2009 Ford Escape Complaint Log

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED, AS IF THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAD TO STOP AND RESTART THE VEHICLE 5-6 TIMES BEFORE THE POWER STEERING WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WHEN I RESEARCHED IT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT, BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN STEERING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE POWER STEERING IS OUT. I ALSO REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO POWER STEERING FLUID BECAUSE THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP, AND DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY (UPWARDS OF $1500 TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, KIAS, TOYOTAS, ARE REPORTING THIS DEFECT ON THEIR VEHICLE AS A RECALL AND PAYING FOR REPLACEMENTS FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD FOR NOT HANDLING THIS ISSUE AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN! *TR

SLOWING DOWN TO TURN RIGHT ON ADJACENT STREET, THE FORD ESCAPE STALLED AND POWER LOSS ENSUED SHORTLY THERE AFTER. *JS

UPON START UP, THE CAR HAS ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING, LOCKING THE WHEEL AND PREVENTING IT FROM STEERING OR MOVING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF, THE POWER STEERING HAS RETURNED THUS FAR, BUT WE'VE HAD 4 INCIDENTS OF THIS WITHIN THE PAST WEEK. WE'VE READ OF OTHERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES WHILE DRIVING AND WE'RE FEARFUL OF THE SAME HAPPENING TO US. WE'RE FEARFUL OF OUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS BUT ARE FEARFUL THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD THE COST OF REPAIR. UNTIL WE HAVE ISSUES WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT SMALL DISTANCES. *JS

THE THROTTLE HAS FAILED FOUR TIMES IN TRAFFIC.THE ENGINE HAS LOST POWER AND VEHICLE SPEED HAS BEEN GREATLY REDUCED.I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP BUT WAS TOLD IF IT DID NOT OCCUR WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN THAT FORD MOTOR CO.WOULD NOT REPLACE OR REPAIR THE THROTTLE BODY. HERE IS MY QUESTION ,HOW DO I GET THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP WHEN IT OCCURS? FORD ISSUED ME A WARNING BUT WANT MAKE REPAIRS,WHAT GOOD IS THE WARRANTY? *JS

HARD TO TURN AT LOW SPEEDS. *JS

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN SHAKING RECENTLY (NOTICE WHILE IDLE). TODAY I STARTED MY CAR, I HAD 0 POWER STEERING. APPARENTLY IF YOU SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND START IT AGAIN IT AGAIN YOU MAY BE LUCKY AND HAVE POWER STEERING. I LEARNED THIS WITH A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH. MANY WHO HAVE ESCAPES WITH HIGH MILEAGE HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE FROM ALL I HAVE READ IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. "A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING". THIS ALSO IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART, 1,400.00-1,700.00 TO FIX. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,500.

I LEFT WORK AND EVERYTHING WAS OK. I MADE 1 STOP AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OF DRIVING. AFTER GETTING BACK IN THE CAR TO BACK OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME LIKE THIS. WHEN I GOT HOME, I TURNED THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT EVERYDAY SINCE THEN. MOST RECENTLY, WHILE THE CAR IS SITTING STILL AND IDLING, LIKE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL MOVE A LITTLE ON ITS OWN. IT WIGGLES BACK AND FORTH. I BELIEVE THAT IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING THAT THIS WOULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE READ OF QUITE A FEW PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS, MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE WORSE. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND BECAME INOPERABLE WHILE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD FAIL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE; HOWEVER, IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, DECLINED TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,071.

MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON FRIDAY. IT CAME BACK AFTER WORK AFTER THE CAR WAS RESTARTED. THEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN ON SATURDAY. IT SOMETIMES WORKS SOMETIMES DOESN'T IT HASN'T FLIPPED ON AND OFF WHILE IN OPERATION. BUT I AM AFRAID THAT IT MIGHT. *TR

WHEN I START MY VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FAILS, DOES NOT MATTER THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE. RESTARTING THE VEHICLE RESTORES THE POWER STEERING. STEERING JERKS AND MAKES SOUNDS LIKE A GEAR MECHANISM IS CATCHING CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING. WHILE IT HAS NOT FAILED WHILE DRIVING YET, IT FEELS LIKE IT IS ALWAYS ON THE VERGE OF FAILING. *TR

WHILE AT AN IDLE MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE. THEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING AROUND A CORNER MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND CAUSED ME TO GO OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK ON AND KEEP GOING BUT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. *TR

