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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 1 of 54)

problem #1061

Jul 082023

Escape

  • miles

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

Steering stops and starts working randomly making it hard to turn corners and into gas stations

- Fort Dodge, IA, USA

problem #1060

Jul 232023

Escape

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving out of a parking space, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of electric power steering assist. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #1059

Jun 222023

Escape

  • miles
My girlfriend was driving around 40mph, when the power steering started going out. She continued to drive since she was already close to her place of employment. We had a family mechanic look at the vehicle and he stated that it was the electric power steering that had went out. There were no warning lights except for a yellow tool symbol which had already been on the dash for a while.

- Raymore, MO, USA

problem #1058

Jun 032023

Escape

  • miles

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

Wheel hubs. Yes High. Yes. No, light came on after

- Garfield Hts, OH, USA

problem #1057

May 262023

Escape

  • miles
Warning light for -??power steering assist fault-?? came on last night and this morning the steering is hard to control when turning.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #1056

Apr 222023

Escape

  • 136,000 miles
While driving the vehicle the power steering, torque suspension stopped working and the vehicle went into manual mode, making the vehicle unsafe and undrivable and uncontrolable for adult senior woman that was driving it.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #1055

Mar 202023

Escape

  • 55 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 55 MPH, the yellow wrench warning light illuminated, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact continued driving to her residence. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure and the contact was made aware that NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) recall repair was completed on the day she purchased the vehicle. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Forsyth, MO, USA

problem #1054

Mar 202023

Escape

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering assist and the -??Service Vehicle-?? warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact the torque sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

- Grayling, MI, USA

problem #1053

Mar 252023

Escape

  • miles
While driving my 2008 Escape the other day the power steering went out while driving down the the highway. The power steering assist fail light came on after I parked and shut my car off and turned it back on. After doing some research I found the recall 14S05, however when looking my VIN up, it shows no active recall. But the incident matches exactly what I have read from 100's of other owners. It would be available for inspection, I have not taken it into a Ford dealership yet. When I called the local one, they told me they couldn't help, as it didn't show up having active recall. The incident occurred 3/25/23 and I have since parked the vehicle until I can figure out what I am going to do with it.

- Scottville, MI, USA

problem #1052

Mar 192023

Escape

  • 143,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH and making a right turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the steering wheel became very firm. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to her residence and turned the vehicle off and on. The power steering functionality did not return. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the electric power steering assist had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #1051

Dec 102022

Escape

  • miles

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

Power steering went out and the steering wheel is very hard to turn. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. While driving my steering wheel became hard to turn so I almost got into an accident. I have taken the car to a service dealer and they stated that the power steering column needed to be replaced codes that they got were b2277 and b2278. A warning came across the dashboard saying "power steering assist fault".

- Burlington, NC, USA

problem #1050

Feb 072023

Escape

  • miles
While driving in a city at about 30mph, my power steering froze and I could not easily make a turn. As a result, I had to stop on the side of the road and inspect what went on. A 'wrench' and a warning control light came on stating 'power steering assist failure'. I was able to drive slowly to my mechanic, with a very limited steering, to diagnose the issue. The error code that appeared on the diagnostic interface was B2278 - Steering Shaft Torque Sensor Malfunction. I was very lucky to drive on a slow road because driving it on a freeway could have been disastrous, maybe fatal in a worst case for myself and others on a freeway. There were no prior signs to the failure. I loved driving the car because it was very reliable. I drive my kids to and from school in this car. I contacted the manufacturer and a few dealerships about this. It turns out that there was a safety recall for 2008 - 2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles (14S05). However, my car, for some reason, was never on a recall list. My car's power steering torque sensor failure clearly satisfies the safety recall requirements. Is there a way that I could take this back to a FORD dealership and get it fixed under the safety recall? I am currently residing and driving this car in Poland.

- Wheaton, IL, USA

problem #1049

Feb 072023

Escape

  • 169,000 miles
The contact's niece owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while stopped, the steering wheel started shaking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic retrieved code: B2278 (Steering Shaft Torque Sensor Malfunction). The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB: (Power Steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000.

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

problem #1048

Jan 272023

Escape

  • 189,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her father was driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle, with no power steering, to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact and the independent mechanic researched online and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.

- Cassopolis, MI, USA

problem #1047

Feb 012023

Escape

  • miles
On Tuesday a light came on that said -€œpower steering assist fault-€ but it was still driving fine. Then the next morning when I was pull out of the parking spot I could barely turn the wheel. It was super hard to turn. I could hardly get back into the parking spot, it was super hard just to steer it back to the parking spot. If I would-€™ve been driving it would have definitely caused an accident. I had the car towed to a dealership, I was told that it was probably the power sterling pump but there is a recall on this car for that and my car (vin number) is not listed. But it-€™s the same problem. Maybe my vin number was miase? Please help.

- Kentwood , MI, USA

problem #1046

Feb 012022

Escape

  • 118,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist with the power steering assist fault message displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #1045

Jan 022023

Escape

  • miles
Steering wheel turns automaticlly to the right when staring vehicle. I took the vehicle to horne Ford of nogales they followed service procedure as per workshop manual found and determined electric steering column (failed) they recommended repairs: Electric steering column assembly. I have a repair estimate a cost of 2,827.00

- Nogales, AZ, USA

problem #1044

Jan 112023

Escape

  • miles
Having issues with periodic loss of power steering while driving.making it very difficult to drive. Also I'm having an issue with the battery continuing to die..when the vehicle is off even.i park it n the evening and Over night it goes dead.

- Lexington , KY, USA

problem #1043

Jan 042023

Escape

  • 72,000 miles
The contact's mother-in-law owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced by an independent mechanic, the power steering assists failed as the power assist fault warning light appeared on the instrument panel. The mechanic informed the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact was given a case number by the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

- Lewis Center, OH, USA

problem #1042

Aug 012022

Escape 4-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with torque sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was unknown. The contact took the vehicle for repair in July/August of 2022. The repair was completed at no cost to the contact due to the open recall and was told that if the issue were to persist, the cost would be covered under warranty. However, that repair did not last and the power steering would still go out intermittently. The contact was told by the dealer that the issue essentially needed to be constant rather than only intermittent in order to get the proper codes to then repair the vehicle. The torque sensor still needs to be repaired.

- Euless, TX, USA

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