2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Steering Problems

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WILL COMPLETELY FAIL UNEXPECTEDLY AND A YELLOW WRENCH WILL APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT COMES UNEXPECTEDLY BUT WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MUSCLE THROUGH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THE STEERING CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON AND IT HAPPENS ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME THAT I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN HOT WEATHER.

NHTSA ID

11109501

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

99,000 mi

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM BOB WONDRIES FORD IN ALHAMBRA, CA IN 2008 STARTING THE SECOND WEEK I HAD IT, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREETS AND HIGHWAY. IT HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I TOLD THEM THIS EVERY TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. THEY ALWAYS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. I'VE REPORTED THIS TO FORD MO. CO. AND YOU BEFORE. 2008-2011 ESCAPES GOT RECALL AND REPLACEMENTS FOR THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. I WANT THE SAME CONSIDERATION FOR ME AND OTHER 2005-2006 OWNERS WHO HAVE POSTED THE SAME PROBLEM. WOULD IT HELP IF ONE OF US DIED BECAUSE OF THIS?

NHTSA ID

11083620

Incident

Apr 15, 2008

Mileage

25,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON CITY ROADS MY DAUGHTER NOTICE THAT THE CAR WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHIKE SKING WHILE DRIVING. SHE ALSO NOTICED INCREASE RPM. THE SYMPTOMA KEPT GETTING WORSE UNTIL WE TOOK IT TO LES SCHWAB FOR DETAILED INPECRION.

NHTSA ID

11074320

Incident

Feb 21, 2018

Mileage

190,907 mi

POWER STEERING COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING OR MAKING TURNS. NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES APPEAR WHEN YOU TRY TO FIND THE PROBLEM. IF YOU TURN OFF THE CAR POWER STEERING RETURNS BUT IT GOES OUT AGAIN SHORTLY DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

10994611

Incident

Jun 10, 2017

Mileage

96,000 mi

THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING ,

NHTSA ID

10978516

Incident

Apr 3, 2017

SIMILAR TO THE 2008-2011 MODEL RECALLS, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE IN MOTION. THE WHEEL WAS BEING TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN IMMEDIATELY THE WHEEL FELT HEAVY AND THE POWER STEERING CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD SYSTEM. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES AND WET.

NHTSA ID

10930378

Incident

Dec 3, 2016

Mileage

250,000 mi

THE BRAKES ARE HARD, RUNS ALL THE WAY TO STOP THIS HARD .EL WHEEL CAN NOT TURN EASILY TO THE SIDES. IT GIVES ME THE CODE U0418, U0413. IS IS NOT DUE TO WEAR IS A MANUFACTURER FAILS

NHTSA ID

10894271

Incident

Jun 25, 2016

Mileage

40 mi

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN APRIL OF 2008 AND EVER SINCE THE SECOND WEEK OF HAVING THE CAR THE POWER STEERING WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT WOULD HAPPEN ON CITY STREETS AND ON THE FREEWAY. I INFORMED THE FORD DEALER (BOB WONDRIES IN ALHAMBRA, CA) NUMEROUS TIMES THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING CONDITION AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. THIS WENT ON FOR 7 YEARS; I FILED THIS FORM WITH YOU BEFORE AND I ALSO CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. ABOUT THIS. ALL I EVER GOT AS A RESPONSE WAS MY POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE COMPLETELY FAILED AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ID

10853299

Incident

Apr 20, 2008

Mileage

25,000 mi

WE NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, WE DISCOVERED THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE STRUT IS BARELY ATTACHED. THE RUST HOLES ARE SO LARGE, THAT INSULATION IS SHOWING, AND THE STRUT IS HITTING THE PLASTIC PIECE GOING INTO THE TRUNK SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE BY A MECHANIC. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME AREA (REAR PASSENGER SIDE) AND IS CAUSING SAFETY HAZARDS, SUCH AS RUPTURED TIRES AND UNSTABLE STEERING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD NEEDS TO RECALL!

NHTSA ID

10749019

Incident

Aug 13, 2015

Mileage

215,000 mi

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING IS GONE. SO DIFFICULT TO STEER I COULD HAVE BEEN A WREAK IF I WAS GOING FASTER. THANKFULLY IT HAPPENED TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT. VERY DANGEROUS! THIS HAPPENS ON FEBRUARY 27, 2015. *TR

NHTSA ID

10691234

Incident

Feb 27, 2015

Mileage

126,260 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES THE "PWR STEERING SERVICE" MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED AND THE WRENCH LIGHT WAS LIT. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA I RESTARTED IT AND THERE STILL WAS NO POWER STEERING. I THEN LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS, RESTARTED IT AGAIN AND POWER STEERING HAD RETURNED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10690111

Incident

Feb 23, 2015

Mileage

145,000 mi

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION ON START UP. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING ACTIVATED. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10689519

Incident

Feb 20, 2015

Mileage

42,152 mi

DRIVING AT LOW SPEED WHEN POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. THIS HAS OCCURRED 1-2/MONTH SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THE DEALER IN 2008. WHEN I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM IT WAS STILL OCCURRING THEY ALWAYS SAID THERE WAS NO CODE SO BASICALLY NO PROBLEM. POWER STEERING FAILURE HAPPENED RANDOMLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS; WHEN IT HAPPENED AT FREEWAY SPEED WAS THE WORST. FINALLY TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY FOUND A CODE INDICATING IT IS THE ELECTRIC ASSISTED POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. WHY ARE THE 2005-2007 FEHS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10632272

