2014 Ford Escape: loss of power steering

Filed Oct 2, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · TX

While driving, a message was displayed [Hill Start Assist Not Available] and all mileage figures previously displayed disappered. Additional warning lights were displayed indicating Traction Control, and ABS failures. Electric Power steering assist also stopped. Subsequent testing indicated the EBCM had failed. The part is on National Backorder. While drivable, I'm afraid other issues will arise. This is my only vehicle and I'm within 20,000 miles of needing the timing belt and water pump replaced as well. I could not find a recall for the EBCM (a part not usually prone to failure) for the 2014 Ford Escape SE 1.6L 4-cyl Ecoboost. In 2017, I had the entire transmission replaced @ 70,000 miles, under warranty, but Ford did not honor the warranty terms: coverage for lodging and rental vehicle, so I lost $$$$ that shouldn't have happened.

Filed Jul 28, 2026 · Steering · IL

While driving the steering wheel stopped returning to center when in turns and also would occasionally get "stuck" in the turn. A few days after this began, was out driving, notice flashed "power steering failure" and then the steering wheel was not able to be turned. Turned off and restarted the vehicle, the steering wheel would not budge. Had it towed to a nearby mechanic, told me that it was not the power steering but that something inside the steering rack had broken. He stated that he had never seen that before, where the wheel would not budge at all. $1,750 later and it's fixed and running fine. Why was this issue not looked into for safety purposes? Thankfully I was on a straight road and not needing to turn going 45mph.

Filed Nov 24, 2025 · Acceleration, Brakes · TX

ABS braking not functioning, Power steering failure , speedometer and odometer failure, Air Bag indication of non function. Warning indications on dash illuminated at once when failures occured The loss of functioning Air bags, Power Steering, ABS Braking are all possible safety risks, most especially when combined at once. Vehicle has been diagnosed by a registered Ford Dealership. Problems diagnosed as a Failure of the electrical ABS system module by the Ford dealership. Dealership expressed that this was a known issue and all repair parts are currently out of stock and on national back order with no ETA for availability. This leaves the vehicle in a condition that makes it a safety hazard to be driven , for myself and others. Documentation unavailable at this time from dealership, verbal conversation, still awaiting repair options. Vehicle has been in dealership since 11/03/2025.

Filed Sep 11, 2024 · Steering · 143,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality inadvertently. The contact was able to drive to the nearby residence. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, a message indicating a power steering assist failure was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

Filed Jun 21, 2024 · Steering · IL

Power steering stopped working instantaneously while exiting the interstate. Narrowly avoided leaving the road thru maximum braking, which nearly resulted in being hit from behind. Vehicle displayed a message saying “Steering Assist Fault Service Required”.

Filed May 21, 2024 · Steering · 25 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the steering rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed May 12, 2024 · Steering · 124,574 miles · OH

The power steering assist has begun to randomly stop working. It has happened 3 times. The first time it happened was as soon as I started the car to move it. I turned the car off and turned it back on and it worked. 5 starts later the same problem occurred and I was able to restart the car and it worked. Approximately 7 starts after that the power steering assist stopped working again, but this time it was not as soon as the vehicle was started. This time it went out mid turn as I began turning onto the road. Each time the warning came up on the dash after the steering became difficult. The power steering assist randomly going out while driving puts the safety of myself, my passengers, and other cars at risk for a crash from the sudden change in ability to steer the vehicle. At this time the vehicle has not been taken into a service center because it is not a consistent problem and if they don't find the problem on the first try they will charge a diagnostic fee to tell me that "everything is fine" or "we can't find the problem" and I am not willing to pay them money for no work. Once was a fluke, twice was a coincidence, three times is a problem that makes this vehicle unsafe to drive. Ford has had a recall on previous model years for this same issue.

Filed Mar 1, 2024 · Electrical, Steering · AL

2014 Ford Escape Power Steering failure while on the interstate in fast moving and heavy traffic. Almost caused a pile up and barely got out of the way of a semi truck going 70 or more mph to the safety of the edge of interstate. The power steering had been working fine. Until a couple days prior to the incident, I cranked it up and it seemed like it was in manual steering mode. I cut it off re cranked it and it was fine. So i thought just a randon glitch when starting it. Always loved and relied and trusted ford vehicles until the incident on the interstate. I got it off the interstate cut it off and started it again, it was no longer power steering and felt it was in manual steering mode all the way on the back roads getting it home. I contacted Ford and told them of the problem, they instantly said they had repared vehicles and also numerous complaints on this problem and that there was not a recall on it, only on vehicles up to 2012. Then after further research I found tons of folks who were experiencing the same problem and some in the process of lawsuits or in process of filing one against Ford for the problem. I ask on line and researched others complaints about their experience, for some it was just the battery, so I replaced it with a new battery, it was not the problem and soon after had someone put a scanner on it and it shows the electric steering rack as the error. the dealership when called about the part stated that Ford had several problems with the steering part, that the system had a faulty boot which would allow water to get into the electric steering component and basically fry the board. The solution Ford has for it is not to do anything about it in numerous vehicles having the same faulty parts is to sell you a corrected part and charge you around $4000/labor? Really? You are getting sued and you are telling others to repair it with another probably faulty part again? Should I sue for the repairs? Can they be forced to recall?

Filed Aug 30, 2023 · Steering · 70,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact pulled over without power steering assist and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted, and the power steering functionality resumed. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had occurred three times. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Jun 20, 2023 · Steering · NE

Powering steering assist fault. Loss of steering and car went into limp mode and needed to try to pull over immediately. I have reported this issue several. Times. Ford has not been able to fix this issue. This car is not safe to drive. Please hold Ford accountable before someone gets severely injured or dies in a car crash from this known problem with the steering issues.

Filed Jun 9, 2023 · Steering · 107,674 miles · NC

My daughter was backing out of driveway and said the steering was difficult to turn and felt locked. The steering assist fault came up on screen. She parked car and didn’t drive. My husband tried backing out of driveway as well and said the steering was hard to turn. He then put it in park and tried again and it drove fine.

Filed May 22, 2023 · Steering · 56,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering with the power steering assist fault warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he was able to continue driving; however, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering rack assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.