2006 Ford Escape Hybrid Steering Problems

POWER STEERING FAIL NO DASH CODES E S P FAILED NO POWER ASSIST TO TURN THE STEERING

NHTSA ID

11194853

Incident

Apr 3, 2019

Mileage

97,731 mi

POWER STEERING FAILED DURING VERY COLD TEMPERATURE. COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL

NHTSA ID

11174802

Incident

Feb 3, 2019

Mileage

110,000 mi

AS MY SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD DAUGHTER WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY FOR SCHOOL SHE NOTICED THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN. SHE TOOK MY CAR TO SCHOOL. I WENT TO TRY AND MOVE THE CAR BACK UP THE DRIVEWAY AND COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL MYSELF. LUCKILY SHE WAS AT HOME AND NOT ON THE ROAD. THERE IS NO ASSISTED STEERING ANYMORE, IT JUST WENT OUT.

NHTSA ID

11173126

Incident

Jan 29, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT. NO WARNING UNTIL IT WAS OUT. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT COMPLETELY. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT WENT OUT DO TO HOW HARD IT IS TO STEER! IT'S NOT HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. IT'S ALL ELECTRIC ASSIST STEERING. THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. SOME MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND THE ISSUE. INCLUDING PEOPLE THAT HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SPENT OVER $1,000 AND THE ISSUE HAS CAME BACK WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. ALSO THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED SOME ACCIDENTS. FORD NEEDS TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT ON ALL CARS!

NHTSA ID

11122465

Incident

Aug 22, 2018

Mileage

107,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AND PARKING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. A WARNING LIGHT CAME UP ON THE DASH BOARD SAYING STOP NOW. POWER STEERING FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10948546

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

124,000 mi

MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING HOME WHEN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAVE HAD NO WARNINGS LEADING UP TO THIS EVENT. THE WRENCH ICON CAME ON AND AN ERROR MESSAGE CAME ON IN THE DASH STATING TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING SERVICED. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT JUST HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AS I WAS TURNING OFF OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT PART OF A RECALL. EVERYTHING I HAVE READ STATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM SPECIFICALLY IN THE HYBRID VEHICLES FORD MANUFACTURES. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR THE SAME ISSUE FOR NEWER MODEL VEHICLES, BUT NOT THIS ONE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED DUE TO THE DANGEROUS CONDITION CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING GOING COMPLETELY OUT IN THE CAR AS I WAS TURNING.

NHTSA ID

10915102

Incident

Oct 9, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ONE MORNING TO FIND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT AND HARD TO TURN. DASH DISPLAYED WRENCH SYMBOL INDICATING MAINTENANCE NEEDED AND NARRATIVE THAT POWER STEERING NEEDS SERVICE.

NHTSA ID

10914114

Incident

Oct 1, 2016

Mileage

112,000 mi

MY VEHICLE HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT IT OCT.9,2015 WITH 72,000 MILES ON IT. IN MAY 2016 THE ENGINE STARTED CUTTING OUT AND THE MESSAGE WOULD READ "SERVICE ENGINE" ALONG WITH A YELLOW WRENCH APPEARING ON THE DASH. I HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A HARNESS. I PAID 1004.00 FOR THE NEW HARNESS AND THEY ALSO INSTALLED A FAN FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE CAR DID IT AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER AND I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THEY HAD MADE A MISTAKE AND HAD TO CALL FORD TO GET THE CORRECT CODES TO FIX THE CAR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DONE AND PICKED IT UP. THE SAME THING HAPPENED LESS THAN 4 DAYS LATER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN AND LET THE DEALERSHIP SEND MY CAR HOME WITH A MECHANIC FOR 2 DAYS. I WAS TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG AND PICKED IT UP. I NOW HAVE THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON, THE RED TRIANGLE SAFETY LIGHT COMING ON, THE RED BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON, THE LOW TIRES LIGHT COMING ON (IT STAYS ON) AND THE YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT COMING ON. AT NIGHT WHEN I TURN ON MY RIGHT BLINKER THE HIGH BEAMS COME ON. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND NO CODES COME UP ON THEIR MACHINE. WHEN I BRAKE I HAVE TO PUSH VERY HARD AND SOMETIMES THE BRAKES LOCK UP ON ME. I HAVE AVOIDED ACCIDENTS SO FAR BUT I AM CONCERNED AT THIS POINT. I DO NOT WANT TO BE INJURED OR KILLED AND I CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT TO INJURE OR KILL ANYONE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD BE AVOIDED, IF FORD HAD A MECHANIC THAT KNOWS WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE CAR. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC AND I HAVE TO STOP, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART IT. THIS IS GOOD FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT ACTS UP AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10899013

