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.
For the past two or three weeks I have noticed a progressively worse shaking and vibrating in the steering column, especially when the vehicle was coming to a stop or resting. On the 27th of March, 2013 I started the vehicle and the steering was really difficult, as in the power assist wasn't helping. The brakes were still working fine. When I shut the vehilce off and restarted it, the steering was being assisted by the eps again. This was the first time it happened, but researching the problem it seems like it will get progressively worse.
While coming to a stop I felt the steering wheel get tight and I noticed that the vehicle had lost it's power steering. I then noticed the wrench light had illuminated. This is a very dangerous defect if this were to happen going around a curve or making a turn if could cause an accident.
I was driving along and loss all power steering it was very hard to turn around a corner and if I was going any faster I probably would have not made it. I have been reading online that this is not a random occurrence several escape owners have had loss of steering.
Steering wheel has been shaking when car is stopped and at low speeds. Power steering does not work at times when car is started, I turn it off and restart the car and it works. While coming to a stop at around 35 mph the power steering failed, shut off the car and turn it back on and it still did not work. Steering wheel shakes left and right and makes a bad noise while in park and at low speeds. Have not taken car to be serviced yet.
Power steering quits working while driving. Can happen at low speeds or normal driving speed. Malfunction was intermittent. Power steering would start working properly after shutting engine off and restarting engine. Problem has become more frequent and getting power steering to come back in operation after restarting has become less frequent. Steering this vehicle is very hard without power steering, making it very un-safe to drive.
- Dover, FL, USA
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The auto had just had the pump that cools the hybrid engine replaced at a cost of $590 when we noticed that there was a jerking in the steering wheel when stopped. The wheel would jerk to the right and left and make a "clucking" noise. Once the car was moving the jerking seemed to stop. But then we found that when we started the car there might be no power steering or power forward. The car would have to be forcibly steered to the side and the engine turned off. Starting the engine again, the car had power steering and engine power. This began to happen nearly every time the car was started, and the jerking of the wheel every time the car was stopped at a traffic signal or stop. While the problem has yet to cause a dangerous situation the potential is certainly there should the same circumstances occur while driving. Having reviewed the web sites for problems with the 2008 escape there are literally dozens of similar complaints. One site lists nearly one hundred complaints exactly like mine and in some there have been accidents and potential injury. Ford is stonewalling everyone on this even when the mileage is less than 50, 000 miles. Often they say they know nothing of the problem and refuse to offer assistance in meeting charges that range upward to $1700. Given the information that I now have I consider this to be very dangerous and am hesitant to drive the car. The lack of concern by Ford seems to me to be a serious matter and one that should concern NHTSA.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. While driving approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the power steering assist deactivated. The contact depressed the brake pedal and was able to stop the vehicle. The contact then shut the engine off and after a several minutes, was able to restart the vehicle and regain power steering assist capabilities. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the steering column would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.
When I was driving on several occasions, the steering wheel would lock up and scare the heck out of me. Just today, while driving in town, I was turning left in the home depot and the steering locked up. Having experienced this several times before, I knew to grab the wheel tightly and continue my turn. My real problem is that I am now giving this car to my (daughter) new driver as her daily car. I am very concerned. I just read several blogs on several sites and all of them state that the dealers don't know and can't duplicate the problem. I have around 70,000 miles now on it, and no longer have a warranty. Besides a very tight budget, I am concerned for my daughter. Please advise. Also, please don't tell me you haven't heard of this problem either...
Does someone have to die before Ford recalls these cars to fix the hybrid cooling system in these vehicles. I have fixed the problem once myself (two years ago) and now it is happening again. These cars shut down on the highway with out warning because of something going on with the hybrid system. This time my wife was in the passing lane when it happened. One day someone is going to die from this problem because it only happens when you are traveling at higher speeds (on a highway) the red triangle light comes on and automatically shuts down the car. Some family will be killed because of this and Ford will be caught knowing about the problem and doing nothing to fix it.
Vehicle gave "stop safely now" readout on display and red triangle light on dash. Power dropped off and I had to pull of the road. I was traveling from la to santa cruz in the evening. Happened four more times on the same drive. Just happened again coming back from palm springs also in the evening. Took me seven hours to drive 140 miles. Car stopped over twenty times.
