2008 Ford Escape complaints

WHILE BACKING UP AT A GAS STATION, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND IT JERKED THE WHEEL BACK STRAIGHT. POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING, I DID MANAGE TO GET THE VEHICLE BACKED UP AND WENT INTO NEXT PARKING LOT. WASN'T SURE WHAT TO DO, SO I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF, THEN STARTED IT BACK UP AND MY POWER STEERING WAS BACK. NOW AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS IT HAS ME SCARED TO DRIVE MY TRUCK. THIS PROBLEM HASN'T HAPPEN SINCE 02-14-13 BUT I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND IT'S SAD THAT FORD AND THE RECALL DEPARTMENT HASN'T TAKEN THE RIGHT ACTION ON THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY DEATHS MUST HAPPEN BEFORE YOU TO DECIDE TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM. IT'S NOT A CHEAP FIX FOR THE OWNER OF THESE TRUCKS. AND FORD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED PLENTY OF TIMES ABOUT THE STEERING ISSUE AND HAVE DECIDED TO IGNORE THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. ONCE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, IT DID SO AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE THE IT WAS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY THEN THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER GOING 40 MPH DOWN THE ROAD, I WENT TO GO TAKE A TURN AND MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY JUST WENT, I ALMOST HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE GUY BEHIND ME TURNING LUCKILY SWERVED AROUND ME. I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR THEN TURN IT BACK ON FOR IT TO WORK AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THE EPS SYSTEM ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING) IS THE ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM AND FROM WHAT I SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE ESCAPES, BUT YET IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE PEOPLE GET SERIOUSLY INJURED! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY BOTH AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO BOTH ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTER FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 03/01/13*LJ UPDATED 03/07/13

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE 5 FREEWAY. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 45 MINUETS. I CHANGED LANES TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING GOT EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE. I PULLED OF THE FREEWAY AT THE NEXT OFF RAMP. THE ENTIRE TIME THE WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO MANEUVER. I CAME TO A STOP TURNED OFF THE CAR, CHECKED ALL MY FLUIDS, AND GOOGLED THE ISSUE ON MY PHONE. ALL RESULTS LEAD TO ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND ALL FUNCTION RETURNED. *TR

AFTER DRIVING 10 MILES WITH THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND THEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT, UPON STARTING BACK UP THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SWITCH GEARS UNTIL THE ENGINE GOT UP TO 5000RPM. WHEN IT DID SWITCH IT SEEMED TO CHANGE INTO 3RD GEAR INSTEAD OF 2ND BECAUSE I HAD ALMOST NO POWER AND HAD TO VERY SLOWLY ACCELERATE FROM THERE. FURTHER, IT REMAINED IN 3RD GEAR AND WOULD NEVER SWITCH TO 4TH. THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON AN OPEN HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WHERE THE CARS BEHIND ME EXPECTED A CONTINUOUS ACCELERATION TO 50MPH. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO BEING REAR-ENDED. MY MECHANIC HAS DETERMINED THAT 2ND GEAR AND 4TH GEAR ARE GONE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY, VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST 2008 FORD ESCAPES AND A $2500 REPAIR. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL BEFORE THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR FATALITY. *TR

POWER STEERING WILL NOT WORK. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING, IT WORKS. SAME PROBLEM EVERY OTHER DAY. MUST BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR FORD. AFRAID IT MAY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER AND RESTARTED AND THE SYSTEM INDEPENDENTLY RESET BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TURN IT IN EITHER DIRECTION. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT. UPON RETURNING HOME AND PULLING IN MY DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE AND MOVE ON IT'S OWN. I PARKED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE STARTING IT UP AGAIN. AT THAT TIME, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT EVEN AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES. SO AS OF THIS MORNING (FEB 1, 2013) THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND IS LOCKED WHEN I START THE CAR. *TR

