Steering wheel initially started to pulsate at stop light.. Next incident I started the vehicle and there was no power steering, turned vehicle off and restarted and had steering back...next incident steering wheel pulsates while driving and loses power steering while at speed.. Pull vehicle to roadside and restart and regain steering.. Not having this vehicle recalled to fix this issue is the most insane thing I have ever heard of.. If a frail person or elderly has this happen to them, people will die.. Its not a matter of if this happens but when it will.. If it hasn't already.. Anybody reading this I hope you or your children or family or friends or anybody for that matter does not die as a result of this matter going unresolved... It is mindboggling that ford turns its back on this issue..im not alone in this, there are complaints all over the internet.. Can you imagine a loss or multiple losses of lives after so many complaints being registered? Please help
2008 Ford Escape electrical complaints
Page 5 of 6: complaints 101 to 130 of 136, newest first, as owners wrote them.
After making a left turn and braking at a stop sign, I experienced a sudden loss of power steering.
On dec 27 2013 we were driving escape . When trying go around curve ford lost all power steering which caused us to almost hit wall. My husband drove to side road. Shut it off . Waited few minutes started it power steering was back. Took it to garage was told power steering sensor was going out . Was told it be 1123.00 cost. It happened again on january 3rd 2014. Was told that this is a safety issue and that ford knows its not working right. Need a recall before someone gets hurt or killed. Our escape is not only one doing it. The ones with electric power steering are failing. I'm scared drive it much.
Car stalled when driving on hwy in snow storm on two different occasions. Also, RPM's climb, just had the steering column replaced 2 months ago.
While driving at 45 MPH, the electric power steering (eps or epas) failed. The car instantly lost all ability for power steering, without alerting the driver. The problem is intermittent, and may fail at any time. The epas can sometimes be re-instituted by stopping the car (in the middle of the road at times, or freeway), turning off the car completely ... Waiting 10 seconds, and restarting the car. But this does not mean that the problem will not occur again at any time within the same driving incident. The epas continues to fail at inopportune times, without alerting the driver until failure has occured.
I was awake sitting at my dinning room table, I smelt something (burnt rubber) so I check all room in the house. I walk outside and saw smoke coming out from my ford escape that was park. I woke my kids, called the fire department and grabbed the water hose. Once the fire fighters were on the scene, they opened the driver door, smoke exited the doors exposing oxygen causing some flickering of the flame to start. Water was discharged onto the smoldering interior of the vehicle & cooling down ignition of dash area (radio is located). The heat was so hot that it cracked front windshield, melted all plastic frame inside the vehicle (middle area near radio & shift gear) and blacken all the windows. Once fire was under control, fire fighter stated it was an electrical wire. Battery cable was also cut to prevent any deployment of the air bags. But then I was in shock just thinking omg! I was driving the vehicle to work all week and park it later that night. Today I still don't know the electrical fire started, very puzzling because the vehicle was not running and there are no recalls from ford dealer on this model. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough money to pay for my vehicle insurance for another month so there fore am stuck with the bill. I bought the use vehicle at drive time in phoenix arizona and the finance company has nothing to do with my situation but for me to pay the vehicle off. Like I said I still don't know the exact cause of the fire expect it was cause by wiring. I could see the v shape outline of where the fire started. Not only that but I had problems with the ignition, I had to turn the key all the way around in order for the vehicle to start (no recalls)? I am still sad by all of this but very thankful that no one was driving the vehicle......who knows what could have happened?
My 2008 ford escape's transmission started slipping while in overdrive. It then went out and revved up to 5,000 RPM's and would not move while in over drive or drive on the interstate causing me to almost get rear ended. I had to shift to second gear and limp it home.
This is my second complaint, same issue. Again, yesterday driving at about 30 MPH the car just shut off. No problems immediately before, no sounds, nothing. It just stalled. Started up right away. No problems driving after except it did feel like it jerked a bit (almost unnoticeable except now I am very aware of this) on two occasions within 5 minutes after the stall. This car was purchases as a used vehicle back in jan. It is a 2008. I also filed a complaint yesterday on this same issue which occurred just in the last few days and again a couple of weeks ago. So this is the 4th "stall" since I purchased the vehicle 7 weeks ago.
This is an update to previous incident. $10486901 having spent the previous ($900) to find the problem, customer took the vehicle to a ford dealership repair shop. They agreed with the other mechanics that the instrument cluster was defective, but said that they could not give anything in writing till I paid their diagnostic fee ($135) and saw for themselves. I agreed. Now I have spent another ($1120) to replace the instrument cluster. I also have in writing from the ford dealership that the speed cannot be viewed while driving (it reads 0 MPH) and is a safety issue. Contact me for the next step.