I started the vehicle to leave my office at the end of the day and noticed a tugging sensation at the steering wheel. On the freeway, it seemed fine, but when I slowed to a stop I could feel it again. The next day, the power steering completely failed. It was like driving a tank. There were no warning lights on the dash display. My Ford dealer replaced the electronic steering column at a cost of $1,374.40. The vehicle was no longer under warranty due to the mileage, but is only 4 years old.
While driving normally at 40 mph on a straight good road the steering wheel began kicking right to left abruptly. Almost like a big right left vibration. This lasted for several minutes before the power steering completely failed and made the steering difficult to control. I pulled to the side of road. Turned off the car and restart and took it immediately to the Ford dealer. Dealer said the electric power steering units were back order 5 - 8 weeks because many failures. This is a safety issue and people could die with the power steering failures. Please recall them before somebody's dies.
I was driving and gave a friend a ride. I waited in the car with the car still on while she got her things. When she hopped on I accelerated and when I tried to make a turn the steering wheel was so hard. I couldn't turn it. I pulled over and turned it off. When I started the car, it was back to normal another day I went to the drive through. Same thing happened. I tried to turn after and couldn't. I had to turn he car off and then back on. I went to the dealer. They said that on their bulletin there is a msg that the steering wheel column must be replaced. They said it would be about $1300 for me to replace. I do not understand why I would have to pay. There are other blogs with the same problem.
Problems with power steering motor suddenly shutting down on the hybrid vehicle. The problem occurs at vehicle turned on up to moderate vehicle speeds. When the problem first occurred, it confused the driver, as the power steering would experience sudden loss during when the vehicle is in electric mode (0-30mph). The sudden loss of power steering puts the driver is at risk of losing control of the vehicle, and accident. Complaints to the mechanic about the steering problem are difficult. With the motor off in electric mode, and sudden loss of power steering, the driver is led to believe that motor is at fault, and will complain to the mechanic in such way. Picture the vehicle completely shut down with no power steering. Your led to believe that vehicle motor is malfunctioning. This is not the case with the hybrid, as the vehicle is not actually shut down, it's in electric mode. No indicators are present within vehicle computer system to indicate that the problem is with power steering. Service department indicates that there is an electronic power steering motor problem, causing a binding issue with the column. Two service departments report that this is a unique issue. Several forums online are indicating that this issue is not unique, and rather common. Service department andy gates (Ford, victorville, ca) reports that the vehicle is not safe to drive in it's current state. The report from service department victorville, ca indicates that the steering column was designed with safety flaws, and Ford is having difficulty diagnosing the problem early on.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. The contact was driving approximately 70 mph when the steering locked abnormally and he was unable to control the vehicle due to a disability. The contact would allow the vehicle to coast off road before attempting to restart. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer three times and they repaired the entire electric steering assembly each time. The failure would recur within three years. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised the contact to trade the vehicle. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.
While driving at about 50 miles per hour on a two lane undivided highway, I tried to turn the steering wheel to the right to follow a curve but the steering wheel would not turn. The steering wheel felt locked, as I was drifting over the center line into the oncoming traffic lane, I quickly hit the brake to slow the car, and proper steering resumed. Even the short term loss of steering can and will result in an accident, injury, or death. A safety recall needs to be considered on these vehicles with electric power steering.
I have a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. While driving downhill and while braking, power steering seemed to fail completely for 3-5 seconds. Steering did not lock completely, it seemed, but it took real strength to move it as I was going around a gentle curve. I'm not sure my wife could have done same. Potentially very dangerous. Car is with dealership now.
I have a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. While turning I have lost steering, the steering wheel becomes difficult to turn and the vehicle did not turn, it lasts approx 5 seconds and then works again, this has happened two times in 4 days and once almost causing me to crash into another vehicle. I took escape to Ford dealership where I was told they could not do anything because they can not find the problem. They said they tried to recreate it and were unable to do so (they only drove my escape 2 miles the entire 2 days they had it). I have noticed, always while driving straight, that sometimes when the engine switches from gas to electric there is sometimes a sudden difference in steering wheel tension, almost like the power steering turns off for a few seconds.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Wasilla, AK, USA