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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,530 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.

2016 Ford Escape steering problems

steering problem

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2016 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #53

Oct 062023

Escape

  • miles

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

The car has a clicking noise and recently I lost power steering. I didn-??t see any codes but was not looking as I was terrified I couldn-??t get home.

- Rapid City, SD, USA

problem #52

Sep 112023

Escape

  • 111,396 miles
The power steering control module (PSCM)that replaced my original PSCM failed while I was driving with my 4 year old in the car and I lost power steering completely. We have been told it was reproduced by the dealership service center at 1hour 32 minutes of the car running. The car is at the dealership for the 3rd time for this issue and the warning light that came on was Steering Assist Fault Service Required.

- Washington Township, MI, USA

problem #51

Jul 232023

Escape

  • 111,396 miles
The Power Steering Control Module failed as I was driving with my children in the car and I lost all power steering abilities. The car was taken to the dealership service department and reproduced and confirmed by the dealership. This part was replaced and it happened again 5 days after receiving the vehicle back. The Light that comes on states "Power Steering Assist Failure." this light began to happen when driving in very congested conditions and intermittently. After the repair and when the light came back on I was driving with my 4 year old in the car and completely lost power steering.

- Washington Township, MI, USA

problem #50

Nov 192022

Escape

  • miles

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

I crashed car because is park according with transmission and car still moved and hit fence, I contact ford for this incident and still waiting someone contact me. So I decide lawsuits against Ford

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #49

Nov 112022

Escape

  • miles
As I was turning onto a street the power steering assist fault light briefly flashed and the car lost all power steering causing me to nearly hit oncoming vehicles. It was impossible to steer the car. After stopping and waiting several minutes the power steering returned. This is the second incident I have had like this with this car.

- Flower Mound, TX, USA

problem #48

Sep 222022

Escape

  • miles
Ingine light/suspension lights went on. Car jerks and shakes on the road and pulls to the right making it hard to keep the steering wheel straight

- Eastchester, NY, USA

problem #47

Sep 152022

Escape

  • miles

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

While driving my 2016 Ford Escape my steering became hard to turn and a steering fault light came on the dash. I was able to make it home but the car is very hard to turn which is very scary and unsafe. The car only has a little over 100,000 miles on it and we have already replaced a transmission at around 90,000. I don't think buying another Ford is in our future due to all the issue we have experienced and at our cost. I called the dealer to address the issue and they are 3 months out so how do I get out and back to work with the issues that I am facing?

- Pickens, SC, USA

problem #46

May 032019

Escape

  • miles
Jerking, unwanted jolting, locked up steering

- Austin , TX, USA

problem #45

Aug 152022

Escape

  • miles
While sitting at a stop light the electric power assist warning light came on and I lost all power steering. I tried turning the car off and on several times to reset system but had no effect. It is extremely hard for me to steer and impossible for my wife If this had happened while the car was in motion an accident could have occurred. This car is a 2016 with approx. 50,000 miles and has been immaculately maintained and in like new condition. This is a known error with fords electric steering assist on many models and a recall needs to be implemented on this year and model. This a quite an expensive burden placed on owners of an almost new vehicle.

- Supply, NC, USA

problem #44

Nov 012021

Escape

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the steering wheel was significantly difficult to steer. The message Steering Default was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. However, the failure reoccurred and the vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where the transmission was rebuilt; however, the contact stated that upon attempting to drive the vehicle, she shifted into drive(D) however, the vehicle failed to respond and remained idling. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Westland, MI, USA

problem #43

Jun 212022

Escape

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to shift into reverse(R), the gear shifter remained in drive(D). The contact stated that upon moving the gear shifter into reverse(R) successfully, she heard an abnormal loud popping sound coming from the hood. The contact also saw smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer where the transmission was replaced. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) which she associated with the failure. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 10-15 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. A warning message indicating that the vehicle needed assistance was displayed. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact was able to drive to her residence however, the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was towed to an unknown local dealer and was being repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Okolona, MS, USA

problem #42

Jun 302022

Escape

  • miles
I was driving and my car felt like it changed from drive to neutral without any physical prompt on my part. The for escape kept rolling away and I was able to bring it to a parking lot. I was able to turn the vehicle off and tried turning it back on again. It felt like it was changing gears without being touched. It kept trying to move forward and reversing when it was on park. I was scared so I turned the car off and put the emergency break because of the strange shifting between gears that was happening. I had to have the vehicle towed as it is now inoperable. It is at the shop and is currently untouched. A few days later I found found has recalled my vehicle for transmission issues. I am now careless with no help in sight.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #41

Nov 182021

Escape

  • miles
The ecm become disconnected driving down the road causing the car to loose complete power. 1 week later steering failure warning alert on info cluster immediately followed by complete steering failure alert on info cluster. Loss of steering and control of car. Towed to Asheville Ford & Lincoln in Asheville NC for inspection. Receipt from Asheville Ford & Lincoln provided. Confirmed steering failure. The vehicle was NOT in any accident since my purchase of the car. Prior to my purchase of this car, it was in an accident reported by previous owner and not disclosed by the dealership. I located insurance receipts in glovebox of car where a body shop had done repairs resulting from an accident. My car was under extended warranty at that time however my claim was denied because I used a zip tie to secure the ecm back to the car when it disconnected. I couldn-€™t get the car in the shop to have it repaired right away and while waiting for an appointment from Ford, the incedent with the steering failure happened. I have plenty of notes, receipts and documentation of this situation and previous repairs made to the car prior to me purchasing it. Please let me know if any further info is needed and I-€™ll be glad to provide it. Ford instead voided my warranty without any written or verbal notice to me about anything. Still haven-€™t received a reason my claim was denied in writing.

- Burnsville, NC, USA

problem #40

Jun 062022

Escape

  • 108,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while at a traffic light, the steering wheel locked inadvertently. The warning message "Steering Wheel Default" was displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact was able to continue driving; however, the failure reoccurred after restarting the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under an unknown recall as the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

- Jackson, MS, USA

problem #39

Jun 292021

Escape

  • miles
I received the "Steering Assist Fault Service Required" message as I was parking. Because the wheels became stiff I had to wait an hour to drive again. At the same time I received the 911 assist error. This was not the first time that it happened to me. Previously I took the car to the dealership and they did not fix it.

- Flushing, NY, USA

problem #38

Jun 072021

Escape

  • 50,096 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the power steering failed which made the vehicle harder to steer. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,096.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #37

Apr 232021

Escape

  • 109,000 miles
I was in a drive thru at mcdonald's and I turned my wheel to pull around and my steering wheel locked up and has been doing this on and off when I drive.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #36

Apr 182021

Escape

  • 62,473 miles
Steering failed while driving. It became very difficult to turn the steering wheel while driving. Made loud grinding sound and very difficult to move the wheel. As the vehicle became undrivable, it had to be towed.

- Cresco, PA, USA

problem #35

Feb 162021

Escape

  • 68,000 miles
My wife was returning from the store when the steering got stiff. As if the power-assisted steering had failed. She managed to get it home since she was on our road and only had to turn into our driveway. I took it out and the steering was ok for about a mile. Then it did the same for me. Ford has had this issue with several of their vehicles for some time now. Many have been recalled and this one should be. I have read many complaints and reviews about this issue. I believe this is a serious issue. If the steering fails at an inopportune time people could be killed.

- Ooltewah, TN, USA

problem #34

Feb 102021

Escape

  • 177,000 miles
Went to leave my house for work and started my Escape and had no steering. The steering wheel was frozen stuck. I have never had this problem as I bought the car brand new. Had it towed to a mechanic and was told there are tons of complaints about frozen steering wheels in the Escapes and there is no fix for the problem. Only thing I can do is start the car and let it warm up for an hour, or until the steering box gets to 42 degrees and the steering wheel will unfreeze. Then while driving down the road the steering wheel tries to lock up and not turn. This is a huge safety issue that needs to be addressed and corrected before lives are lost!!!!!!!!!

- Abilene, TX, USA

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