Incident

Apr 24, 2008

Mileage

25,000 mi

CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF LEFT SITTING FOR 2 HOURS. GOT BACK, TURNED VEHICLE ON, BACKED UP FROM PARKING STALL AND POWER STEERING LOCKED. IT BECAME HARD TO TURN OR CONTROL THE STEERING. TRIED TURNING OFF CAR AND RESTARTING, BUT THAT DID NOT RESET OR RELEASE THE POWER STEERING. NO WARNING SOUND OR LIGHTS CAME ON. DROVE CAR HOME WITH EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND ON THE SHOULDER FOR ABOUT 3 MILES. PARKED CAR AND LEFT SITTING FOR 5 HOURS HOPING IT WOULD RESET. BEFORE TURNING THE IGNITION, I TURNED ON AC, THEN TURN ON THE CAR. THAT DID NOTHING. NOW THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND "POWER STEERING SERVICE" WARNING CAME ON. ISN'T THE WARNING DONE BEFORE AN INCIDENT CAN HAPPEN? HAD A MECHANIC PLACE A MACHINE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAR, BUT NO LUCK. PLEASE HELP IN FIXING THE ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION FOR DEFECT ON ELECTRICAL WARNING. *JS

NHTSA ID

10617440

Incident

Jul 28, 2014

Mileage

127,844 mi

FORD ESCAPE HYBRID: THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 68 MILES PER HOUR SPEED, WITH THREE PASSENGERS, AND SUDDENLY A "CLICK SOUND" BEEN HEARD AND THE STEERING WAS "LOCKED". WHEN THE STEERING GOT LOCKED (UN-MOVABLE), THE BREAKS WERE HARD TO PUSH, AND APPLIED. BUT LUCKILY EMERGENCY LIGHTS BEEN PUT ON, AND THE VEHICLE BREAKS WERE PRESS HARD, AND THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER THAT, THE STEERING WAS LOCKED DOWN AND NEVER MOVED. TOOK THE CAR TO MECHANIC AND THEY REFERRED TO FORD, SINCE THEY HAVE RE-CALL ON THE SIMILAR ISSUE. FORD DECLINED ANY RECALL, AND QUOTED FOR $3200 TO FIX THE CAR. THIS PART IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM ANY OTHER MANUFACTURE BESIDES FORD ITSELF. THE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A DEADLY ACCIDENT, TAKING EVERYONE LIVES WHO WERE SITTING IN THE CAR AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10599222

Incident

May 10, 2014

Mileage

170,000 mi

WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OR CONCERN, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. UPON EXAMINATION BY A FORD DEALER IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY AND POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE SIMULTANEOUSLY FAILED CAUSING THE ISSUE. DURING ROUTINE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS THIS FAILURE COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LACK OF ADEQUATE STEERING ASSISTANCE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10429388

Incident

Oct 6, 2011

Mileage

77,112 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPED AND OVER A BUMP, THE POWER STEERING FAILED; THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTRA FORCE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR FEW MOMENTS AND THE FAILURE WOULD SUBSIDE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HARNESS AND COMPUTER MODULE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,567 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ID

10381027

Incident

Jun 5, 2007

Mileage

31,567 mi

POWER STEERING GOES OUT ON MY '05 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. HAPPENED ONCE WHEN I HAD CAR ABOUT 3 YEARS AND FORD SAID A FLUKE. DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL '09 BUT NEVER WAS HAPPENING WHEN I DROVE IT IN AND FORD COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO GET THERE WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING BUT THEY STILL COULDN'T SAY FOR SURE BUT SUGGESTED I PAY TO REPLACE STEERING WIRING HARNESS AND SENSOR. I HESITATED TO DO THIS AS SEVERAL PEOPLE INCLUDING ANOTHER FORD MGR SAID DIDN'T MAKE SENSE AND ANOTHER FORD MGR SAID DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT IS FINE FOR MONTHS, OTHER TIMES HAPPENS EVEN WHEN I FIRST TURN THE CAR ON. SOMETIMES THE STEERING JUST FEELS "LOOSE"....NOT NORMAL. USUALLY THOUGH, I'M DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A PULL LEFT AND THE STEERING GOES OUT. FORD MGR TOLD ME IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE BUT IT'S GETTING MORE NERVE WRACKING - SUDDEN HARD PULLS LEFT BUT POWER STEERING STAYS ON - FOR AWHILE. ONCE HAPPENED WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. DRIVING A STRAIGHT LINE ISN'T BAD BUT TIGHT TURNS ARE DIFFICULT AND U TURNS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE TO THE MOUNTAINS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10354392

Incident

Mar 8, 2008

Mileage

35,000 mi

LOSS OF STEERING IN A FORD HYBRID ESCAPE ELECTRIC STEERING, COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING IN A TURN AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341300

Incident

Aug 13, 2005

Mileage

1,500 mi

2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID : ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING FAILED, WHILE IN A TURN TWICE. AND CAME WITHIN INCHES OF HITTING A WALL, BECAUSE IT REVERTED TO MANUAL STEERING. IF NOT FOR QUICK THINKING AND REFLEX'S. I WAS A PASSENGER AND GRABBED THE WHEEL AND WRESTLED IT IN THE TURN TO AVOID THE WALL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ACTED LIKE IT WAS A NO BIG DEAL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172574

Incident

May 30, 2006

Mileage

1,500 mi

2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, 9500 MILES, DROVE 20 MILES IN 5 DEGREE WEATHER. SHUT CAR OFF FOR 15 MINUTES. WHEN RESTARTED POWER STEERING FAILED. DROVE 5 MILES WITH POWER STEERING OFF. RESTARTED CAR AFTER 2 HOURS. POWER STEERING WORKED FINE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150637

Incident

Feb 18, 2006

Mileage

9,500 mi