For the past 4-5 days, the power steering was going out completely whenever I tried to maneuver in parking spaces. I would have to turn the car off then back on to regain power steering assistance. Tonight as I was driving on a very busy road the power steering went out again, luckily in front of a service station where I was able to pull in slowly and was told I have an electric steering system. I did some research and found out there was a recall for my model year for this exact issue but when I called the local ford dealerships to have it fixed, they all told me my VIN wasn't covered in the recall and they wouldn't fix it. I have found numerous complaints online from people with the same issue.
2008 Ford Escape steering complaints
Page 15 of 39: complaints 401 to 430 of 1,127, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. After restarting the vehicle, the power steering malfunctioned and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was towed to the dealer (blue spring ford, 3200 s. Outer rd, blue springs, mo 64015) where it was diagnosed that the torque sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact indicated that the vehicle was serviced in july of 2014 per the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering) in which the power steering control module software was updated. The vehicle later experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 158,000.
While sitting in a parking lot or driving down the road, the steering wheel turns a distance of 2 inches back and forth on its own. When I turned my vehicle on recently, an error message appeared on the dashboard saying "electronic power steering assist failure" and the wheel was very hard to turn. After turning it a certain distance it freed up again and I was able to make it to my next destination without any further problems besides the wheel trying to turn itself.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. The contact stated that the steering required excessive effort to maneuver the vehicle while traveling various speeds. The failure occurred without warning. Huntington ford (2890 s rochester rd, rochester hills, mi) was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed because the dealer wanted to charge a $100 diagnostic fee. The vehicle was previously remedied per the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering) at the same dealer the previous year. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the dealer performed the remedy as authorized. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
Sudden temporary failure of electrical power steering, the dealer said the torque sensor is failing. They did the reprogram in august 2017, now ford will not fix because the recall has been done and their were no codes in PCM, guess we acted too soon on a recall, if the sensor was bad in august they would've covered it. They want $600 to replace a part that they know is failing and causing safety concerns.
Electric power steering assist fails and car is unable to be steered. This happens while driving, with very unsafe situation. This is not a nuisance, it is totally unsafe as car control is lost when this happens. Recalls appear to have been initiated surrounding this problem, I need to find out if this is the case. Ford must stand behind fixing this unsafe condition.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the power steering assist warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to determine the cause of the failure. The contact called zeigler ford plainwell at (269) 685-5801 (1260 m-89 suite 200, plainwell, mi 49080) and could not be assisted due to computer issues. The dealer stated that they would call the contact back. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.
I took my car in for a recall on the power steering. Afterwards when I would idle, the steering wheel became shaky making a loud noise. Now it shakes even when I'm driving and will get jerky or stop working completely. This happens on the highway, when I'm stopped at a stop light or when I'm pulling out of a driveway! From what I have researched this happens to thousands of other ford owners. The power steering simply gives out and they want you to pay $1,500 to have the whole column replaced!
Recall steering -after having a "software" updates on a 2008 ford escape xlt in 2014 for ford recall #14s05, now in 2017 my steering wheel is shaking while at a stop both in and out of gear. Researching the problem could be a torque steering sensor or a full blown steering column replacement. Both may lead to inoperable power steering or steering as well. Local ford dealer quoted $800 for torque sensor replacement or $1800 for full steering column.
We purchased this vehicle about 3 months ago with 125,000 miles on it & the steering was great! We have driven it for about 1,000 miles. When I got in and started the vehicle the steering is so tight I can not turn the wheel in either direction! I had to leave my vehicle in the store parking lot & have my husband go there and drive it home. We checked with dealer and they informed us there are no recalls on our vehicle. So we went online & found there are a lot of people who have had the same thing happen to them, with ford doing nothing to help.
Power steering suddenly quit, when fortunately in the driveway no warning or error codes that were supposed be there after recall. Needs replacement steering colum parts that were defective and not replaced. When the assists quits it creates a dangerous situation as the car is very hard to steer and can cause the driver to lose control.
My ford escape gave me a warning of the power steering assist fault and then my power steering stopped working. After doing research ford covered 2008 escape models as a recall, but my VIN number said mine was made at a different factory so it is not covered.
While driving downtown city street, had to make a turn and the steering wheel would not turn. Had to stop immediately on side of the street, which was difficult since steering wheel would not turn.
