Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
The steering wheel locked in one position i pulled over shut off the car restarted and the steering wheel started working again. Is their a recall on my 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid with this problem. This scared me to death I got lucky and the road was straight and I was able to stop the car. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while 65 MPH on the freeway, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the power steering assist failed to operate. The contact stated that after turning off and restarting the vehicle, the power steering functionality returned; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the steering control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacture was made of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was transferred by the manufacturer to NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle experienced electrical power steering failure. The check engine and brake system light warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring for several years. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the torque sensor and the steering column assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced a loss of electric power steering assist. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering assist functionality. The contact stated that he was able to safely pull to the side of the road and restart the vehicle. Once the vehicle was restarted the vehicle drove normally for approximately 30 minutes before the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was notified of NHTSA campaign 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was contacted and the contact was informed that the repair would be an out-of-pocket expense. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was 120,000.
WHEN STEERING CAR MAKING TIGHT TURNS CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN.
AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN A MILE FROM HOME ON A COLD DAY, I WAS STOPPED TO TURN LEFT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED HARD LEFT. THE STEERING WHEEL FORCED ITSELF BACK RIGHT WITH SIGNIFICANT FORCE. I COULDN'T TURN IT BACK RIGHT SO I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON THE STEERING BEHAVED NORMALLY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED AN INSPECTION AND CHECKED THE COMPUTER CODES. THAT REPORT IS ATTACHED. THE REPORT STATES THAT THE FAULT CODES INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE/ANGLE SENSOR AND STEERING CONTROL MODULE. THIS PROBLEM, SHOULD IT OCCUR WHILE MOVING COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE DEATH. SINCE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXISTING RECALLS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE AND ADD MY VIN TO THE RECALL 14V284000 OR 14S05.
I WAS DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT (GOING VERY SLOW) WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE AND I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT IT WAS FROZEN MY ENTIRE DASH BOARD LIT UP. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON - MY STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL SHAKING BUT NOT AS MUCH AND MY DASH HAD THE TCS CODE ON. I TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY AND THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE MADE ME SO NERVOUS. AT A STOP LIGHT I THREW IT IN NEUTRAL AND THAT DID SEEM TO HELP AND GOT RID OF THE CONSTANT TSC LIGHT ON THE DASH AND THE CAR DROVE A LITTLE SMOOTHER TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I NEED A NEW STEERING WHEEL COLUMN ALONG WITH TORQUE SENSOR AND SOFTWARE UPDATE. I ASKED IF THIS IS FROM WEAR AND TEAR AND THEY SAID NO JUST A FAULTY MALFUNCTION TO THE TUNE OF 2036 DOLLARS. I HAVE A FORD ESCAPE 2011 WITH 84,000 MILES ON IT ONLY SERVICED AT FORD FOR IT'S LIFE. I HAVE A CASE NUMBER WITH THE FORD REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER WHO WILL DECIDE IF THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS SINCE THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM(14S05) FOR OVER A MILLION FORD ESCAPES AND MARINERS 2008-2011. THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE THE HYBRID BUT THERE ARE SO MANY LESS HYBRIDS OUT THERE SO THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED. HOWEVER I HAD A THROTTLE PROBLEM A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK WHERE MY CAR WOULD STALL OUT GOING 60 MILES AND HOUR SUPER DANGEROUS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR FORD ESCAPES FOR THE THROTTLE BUT NOT THE FORD ESCAPE HYBRID HOWEVER THEY DID COVER THE REPAIR SINCE IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTING IN MY CAR. I AM HOPING THEY WILL COVER THIS AGAIN SINCE IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM (IE RECALL) OF THE FORD ESCAPE AND MARINERS 2008-2011. ALSO THIS IS SO DANGEROUS THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY I COULD TURN THAT STEERING WHEEL!
