2011 Ford Escape: steering wheel locks up

Filed Mar 19, 2025 · Steering · 250,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel seized intermittently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that on another occasion, while the vehicle was parked, the sensor failure caused the steering wheel to move back and forth with a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with torque sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.

Filed Mar 18, 2025 · Steering · MI

While driving my steering wheel locks up and it is hard to turn. If I turn my car off then back on it start working right then locks right back up

Filed Apr 23, 2024 · Steering · OH

Power steering locks up and makes it almost impossible to turn the wheel. Error diagnostic code is B2278. VIN is not included in the recall.

Filed Apr 11, 2024 · Steering, Suspension · 154,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the steering wheel locked, causing the vehicle to drive straightforwardly towards oncoming traffic. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she stopped the vehicle and reversed. The contact stated that a road construction worker placed traffic cones around the vehicle to prevent a crash. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist motor had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic contacted the dealer for the part and was informed that the part was not available. The contact followed up with the dealer, who informed her that the part had been discontinued. Additionally, the contact stated while the vehicle was being towed to the independent mechanic, the front driver's side lower control arm fractured due to severely rusted bolts. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.

Filed Aug 24, 2023 · Steering · CA

We bought a certified pre-owned 2011 Ford Escape from Simi Valley Ford dealer back in late 2014. We then gave it to our son when he started college in 2018. It has been working okay for him until three weeks ago the steering wheel locked a few times on him while driving and he took it to the local repair shop where he was told that there had been a recall on the 2011 Ford Escapes for issues with steering so his best bet would be to take it to the dealership. He took it to a Ford dealership and they said it needed a new steering column but that it was not covered under the recall (codes did not match). We authorized the replacement of the steering column over a week ago and we keep being told that the part has not shipped from the manufacturer and that they do not have an ETA as to when it will be available. I spoke to another dealership and he told me that FORD is not allowing the sale of this part. Part Number: CL8Z3C529D Steering Column.

Filed Aug 18, 2023 · Steering · 190,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds while making a left or a right turn, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that she had to turn off and restart the vehicle to unlock the steering wheel. No warning light was illuminated. The contact’s father diagnosed the vehicle and retrieved DTC code: B2278. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was transferred to the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

Filed Apr 15, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · OH

Discovered my car has electric power steering not seeing a reservoir did some research and seen that there were a lot of 2011 Ford Escapes with safety recalls three being the main problems I've had with my car since I began financing it almost 4 years ago my last payment is in 2 weeks. Went to leave a driveway and within a few seconds my steering wheel locked up and I thought it was strange that's when I found out I have electric power steering and that there has been recalls turned the car off turn to back on and it was just fine. Found out that is a common thing although it may not be considered a safety recall just yet but I would believe it is a major problem because anytime in my life if I was to believe my power steering was failing me I would still have control over the wheel but this thing locks up as if I ain't going nowhere. I seen that there has been recalls for fuel systems front wheel bearings and electric power steering. My engine light has been on for a very long time and people say it's because of the O2 sensor causing a misfire to appear random. My front wheels kind of knock making me think it could be between the rack axle and bearing. Other than that my radio face button stopped working one day as if they were possessed until they completely shut off and I have no access to it besides the steering wheel components. Rear wiper stuck in the up position one day was causing a tick I could hear with no power and no key in the ignition that caused my battery to die several times 2 years in a row. Realized unplugging my rear wiper made it quit but I can't use my front washer fluid without it being unplugged. And my AC Open Air Max AC and heating cooling climate control buttons work but the blower only works on high making me think yet another electrical issue being the blower speed regulator is bad. I would say these are safety issues package together. This website says I have 0unrepaired recalls. Might try fix it with a torque sensor/calling dealership.

Filed Feb 7, 2022 · Steering · 182,479 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist failed and the steering wheel locked up. The contact restarted the vehicle to correct the failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was 182,479.

Filed Feb 4, 2022 · Steering · IL

2011 Ford Escape XLT power steering column assembly internal failure. Power steering lost. The steering wheel locks up while the car is in motion causing no control of the vehicle. Same as the ones recalled. My VIN number falls short TWO days after the Ford recall window #14S05. the federal safety agency Recall # 14V284000

Filed Feb 3, 2022 · Steering · 93,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving on three separate occasions, the steering wheel locked up without warning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering control module needed to be replaced. The contact was provided an estimate however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

Filed Mar 10, 2021 · Steering · 85,000 miles · WV

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering ceased. The vehicle was towed to thornhill ford (u.s. 119 north 500 ford fairlane, chapmanville, wv 25508) who informed the contact that the steering wheel locks failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred with the steering wheel making a clicking sound. Additionally, it was more difficult to steer the vehicle. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

Filed Mar 5, 2021 · Steering · NJ

While driving uphill on the entrance to my college campus the steering wheel froze and I lost ability to steer the vehicle. It was very difficult to turn the wheel to get it into a parking spot. Thankfully I wasn't on the garden state pkwy when this happened. I needed to have it towed because it was undriveable to my repair shop from my school campus in montclair, nj to monroe twp, nj. My mechanic did a diagnostic and advised there was a recall (the federal safety agency campaign 14v28400) and ford's recall number 14s05. After contacting the dealer about the recall I was advised there was no open recall. My local repair shop advised to have the vehicle towed to the dealership for diagnostic. They too advised no recall and advised repairs will cost $2700. Why would a recall come up on vehiclehistory.com and specifically state 2011 ford escape and this not be eligible for my vehiicle.