steering · 130,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. While driving approximately 10 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the power steering seized without warning. The contact received a notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Feb 13, 2015 · Steering · 300,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. While driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel seized and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact was able to veer to the right and stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was repaired according to the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 300,000.

Filed Jan 29, 2015 · Steering · 81,000 miles · CO

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). The failure mileage was 81,000.

Filed Nov 20, 2014 · Steering · 117,540 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. The contact stated the vehicle stalled intermittently. The contact mentioned that a knocking noise emitted from the steering column as the power steering seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician stated that the contact's vehicle was affected by recall the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). The vehicle was repaired. However, the second day after the software was reprogrammed the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the entire steering column needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 117,540.

Filed Nov 19, 2014 · Steering · 115,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

Filed Nov 12, 2014 · Steering · 65,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning and excessive force was required. The vehicle was merged to side of the road where it was turned off and restarted. The vehicle resumed normal function but the failure recurred multiple times. The contact received a notification for recall the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician informed the contact that they would only update the software and could not replace the pscm. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a diagnosis and they stated that the pscm needed to be replaced. However, the part could not be replaced under the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not offer further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

Filed Jul 19, 2014 · Steering · 160,000 miles · CA

12/26/2012 I was making a u-turn and my steering wheel locked up. Almost hit the light post, another car, almost ran up on the curb and almost hit a rock/boulder sign. Problem went away once I restarted car. Car sat in mechanic shop for weeks, due to back order, and was finally fixed. A new steering column cost me $1064.35 - I also have the original part. 10/26/13 I was driving on freeway, at midnight, and was two hours away from my house. My car kept slipping and the steering wheel was loose. I almost hit the freeway median multiple times, almost hit multiple cars, and almost spun out while on my drive home that night. I did not have a tow truck come because state farms computers were down and I'd have to pay $69 a mile if a tow came- and I was still two hours away from home. I took my car to my mechanic the next day and was told, again, that I am lucky to be alive. My u-join was completely broken and was told that this is also related for the steering column. I paid another $287.06 and had a new u-joint placed. I contacted ford about this steering problem, when my column had to be replaced, and they told me that they have no documented reports of an issue and that there is no recall. The internet states otherwise, and I read thousands of accounts of people getting into accidents due to their steering wheel locking up.

Filed Jul 1, 2014 · Steering · IL

While driving in a residential street at 30 miles per hour the steering wheel locked up for about three seconds during a deceleration period approaching a stop sign. This occurred while trying to move the vehicle slightly to the left in the center of the lane correction.