Incident

Aug 26, 2016

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH MADE IT EXTREMELY HARD TO MANEUVER THE WHEEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 09/30/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10894452

Incident

Aug 4, 2010

Mileage

45,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. RESTARTED AND POWER STEERING WOULDN'T WORK. YELLOW WRENCH WARNING, AND POWER STEERING LISTED ON FAULT INDICATOR. WILL TAKE TO DEALER.

NHTSA ID

10817391

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

10806618

Incident

Nov 24, 2015

Mileage

137,000 mi

ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. ELECTRIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. DOES GIVES MESSAGE "SERVICE PWR STEERING" ON DASHBOARD, BUT PROVIDES NO USEFUL FUNCTION. CAR DID NOT CRASH AT TIME OF FAILURE, BUT CONTROLLING IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT, REQUIRING HIGH PHYSICAL EFFORT TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL. THOUGH MANUFACTURER HAS RECALLED 2008 MODEL FOR THIS PROBLEM, 2006 IS NOT ON THE RECALL AND MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO PROVIDE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683722

Incident

Feb 15, 2015

Mileage

82,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,872.

NHTSA ID

10679786

Incident

Jan 26, 2015

Mileage

157,872 mi

TRAVELING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70MPH AND THE MOTOR SHUT OFF, GIVING ME A 'STOP SAFELY NOW' WITH THE RED TRIANGLE LIGHT ON. I STOPPED, WAITED A FEW MINUTES ON THE ROADSIDE AND IT STARTED AGAIN. HEADED HOME AGAIN, WHEN ABOUT A MILE AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WAITED A FEW MINUTES BY THE ROAD, THEN TOOK OFF. THIS TIME I TURNED OFF THE A/C AND MADE A FEW MILES TO THE HOUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621830

Incident

Aug 12, 2014

Mileage

138,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10617879

Incident

Jul 17, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

COMPLETELY LOST POWER STEERING WITH NO WARNING WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LEFT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITHOUT POWER TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN TIME TO AVOID THE INCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597970

Incident

Jun 10, 2014

Mileage

117,306 mi

MY 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID SPORATICALLY LOOSES POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR CLEAR INDICATION OF ROOT CAUSE. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE MAKING TURNS ON RESIDENT STREETS AND WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH VELOCITY ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED PARTS AT A COMBINED COST OF ~3500 AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE FORD DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM NOR HAVE THEY ADEQUATELY EVALUATED THE RISK OF THE ISSUE. I WOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER LETTING MY WIFE DRIVE THIS CAR DUE TO THE AMOUT OF FORCE IT TAKES TO CONTROL THE CAR ONCE THE STEERING GOES OUT. *TT

NHTSA ID

10583056

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

IT IS SO OBVIOUS THAT FORD HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THEIR POWER STEERING ON MOST OF THEIR HYBRIDS AND THEY SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM. I TOTALLY LOST STEERING THAT WAS VERY DANGEROUS IT WAS LIKE BEING AT THE GYM TO TRY AND STEER MY 06 FEH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578423

Incident

Apr 9, 2014

Mileage

140 mi

ELECTRIC ASSISTED POWER STEERING NOT FUNCTIONAL. DEALER TROUBLESHOOTING CONSISTED OF READING CODES, THEN INDICATING THAT THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACED ($2200). REPLACED THE ASSEMBLY, STILL DOESN'T WORK. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED, STILL DOESN'T WORK. THE REPAIR SHOPS AND THE DEALERS HAVE INADEQUATE INFORMATION AND TRAINING TO REPAIR THESE ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEMS. THERE SHOULD BE ADEQUATE INFORMATION AND TRAINING TO IDENTIFY THE FAILED COMPONENT, AS OPPOSED TO SWAPPING OUT LARGE ASSEMBLIES, AND STILL NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. THESE SYSTEMS APPEAR TO HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE, AND PRESENT A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THEY FAIL WHILE DRIVING! PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ASAP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10546628

