Problems with 2008 Ford Escape STEERING

On 12-13-2011, the power steering failed on this vehicle. fortunately i was in a parking lot when this happened. i was able to drive home by exerting great force on the then manual steering. if this had happened while actually in motion i doubt that i could have controlled the vehicle to a safe stop. the next morning i started the car to take it to the ford dealer and the steering worked. the dealer was unable to find a problem. i then telephoned the manufacture and was told they could not help me unless the dealer was able to find a problem. i told the person the car was unsafe to drive and was told unless the dealer can find the problem we can't help. i told the person i would report this incident to the ntsb and was told that is your right. *tr

I was about to leave work and when i started the car to pull out of my parking spot i was unable to turn the steering wheel. i know enough about cars to know that this was related to the power steering...not knowing at the time that my car had an electric power steering, i looked under the hood to check the fluid then i went to get my warehouse mgr to come take a look at it for me. when he started the car the steering was fine. i was able to drive home but was very cautious about it. my husband and i have noticed over the past week that my steering wheel will vibrate or shake when stopped and then this occurs. from what i am reading this seems to be a common occurrence. i have 2 small children and don't want to be in an accident with them in the car if this occurs out the of the blue again! we now consider this car to be a dangerous hazard and undriveable ...we will be getting rid of it. *tr

Was making a turn after stopping at a light. in the middle of my turn i felt the power steering fail. i was able to drive home with great effort made to steer. i got home and turned my vehicle off. my husband started my 2008 ford escape and had no problems with steering. after popping the hood, he found nothing wrong. after researching the internet, there seem to be numerous complaints of this same exact thing happening and restarting the car seems to reset the power steering. the problem seems to be the steering column. i am wondering why nothing is being done by ford to fix this problem? i am also very afraid of it happening again and causing an accident!!!!!!!!!!!! *tr

Our escape has less than 44,000 miles on it and this past saturday the power steering just failed! and i had 3 children with me!! thank god we weren't doing 70mph on the interstate...or in a curve...next to an 18-wheeler...or where i had to make a quick avoidance maneuver! i learned (from internet postings...'cause it sure isn't in the owner's manual...) that it usually works properly again after turning the engine off and restarting...i guess the computer 'reboots'???, but, who knew?! well, it just happened again less than a week later to my wife and daughter and since this is absolutely a safety issue, we've taken it to a dealership. i live in tn and if anyone recalls (no pun intended), this is also the place where a local investigative news reporter broke the infamous toyota acceleration story. hmmm...maybe i'll contact him and see if he can find out if ford is bent on ignoring all these complaints... just do the right thing, ford! remember the explorer!!!*tr

My vehicle has been experiencing a jerking movement in the steering wheel (feels like force feedback from a driving simulator), most noticeable at a stop. it appeared to be a malfunction of the electronic power steering system. i had the vehicle inspected and was told the steering column needed to be replaced to correct the issue. this is because the electronic power steering is located in the column. i was told that the parts are not available at this time and are on national back order pushing their availability out 5 months or so. i have been forced to drive the vehicle for several weeks in a worsening condition until a few days ago the power steering completely failed at highway speed. power steering will come back after restarting the vehicle, but now the steering goes out 3 or more times on my 30 mile highway commute. i have also noticed that there is a tendency for the vehicle to "auto-steer" or veer in either direction with no driver input. needless to say, i have lost all confidence in the safety of the vehicle. i have contacted ford customer service directly and am awaiting a response. *tr

I was driving down the highway when my power steering failed - it didn't lock up but became extremely hard to maneuver. i have taken it to the ford dealership & the man i spoke with said he's never heard of this being a problem. *tr

Was driving down the highway and the power steering failed. looked on internet seems to be common. *tr

I own a 2008 ford escape. i was driving down my street,started to turn into my driveway and had a hard time turning the steering wheel. the power steering totally shut down. i turned off the car and restarted it and everything was ok. it has happened 3 times in the last week. checked online and this seems to be a common problem. interested to see how ford handles this. *tr

The power steering in this vehicle failed twice. both times were at low speed, and i was able to recover. a search on the internet reveals this to be a somewhat common problem with escapes, but has yet to be acknowledged by ford. i will take it to the dealer but am afraid that i'll have the same experience as others, in that the problem will not be present when the dealer looks at it. at this point i no longer consider the vehicle safe. *tr