When driving, steering locks up or becomes difficult to turn steering wheel, especially when turning right while driving.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering) for which it received the update for the power steering system in june of 2017. Approximately six months later, while driving, the contact heard a beeping sound and noticed a warning indicator that stated that the power steering system failed. The contact called reineke ford lincoln of lima (1360 greely chapel rd, lima, oh 45804; 419‑223‑3673) who informed the contact that the power steering column failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened case number: cas/13702203. The manufacturer stated that the recall repair was completed and separate from the failure. The contact was also informed that the new repair was not covered under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000.
The power steering in my 2008 ford escape began jarring around and has faulted several times while driving, resulting in an immediate loss of power steering. Ford dealer states that the recall has been addressed with a "programming fix," however, the problem is making my vehicle unsafe to myself, and others on the highway. This is a persistent problem among the 2008-2011 ford/mercury models and one that ford motor company needs to take full responsibility of, or be forced to.
I was driving home this morning and the power steering assist fault came up. This fault has never been on before. I read a couple of online sites and it stated that there was a recall of 14s05 but it doesnt show for my vehicle. Mine is the same year affected but does not apply for some reason.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. When the contact started the vehicle, there was no electric power steering assist ability. As a result, it was difficult to turn right or left. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (vidalia ford lincoln, 2607 e 1st st, vidalia, ga 30474) where it was diagnosed that the steering torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. *bf consumer stated the faulty sensor cited by the recall did, in fact, fail contemporaneous to the steering software update. Consumer attempted to have the sensor replaced by a ford dealer under this recall, but the dealer refused to do so under the recall. Updated 9/18/18
The steering torque sensor has failed and the car is very hard to steer. (recall 14s05) found out there had been a recall, but we were never informed of that! Now we find that the recall is closed. While driving, the car shakes and is very difficult to steer.
I noticed a slight vibration in my steering wheel on 12/9/17 while driving at very low speeds due to snowy conditions and today on 12/10/17 power steering loss was felt upon lower speed turns only followed by complete power steering loss by end of hour long round trip on mostly highway followed by back roads until home. It is strange that no recalls come up past or present about this issue since in 2014 ford did issue a recall for "2008-2011 ford escapes, mercury mariners and 2011-2013 ford explorers for faulty torque sensors in steering columns that result in loss of electric power steering assist while driving...making the vehicle more difficult to steer, especially at lower speeds...which could result in an increased risk of crash". What can be done about this? Is this recall expired or something? Recalls should not expire if that is the case! I never received any recalls about this problem that I am aware of. Owners of these vehicles should not be responsible for these repairs! I am contacting ford next.
When I came out of the gas station the wheel would not turn and "power steering assist failure" came up. I could not steer the vehicle and the problem still persists tonight 12/9/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. While driving 20 MPH, the steering torque sensor illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to drive home. The contact called edwards county motors (51 e main st, albion, il 62086), but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was also contacted and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. While driving, the power steering failed when the vehicle was turned to the right. The contact had to use excessive force to turn the vehicle to the right. There was an unknown open recall for the power steering module, which was repaired by ford and closed; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the power steering could fail permanently. There were no warning indicators illuminated when the failure occurred. The vehicle was not repaired. Lithia ford of klamath falls (2833 washburn way, klamath falls, or 97603 (541) 205-4501) was contacted. The manufacturer was also contacted and could not assist since the recall was closed. The failure mileage was 125,308.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. While driving 25 MPH, the power steering failed and the "power steering assist fault" message appeared. The contact was able to drive home, but it was extremely difficult to steer the vehicle left or right. Hopkins ford in elgin, illinois was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was 119,917.
The power steering torque sensor goes out even after ford did a recall on the software and closed the recall. I went to a ford garage and they told me that the vehicle had the software update and that the repair would have to be done at my expense.
The power steering suddenly stopped working making the car very difficult to steer. This occurred while driving. With no power steering you can still steer the car but the effort required is very very large.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. While parking, the steering wheel seized and the power steering failed without warning. The contact turned the vehicle off and on several times, but the power steering failed. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing or repair. The contact researched the failure online and found the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). The failure mileage was 147,019. *bf updated 8/15/18
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. Two days after the transmission was replaced by an independent mechanic, the steering wheel inadvertently became difficult to maneuver while driving various speeds. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to ewald's venus ford (2727 e layton ave, cudahy, wi 53110 (414) 481-8500), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
There is a power steering problem with my 2008 ford escape. The power steering started to shake at first and got very stiff to turn around and move from my garage eventually. I contacted ford about my situation and they said that my vehicle is not on recall. My vehicle is at the shop at the moment. I do not know how much it will cost me.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. While making a turn at approximately 5 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the contact had to use excessive force to complete the turn. There were no warning indicators illuminated and no sounds coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was not towed because the vehicle was operable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 160,000.
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