TRANSMISSION SOLENOID WORE OUT VALVE BODY IN TRANSMISSION AND LEAKY SEAL. BOTH ARE A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR FORD AND THEY HAVE ISSUED A TSB TO THEIR DEALERS ON THIS ISSUE BUT HAVE NOT RECALLED THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PAY $2374.00 TO FIX THIS KNOWN ISSUE. SEE LINKS BELOW: HTTP://WWW.AUTOMD.COM/TSB/BULLETIN_B275253/ HTTP://WWW.AUTOMD.COM/TSB/BULLETIN_B313101/ *TR

FOR A FEW DAYS MY POWER STEERING WOULD GRIND AND THE WHEEL WOULD TWITCH WHILE IDLING. THEN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY ALL THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF AS I WAS MOVING IN LANES. IF I HAD BEEN MAKING A SHARP TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC I COULD HAVE DIED. I'M A PERSONAL TRAINER AND IT TOOK ALOT TO TURN THAT WHEEL. *TR

CAR LOST POWER. PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD, ENGINE WOULD IDLE ONLY. THROTTLE BODY HAD GONE BAD. *TR

WE HAD NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD STARTED SLIPPING AND GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. WE CHECKED THE TRANS FLUID AND IT WAS VERY LOW. COME TO FIND OUT WE HAD BEEN LOSING FLUID AND DIDN'T KNOW THE PROBLEM SO WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC BECAUSE WE BOUGHT IT USED FROM PATTERSON IN MT. AIRY AND THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. OUR MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE SEAL HAD BLOWN SO HE PUT A NEW AXLE IN ALSO BECAUSE THERE WAS WEAR ON IT. WELL....WE HAVE DRIVEN IT A TOTAL OF 2 WEEKS AND THE VERY SAME THING HAS HAPPENED SO IT IS BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AGAIN. AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS I AM FINDING THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND GETTING VERY EXPENSIVE. RIGHT NOW I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE TO ANYONE. OH, AND BY THE WAY, MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS CAR HAD THIS SAME REPAIR DONE ON IT BEFORE WE PURCHASED IT!!!!! LOOKING AT MY OPTIONS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP TAKING THIS TO THE SHOP. MY FEAR IS THAT WE ARE GOING DOWN THE ROAD WITH OUR GRANDBABIES AND THIS CAR STOPS AND WE ARE STRANDED. AND ALSO IF IT OVERHEATS BECAUSE OF NO FLUID...COULD FIRE BE AN ISSUE?? *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. TURNED CAR OFF IT RETURNED NOW IT TWITCHES SHAKES AND GOES OFF ONCE AND WHILE. NEED TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN EPAS SHOT. COST$$$ MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THIS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR

POWER STEERING CUTS OUT OF ITS OWN ACCORD. HOWEVER WHEN THE STEERING WORKS THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND TWITCHES, PULLING THE STEERING WHILE IT MOVES A LITTLE EACH TIME. I HAVE TO USE BOTH HANDS TO STEADY THE WHEEL AS I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY EVERYDAY. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL CUT OUT MID TURN, RESULTING IN MANY POTHOLE STRIKES, I AM SURPRISED THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO SWERVE AROUND ANOTHER CAR IN TIME OR HEAVEN FORBID A PERSON OR ANIMAL AND THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION WITH A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP, DESPITE MY FRANTIC EFFORTS TO BRAKE THE CAR; I SWERVED TO MY RIGHT, WENT THROUGH 6 INCHES OF SNOW ON GRASS CURB AND THEN WENT UP A 5 FT. ICE BANK, WHERE MY WHEELS JAMMED IN THE ICE AND I STOPPED, SITTING AT NEARLY A 45 DEGREE ANGLE, 5 FT. ABOVE THE ROAD. MY FRONT BUMPER WAS MANGLED IN THE ICE BANK AND MY PASSENGER-SIDE MIRROR WAS BROKEN OFF BY A STOP SIGN. IF NOT FOR THE SNOW BANK, I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED INTO THE VERY BUSY INTERSECTION, WHERE I AND OTHER DRIVERS WOULD HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT DESPITE HITTING THE BRAKE, THE CAR WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM, DID NOT STOP, IT KEPT GOING UNTIL HITTING THE SNOW-ICE BANK. *TR

