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CarComplaints.com Notes: The top problem trend for the 2014 Escape is transmission failure at around 70k miles.

This is relatively low mileage for an expensive transmission failure ($4,500 average to fix), but unless the trend becomes more established, we are only awarding the 2014 Escape our "Beware of the Clunker" badge for now.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,549 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2014 Ford Escape steering problems

steering problem

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2014 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #131

Feb 032024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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"

- Moody, AL, USA

problem #130

Jan 212024

Escape

  • miles
My power steering locks up on Frozen mornings and will not turn this has happened numerous times since 2023 and it is now January 21st 2024 and is becoming more frequent

- Horntown, VA, USA

problem #129

Nov 262023

Escape

  • miles
The electronic power steering system failed while driving. We were unable to steer the vehicle and barely avoided a collision. The vehicle is undriveable. We contacted Ford and they have refused to help with repairs even though Ford has issued recalls for other vehicles about the same problem.

- Tujunga, CA, USA

problem #128

Sep 012023

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Power assist steering wheel failure. My power steering stop working suddenly and I was not able to move my car. There is a recall for power steering problems from 2008/2013 for the same issues as my SUV. My SUV only has 33,000 miles on it. I think Ford didn't stop using faulty parts in their 2014 models. I spend over $3200 for repairs. I would like to see if I have any recourse as I believe my Ford Should had been included in the recall.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #127

Sep 292023

Escape

  • miles
1) Steering went out without having issues prior. It reads "steering assist fault service required" on the dash 2) Lost all steering capabilities without warning. The car did not lose all power, it was still running and driving just zero steering. I drive daily with my children in the vehicle most of the time. This time, thankfully, I was alone and not in traffic to harm other drivers. Steering does not work at all, it's not just hard to turn, there's no movement in the wheel no matter how hard you try. 3) It has been checked out by our mechanic and he states "the code reader brings up nothing, no loose wires, tried resetting the battery, it doesn't have power steering fluid that could even be low, but there are cars recalled 2011-2013 with the exact same issue but this is a 2014" 4) It has not been checked by the dealer or manufacturer yet. 5) There were zero warnings. After the incident, a light came on the dash reading "steering assist fault service required"

- Buckeye Lake, OH, USA

problem #126

Feb 182023

Escape

  • 70,000 miles
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 NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Hastings, MI, USA

problem #125

Aug 262023

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The steering wheels started to get hard. The car warned me to stop safely. It was to hard that I couldn't do much to turn the steering wheels.

- Toa Alta, PR, USA

problem #124

Jul 172023

Escape

  • 117,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel seized. Additionally, the steering assist fault warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who informed the contact that the ECU was defective, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

- Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

problem #123

Jun 202023

Escape

  • miles
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.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #122

May 312023

Escape

  • miles
May 31.2023 I was involved in an accident your left front wheel Castor and wheel. Separated from vehicle. Causing me to crash into a light pole.in the east bound lane when I was going west bound on Franklin rd in Boise id Knocking me unconscious idaho state police made report. Before accident left front wheel pulled left when braking gave car gas car pull right last thing I remember. EMT took Alfonso's hospital. As investigate because I was almost killed lucky I survive.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #121

Jun 082023

Escape

  • 107,674 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Kannapolis , NC, USA

problem #120

May 142023

Escape

  • 56,000 miles
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.

- King George, VA, USA

problem #119

May 132023

Escape

  • miles
Amongst SEVERAL problems with this vehicle, it often slips out of gear while driving. Which has caused me to have to stop in the middle of the lane. It has had multiple mega fuses go out. It will often say -??power steering fault-?? and then the message will go away. I am genuinely scared to drive this vehicle because I never know when the power system is going to go out. I have always stayed up to date on maintenance and it has less than 90k on miles. I do not understand why this has not been pulled off the market. It seems like all the escapes before mine were pulled for the same issues.

- Cedartown , GA, USA

problem #118

May 012023

Escape

  • miles
Steering assist failure

- Somerset, KY, USA

problem #117

Apr 212023

Escape

  • miles
on numerous ocassions recently the power steering has become disabled and/or unresponsive i am getting a steering assist light when it happens it is intermittent and i fear it will occur at high speed resulting in injury or death

- Sellersville, PA, USA

problem #116

Apr 192023

Escape

  • miles
The vehicle will get a steering assist fault message and go into limp mode immediately giving you no time to pull to the side of the road. Please make ford do something about the steering issues on these vehicles. These escapes are too dangerous to drive.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #115

Mar 142023

Escape

  • miles
While driving the vehicle randomly het steering assist fault service required and goes immediately into limp mode. This is very dangerous and you need to try to pull over immediately, because the car loses power immediately. This is my teenage drivers car and she can no longer drive it. We are to scared she will get into an accident. Please make Ford do something with a recall for the steering assist issues in these escapes

- Omaha , NE, USA

problem #114

Feb 192023

Escape

  • miles
Received a message on dashboard about a steering assist fault all of a sudden. The steering wheel is hard to move.

- Poth, TX, USA

problem #113

Jan 222020

Escape

  • miles
Car was in perfectly good condition around 75,000 miles. but the power steering gave out in the middle of driving on the highway. I first noticed it becoming a bit harder to turn the wheel but within an hour it became almost impossible to turn. Was charged $2,500 to fix since I was told it was an electrical problem. I did get a notification on the dashboard that there was a "power steering assist failure" or "steering fault."

- Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA

problem #112

Jan 222023

Escape 4-cyl

  • miles
Steering assist fault: Service requied light came on. Steering wheel hard to turn. Steering wheel system is electrical and cannot use power steering fluid to receitfy the problem. Towed vehicle to nearest Ford dealership to repair the issue. Diagnostic test ($170) is being conducted to determine the issue. I research the internet and most complainents indicated the steering rack need to be replaced. Cost range, very costly. The contact has stated that their vehicle is not included in the recall because it only includes MY 2013 Ford Escapes. The diagnostic test determined that a new power steering rack was needed but the part was on backorder. No assistance from Ford has been offered.

- Winter Park, FL, USA

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