2008 Ford Escape Hybrid: jerking or lurching

Filed Dec 11, 2018 · Steering · 144,000 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. While driving, the steering wheel shook, jerked, and lost power. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a median and a tire blew out. There were no warning indicators illuminated. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to big valley ford lincoln (3282 auto center cir, stockton, ca 95212, (800) 867-1516) where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist failed and the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 144,000.

Filed May 11, 2017 · Steering · 164,000 miles · OR

Received a safety recall notice 14s05. Took to local dealership who performed sensor reset. Two thousand miles later the power steering failed while driving and the vehicle lurched to the right nearly hitting a cyclist in bike lane and startling me as I was barely unable to manhandle to now manual steering vehicle to avoid the collision. I am quite strong and it is likely anyone w/less body strength would not have been able to command the vehicle. That is when I reviewed the voluminous complaints filed and determined ford is completely unwilling to accept responsibility for what was a faulty part subjecting to owners to great risk of injury. It appears based on my research that the recall service done was a farce and waste of time for consumers w/no real reduction of safety risk. Furthermore, it seems the federal safety agency is weak in response to the safety risk and not requiring ford to replace the part and reduce the chances of a serious vehicle crash.

Filed Nov 15, 2016 · Brakes · 217,032 miles · KS

I have experienced an unusual problem with the braking system in my 2008 ford escape hybrid. I have experienced several episodes while braking of the yellow ABS and the red brake warning lamp lighting up and the display saying "regen brakes disabled" over the past year. When this happens the brakes are slow to stop the car with a jerking action. All of my failures have happened while driving in town. Once I ended up in the middle of an intersection before the car came to a complete stop. The only way I could correct the issue would be to stop the car, depress the brake pedal hard to the floor,then shut off the vehicle. I would then restart my car and the brakes would then return to normal operation. I have researched this issue on line and have found hundreds of people posting complaints about the same issue. All complaints are from owners of feh's 2005 to 2008. Why hasn't this life safety issue been addressed? From what I have read, the repair could be from $3000 to $7000 dollars. I don't understand why there hasn't been a recall. Or has there been. Please advise. Dl

Filed Apr 8, 2014 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 65,000 miles · IL

When coming to a stop the car jerked/pulsates and ABS indicator blinked. The problem is continuous. This seems to be a common problem with ford based on internet research.

Filed Feb 23, 2014 · Steering · 107,000 miles · IN

While driving the car I came to a stop sign and the steering wheel started to vibrate and jerk when the car was stopped. This continued for the drive to work, at each stop the steering wheel was moving. When leaving work, after starting the car, found that there was no power steering. Turned off the car and re-started it, the power steering came back. Since that time the problem has become more frequent. Sometimes I have to restart the car a few times before the steering activates. We just dropped it off at a dealership for inspection, our local garage could get no help from ford on what was required for the repair or what the computer codes meant, other than they were related to the steering column. So now we are being told by ford that the repair can range from $600 to $1,500.00 to fix the problem, but they are not sure what it is, and that they do not believe what was reported on the internet is the cause. If all of the symptoms match the others listed how can the problem be something else?

Filed Jan 24, 2013 · Electrical, Steering · 84,697 miles · NM

The auto had just had the pump that cools the hybrid engine replaced at a cost of $590 when we noticed that there was a jerking in the steering wheel when stopped. The wheel would jerk to the right and left and make a "clucking" noise. Once the car was moving the jerking seemed to stop. But then we found that when we started the car there might be no power steering or power forward. The car would have to be forcibly steered to the side and the engine turned off. Starting the engine again, the car had power steering and engine power. This began to happen nearly every time the car was started, and the jerking of the wheel every time the car was stopped at a traffic signal or stop. While the problem has yet to cause a dangerous situation the potential is certainly there should the same circumstances occur while driving. Having reviewed the web sites for problems with the 2008 escape there are literally dozens of similar complaints. One site lists nearly one hundred complaints exactly like mine and in some there have been accidents and potential injury. Ford is stonewalling everyone on this even when the mileage is less than 50, 000 miles. Often they say they know nothing of the problem and refuse to offer assistance in meeting charges that range upward to $1700. Given the information that I now have I consider this to be very dangerous and am hesitant to drive the car. The lack of concern by ford seems to me to be a serious matter and one that should concern the federal safety agency.

Filed Jan 20, 2012 · Brakes · 48,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape hybrid. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle, the ABS and emergency brake lights were illuminated. While driving approximately 10 MPH and depressing the brakes, she noticed a jerking sensation. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised the contact that the hydraulic control unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure and the current mileages were approximately 48,000.