THE POWER STEERING HAS BECOME VERY ERRATIC. WHEN I TURN THE VEHICLE ON, ABOUT HALF THE TIME WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN. I HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTART IT, UNTIL THE WHEEL MOVES SO I CAN DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AND THEN, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN THE ENGINE IS IDLING, AND IT SEEMS VERY FREE MOVING. I WENT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE STATED THE PART TO FIX IT WAS OVER $900 PLUS THE LABOR TO PUT IT IN. NEEDLESS TO SAY, AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT OPERATING THE VEHICLE, PLUS AM PRETTY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD THAT THEY HAVEN'T RECALLED AND FIXED THIS VERY EXPENSIVE, DANGEROUS, AND PREVALENT PROBLEM. *TR

STARTED VEHICLE THIS MORNING AND DROVE ABOUT 1 MILE TO LOCAL STORE. THE STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT INDICATING A LACK OF POWER STEERING. AFTER SHOPPING AT STORE, I DROVE ABOUT .25 MILES TO A BANK. AGAIN THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. AFTER THE BANK, I DROVE 25 MILES TO WORK (WITH POWER STEERING) AND THEN ANOTHER 25 MILES HOME IN THE EVENING. WHEN I STARTED THE DRIVE HOME, I HAD NO POWER STEERING. AFTER TALKING TO MY FORD DEALER EARLIER IN THE DAY AND AFTER READING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB OF THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOM, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THIS TIME I HAD POWER STEERING. APPARENTLY THERE IS A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ACTIVATES THE ELECTRICAL (?) POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS SWITCH CAN BECOME INTERMITTENT CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL. REPORTED REPAIR COST IS $1400 BECAUSE OF DIFFICULT ACCESS TO SAID SWITCH. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY DISCONCERTING PROBLEM WITH HUGE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. WEB REPORTS TELL OF LOSING POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE CAN STILL BE STEERED BUT ONLY WITH GREAT EFFORT. SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW. IT IS HARDLY FAIL-SAFE. *TR

WHEEL LOCKS UP AND DOESN'T MOVE, POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK EITHER. HAVE TO TURN CAR ON AND OFF CONTINUALLY UNTIL NORMAL STEERING FUNCTIONS RETURN. DROPPED CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY! AFTER SOME RESEARCH I SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NO RECALL? VERY UNSAFE NOT ONLY FOR DRIVERS BUT SURROUNDING CARS ON THE ROAD AS WELL!! *TR

AT FIRST STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE ON ITS OWN WHEN CAR WAS STARTED. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER RECEIVED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS. I MADE AN APPT. TO TAKE CAR TO LEN STOLER DEALERSHIP IN OWINGS MILLS, MD. TODAY 3/2/15. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR TO TAKE IT IN MY MESSAGE PANEL READ " POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE! THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT REQUIRES REPLACING THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN! I WENT ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS FROM OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS. THE FORD DEALERSHIPS CHARGED FROM $1200- ALMOST $1900 TO FIX THIS. IN MAY 2014 THERE WAS A RECALL OF SOME FORD ESCAPES REGARDING THE POWER STEERING ISSUE. I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. THERE SHOULD BE SOME ADDITIONAL RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE..IF YOU CHECK THE INTERNET YOU WILL FIND I AM NOT ALONE! THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS I WOULD THINK THAT FORD WOULD HONOR A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE MY HUSBAND DRIVE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I COULD NOT NAVIGATE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THERE. THANK YOU. *TR

