CarComplaints.com Notes: The top problem trend for the 2014 Escape is transmission failure at around 70k miles.
This is relatively low mileage for an expensive transmission failure ($4,500 average to fix), but unless the trend becomes more established, we are only awarding the 2014 Escape our "Beware of the Clunker" badge for now.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,420 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.
Powering steering assist fault. Loss of steering and car went into limp mode and needed to try to pull over immediately. I have reported this issue several. Times. Ford has not been able to fix this issue. This car is not safe to drive. Please hold Ford accountable before someone gets severely injured or dies in a car crash from this known problem with the steering issues.
May 31.2023 I was involved in an accident your left front wheel Castor and wheel. Separated from vehicle. Causing me to crash into a light pole.in the east bound lane when I was going west bound on Franklin rd in Boise id Knocking me unconscious idaho state police made report. Before accident left front wheel pulled left when braking gave car gas car pull right last thing I remember. EMT took Alfonso's hospital. As investigate because I was almost killed lucky I survive.
My daughter was backing out of driveway and said the steering was difficult to turn and felt locked. The steering assist fault came up on screen. She parked car and didn-??t drive. My husband tried backing out of driveway as well and said the steering was hard to turn. He then put it in park and tried again and it drove fine.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering with the power steering assist fault warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he was able to continue driving; however, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering rack assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.
Amongst SEVERAL problems with this vehicle, it often slips out of gear while driving. Which has caused me to have to stop in the middle of the lane. It has had multiple mega fuses go out. It will often say -??power steering fault-?? and then the message will go away. I am genuinely scared to drive this vehicle because I never know when the power system is going to go out. I have always stayed up to date on maintenance and it has less than 90k on miles. I do not understand why this has not been pulled off the market. It seems like all the escapes before mine were pulled for the same issues.
- Cedartown , GA, USA
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on numerous ocassions recently the power steering has become disabled and/or unresponsive i am getting a steering assist light when it happens it is intermittent and i fear it will occur at high speed resulting in injury or death
The vehicle will get a steering assist fault message and go into limp mode immediately giving you no time to pull to the side of the road. Please make ford do something about the steering issues on these vehicles. These escapes are too dangerous to drive.
While driving the vehicle randomly het steering assist fault service required and goes immediately into limp mode. This is very dangerous and you need to try to pull over immediately, because the car loses power immediately. This is my teenage drivers car and she can no longer drive it. We are to scared she will get into an accident. Please make Ford do something with a recall for the steering assist issues in these escapes
The contact owns a?2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while parked, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where they repaired the bushing shifter cable. The failure recurred and the steering wheel became stiff. Additionally, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately causing the contact the steering wheel became stiff. Additionally, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately causing the contact to side swiped another vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.
Car was in perfectly good condition around 75,000 miles. but the power steering gave out in the middle of driving on the highway. I first noticed it becoming a bit harder to turn the wheel but within an hour it became almost impossible to turn. Was charged $2,500 to fix since I was told it was an electrical problem. I did get a notification on the dashboard that there was a "power steering assist failure" or "steering fault."
Steering assist fault: Service requied light came on. Steering wheel hard to turn. Steering wheel system is electrical and cannot use power steering fluid to receitfy the problem. Towed vehicle to nearest Ford dealership to repair the issue. Diagnostic test ($170) is being conducted to determine the issue. I research the internet and most complainents indicated the steering rack need to be replaced. Cost range, very costly. The contact has stated that their vehicle is not included in the recall because it only includes MY 2013 Ford Escapes. The diagnostic test determined that a new power steering rack was needed but the part was on backorder. No assistance from Ford has been offered.
At mileage 56,449 alert came on "steering assist failure" and I had no power steering. I drove directly to Coconut Point Ford in Estero, Fl. 10/31/2022. Part was on backorder throughout the U.S. I was able to pick up my repaired auto on 11/18. Forums have mentioned multiple issues with this model with power steering but as of yet no recall for the 2014 Escape. Total bill $3,250.17 and $350 car rental.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the power steering assist fault message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and no error codes were retrieved. The dealer contacted the manufacturer for assistance, and the manufacturer determined that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
Driving in my neighborhood, the steering wheel got locked and appeared in the cluster a message: -??Steering assist fault-?? Service required Turn it off the suv Then I turned on and drive back to my house
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the message "Power Steering Assist Default" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. However, the failure reoccurred intermittently. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the failure occurred and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the steering gear assembly was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on several occasions the vehicle lost power steering functionality after starting the vehicle. The contact stated that after a few miles the power steering regained functionality, however, the failure was ongoing. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated and a "steering fault, service soon" message was displayed. The warning lights would turn off after several minutes however, the power steering functionality was not available. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was locked. The "Steering Assist Fault" message was displayed. The contact stated that as he turned off and restarted the vehicle, the message was no longer displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the mechanic was unable duplicate the failure. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle however, the warning message remained displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact they could not assist as the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Omaha, NE, USA