2003 Ford Escape: loss of power steering

Filed Jun 4, 2018 · Body, Steering · 56,000 miles · PA

My vehicle was serviced for the ford recall # 14s02 and a cross brace was installed. The recall was due to a subframe corroding away in some parts of the us including my region. My complaint is that ford did not correctly fix this problem with their cross brace. They simply bolted a cross brace from one side of the frame to the other and it does nothing when the subframe actually corrodes away. I was lucky to not get in an accident a week ago when my frame that has the cross bar installed finally gave way and my front passenger side control arm completely separated from the cross brace and subframe that has corroded to nothing. Ford has claimed that since the recall work has already been done there is nothing more they can do. I think the federal safety agency should investigate and make ford actually fix this problem before someone gets seriously hurt. It was one of the scariest moments driving that I have ever had. Driving down the road with my 7 yr old son in the car and all of a sudden I lose steering almost all together. Thankfully I was one of the lucky ones that day. If this problem is not addressed then I'm afraid many people will be hurt.

Filed May 14, 2018 · MS

The engine will stutter and stall (after driving fine) and will then the engine shuts down. I lose power steering and brakes - if the car restarts, it will shut down again when I press on the brake. I had it towed recently to a shop and they could find nothing wrong. It happens off and on - I found a similar issue with previous ford escapes and there was a recall in 2004, but my vehicle was not affected (it was made at the same plant as the recalled vehicles. This happened to my husband in a busy intersection and happened to me in a parking lot - it is very scary when it happens.

Filed Jul 6, 2017 · Body, Steering · 96,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle was unstable and there was loss of steering control. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer (arlington heights ford located at 801 w dundee rd arlington heights, il 60004, 888 481-8607) where it was diagnosed that the subframe was cracked. The vehicle was repaired with a brace. Two months later, the vehicle was towed to a local dealer (fox ford lincoln located at 2501 n elston ave chicago, il 60647 773‑687‑7800) where it was diagnosed that the subframe was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened case numbers: casdash12577845 and cas12593478. The failure mileage was 96,000.

Filed Dec 9, 2014 · Body, Suspension · 120,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact heard a constant noise coming from the front of the vehicle near the wheels. The dealer stated that the vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v165000 (structure). The dealer provided the recall remedy of a newly designed cross brace as an interim repair, but the noise failure recurred. Within three months, the power steering failed. The front passenger side wheel was leaning due to the fact that the lower control arm fractured. The subframe was rusted to the point of corrosion. The dealer was notified of the failures. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop for diagnostic testing. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Aug 28, 2014 · Body, Steering · 140,000 miles · NY

At a slow speed, steering all of the sudden became erratic. It could not be driven, so my local dealer took a look at it. He is a certified ford mechanic. He said the subframe was damaged and it was directly related to the recall #14s02 which is for a crossbar to the subframe due to a potential loss of steering. We had to have it towed to the only ford dealership in our area, oneonta ford. The put the crossbar in and performed only the specific recall work. They are telling me now that it still cannot be driven as the subframe is damaged. This is directly related to the issue and the recall. I don't feel I should have to pay for this. Oneonta ford is not doing the right thing.

Filed Aug 7, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 102,000 miles · PA

Driving vehicle and heard a loud pop and sudden loss of steering. Limped the vehicle home and took to dealer who contacted ford for further instructions. They installed a cross brace that does not fix the problem. Ford will not do anything to the subframe because it has not fully detached. There is no steering control at all over 15mph and in their eyes it is safe to drive. Service manager at the local dealership drove the vehicle and experienced for himself that there is no control over the vehicle. The recall has not fixed the problem at all.

Filed Jul 30, 2014 · Body, Steering · 79,000 miles · NY

I am writing about a recall for my ford escape. This recall included the front control arms and the subframe. They were being recalled for corrosion on the control arms and if separated from the subframe it could cause significant steering loss and loss of control of the car and increasing chance of an accident. I took my car in for the recall fix, they installed a reinforcement part and sent me on my way. After this, slowly, my steering wheel started becoming cock-eyed. After driving it like that for a few days,I noticed that after I take a left turn the car would jerk as the steering wheel straightened. I immediately called the ford dealer that fixed the recall, since the recall clearly stated that it could lose steering control and asked them to look at it again, thinking that he recall was not fixed properly or something else to do with the recall is failing. They looked at it and said that the subframe is corroded and it has nothing to do with the recall. And that it would cost 1800 dollars to fix. I asked why it wasn't included in the recall since the steering is effected, they said that the subframe wasn't included. I have read several documents about this recall and several of them state that the subframe is included. So I called ford customer care, they stated that the recall only included the subframe if the control arm separated from it before the recall was fixed not after. I think this is so unfair, since clearly the subframe was corroded when they did the recall fix. They had to have seen that, just because it wasn't separated at the time doesn't mean it shouldn't be included. Anyway, I ended up taking it to my own mechanic who can fix it for alot less, but it is still costing me 1400 dollars!! I can't afford it, can something be done about this, I think it should be fixed for free, and that the sub frame should be included. Please help, thanks. Recall 14s02.

Filed Jun 30, 2014 · Body, Steering · 123,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the subframe became separated from the passenger side wheel area and also became bent. The power steering assist also failed, which caused the vehicle to veer to the right and slide. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but there was no diagnostic testing performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 123,000.

Filed Jun 25, 2014 · Body, Engine · 150,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the front end of the vehicle began to shake violently which caused a loss of steering. The contact was able to regain control and maneuvered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed first to an independent mechanic and then authorized dealer. The technician informed that the passenger's side engine cradle was completely rusted. There was a voluntary recall issued by the manufacturer related to a newly designed engine cradle cross member bracket. The vehicle was repaired under the recall and the problem persisted. The remedy failed to correct the problem. The vehicle had not been repaired for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Jun 12, 2014 · Suspension · 78,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated that the lower control arm failed and caused a loss of steering control. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v165000 (suspension). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it remained for two months however, once the vehicle was returned to the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 78,000.

Filed Sep 22, 2008 · Engine · 107,000 miles · NC

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. When the contact decelerated and reached a speed of 40 MPH or less, the vehicle would stall. It would completely shut down with no power steering or braking ability. She shifted into neutral while depressing the accelerator pedal in order to restart the vehicle. The failure occurred at least once per day. The dealer stated that they would repair the vehicle at the contact's expense. The manufacturer stated that her VIN was not included in any recalls related to the failure. The current mileage was approximately 110,000 and failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

Filed Oct 18, 2005 · Engine · 34,875 miles · KY

I was exiting off the interstate and around 35 MPH my engine completely died and I lost power steering. I was able to make it to the shoulder and restart the vehicle, but the rpms kept bouncing around. I took the vehicle into my local ford dealer, but they said nothing was wrong with it. I researched online myself and found that ford had a recall that matched my exact situation/problem. The federal safety agency id is 04v165000. Ford said my VIN number was not included in the recall. However, I find it hard to believe that mine should be excluded considering that my vehicle is the same make/model/year/engine type of the recalled ones and my problem matched exactly with what was referenced in the recall. Also my warranty runs out in 2 weeks and I don't want the same problem to happen again and then let the dealer find the problem. It also concerns me because my wife drives my car and I'm concerned about my family.