STEERING WHEEL DOESNT MOVE
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND TURNING A CORNER I HEARD WARNING BEEPS AND SLIGHT SHAKE FROM THE STEERING. I SLOWED DOWN AND THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON I COULD BARELY COMPLETE THE TURN AVOIDING HITTING ANOTHER CAR. THE POWER STEER WENT OUT
THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS I PULLED MY ESCAPE FROM A PARKING SPACE ON A CITY STREET; I COULD GO FORWARD OR BACK BUT ONLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITH GREAT EFFORT. I DROVE HOME WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, BARELY ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL FOR THE TURNS I HAD TO MAKE -- IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I CHECKED THE NHSTA WEBSITE AND LEARNED THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 ESCAPES MADE IN THE KANSAS CITY, MO. FACTORY DUE TO POWER STEERING FAILURE AND THAT NHTSA HAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP MANAGER TOWED IT THE NEXT MORNING AND TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST $2100 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING COLUMN AND HOUSING. WHEN I ASKED WHY IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE THE RECALL WHEN IT MET ALL THE CRITERIA, HE SAID BECAUSE IT'S A HYBRID - THE RECALL ONLY APPLIES TO NON-HYBRIDS. HOWEVER, THE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD TRY TO GET IT COVERED. HE WAS ABLE TO GET FORD TO COVER TWO-THIRDS OF THE COST; I STILL HAD TO PAY $500. THE MANAGER WAS GREAT, FORD WAS NOT. I'M EXTREMELY UPSET BY FORD'S POSITION THAT HYBRIDS AREN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL WHEN THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AND THE CAR MET ALL THE CRITERIA. IT WAS A TERRIBLE WAY TO TREAT A LIFE LONG FORD OWNER. THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN WORSE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE MANAGER WHO WAS VERY CUSTOMER-ORIENTED.
THIS COMPLAINT IS CLOSELY RELATED TO A 2014 RECALL RELATIVE TO ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST ON FORD ESCAPE AND MERCURY MARINER VEHICLES, HOWEVER FORD STATES MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. REF: NHTSA ACTION#DP15001, NHTSA 14V-284, FORD 14S05. PROBLEM: ON A NEARLY-DAILY BASIS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST (WHICH IS ALL-ELECTRIC ON THIS VEHICLE) "DROPS OUT" BRIEFLY - TYPICALLY FOR 1-3 SECONDS - OFTEN DURING A TURN. THE VEHICLE STEERING HAS A STRONG TENDENCY TO "CENTER" SO FOR A DRIVER WITHOUT UPPER BODY STRENGTH THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS STOPPED AND REMAINED INACTIVE AFTER RE-STARTING, WHICH REQUIRED ME TO VISIT A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE SOFTWARE RESET - A 5 MINUTE PROCESS PERFORMED WITH A PROGRAMMED IPAD. FORD'S RECALL CENTER AND CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER TOOK THE CASE #, BUT WANT ME TO VISIT A DEALER AND PAY FOR A DIAGNOSIS. ISSUE HAS OCCURRED BOTH TURNING AND NOT TURNING; LOW SPEED AND HIGHWAY SPEED, COLD AND WARM WEATHER.
THE STEERING WHEEL LOSES POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AGAIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM OFTEN HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER AND USUALLY IN THE MORNING. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO MAKES A WEIRD SOUND BEFORE IT LOSES POWER. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE THE SAME VEHICLE BUT OF DIFFERENT YEAR AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
AT 40-45 MPH HEAR WHEEL BEARING NOISE. DEALER CONFIRMED AND BOTH RIGHT FRONT BEARINGS (MAIN AND CARRIER) REPLACED BY FORD DEALER. STILL HAD NOISE AFTER REPLACEMENT. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CARRIER BEARING JUST REPLACED WAS BAD. REPLACED CARRIER BEARING AGAIN BUT STILL HAVING SAME NOISE. DEALER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN MANY WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS, AND THAT FAULTY BEARINGS ARE COMING TO FORD FROM VENDOR. PROBLEM AS YET NOT RESOLVED. SEEMS FORD IS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY WHICH BEARINGS ARE BAD WITHOUT INSTALLING THEM. I AM CONCERNED WITH POTENTIAL WHEEL LOCK UP AT SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY A FRONT WHEEL. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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