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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
13 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 0
Average Mileage:
96,359 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.

2009 Ford Escape steering problems

steering problem

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2009 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 9 of 39)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #618

Feb 142021

Escape

  • 108,000 miles

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

My Ford Escape hybrid steering wheel started to exhibit odd behavior as we were driving to hike a trail in mill valley. The wheel would pulse/turn to the right a little bit real quick and then go back to normal. This happened 3 times while waiting at a red light. The light turned green and all was normal again as we drove another 5 miles to our destination. We got out of the card and hiked for about 90 minutes before returning to the car. Once I started the cad, I noticed the steering wheel was very hard to turn. I had to drive 2 hours home from the hike location with absolutely no power steering assist. I took the cad into our local Ford dealership and was formed there are no active recalls for our VIN and it will cost over $2000 to replace the faulty electronic steering column. Also worth noting, we purchased this 2009 Ford Escape hybrid brand new at 300 miles. At just 4,000 miles, yes 3,700 miles later, the steering column went out and Ford replaced it under warranty (of course). So now, here we are again, about 100K miles later, and the steering column they put in is again faulty, and they are unwilling to do anything about it, wanting me to pay the full $2K+ to replace it and for labor.

- West Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #617

Feb 122021

Escape

  • 150,000 miles
My 2009 Ford Escape's power steering suddenly failed while attempting to back out of my driveway. The dashboard information area read 'power steering assist fault'. upon further investigation, I found out that there was a recall on this make and model for this exact problem. When I called the dealer to get it fixed, they told me my vehicle is not on the recall list. I don't understand this seeing that my vehicle has the exact problem that they are recalling these vehicles. Why is that??

- Islip, NY, USA

problem #616

Feb 132021

Escape

  • miles
The electrical power steering stopped working when starting the car. My Escape became very hard to steer. When I searched my VIN there is no recall on this model but is a common problem.

- Jeromesville, OH, USA

problem #615

Jan 242021

Escape

  • 154,000 miles

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

My vehicle started having issues with the steering on the week of 1/24/2021. Steering wheel will shake/vibrate when stopped or at low speeds. On 2/5/2021 when I turned on my vehicle I had a power steering assist error and no power steering. Code pulled was B2278 for power steering torque sensor. Contacted my local Ford dealer and since the recall(14S05) was closed out because they had done a software update for it, I am not able to get it fixed. Even though the same issues and error codes are associated with this recall.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #614

Jan 132021

Escape

  • 103,000 miles
The electronic power assist doesn't work

- Taylor, MI, USA

problem #613

Jul 162020

Escape

  • 106,000 miles
My power steering keeps going out when I am driving and my car was recalled for it but they never replaced it and they said they scanned it and nothing was wrong but now it's acting up and Ford won't fix it.. it was recalled for this.. I believe they should fix it I have almost wrecked twice..and when I start it up and it don't want to work do you know how hard it is to steer?

- Franklin, PA, USA

problem #612

Feb 022021

Escape

  • miles

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

The power steering is hard to turn

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #611

Jan 112021

Escape

  • 205,000 miles
I have a 2009 Ford Escape the electric steering went out on it while driving on the interstate it is very hard to steer I replace the torque sensor that did not work

- Spring Hill, FL, USA

problem #610

Jan 062021

Escape

  • 116,000 miles
Steering has become very difficult to do it feels like the steering wheel binds up before it was on and off now however it has become to hard to maneuver the truck the steering is to hard to do. While the truck is in motion.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #609

Jan 252021

Escape

  • 168,000 miles
I was driving down the road and came to a stop, my car died. It has been doing this for several months now along with a new development of my steering column shaking. I put the car in neutral to start it back up and it would not crank over did this several times and then it started. I was on a busy road trying to turn left and all of a sudden I had no power steering. The power steering assist said failure. Drove to work about 10 more miles with no power steering in a busy town, not fun. The low tire sensor is on as well, I have had it checked out and nothing is wrong with tires, they are at the proper amount of psi. This is my only vehicle and I am glad I did not have my children in the vehicle with me. This is very dangerous to have done to you while driving. I have had my battery and cylinoid and starter checked and they are fine, but my car repeatedly dies at a stop sign, and when I am slowing down or even when I am trying to pull into a driveway. These two things need to be fixed before someone gets hurt. I don't feel as if I should have to pay for these things since they are electrical and should be put on the recall list. I bought this car last year in hopes of not having to put alot of money into it and to have for a while. It looks like I am going to have to put alot of money into it or may have to buy a different car so I know my children are safe.

- Monticello, IN, USA

problem #608

Jan 232021

Escape

  • miles

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

So about 3 days ago I got a light on my dashboard it said something like ' power steering assist failure' nothing happened at that time my steering wheel kept shaking for a couple days after that yesterday when I tried to drive my car I couldn't the steering wheel was so stiff and I got that warning again I checked for a hose or something the fuel was stocked up for power steering. My steering wheel can't be moved at all.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #607

Jan 232021

Escape

  • 205,729 miles
The contact's daughter owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while she was driving approximately 35 mph, when the steering wheel began to jerk. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The VIN was associated with NHTSA campaign number: 14V284000 (steering). The failure mileage was 205,729.