Power steering goes out for no reason. It clicks in the housing under the steering wheel, in the steering column. Needed to add that we have had several injuries and more than one accident where a vehicle sustained damage as a result of this defect.
As I was backing up, I lost power steering. I was unable to turn the wheel without great force, and backed into the porch. After turning the car off and turning it back on, this resolved. It happened again the next day going forward at 40 MPH. I could hear something in the steering column click and then lost power steering. Now the power steering has completely gone out. When I start the car, I can turn the steering wheel all the way one direction and "trick" it into having power steering for a moment before it clicks off again. I have sustained a neck and shoulder injury from having to use my entire body to turn the wheel, and slamming into the porch when the wheel got "stuck" in a turned position and I was unable to turn it back. It is unbelievable that no one has died as a result of ford's defect. Will the federal safety agency wait until then to force ford into a recall?
I turned on my seat warmer on driver's seat and heater, within a minute or so smoke started coming out bottom part of control panel where it meets the console. The smoke got worse. I was in the middle lane of heavy traffic and had a difficult time getting over to turn off and get stopped. By this time the smoke was quite bad (had electrical smell) I had all windows down & sun roof open. The car alarm went off, the heater would not turn off. I finally got stopped and got out of the vehicle. A lady pulled in to the church parking area where I was and called 911 for me. By this time you could see actual fire (flames) coming from the same spot as smoke. It was amazing how quickly it was in flames. The vehicle blew up. The fire department arrived in time to put out the fire. The only thing left is the metal shell and the tires. Nothing in the interior. All windows and sunroof blew out. Bumpers, lights, tail lights melted. Thanks ford.
I was driving down the 5 freeway. I had been driving for about 45 minuets. I changed lanes to the right and the steering got extremely hard to move. I pulled of the freeway at the next off ramp. The entire time the wheel was very hard to maneuver. I came to a stop turned off the car, checked all my fluids, and googled the issue on my phone. All results lead to electrical power steering. I turned the car back on and all function returned.
While backing out of a parking space the steering locked on my wife's 2008 ford escape. She called me to come help her as she was not able to move her escape. Upon arrival I inspected the vehicle for obvious signs of problems, none were noted. I tried to move the steering wheel; I was quite shocked that the steering wheel could not be moved. Since I am 6'4" and 300lbs most things that I grab move?the steering wheel should have moved, just without the assist of the power assist. The vehicle was towed to a ford dealership for them to diagnose the issue. I was informed that the sensors in the steering column are bad. The dealership stated that they were able to reset the computer and that the steering now functions. The dealership informed me that I have two choices drive the vehicle and see if the issue repeats or replace the entire steering column ($1,500.00). I explained that this is in fact a safety issue as the steering failed completely and locked up as I was unable to move the steering wheel. Ford customer care was contacted and they have offered no assistance in this issue and claim that they have no knowledge of any issues pertaining to this problem on record. This statement by ford customer care seems to be highly suspect as a quick internet search found many identical issues. The complete failure of the steering system is beyond unacceptable! If someone with my strength cannot move the steering wheel than how is someone the size of my wife supposed to move the steering wheel if and in this case when the steering system fails. Ford needs to accept that there is in fact a major safety problem related to the failure of the electronic steering system of the ford escape. Complete failure of the steering is not acceptable. Again this was a complete failure of the steering system!!!
My ford escape is my family and work vehicle. One morning I started it after it was parked in cold overnight, engine started but the steering was stuck, thought battery was bad. Restarted several times until steering loosened up. Drove car and every stop light or while idling, the steering wheel vibrated so hard and have to hold it steady, thought, time to have my control arm replaced again. Took it to a friend's car shop , said, they've been having costumers bringing their ford escapes lately with the same problem. They couldn't fix it. Told me to go to my dealership. Dealership diagnosed it , electronic steering problem $90 for diagnosis, $1100 parts and labor, about 3-days to order for parts. Too expensive and dangerous, needs to have a recall.
The car involved was a 2008 ford escape. I was driving at about 45 and I lost complete control of my power steering. I was unable to turn steering wheel. I used all my force to get to the side of the road. I then turned the car off and turned it back on my steering was then fine. I got back on the road and I lost all of my power steering again. This steering problem is very dangerous and recall must be enforced!!