POWER STEERING/STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT. 250 MILES INTO MY TRIP I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I ACCELERATED AND WITHOUT WARNING I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT TO GET OFF THE BUSY STREET. HOPING FOR A SIMPLE ANSWER I CHECKED THE "FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE (EPAS) , PARK AID MODULE" FUSE AND IT WAS FINE. IT WAS LATE EVENING - THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED, NO RENTAL CARS AVAILABLE. THE POLICE ENDED UP TAKING ME, MY DOGS, MY LUGGAGE, ETC. TO A MOTEL. IN THE MORNING ARRANGED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND RENTAL CAR. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WAS A JERK BECAUSE I HAD PULLED THE FUSE AND RESET THE ERROR CODE. TOLD HIM WHEN YOU'RE IN A STRANGE AREA WITH NO HELP TO BE FOUND, YOU'RE DESPERATE AND WILL TRY WHATEVER YOU CAN. WAS NOT IN THE MOOD TO PUT UP WITH HIS ATTITUDE. GOT ON THE ROAD IN THE RENTAL CAR AND HOURS LATER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP TELLING ME THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $1,300+ AND THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAD PURCHASED HAD EXPIRED 1/21/2014. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY POSTS REGARDING THIS MATTER. WHEN IS FORD GOING TO REALIZE THIS IS NOT A RANDOM PROBLEM? I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. IN ADDITION TO THE CURRENT ISSUE I HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED (AT ABOUT 31K); FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED; THE LEFT, FRONT SPEAKER THAT WAS REPLACED HAS GONE BAD AGAIN. I AM NOT A BAD DRIVER (HAVE NEVER HAD A TICKET OR BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL), I AM CAREFUL WITH MY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. NEXT TIME IT BREAKS DOWN I'LL BE TEMPTED TO WALK AWAY FROM THE THING AND NOT LOOK BACK. *TR

THROTTLE BODY EMISSIONS SENSOR. EEC TEST CODES FOR THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS A & B. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO COME ON AND GO OFF PERIODICALLY. HAD IS CHECKED OUT AT MULTIPLE PLACES OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND NOW IS OVER 80,000 AND FORD REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE, MY STEERING TIGHTENED UP AND I REALIZED MY POWER STEERING HAD MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE CURVE SAFELY BUT STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND IT IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE STEERING OF MY VEHICLE. THE STEERING TIGHTENS AND I'M UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AS I AM DRIVING MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

WENT TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND SPED UP TO 45 MPH AND LOST ALL THE ASSISTANCE IN POWER STEERING. FELT LIKE I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEELS AT ALL. I SLOWED DOWN AND BARELY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. TOLD MY KIDS EVERYTHING WILL BE OK. STARTED UP THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT WAS FINE UNTIL 10 MIN LATER...SAME ISSUE. ALMOST WRECKED TWICE WITH THE KIDS WITH ME. *TR

I HAVE A 2009 FORD ESCAPE AND I ALMOST GOT IN A ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. AS I WAS TURNING MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO MANEUVER. AS I DID MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD ESCAPE. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS BUT THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS IT IS AS IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY BUT ALL THEY DID WAS APOLOGIZE AND NOTHING MORE. THE COST TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED IS ABOUT 1500.00 WHICH MY CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY UNDRIVEABLE SINCE I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPAIR IT AT THIS TIME. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE (ELECTRONIC). TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED ($878.00) AND IT FAILED WITHIN THE DAY. WAS REPLACED AGAIN. NOW IT IS STILL FAILING AND AM HAVING TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO RE-EXAMINE AGAIN TOMORROW. *TR A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMERS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 10/01/14.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD ABOUT 5 MIN AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE WHEN I LOST POWER STEERING AND HAD TO PULL OVER. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE STEERING WORKED BUT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN IT IS IN THE CENTER POSITION. NOW EVERYTIME I START THE CAR I HAVE NO POWER STEERING. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND LETTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO RESET. BUT THAT DOES NOTHING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING CULUMN AND THEY WOULD CHARGE ABOUT $1300. NOW AS I AM STARTING THE CAR IF I PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT I HAVE POWER STEERING BUT THE STEERING WHEEL STILL SHAKES IF IT IS IN THE CENTER POSITING. IF I JUST START THE CAR LIKE NORMAL THE POWER STEERING NEVER WORKS. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD BUT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR ANY DRIVER AND THE CARS AROUND THEM. MANY OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

STEERING ASSIST WENT OUT AND HAD TO TURN MANUALLY.... COULD NOT IMAGINE WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED HAD MY DAUGHTER BEEN DRIVING AT THE TIME. ABOUT 4 MONTHS BEFORE THIS THE TAILGATE WOULD NOT OPEN EITHER....APPARENTLY THE ACTUATOR WENT OUT. YOU KNOW SOMETIMES YOU CAN OVER ENGINEER SOMETHING AND MAKE IT SO MUCH WORSE. I WILL NOT OWN ANOTHER ESCAPE EVER AND PROBABLY NOT ANY OTHER FORD. *TR

2009 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, FOR A REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE, HE WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR HE NEEDED BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. A WEEK LATER, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE REPAIR, TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT A COST OF $3,400.

VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE TRAVELING AT A STEADY SPEED (USUALLY BETWEEN 30-45 MPH) THE VEHICLE POWER FLUCTUATES BETWEEN SURGING AND LOSING POWER. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHEN COMING TO A STOP BECAUSE OF THIS FLUCTUATION. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IRREGULARLY. THE RPMS REV EXCESSIVELY HIGH, THEN THE TRANSMISSION JERKS THE VEHICLE WHEN SHIFTING. THIS HAPPENS THE MOST BETWEEN FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE VARIABLE TIMING OF THE ENGINE. THEY WANT TO OPEN THE ENGINE TO TRY AND FIND THE PROBLEM WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. THIS ISSUE STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH 44,000 MILES. THEY DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE UNTIL THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 60,000 MILES DUE TO CONFLICT OF SCHEDULE AND LONG COMMUTE TIMES. THEN THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WITH NO RESOLUTION TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS FROM THE VEHICLE STALLING OR LOSING POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. *TR

POWER ASSIST TO STEERING FAILED. RESULTED IN VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN/STEER VEHICLE. VERY FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND HARD TO TURN I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND TURN BACK ON. COUPLE OF TIMES IT HAPPENS ON THE EXPRESSWAY/AS WELL AS STREET DRIVING. IT'S HAPPENING VERY OFTEN NOW. WHILE DRIVING THE WHOLE TRUCK WAS SHAKING, SHAKING REAL BAD... *TR

ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP. TAKING A RIGHT TURN, CAR RUMBLED AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. CAR WENT FROM 5MPH AND DROP DOWN TO 3MPH, THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT ON. STOPPED AT SIDE OF ROAD AND ENGINE STILL RUNNING. DROVE A LITTLE MORE AND ENGINE STILL RUMBLING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. *TR

FIRST TIME HAPPENED AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, I NOTICED THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. THIS WAS RESOLVED AFTER I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT TIME WAS 2 DAYS LATER WHEN I IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. POWER STEERING CUT OUT COMPLETELY, THANKFULLY I WAS THE ONLY ONE AROUND BECAUSE IT TOOK A SECOND TO GRAB THE WHEEL TIGHTER AND TURN. I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY EVERYDAY AND IT IS ESSENTIAL TO SAFETY THAT I AM ABLE TO STEER. I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS FOR NOW BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD A $1200-$1800 REPAIR WHEN I JUST PUT MONEY INTO THIS CAR. ALSO I NOW NOTICE THAT MY WHEEL HAS A LOT MORE "WIGGLE ROOM" WITH STEERING AS WELL AS A GRINDING NOISE THAT NEVER WAS THERE BEFORE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER IN A VIBRATING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

I HAVE A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY, MANY TIMES, I DO NOT EVEN REMEMBER THE FIRST DATE OF INCIDENT ANYMORE (ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO) - THE MOST RECENT WAS 1-27-2014. AS I AM AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE, MY ENGINE STUTTERS AND CHOKES, OCCASIONALLY GIVES A TINY LITTLE "POP" SOUND, SOMETIMES STALLING RIGHT IN A TRAFFIC LANE. WHEN I RESTART IT, THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE PROBLEM. THIS IS RANDOM, AND DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY DAY. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO MY DEALER A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE PAST, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURE CODES, SO THEY DID NOT REPAIR ANYTHING. I AM TAKING IT IN AGAIN NEXT WEEK FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM - THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE, AND WILL CHECK IT OUT ONCE AGAIN TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY FAILURE CODES SHOWING THIS TIME. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS CONDITION !! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL OUT OF ITS LANE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND CONTINUE DRIVING WITH DIFFICULTY IN MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. CAN BE OUT IF YOU TURN THE CAR ON. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND YOU START IT AGAIN THE POWER STEERING MAY COME BACK ON. MOST OF THE TIME YOU HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND RECONNECT THIS USUALLY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A DAY THAN YOU HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING HAS ALSO GONE OUT DURING DRIVING AS WELL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD IS MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE STEERING WOULD LOCK. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN MY VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN UNLESS I TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF AND ON AGAIN, AT WHICH TIME IT WOULD WORK FOR APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET THEN ONCE AGAIN THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK. ACCORDING TO THE FORD DEALER, THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND NOW I FIND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON A SENSOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND NOT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL FORD HAS ISSUED. THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, LUCKILY WITH NO TRAFFIC PRESENT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER. AS I WAS MAKING MY TURN INTO MY WORK'S PARKING LOT THE STEERING FAILED, MID TURN, AND I WAS UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SLAM INTO A SNOW BANK THAT WAS PILED UP ON THE EDGE OF THE CORNER. THIS WAS HARDLY A CRASH, BUT A CRASH NONE THE LESS. LITTLE COSMETIC OR BODY DAMAGE WAS INCURRED BUT THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE, WHICH TOUTS STRONG SAFETY RATINGS, WAS IN AN INSTANT UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE EPS SYSTEM MAKES THIS REVIEWING HUNDREDS OF POSTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE, NATIONWIDE, IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY FRUSTRATIONS THAT FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. STEERING IS UNDENIABLY AN ESSENTIAL FUNCTION OF OPERATING A VEHICLE AND BEING IN POSSESSION OF SUCH A VEHICLE, THAT I STILL AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON WHILE STRUGGLING THROUGH SCHOOL MAKES THE NEGLECT FROM FORD HIGHLY OFFENSIVE. IT SEEMS THAT A NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER FOR A PART THAT IS SO ESSENTIAL TO A VEHICLE'S OPERATION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR SOME SORT OF RECALL / COMPENSATION FOR THE PART NEEDED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