- Ettrick, WI, USA

problem #606

Jan 092021

Escape

  • 150,000 miles
I was driving on a city street, I turned right at a light and the power steering went completely out with no warning, absolutely no power steering as I was turning through the intersection. I had to slow down to almost a crawl in order to make the turn to keep from crashing into oncoming traffic. It took all my strencth to turn the wheel but was able to make the turn without the power steering. I pulled into a parking lot to have my wife come and get me and had my car towed to the mechanic. I looked online to see if there was a recall notice but all I found was several complaints concerning the same situation that happened to me. I always take care of my vehicle, this should never have happened. There was absolutely no warning, I'm lucky I wasn't on the highway or got into an accident. This should be covered under a safety recall. The mechanic also informed me that there is no recall for this. I expect an immediate solution to have my concerns addressed and to have this fixed free of cost to me.

- Lebanon, TN, USA

problem #605

Jan 102021

Escape

  • 160,000 miles
My steering wheel began to shake about a week and a half ago. Last night as pulling out my drive way my steering wheel was very hard to turn. O pulled back into my drive and noticed on the dash it read power assist failure. Before this my dash would blink out and I would have to tap it so it will come back on. When it does all the dials would go back into sync. The bad part is if you are not noticing your dash and park and turn off the car it wouldn't crank back up. My tire pressure sensor is on I had it checked and no one and find out which sensor it is. My oil change light want go out even after many oil changes. The company that does my oil change are not able to reset. This has been going on for a year and a half. Until last night when the power assist failure popped up. Please help and assist my vehicle was paid off 5 months ago. I really don't want to purchase another vehicle but I will if I really have to. I like my Ford Escape.

- Jonesboro, AR, USA

problem #604

Dec 012020

Escape

  • 130,000 miles
The power steering on this 2009 Ford Escape stopped working. It was taken to a Ford dealer and they reprogrammed it and it worked for a short period of time. It then stopped working again. There is a recall on the issue (NHTSA campaign id number : 14V284000) and my vehicle is included in the date range of affected vehicle. When I enter my VIN number it says I have 0 unrepaired recalls. What happens if a vehicle has been fixed by a recall and then it fails again" shouldn't there be a fix to that fix" Ford couldn't even tell me, when I talked to their customer service, if it had been fixed under that recall by a previous (only 1) owner.

- Boone, IA, USA

problem #603

Jan 032021

Escape

  • 121,000 miles
While my daughter was driving our 2009 Escape limited on the expressway at 70 mph, the steering assist failed without warning causing her to almost crash. After getting the car pulled over to the side of the road she had to restart it and the steering assist began working again. This has happened now on multiple occasions and is dangerous to both the individuals in the vehicle and anyone else on the road. Ford needs to alert drivers of these vehicles of this issue before they hurt or kill someone. When I enter her VIN number it shows no recall. If this was a safety issue and an recall in 2011 why is it not an issue today. I have a daughter currently stranded at her work because her steering wheel will not turn as I type this report.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

problem #602

Dec 302020

Escape

  • 213,000 miles
Electrical power steering failure came on dash warning and next start up the power steering went out while driving on a rural road.

- Fairplay, SC, USA

problem #601

Dec 232020

Escape

  • 150,000 miles
I was driving on a city street, I turned left at a light as I should, the power steering went completely out with no warning, absolutely no power steering as I was turning through the intersection. I was going much slower than 25 mph speed limit, since I was turning. I almost crashed into a curb\street sign, but was able to turn the wheel with all my strength to make it turn without the power steering. I always take care of my vehicle, this should never have happened. There was absolutely no warning, I'm lucky I wasn't on the highway or got into an accident. This should be covered under a safety recall. I expect an immediate solution.

- Hackettstown, NJ, USA

problem #600

Dec 272020

Escape

  • 110,550 miles
As I was driving down the road, I applied my brakes and prepared to take a right hand turn into a business parking lot. As I performed the turn, the dashboard message center displayed "power steering assist fault" and the vehicle became extremely difficult to turn/steer. A vehicle was waiting to leave the parking lot I was entering. Due to the power steering failing, I almost collided with the other vehicle.

- Fargo, ND, USA

problem #599

Dec 272020

Escape

  • 120,981 miles
So today on 12/27/2020 I was house sitiing for a friend and while checking pulling down the street to the house my sensor came on alerting me of a power steering fault and a maintenance light came on. After noticing this I parked the car in my friends driveway finished his requests and headed back to the car. When I entered my car to pull out of the driveway I felt it was extremely difficult to turn the wheel of my car and having troubles steering. At this point I cancelled my other plans and drove the car home and parked it after experiencing extreme difficulty driving the car and trying to turn the vehicle. I after taking it home checked the power steering fluid container to see if it was low to which it was not and checked the pipes to see if the car maybe was leaking for a pipe maybe rupturing which I did not find anything. I found online there was a recall for my vehicle but did the search for the VIN number and found my car never received it in the mail and the car was never serviced for this issue. So I am not really sure what is wrong and hopefully hope I don't need to pay 1600 dollars to fix the power steering hopefully.

- Racine, WI, USA

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