Steering locks up periodically while driving at variable speeds, and situations, there is a grinding when you turn steering wheel both directions even while parked. i have seen many complaints online about this same problem with many owners of the same make & model. *tr

Noticed steering wheel vibrating while driving on highway at posted speed 70 mph. continued to vibrate and move while stopped at stop lights. on 10-25-11 my wife drove across the university campus and lost power steering while in parking lot. turning vehilce off and restarting appeared to solve loss of power assist steering. steering wheel continued to move slightly side to side while driving to dealership. currently under inspection and we are waiting for price estimate at the time of this complaint. *tt

While my wife was driving our 2008 ford escape with 70k miles, the steering suddenly locked up. i was told by ford that this problem was rare, but i have found dozens of complaints with the exact same issue. the electronic power steering (eps) module has failed. ford had modified this module 8 times since 2008 when it was first used. the repair estimate is $1300. ford is unwilling to do anything about the problem. the reason the problem is rare is due to the fact that it appears to happen around 45k miles or above. most 2008 model cars are just now coming into that mileage. this is a life and death defect as the driver loses control of the vehicle. i happen to be in the field of broadcast. i intent to launch a nationwide campaign to alert 2008 escape owners of the ticking timebomb they are driving and to determine how many failures have already occurred. if you own a 2008 ford escape, please be aware that you are likely to experience this issue. first indication may be a slight vibration in the steering wheel. at this point, failure is imminent. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was driving 35 mph when the steering wheel seized. the contact was able to pull over to the side of the road where the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the dealer stated that the entire steering column needed to be replaced. the contact did not replace the steering column due to the part being on back order. the failure mileage was 81,000.

The 2008 escape i own has been the most dangerous vehicle that hit the road. the most recent failure has been the steering shaft and a joint which caused the vehicle to be unable to steer. it happened in a parking lot and i just slammed on the brakes so i did not hit anything but it could have been much worse. the car was clunking and my mechanic said most likely it's a ball joint or tie rod and to get it in soon, but i have been trying to catch up as this vehicle was just in due to the failure of the transmission cooler which was almost a $1000 repair. the car again is undriveable, and from what i researched this problem is another $1500 to repair. ford is making money hand over fist with these vehicles and will not repair anything. second major issue where i was told out of warranty not our problem! people are going to get killed, if i wasn't 1 year from paying this junk box off i would dump it. the first issue almost caused a major accident because the part that failed dumped all my transmission fluid out and i went to merge onto the highway and my vehicle almost stood still and would not move. this steering problem would have been much worse as 95% of my 55 mile commute is highway and i am thanking god it happened in a parking lot and not on the highway. someone needs to help us not only to get ford to fix and pay for their faulty product but to recall these items before someone gets killed!!!! don't buy a ford escape they are dangerous and a huge money pit! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving approximately 5 mph, the contact was unable to maneuver the steering wheel. the contact shut the engine off and regained power steering after restarting the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

I have experienced a serious safety concern, and it appears that there is no current recall or acknowledgement of this issue. while driving, the steering locked up. luckily, the car was only traveling out of the driveway at low speeds. this happened a few moments later, again, at a low speed of driving. the only remedy initially was to turn off and turn the car back on. we have taken the vehicle immediately to the dealership for fear of serious injury/death and was provided information that there is an electrical short in the steering column, causing the functionality of the steering to fail. after research, there appears to be quite a few complaints from other owners online with this exact same situation, all in the 2008 ford escape, which is the vehicle i drive. additional research shows that this model year was the first year that ford equipped a vehicle with electronic power steering vs traditional power steering. after filing a complaint with ford seeing that there are no recalls and urging a voluntary recall, i was denied any assistance or reassurance that they are concerned for safety of others that may be driving at higher speeds when the steering fails. *tt

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact was driving at idle speeds when a clunking noise was heard from the steering column. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they confirmed that the universal joint for the steering column needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and the vehicle was repaired. the vin was unavailable. the failure and current mileages were 58,000.