MY GAS PEDAL STICKS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S COLD OUT. I'VE TALKED TO FORD ABOUT IT AND 3 OTHER MECHANICS AND NO ONE KNOWS WHY. I HAVE A HEATED GARAGE SO IT'S NOT FROZEN. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BUT IS EMBARRASSING AND DANGEROUS! *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A GAS STATION AND ASKED A GENTLEMAN FOR ASSISTANCE. HE HAPPENED TO OWN A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. HE SAID TO TURN IT OFF AND START IT AGAIN AND IT WILL WORK. IT DID. NOW WHILE IDLING THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES LEFT AND RIGHT ERRATICALLY. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND IT IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE, IN SOME CASES WITH SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. I RESEARCHED THE STEERING SYSTEM USED. I USES A STEPPER MOTOR FOR POWER ASSISTANCE. I WORK WITH CNC EQUIPMENT WITH STEPPER MOTORS. GENERALLY WHEN A STEPPER MOTOR ACTS ERRATICALLY OR LOCKS IN POSITION IT IS A PROBLEM WITH SOFTWARE HAVING BEEN CORRUPTED OR AN INCIDENCE THAT CAUSES THE ENCODER TO LOSE POSITION. ( BOTH CASES CAN BE CAUSED BY SHOCK, POWER SURGE OR LOSS OF COMMUNICATION) WHEN A STEPPER MOTOR IS UNDER POWER IT IS LOCKED IN POSITION UNTIL IT RECEIVES COMMUNICATION TO MOVE,IN STEPS,VERY SMALL INCREMENTS. (YOU CANNOT MOVE THEM BY HAND) THIS IS OK ON A CNC MACHINE. YOU JUST RUIN WHAT EVER YOU ARE FABRICATING. ON A VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM, ITS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE (YOU CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL) AND A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND HAVING IT WORK AGAIN SOUNDS LIKE THE SYSTEM REBOOTS. THE RE OCCURRENCE MAKES IT SOUND LIKE THE FIRMWARE IS CORRUPT. THE SYSTEM IS APPARENTLY NOT ISOLATED ENOUGH TO AVOID BEING CORRUPTED. IT MAY ALSO BE JUST A BAD BATCH OF ENCODERS AT ANY RATE IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS BEFORE SO

THIS MORNING I WAS BACKING UP FROM MY DRIVE WAY. THAN WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. IT SCARED ME BEING THAT I WAS IN THE STREET SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL WORKED. BUT THIS IS SCARY IF I HAD BEEN SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THERE HAD BEEN TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD MY IGNITION WORKED ON BY FORD SEVERAL TIMES. THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THIS IS ANOTHER PROBLEM AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT IS GOING ON. THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT IS GOING TO COST ME AROUND $1600.00. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPEN. *TR

VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. WHILE VEHICLE IS IDLING, STEERING WHEEL PULSES BACK AND FORTH SLIGHTLY, BUT OCCASIONALLY TURNS RIGHT BY ITSELF. FORD STATES THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SENSORS ON THE STEERING COLUMN WEARING OUT, BUT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? I GUESS BRAKE FAILURE IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE EITHER! THE "FIX" IS ONLY 14-1500.00. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY SAFETY RECALL REPAIRED AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY EXPENSE. *TR

2008 FORD ESCAPE WITH SERIOUS STEERING WHEEL SHAKING DURING DRIVING. FEELS LIKE COLUMN IS GOING TO LOCK UP OR MAKE VEHICLE SWERVE OFF COURSE. WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND TURNED OFF, AND BACK ON SYMPTOMS WENT AWAY. HOWEVER, UPON DRIVING VEHICLE AGAIN, SAME CONDITIONS CAME BACK- VERY STRONG AND VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP VEHICLE ON DRIVE PATH. WHEN GOOGLED- MANY REPORTS SHOW UP ABOUT SERIOUS AND EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS OF THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN ARE OUT THERE. SEE:HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2008/FORD/ESCAPE/STEERING THERE ARE MANY OTHER SITE WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOW CAN FORD NOT ISSUE A RECALL ABOUT POWER STEERING COLUMN FAILURES? THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS RISK ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AS IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

