2010 Ford Escape: steering wheel locks up

Filed Sep 26, 2026 · Steering · WI

Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist Power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds. Steering locks up while driving. This has happened 3 times within the last 6 months. Before this, the last few years it has been difficult starting the car with the key. It would take multiple tries before starting. But now that the steering has locked up more than twice while driving is concerning. I see there were previous problems with the steering and corrected in 2014. After reading the recall description, it sounds to be the same problem. And recently i parked the vehicle, put in park, pulled the key and when opening the door beeping occurred like the key was in the ignition. Once the key was put in the ignition, it stopped. Please Help, [XXX] [XXX]/[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 25, 2026 · Steering · 166,320 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the steering wheel seized and failed to respond as designed. The vehicle was restarted several times before the steering wheel unlocked. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the failure was associated with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V284000 (STEERING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 166,320.

Filed Feb 13, 2025 · Steering · 116,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized with the power steering failure message displayed. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.

Filed Jun 24, 2024 · Steering · MN

I was driving straight went to turn and I heard a click and my steering wheel locked up completely. I heard two clicks that followed and the steering wheel released. This occurred 4 times on my attempt to get home.

Filed Apr 19, 2024 · Steering · 125,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, and the power steering assist fault warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to steer. The vehicle was safely driven to the residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed torque sensor and faulty wires and connectors. The contact was informed that the torque sensor and the wires and connectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

Filed Dec 28, 2022 · Steering · 172,000 miles · NH

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 15 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the steering wheel locked. The contact stated that the vehicle was stopped but the engine was still running. The contact stated that after the vehicle came to a full stop, the power steering regained proper functionality. The contact stated that his wife had heard a loud beeping sound but had not observed any warning lights being illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but occurred while the vehicle was driving at slow speeds and turning to the left or the right. The contact had driven the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed; and it was determined that the steering shaft torque sensor needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the mechanic ran a diagnostic test and retrieved Code: B2278. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.

Filed Nov 22, 2022 · Steering · 130,000 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing the vehicle from his driveway, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact continued to experience the failure intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the steering column, the steering sensor, and the electronic board controlling the power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The dealer informed the contact that the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) was completed by the previous owner of the vehicle in 2014. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Filed Oct 7, 2022 · Steering · 176,000 miles · KY

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to veer to the side of the road and continued driving straightforward. The contact stated as she continued driving, the power steering became operative. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electric power steering assist had failed. The independent mechanic associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) and referred the contact to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure an informed the contact that they could not assist as the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module had been previously updated and the computer had been recalibrated under the recall. The contact contacted the dealer who previously completed the recall repair of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.

Filed Jun 21, 2022 · Steering · 70,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while he was seated in the passenger’s side front seat with his daughter driving 50 MPH, the steering wheel seized inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's daughter turned on the hazard lights and depressed the brake pedal while the contact used extra effort to steer the vehicle to the side of the roadway. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle however, the steering wheel remained locked. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering module had failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist since the vehicle had previously been repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) in 2014. A case was opened. The contact was awaiting a call back. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Mar 2, 2022 · Steering · 98,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while pulling into the driveway, the steering wheel locked up. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Filed Sep 12, 2021 · Steering · OK · crash

I was driving turning right and my steering wheel locked up and I hit a tree I seen my model car has a recall #14s05

Filed Aug 17, 2021 · VI

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel locked up. The power steering assist fault message was displayed. The contact called the local dealer, but vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated the failure was like the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.