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.

- Ranchita, CA, USA

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.

- Santa Monica, CA, USA

Steering wheel locked at 12,000 miles and a third time at 35,000 (once in between) for a total of three times. Tire wear very odd, touchy braking.

- Healdsburg, CA, USA

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.

- Columbia, TN, USA

While slowing down to make a turn onto another street, the steering wheel 'locked' and would not turn. I jammed on the brakes to stop before hitting the vehicle that was waiting to pull out. I pulled hard on the steering wheel and it finally moved. After that, it went back to normal operation. This is a very dangerous situation. It has not done it since, but makes me nervous when driving it. I have not contacted the Ford dealer yet.

- Leitchfield, KY, USA

Lost complete steering control twice while driving.

- Cabot, AR, USA

While return home on I70 freeway going downhill at approx. 70mph the electrical assisted power steering quit working. The vehicle was very hard, but not impossible, to steer going around a curve. This only lasted a few seconds then it started working again...

- Aurora , CO, USA