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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
28 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
19 / 0
Average Mileage:
105,400 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.

2008 Ford Escape steering problems

steering problem

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2008 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 18 of 54)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #721

Jan 132018

Escape

  • 142,251 miles

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

As I was starting to pull out of my driveway, the power steering just quit. It has been fine up until that point. Luckily I was still in my driveway and not driving down the road.

- Bradford, PA, USA

problem #720

Sep 062017

Escape

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The dealer (L & L Ford, 314 harrisburg St, East berlin, pa 17316, (717) 259-6334) was notified that the eps warning indicator was flashing. The steering wheel had been vibrating and veering to the left, causing the contact to apply force to correct the direction of the steering wheel each time the failure happened. The dealer failed to provide a remedy and cleared the code as if they had provided a solution. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and that the dealer cleared the code without remedying the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

- East Berlin, PA, USA

problem #719

Jan 112018

Escape

  • 10 miles
The power steering in my 2008 Ford Escape just stop working and I almost crash. There is no steering at all. I don't have control of the vehicle.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #718

Jan 022018

Escape

  • 10,700 miles

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

Electric steering assist failure -- sudden and complete failure. On highway...outside temp was 5 F above zero. Two children in car (one year old and 3 year old). Without warning (and during a 45 degree curve) the steering assist went out and at first the steering assist attempted to correct the steering and that made matters worse -- holding the wheel steady and continuing thru the turn was a challenge (and, I am 'stout' guy!). got off the highway asap. Then an electric burn smell started..steering column (?). got the grand kids out of the car (into the 5 degree temp) in a hurry! car now in the shop. $2,000 repair and may not be complete. Will find out final number today.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #717

Jan 032018

Escape

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the torque sensor was faulty as outlined in NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). A dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was out of warranty and that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

- Linn Valley, KS, USA

problem #716

Jan 022018

Escape

  • 103,000 miles
The power steering torque sensor went out after a Ford dealership reset the software as required but now will not honor the recall and wants to charge almost $2,000 for the repair.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #715

Jan 052018

Escape

  • 67,000 miles

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

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.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #714

Jan 022018

Escape

  • 158,000 miles
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 NHTSA 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.

- Grain Valley, MO, USA

problem #713

Dec 152017

Escape

  • 138,500 miles
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.

- Waldron, MI, USA

problem #712

Dec 232017

Escape

  • 104,000 miles
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 NHTSA 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.

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

problem #711

Jan 032018

Escape

  • 120,000 miles

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

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.

- Kansas City, KS, USA

problem #710

Jan 042018

Escape

  • 135,100 miles
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.

- Magnolia, TX, USA

problem #709

Dec 312017

Escape

  • 127,000 miles
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.

- Plainwell, MI, USA

problem #708

Dec 302017

Escape

  • 241,000 miles
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!

- Santa Barbara, CA, USA

problem #707

Dec 122017

Escape

  • 204,542 miles
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.

- West Boylston, MA, USA

problem #706

Dec 282017

Escape

  • 125,836 miles
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.

- Thomaston, CT, USA

problem #705

Dec 222017

Escape

  • 135,000 miles
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.

- Harrisville, MI, USA

problem #704

Dec 212017

Escape

  • 94,500 miles
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.

- Great Falls, MT, USA

problem #703

Dec 082017

Escape

  • miles
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.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #702

Dec 102017

Escape

  • 150,000 miles
When driving, steering locks up or becomes difficult to turn steering wheel, especially when turning right while driving.

- Redding, CA, USA

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