While driving at 65 MPH on I-10, toward armstrong international airport, the vehicle, with no pre-warning began to decelerate (slow down). The vehicles speed did not respond to depressing throttle pedal; the vehicle would not maintain speed. Fortunately, there were no vehicle in the right lane and I was able to get to the shoulder of the road. There, by turning off the ignition and restarting the vehicle I was able to continue the trip until the second and third occurrence. This situation occurred three more time on the return trip home. All on the interstate highway. Needless to say, after the first occurrence I proceeded in the far right lane where I could get to the shoulder easily. After doing some investigation, I have found that this has been occurring on ford escorts since 2004 at least. I find it difficult to believe that such a potentially dangerous design flaw in an automobile has persisted so long. Imagine what would be the consequences of having this occur while driving in the middle of a six lane interstate with 18 wheelers all around. At best there would be an accident, there is a very high probability of fatalities.
The dashboard cluster (instrument panel) failed while driving causing the speedometer and RPM gauges to drop to zero. All the instrument lights turning, car not starting on, AC blowing warm ai, were all side effects of the problem. Searching for the problem has amounted to almost $900 in expenses. Sent in complaints to ford, who promised to escalate the issue and then never contacted me. Took it to the dealer, who mentioned that they didn't know what it was and that it was somewhere in the vehicle. Took it to a reliable mechanic who called in a specialist to find broken connections within the panel causing it to fail intermittently. I have the mechanic's report stating that many similar models have this exact issue and is surprised ford in not giving attention to this safety issue.
Out of nowhere in sept and oct of 2011 my sun roof, right passenger and right back passenger windows stopped working. They fell straight down.. The motor and the band quit and now come august and october of .2012 the same thing on the left. I bought this brand new on 2008 out of the dealership and now I have to spend my time and money for a defective auto.
Starting in the fall of 2009 when the weather got colder, the throttle became unresponsive and harder to depress, requiring a greater effort to press down the pedal to un-stick and only then would the throttle pedal depress beyond the idle position. Therefore, the vehicle continues to lurch forward creating a sudden, dangerous condition. The problem has been persistent and continues to get worse.
Issue happened four times in last couple months--two times with my wife-two with me-was once on highways with each of us -and once in just going into a parking lot while turning at 5 MPH or less-have a witness on last occasion a couple days back at work lot. Have also experience a battery dead-took to advance auto of hammonton, nj and advised on sunday passed that battery tested fine. The ignition has been loose-and is getting worse -the key wiggles -and on just a normal input the engine does not turn over --have to put in 2nd or 3rd time -pushing in hard to get contact. Feel , but do not know , that this issue effects both the battery and the loss of power steering on the four occasions--in any case it is a real safety issue-will not let my wife drive the car-she uses now the 2000 sel ford van we have for second car. We love the escape-but this is a serious safety issue. I have all my records on my home page ford for years-and all service records-99 per cent from dealership where bought this and many others. They have in past been great. Contacted ford.com -received a reply to my e-mail in a day from a [xxx] of ford -they are doing a very intensive study and are also saying there are no current recalls or financial assistance on what our dealership said could cost around $400 to pull down and repair.[xxx] of ford.com promised a reply and hope for solution with and in co-operation with my dealership and ford. Ford in the past has always stood up to their responsibilities for us , as has our dealership service department at lilliston ford , vineland, nj . Thanks for allowing to share this with other folks -will follow up on a conclusion in the next weeks. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
When driving the instrument cluster fails. All the dashboard lights come on, the speedometer/fuel gauge/etc move to 0 or the far left. Looking online for ford instrument panel failure, there are hundreds of complaints about it. Checked with the mechanic who says it is a common failure with ford. They have a bulletin about it but it will not construe a recall until a death or injury from a crash related to the defective equipment. This may also fall under a tort lawsuit.
I was driving with two family members when power steering failed on a freeway off ramp. Steering failed whereas I narrowly avoided a major collision. Vehicle extremely difficult to turn with electric steering failure.
I had purchased this truck new from the dealer in march of 2008, this truck has had many problems in the past starting with the day I bought the truck. Now a few year's later the "a.c. Condenser" was leaking transmission fluid and the dealer is now telling me that it is not covered under my "drive train warranty". I am not a mechanic but the several mechanic's that I have spoken to said that, that part is vital to the power train. I am a young struggling nurse trying to pay off school loans, and they are telling me that this is going to cost $700.00, I cannot afford it and I need my truck. I bought this new with the impression that these things will not be an issue and if they were they would be covered by ford's warranty. I have done some research on the internet and this is a major problem with this specific year and truck. I am hoping that you guy's will be able to help with this matter. Thank you and god bless.