Incident

Sep 16, 2013

Mileage

136,000 mi

1) WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT INDICATING MAINTENANCE NEEDED OFF AND ON FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS EVEN THOUGH WE WERE WELL WITHIN THE MAINTENANCE PERIOD. THIS TURNS OUT TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE BLEND DOOR FOR ALLOWING AIR COOLING OF THE HYBRID BATTERIES. 2) THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY FOR THE CAR. WE HAVE HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING, AND THE SYSTEM CHECK SHOWED NO PROBLEM (I BELIEVE IT CHECKS FLUID LEVELS) SO THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE ELECTRICAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504566

Incident

Mar 18, 2013

Mileage

60,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE AND SHE WOULD BE UNABLE TO MOVE IT FOR A FEW SECONDS. AFTER WAITING A FEW SECONDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD RESET ITSELF AND PERFORM AS NORMAL. THE DEALER MADE TWO ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10417719

Incident

May 1, 2009

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING A TURN AT SPEEDS OF 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000.

NHTSA ID

10326690

Incident

Apr 20, 2010

Mileage

33,000 mi

ELECTRIC CONTROLLED BRAKES, & ELECTRIC CONTROLLED POWER ASSIST STEERING. SEEING ALL THAT IS HAPPENING TO TOYOTA I THOUGHT I HAD BEST REPORT MY INCIDENTS TO SOMEONE SO THAT A FILE COULD BE STARTED AND HISTORY COULD BE MADE OF DEFECTIVE ISSUES WITH FORD ESCAPE HYBRID MINE IS A 2006 MODEL AND EVERYTHING STARTED JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I NOW HAVE 73,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND IT IS ALWAYS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT SEEMS TO FAIL ACCORDING TO FORD SERVICE WRITERS. I IOD SOME INVESTIGATION WHEN MY BRAKES FAILED AND IT WAS JUST A WHEEL SENSOR THAT MALFUNCTIONED BUT IT CAUSED A MAJOR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CONTROL MODULE AFTER I CHECKED THE COST I TOLD FORD TO TAKE THE FUEL-SAVING VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN A JUNKYARD AND THEN I WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER SERVICE TECH THAT THE SENSOR JUST NEEDED TO BE RESET AN THAT WOULD BE JUST A LITTLE OVER $300 SO I HAD IT SERVICED AND NOW AFTER A FLAT TIRE I AM TOLD THAT MY POWER ASSIST CONTROL UNIT NEEDS REPLACING THE OWNERS MANUAL SAID THAT AFTER YOU USE A DONUT TIRE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AND AGAIN I AM TOLD IT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT FORD HAS THE ONLY MACHINES THAT COULD RESET THESE SENSORS, SO PARDON MY LAYMANS TERMS BUT FORD HAS YOU BY THE '!@#$%'.SINCE THEY CONTROL THE SITUATION. I DO HOWEVER BELIEVE THAT OUTSIDE ELECTRICAL FIELDS HAVE AN EFFECT ON THESE ELECTRICAL SENSORS. IT COULD BE AS LITTLE AS A PAVEMENT SENSOR THAT CONTROLS SIGNAL LIGHTS TO ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL FIELD THAT DAMAGES THESE SENSORS THAT ARE NOT SHIELDED. THANK YOU FOR READING MY THOUGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10306487

Incident

Jan 23, 2010

Mileage

63,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. MANUFACTURER DIAGNOSED AS "POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE" AND REPLACED PART. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER, POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. VEHICLE AGAIN WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR AND DIAGNOSED AS "POWER STEERING PUMP WIRING HARNESS MELTED" POWER STEERING WIRING HARNESS PART IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE AND PART IS BEING MANUFACTURED 3 WEEKS AFTER INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10291247

Incident

Aug 22, 2009

Mileage

38,000 mi