Print this page

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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Ford Escape:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2008 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 4 of 54)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1001

Oct 152021

Escape

  • 100,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the power steering assist fault warning message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle to continue driving. The contact called the dealer where she was informed that her vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Thousand Oaks, CA, USA

problem #1000

Aug 202021

Escape

  • 179,643 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH and attempting to make a right turn, the steering wheel inadvertently lost power. The Power Steering Assistant Fault message was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated she was able to pull to a nearby gas station and she turned off the vehicle. The contact stated when she restarted the vehicle, the steering wheel was significantly more difficult to maneuver. The contact stated she was able to forcefully maneuver the steering wheel and drove to her residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that she would be responsible for the cost of the repair since the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 179,643.

- Brazoria, TX, USA

problem #999

Aug 242021

Escape

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 5 mph or a slower speed, the steering wheel pulled to the left. The contact would turn the steering wheel with force to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that an unknown warning light illuminated on the instrument panel and a sound was heard when the failure occurred. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a safe location. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic for a diagnostic test to be performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer advised that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #998

Jul 302021

Escape

  • miles

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

Hello, While I was driving on the highway suddenly my steering became very stiff and it required much more effort to to turn the steering wheel. This was a very scary and dangerous situation in which could have led to a potential accident. There were no warning lights prior to this issue. I did some initial investigation and found out that there was a big recall for Ford Escapes for this same issue. (Issue with the torque sensor within the steering column, which may result in the loss of electric power steering assist). I called Ford and they informed me that my car had already been recalled and that they had already fixed it and that I would have to fix it at my own cost. It obviously wasn't fixed 100% and now I am being forced to pay the cost even though it is obviously the same issue that the vehicle had originally been recalled for.

- Walnut Creek, CA, USA

problem #997

Jul 052021

Escape

  • miles
Hard to steer the vehicle.

- Elmwood Park, IL, USA

problem #996

Jun 072021

Escape

  • miles
The loss of power steering that was reported as being fixed with Ford Recall # 14S05 is still happening and Ford is not covering the cost of fixing it again.

- Lees Summit, MO, USA

problem #995

Apr 082021

Escape

  • 132,500 miles

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

I started my vehicle and I got a warning beep saw the display saying power steering assist fault. My steering wheel was vibrating and a loud motor type noise was sounding. I would drive and I could feel the steering wheel shimmy while driving. The next day I started my car and display showed right away the power steering assist default. And I had no power steering from then on. Other 2008S had recalls for power steering but my VIN was not on the list for recalls

- Melvern, KS, USA

problem #994

Apr 032021

Escape 6-cyl

  • 116,710 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the vehicle loss power steering assist and became difficult to steer. The contact stated that the power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the power steering needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 116,710.

- Highland Park, NJ, USA

problem #993

Apr 012021

Escape

  • 157,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while at a standstill, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the electric steering column and steering plate needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.

- White City, OR, USA

problem #992

Jan 012021

Escape

  • 130,000 miles
Electronic power assisted steering failed in the exact same way that it failed in the previous recall that only included a limited number of Ford Escapes, of which mine was not included. No warning light came on, it just stopped working completely and caused a minor accident. In doing research I found an active recall for this issue on my model car produced in the same plant as recall but my VIN was not included so dealer is refusing to fix issue. In doing more research this seems to be a very common and very dangerous issue that most everyone with this model car has had at some point or another. The ntsb needs to step in and require Ford to recall all of the 2008 Ford Escapes for replacement of the steering column.

- Beaumont, TX, USA

problem #991

Mar 122021

Escape

  • 100,000 miles

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

Electric steering shakes with slight pressure turning either way. This happened on a city street, as I was slowing down.

- Shepherd, MT, USA

problem #990

Jan 042021

Escape

  • 125,000 miles
The steering wheel tends to lock while driving the vehicle. It does not matter the speed being driven. The only way to unlock it is to attempt to pull over turn the ignition off and start it again. But this is an ongoing issue. I'm afraid to drive on the highway. This can very well cause an accident.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #989

Mar 072021

Escape

  • 88,611 miles
Red battery light came on. All accessories went off and the car wouldn't start again. I just replaced my 12V battery the night before. The car had been driven 2 miles, at most. The brand new battery had been in the car less than 24 hours. I had no steering capability as my steering wheel locked up. I couldn't shift. The brake pedal pushed my foot back like it was "pumping" my foot. Put another fully charged battery into my car and started right up. Drove home and as I was pulling into driveway exact same thing happened. Both batteries were drained completely dry of any voltage. ABS light on all the time. Check brake system/regen brake disabled on drive info.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #988

Feb 272021

Escape

  • 216,000 miles
Received a power steeting assist fault on my vehicle when turning it on in a parking lot. I was unable to steer the vehicle unless I gave it brut force. When calling Ford, they said that recall 14S05 was performed on my vehicle in 2014 which was suppose to fix this issue with some software update. There are many complaints that this software update did nothing to fix the issue and many times, caused steering failure after the software update. Ford is leaving many people out in the cold making them pay for their defect and found a way to "pretend" to fix the issue when they should have replaced the entire steering column to begin with, not a software fix. This failure should be fixed by Ford, especially if the software fix was not the correct solution.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #987

Aug 102020

Escape

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the steering wheel shook with the service vehicle soon warning light illuminated. The steering wheel then ceased. The contact restarted the vehicle and drove to the residence. The vehicle was taken to kearny mesa Ford (7303 clairemont mesa blvd, san diego, ca 92111) where it was diagnosed with an electric power steering assist failure. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle failure was associated with NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #986

Jan 212021

Escape

  • 197,000 miles
The steering wheel started vibrating and eventually the steering started shaking and it lost all power to steer. I have been told this has been a common issue with this model and year Escape. It appears to be the problem with the rack and pinion system.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #985

Jan 182018

Escape

  • 113,000 miles
Power steering went out while driving. Nearly impossible to drive the short distance home. Was leaving a grocery store onto the street

- Columbia, MO, USA

problem #984

Aug 082020

Escape

  • 90,000 miles
My power steering went out. I was lucky not to have an accident. I have been told there have been recalls on the torque senser in the steering column, on the Ford Escapes. The mechanic was able to reset it. I drive in fear of it happening again. He said it would likely happen again. My VIN does not show on the recall.

- Rocky Point, NC, USA

problem #983

Jan 162021

Escape

  • miles
The steering wheel of the car is extremely hard to turn. Not safe to drive.

- Visalia, CA, USA

problem #982

Dec 282020

Escape

  • 152,000 miles
My electric power steering system went out completely leaving the vehicle in manual mode. This was not 1 of the original Ford recalls but yet was made in the same plant as all the other recall.

- Corbin, KY, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?