The tire pressure monitor light comes on and the message center says "tire pressure monitor fault". At the same time the door ajar light and brake lights came on. The volume on the stereo automatically goes down or stops working or can't change stations when I get the tire pressure message or reboots along with the air conditioner blowing hot air. The doors don't automatically lock, when they do lock, the AC comes back on. As it got worse the dash has a mind of its own, somedays it doesn't light up other days it stays on all night. Sometimes when I ride over a speed bump it will fix the problem, but it always comes back.
Car burned down to the frame. Turned the car on it started to smell like something was burning. Smoke and fire started coming out of the A/C vents. The contact left the vehicle immediately and it went up in flames. After speaking with the police and firemen and they had a chance to look at the remains of the car once the fire was put out, the best conclusion they could come up with as to what happened was some sort of electrical fuse malfunction. Updated 12/20/10 * bf the fire originated within the passenger compartment and then advanced into the engine compartment. The exact cause of the fire could not be determined. Updated 12/27/10
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. While the vehicle was parked, as she turn the ignition off she heard a clicking noise. She believes the clicking noise was coming from the air conditioner. She also stated that white partials were all over her seats and interior. The vehicle was taken to two authorized dealers and she was told that the noise was normal. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 100 and the current mileage was 1,400.
Tccf transmission cooler condenser failure- july 16,2008 repaired; -leaking -slipping on shifting-had very little transmission oil on dip stick when repaired at dealership under the 36,000 limited warranty--after 4 days july 20, 2008 wife was rear ended by a dwi traveling at estimated more than 75 to 80 MPH(my wife traveling on a state highway at normal regulated speed of 50 MPH) -damages of over $13,500 to our car-all shop and repairs done by ford dealership , our only shop and service place for this escape 2008. On february 9, 2010(at 21,000 miles later the 2nd tccf-leaking fluid seen in snow-dealership after contact with ford.com replaced and repaired under good will customer plan of the dealership. They also replaced on our complaint of a "clacking" type noise , a steering right front assembly at no cost to us) there evidently a tsb on it. In addition we have a heating-cooling flow of air from our heat and air vents problem-temperatures not as we regulate them.. The dealership had replaced a actuator in behind dash(have record of that along with all service dates on ford ownership home page-believe it about on previous service for oil change) on completion of recent repairs and our vehicle returned to us on february 18, 2010 we advised the service manager of the continuing air-heat regulator problem-advised they would reexamine it on next service or at our convenience. The dealership has stood behind the ford, we must admit that-but our inconvenience and the so many that have seen by others on the internet seem to warrant a recall as to all three related problems--some of which seem to be related to the same tcc problems.
The battery drains while the vehicle is off. It takes about 2 days for the battery to be completely dead. I brought the car to the ford dealership. The mechanics couldn't figure out where the drain was coming from so they flew in an engineer from the ford factory. He had them remove each fuse & put them back in 3 at a time. Then wait 2 days to see if there was a drain on that electrical line. After over 3 months of my car in the shop, they replaced the smart junction box thinking that would solve it. It didn't. The ford customer service rep I was dealing with basically told me that there's nothing else they can do. I told her that I bought the car brand new 2 yrs ago but she didn't care at all. I posted my problem on the internet & had 2 other people from across the country email me with the same exact problem. Ford is not taking responsibility for their faulty product. I've been a loyal ford customer for the last 15 years. I'm also in the military & need my car for my duties. I've taken excellent care of the vehicle from the day I bought it. Ford has completely abandoned me with this problem.
Defect in vehicle wiring harness - my car has been at the dealership for repairs since 01/30/2010. The dealership stated my vehicle was not safe to drive due to the wires corroding and causing mechanical failures on this vehicle. The dealership had ordered the new wiring system as an emergency "order" on 01/30/2010 but due to this being such an overwhelming issue ford cant keep up with the demand for the replacement parts ! This is a 2008 ford escape 4x4, I should not being experiencing any problems with a new vehicle that only has 46 thousand miles on it. Of course nothing is covered under warranty when your wires corrode and catch fire. The damages so far are around $800.00. My son and I both smelled something burning from the truck but couldn't locate the source of the smell. Once in the ford dealership I was told it was the wiring that had corroded due to road salt and that this is a very common occurrence and that they are hoping for a recall due to the volume. Unfortunately for me this will be all out of pocket expenses. Being told that this is a "notorious" issue does not ease my mind when the safety of myself and my children were at risk !!
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