1/22/13-STARTED MY VEHICLE UP AT 8AM AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT ENGAGE, THINKING IS WAS DUE TO COLD, I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE UP, POWER ASSIST ENGAGE AND I DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROX 1/4MILE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE POWER ASSIST FAILED AND NEARLY COLLIDED MY VEHICLE ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC DUE TO STEERING FAILURE; I IMMEDIATELY DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. ON 1/23/13 I DROVE THE VEHICLE VERY CAREFULLY TO A NEARBY FORD DEALERSHIP (APPROX 2 MILES FROM HOME). I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC TEST) THAT THE STEERING COLUMN REQUIRES REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC MODULE FAILURE AS IT IS PART OF THE VEHICLES ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM (EPAS) AND WAS QUOTED A REPAIR PRICE (>1400.00). I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS TYPE OF STEERING FAILURE IS EXTREMELY COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE EPAS AND MANY MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED BY CONSUMERS ON THIS EXACT STEERING PROBLEM. DUE TO THE UNPREDICTABILITY, POTENTIAL DANGER AND THE COMMONALITY OF THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE, COULD THIS WARRANT A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE OR AT LEAST A SERVICE BULLETIN OF THIS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC STEERING ISSUE? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE STEERING LOCKED ON MY WIFE'S 2008 FORD ESCAPE. SHE CALLED ME TO COME HELP HER AS SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE HER ESCAPE. UPON ARRIVAL I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOR OBVIOUS SIGNS OF PROBLEMS, NONE WERE NOTED. I TRIED TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL; I WAS QUITE SHOCKED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE MOVED. SINCE I AM 6'4" AND 300LBS MOST THINGS THAT I GRAB MOVE?THE STEERING WHEEL SHOULD HAVE MOVED, JUST WITHOUT THE ASSIST OF THE POWER ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSORS IN THE STEERING COLUMN ARE BAD. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO RESET THE COMPUTER AND THAT THE STEERING NOW FUNCTIONS. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT I HAVE TWO CHOICES DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND SEE IF THE ISSUE REPEATS OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN ($1,500.00). I EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS IN FACT A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY AND LOCKED UP AS I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. FORD CUSTOMER CARE WAS CONTACTED AND THEY HAVE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE IN THIS ISSUE AND CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY ISSUES PERTAINING TO THIS PROBLEM ON RECORD. THIS STATEMENT BY FORD CUSTOMER CARE SEEMS TO BE HIGHLY SUSPECT AS A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH FOUND MANY IDENTICAL ISSUES. THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE STEERING SYSTEM IS BEYOND UNACCEPTABLE! IF SOMEONE WITH MY STRENGTH CANNOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL THAN HOW IS SOMEONE THE SIZE OF MY WIFE SUPPOSED TO MOVE THE STEERIN

TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH, WHILE MAKING SHARP TURN AND U-TURN, WE LOST OUR POWER STEERING. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, BUT THE SECOND TIME WAS IN TRAFFIC. EACH TIME IT TOOK ALL OF OUR STRENGTH TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED SO THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE MOVED OUT OF TRAFFIC. BOTH TIMES WE PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED OFF IGNITION. WHEN RE-STARTED, POWER STEERING WAS FINE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE FAILURE. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC EACH TIME, BUT MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY THE NEXT. WHEN WE GOT HOME, WE GOOGLED 2008 FORD ESCAPE STEERING PROBLEMS TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL THAT WE WERE NOT AWARE OF, AND WE WERE ASTONISHED TO SEE HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD REPORTED THIS SAME FAILURE. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE. *TR

MY FORD ESCAPE IS MY FAMILY AND WORK VEHICLE. ONE MORNING I STARTED IT AFTER IT WAS PARKED IN COLD OVERNIGHT, ENGINE STARTED BUT THE STEERING WAS STUCK, THOUGHT BATTERY WAS BAD. RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL STEERING LOOSENED UP. DROVE CAR AND EVERY STOP LIGHT OR WHILE IDLING, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED SO HARD AND HAVE TO HOLD IT STEADY, THOUGHT, TIME TO HAVE MY CONTROL ARM REPLACED AGAIN. TOOK IT TO A FRIEND'S CAR SHOP , SAID, THEY'VE BEEN HAVING COSTUMERS BRINGING THEIR FORD ESCAPES LATELY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. TOLD ME TO GO TO MY DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED IT , ELECTRONIC STEERING PROBLEM $90 FOR DIAGNOSIS, $1100 PARTS AND LABOR, ABOUT 3-DAYS TO ORDER FOR PARTS. TOO EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS, NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL. *TR

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND LOST POWER STEERING. HAD TO USE ALL STRENGTH TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. STOPPED AND RESTARTED CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. BEGAN DRIVING TOWARD HOME, BUT DURING A STOP LIGHT STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE (WHILE IDLE) AND LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THIS IS NOT COVERED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND RIDICULOUS. *TR

THE CAR INVOLVED WAS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 AND I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY POWER STEERING. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. I USED ALL MY FORCE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON MY STEERING WAS THEN FINE. I GOT BACK ON THE ROAD AND I LOST ALL OF MY POWER STEERING AGAIN. THIS STEERING PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND RECALL MUST BE ENFORCED!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNED TO ITS NORMAL POSITION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 3/20/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN ACCELERATING FORWARD FROM AN IDLE POSITION. UPDATED 04/17/13

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,999.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A STRANGE NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,133.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND APPROACHED A STOP SIGN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE HALTED. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND WHEN RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSIS WITHOUT THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRING WHILE BEING DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DROVE VEHICLE YESTERDAY, NO PROBLEMS. THIS MORNING STARTED TO DRIVE AND LOST POWER STEERING. MADE IT BACK HOME BUT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD IF ON HIGHWAY. *TR

UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE PROBLEM WENT AWAY BUT RETURNED WHILE IDLING AT A STOP. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN PULSATING AND MOVING ON IT'S OWN. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. STEERING WOULD UNEXPECTED LOOSE POWER ASSIST. *TR

FOR THE LAST 6 WEEKS, MY STEERING COLUMN WOULD SHAKE WHEN CAR WAS IDLING. I ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE PN 12-4-12 AND THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND IT BEGAN WORKING. SINCE THEN, THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. ON 1-4-13, THE POWER STEERING BECAME NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. THE ONLY PLACE THAT COULD REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IS AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY TOWN. IT IS WELL KNOWN DEALERSHIPS CHARGE MORE FOR REPAIRS THAN PRIVATE GARAGES. THE COST WILL BE $1300 AND IT WILL TAKE 2 TO 3 DAYS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. TECHNICIAN STATED THE SENSOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLACED, SO THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I DO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON MY VEHICLE AND AM CURIOUS WHY THIS PROBLEM WASN'T INVOLVED IN A RECALL. IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE!! WHILE SEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND MANY OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. WHILE MY CAR WAS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, ANOTHER STEERING PROBLEM OCCURRED, BUT THE WARRANTY COVERED THE REPAIR EXPENSE. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE ENOUGH IN SAVINGS TO COVER THIS REPAIR, BUT AM NOT PLEASED ABOUT IT. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND IT RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING AND THE TORQUE SENSOR WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THEY REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER TO VERIFY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

GAS PEDAL STICKS, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. HAVE HAD TO PUT CAR INTO NEUTRAL ON MORE THAN 1 OCCASION DUE TO PEDAL STICKING AT HIGH SPEED. ALSO STICKS WHEN ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEED, MAKING ACCELERATION ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN LOCKING UP IN MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND ALSO WHEN IDLING AT A STAND STILL MY STEERING WHEEL PULSES/VIBRATES. I HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, AND RESTART IT. SOME TIMES THAT FIXES IT AND SOME TIME IT DOESN'T. SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH ALL THESE POWER STEERING PROBLEMS, THIS IS NOT SAFE! *TR

WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC MY STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY TURNED ON ITS OWN SLIGHTLY. AS I STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD I REALIZED THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND APPEARED TO HAVE NO POWER STEERING. I WAS JUST NEAR THE DEALERSHIP SO I WAS ABLE TO GET IT IN TO THEM. IT TURNS OUT THE STEERING COLUMN IS ELECTRONIC AND BROKE REQUIRING VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON-LINE AND I AM FINDING IT TO BE A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING WITH OTHERS WHO WERE ACTUALLY MOVING AT THE TIME OF THE COLUMN FAILURE. MANY AT LOW MILEAGE (LESS THAN 55,000). I FEEL THIS IS BEING IGNORED BY FORD AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING. *TR

THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO NOT HAVE POWER STEERING AT START-UP A FEW TIMES, WITH THE PROBLEM BEING CORRECTED BY TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF THEN ON AGAIN. THE DAY OF DECEMBER 27, THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND STEERING WHEEL JERKED/PULSATED FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE, BUT POWER STEERING WAS STILL WORKING. WE THEN TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME ONE NIGHT WHEN THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. LUCKILY THE FORD ESCAPE, WITH 88,500 MILES ON IT, HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING THE $1400 IN REPAIRS. *TR

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE ACCELERATOR WILL DEPRESS. THERE IS NO INDICATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WILL BE FREE AND GREAT CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO AVOID A SUDDEN LUNGE FORWARD. JUST ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO IDLE AND WARM UP DOES NOT SEEM TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. *TR

WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE GARAGE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT MOVING. I STOPPED THE CAR AND WALKED BACK TO LET THEM KNOW, ONE OF THE TECH'S SAID THE ENGINE HAD BEEN CLEANED AND THEREFORE I HAD TO WAIT FOR SOME WIRES TO DRY. HAVE HAD STEERING PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. WHEN STARTING ENGINE, I NEED TO TURN OFF AND ON 2 OR 3 TIMES FOR STEERING WHEEL TO RELEASE AND WHEN STOPPED (BUT IDLING) STEERING SHAKES AND MAKES CRACKLING SOUNDS. IT ALL STARTED AT THE SHAMALEY DEALERSHIP, IN EL PASO, TEXAS. CAR HAS BEEN THERE SINCE YESTERDAY. NEVER HAD PROBLEMS BEFORE UNTIL I TOOK FOR AN OIL CHANGE ON 11/27/12. *TR

WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD THE GAS PEDAL BECOMES STUCK AND WILL NOT DEPRESS. AFTER REPOSITIONING FOOT, THE PEDAL WOULD DEPRESS. YESTERDAY ON 12/27/12 THE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS WHILE DRIVING, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I COULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN NEEDED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALER AND THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DANGEROUS ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE WORK THIS MORNING I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. IF THIS WOULD OF HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD THE OUTCOME WOULD NOT BE GOOD. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR OUT OF A PARKING LOT THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO WORK. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE CAR AND THE ISSUE REMAINED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. UPON TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT, THE POWER STEERING WORKED BRIEFLY BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE BACK AND FORTH WHILE MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED BUT RUNNING. *TR

I NOTICED THAT ON COLD MORNINGS THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS UNTIL A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FORCE WOULD BE EXERTED ON THE PEDAL. SOMETIMES YOU WOULD HAVE TO STOMP ON THE GAS TO GET IT FREE. SOMETIMES A QUICK PRESS-RELEASE-PRESS AGAIN WOULD FREE THE GAS PEDAL. AS THE ENGINED WARMED THE PROBLEM WOULD DECREASE. ON OCCASIONS I WOULD STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND ROLL HALFWAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE I COULD GET THE PEDAL FREE. DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG ALTHOUGH I AM AWARE OF 1 OTHER FORD ESCAPE AND 2 MAZDA TRIBUTES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

POWER STEERING WAS INTERRUPTED, LEAVING ME TO RELY ON MANUAL STEERING. POWER STEERING RETURNED AFTER THE CAR IGNITION WAS SHUT OFF AND THE CAR RESTARTED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY 12/17, AND WAS TOLD THAT A "CODE" SAID THAT A SENSOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD FAILED, AND THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF ABOUT $1400. DEALER SERVICE REP TOLD ME THE STEERING MIGHT "LOCK-UP" WHILE I WAS DRIVING IF I DIDN'T HAVE THIS FIX. I UNDERSTAND FROM AN INTERNET SEARCH THAT MANY FORD ESCAPES HAVE THIS POWER STEERING PROBLEM, AND THAT REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME A RECALL IS IN ORDER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL IS STICKING, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY FAILURES RESULTING IN STALL/SURGE WHILE DRIVING. THIS IA A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY . THERE CURRENTLY IS NOT A RECALL TO THIS YEAR MODEL. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT APPROACHED A STOP SIGN AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATION. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE RESUMES NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSIS UNLESS THE MALFUNCTION WAS ACTUALLY OCCURRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER AND THE TRANSMISSION COOLING SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING A LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON I-10, TOWARD ARMSTRONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THE VEHICLE, WITH NO PRE-WARNING BEGAN TO DECELERATE (SLOW DOWN). THE VEHICLES SPEED DID NOT RESPOND TO DEPRESSING THROTTLE PEDAL; THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THERE, BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE THE TRIP UNTIL THE SECOND AND THIRD OCCURRENCE. THIS SITUATION OCCURRED THREE MORE TIME ON THE RETURN TRIP HOME. ALL ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I PROCEEDED IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE WHERE I COULD GET TO THE SHOULDER EASILY. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON FORD ESCORTS SINCE 2004 AT LEAST. I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW IN AN AUTOMOBILE HAS PERSISTED SO LONG. IMAGINE WHAT WOULD BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING THIS OCCUR WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A SIX LANE INTERSTATE WITH 18 WHEELERS ALL AROUND. AT BEST THERE WOULD BE AN ACCIDENT, THERE IS A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY OF FATALITIES. *TR

MY THIRD FORD AND FUEL TANK STRAPS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO IT BEING ROTTED. *TR

MY THIRD FORD AND AGAIN RIGHT FRONT ABS RING CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

AS THE WEATHER HAS BEEN GETTING COLDER, I STARTED TO NOTICE HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR ME TO ACCELERATE. THIS INCIDENT HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY MORNING. ON WEDNESDAY I MENTIONED IT TO THE FORD SERVICE PERSON AND HE SAID THAT IT COULD BE THE BODY THROTTLE. ON THURSDAY I NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM CONTINUED MORE FREQUENTLY AS I DROVE TO WORK. UPON INTERNET SEARCHING I SAW AN ARTICLE ABOUT YOUR INVESTIGATION AND WANTED TO ADD MY INFORMATION. TODAY I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THE BODY THROTTLE WAS REPLACED. WITH THE WEATHER GETTING COLDER AND THIS PART WILL MOSTLY LIKE WILL WORK HAP HAZARDLY, I FEEL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY FORD. HOW MANY FATAL ACCIDENTS AND INNOCENT PEOPLE MUST BECOME VICTIMS BEFORE SAFETY PROCEDURES ARE IMPLEMENTED? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR