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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
28 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
19 / 0
Average Mileage:
104,919 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 5 of 54)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #993

Apr 012021

Escape

  • 157,000 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 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
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

problem #981

Nov 022020

Escape

  • miles
The steering wheel rocks back and forth on its own and the car is extremely hard to turn.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #980

Nov 282020

Escape

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the power steering failed to operate as needed without warning. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be serviced or diagnosed for the failure. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

- Cahokia, IL, USA

problem #979

Dec 012020

Escape 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,000 miles
The contact own's a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the contact stated that the steering wheel felt loose. The contact stated that there was an abnormal knocking sound while making a right turn. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a faulty steering box. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Grand Portage, MN, USA

problem #978

Dec 042020

Escape

  • 118,845 miles
The VIN of my 2008 Ford Escape is not having any recalls, yet some of the 2008 Ford Escape has a recall for the steering assist modular, which my Ford Escape has a faulty modular as my VIN say no recalls, $1000 part and labor is a very high price need help to fix the steering knowing we are going through financial difficulties with the pandemic it's very hard to steer and I was able to pull in a parking spot for now

- Oak Park, CA, USA

problem #977

Nov 162020

Escape

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign, the steering wheel would inadvertently move. The contact stated that the power steering and engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to her residence. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and upon starting the next morning the power steering failure warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed to move. The vehicle was taken to progressive auto sales (69 jewett ave, swanton, vt 05488) where the contact was advised to take the vehicle to a Ford dealer. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

- Saint Albans City, VT, USA

problem #976

Nov 022020

Escape

  • 84,000 miles
The contact called on behalf of his daughter who owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that his daughter was driving 30 mph, when the steering wheel ceased without warning. The driver coasted the vehicle to the shoulder, turned off and restarted the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to resume normal operation. The driver drove the vehicle tp her residence. The vehicle was taken to independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering failed and needed to be repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer richmond Ford West (10751 w broad St, glen allen, va 23060, (804) 273-9700) was contacted and the contact was informed that the vehicle was repaired prior to purchase. The contact mentioned NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering) as a possible solution to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

- Charles City, VA, USA

problem #975

Oct 012020

Escape

  • 140,000 miles
The steering wheel spins very fast if you let go of the wheel. You are not able to control it on the road. This occurs forwards or backwards. If you try to back up, and turn the wheel one way, it will not steer the correct direction and the steering wheel spins on it's own. Very dangerous. The repair shop has replaced the rack and pinion and it did not fix the problem. They are unable to determine what the issue is.

- Cole Camp, MO, USA

problem #974

Jun 222020

Escape

  • miles
I have had replaced steering ujoint.and now no power steering it dont work and the gargage cant even figure it out.right after replaceing it.

- Gainesville, NY, USA

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