THIS WAS THE THIRD INCIDENT, VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATES... POWER LOST IN ENGINE. AFTER STOP, ENGINE SOMETIMES STARTS, SOMETIMES REQUIRES LONGER WAIT TIME TO START... VEHICLE STILL UNDER 5 YEAR 50 K WARRANTY, TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP.... THEY WANT $ 440 TO FIX THE PROBLEM.... BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OFF AN EXIT RAMP, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND ONCE RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAD INDEPENDENTLY RESET. THE FAILURE WAS AN INTERMITTENT RECURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. *TR

OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS OR SO, UPON TURNING KEY, MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT ENGAGE, STAYING LOCKED - AT FIRST WAS A RARE OCCURRENCE, BUT LATELY HAVE HAD TO RESTART VEHICLE 2-3 TIMES TO GET THE POWER STEERING. MY 2009 FORD ESCAPE IS ALSO LOSING STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING - ON ONE INSTANCE, JANUARY 3, 2014, I WAS TURNING LEFT IN AN INTERSECTION, AND MY STEERING WHEEL FROZE MID-TURN, WITH TRAFFIC COMING RIGHT AT ME! I WAS ABLE TO SPEED UP AND FORCE TURN, BARELY CLEARING A VEHICLE PARKED ON THE SIDE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE - UPON RESTARTING THE ENGINE, IT STEERED JUST FINE. I ASSUMED IT WAS A MINOR GLITCH IN STEERING, BUT THE INCIDENTS BECAME MORE FREQUENT, FINDING MYSELF UNABLE TO STEER TO TURN INTO/OUT OF DRIVEWAY, PARKING LOT AND EVEN TRAFFIC. YESTERDAY, 2-26-2014, TOPPED IT. I WAS DRIVING AROUND TOWN AT MAX.30 MPH, I LOST STEERING, 5 TIMES IN 15 MINUTES, NO WARNING OF ANY KIND ON MY DASHBOARD. I HAD TO FIGHT THE STEERING TO PULL OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC - THAT IS END OF SCHOOL DAY, PARENTS AND CHILDREN WALKING/RUNNING AROUND ALL OVER! THIS STEERING PROBLEM IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS MORNING I SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP - AND I BETTER NOT HAVE TO PAY WHAT I'M SEEING OTHER PEOPLE HAD TO PAY FOR EXACTLY THE SAME STEERING PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF/RECALLED BY FORD, AS IT APPEARS TO BE A FAILURE IN THEIR ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING, AND THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE AFFECTED BY IT, RISKING CRASHES AND LOSS OF LIVES. *TR

WE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN ALL ELECTRIC COMPONENTS WENT OUT. WE COULD NOT STEER. FORTUNATELY IT WAS A STRAIGHT ROAD AND NO NEARBY TRAFFIC. WE STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED AND IT WORKED. WE WERE PETRIFIED! A LATER INCIDENT THE WIPERS WOULD ONLY WORK ON HIGH SPEED. THEY RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR. *TR