I purchased a 2008 ford escape limited edition for my son in college, first, there were problems with the tires which sounded like the tires were going to explode. the noise was so loud and took it to my local dealership and they did nothing. i had the vehicle for approximately six months. the second issue pertained to the steering/suspension and that cost me $900. the dealership constantly states, "just keep your receipts." today, i contacted sheehy ford in springfield va regarding the new problem which is the throttle. the vehicle lost power and he could not shift the vehicle at all. the customer service representative looked up the vin number and informed me my vehicle was not covered. i explained to the gentleman that i was on line and found information that ford has issued an extended warranty for defective throttle body assemblies and sensors for 10 years or 150,000 miles based on an investigation by the national highway safety administration (nhtsa) for a defect investigation of alleged throttle body failures in 2005-2012 ford escapes (complaints from nc). i was informed my vehicle was not covered because only specific vin numbers were included. i am a single parent and i have put too much money in this vehicle. after reading the comments on line, this vehicle appears to have numerous defects. what does it take for our government to take action, lost of lives? is the dollar more important than people lives? we need to start holding these companies accountable. there is clearly issues with this vehicle and i want ford to pay for my repairs.

I own a 2008 escape with the eps system. i love the vehicle in general, but over the past year i have had 3 incidents where the power steering fails completely while driving, rendering the vehicle unsteerable. in all three episodes, i had to stop the vehicle (on the roadway), shut off the engine, then restart it, and the power steering again functioned. i did contact my local dealer who searched the ford service bulletins, and found nothing, however, had serviced a few vehicles having the exact same intermittent-type problem, by replacing the steering column. (they said this would cost me $972.77) . i also researched the issue with the nhtsa and found many owners of ford vehicles with the eps system having exactly the same problem. since this is (obviously) a significant safety concern, it surprises me that ford has not yet addressed the issue via a recall or at the very least a service bulletin. i do not want to trade in or sell this vehicle, but i currently do not feel confident about its safety reliability. any information that can be provided regarding this significant issue would be helpful. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving approximately 2 mph, the power steering failed without warning. the vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where the engine was turned off. after restarting, the vehicle resumed normal operation. the failure recurred three times. the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 14v284000 (steering). the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair. the approximate failure mileage was 35,000. the vin was unavailable.

I was driving home from work when all of a sudden my steering became very stiff and i noticed my traction control light come on, it was raining so i didn't think anything about it, but when i started to make a left hand turn the steering was very very stiff, no power steering. i had my vehicle towed to my dealership and they said the electronic power steering control module was 'fried' and they have never seen this before. approx $1100. unbelievable!! i have had my veh for 3 yrs to almost the day and approx 43,000 miles. this is unacceptable. *tr

I have a 2008 ford escape and experienced vibration and loss of power steering while driving my daughter to school last week. i was told through ford that i needed a new steering column and because i did not buy the extended warranty they said that i had to pay 1363.10 for the repair! i was so upset! i called fords manufacture number spoke to one of their lawyers and still i was turned down for a malfunction that could have turned into a very bad accident. i lost all power to my steering wheel as i was on the highway taking my daughter to school. i feel at 76,000 miles a vehicle should not have issues with the steering column at that young age of the vehicle and that ford should stand behind its product even though a customer did not buy the extended warranty at the time we could not afford the warranty.. it has not been documented yet but i had an issue of my accelerator freezing up on me 3 weeks ago and i had to get off the road to try to get the peddle to unstick and after trying a minute or so i was able to get startedagainbut was so very nervous that i would lose the flexiabilityof the peddle again! ford told me that they have had no other complaints with this issue. i am wondering if there are any other people experiencing these issues as well and if there is any way i can get ford to pay for these malfunctions of my ford escape? i have to say i feel like my life has been in a very stressful place lately with a vehicle that should be backing their customers patronage! even if an extended warranty was not purchasedthese electrical problems that ford has seen on my vehicle should be documented so that they understand the concerns of there customers! is there anyone else that have had any of these same experiences as myself? *tr

?we own a 2008 ford escape xls with approximately 76,xxx miles on it. ?4/2: within 2 hours of being on the road in the early morning, we went to pull off the road into a gas station and it took great effort to turn the car. this was sudden and very dangerous as there were other cars at the entry/exit point and we were not expecting the need to apply such pressure to turn the wheel. if there had been a car at the entrance, we would have hit them due to the wide turn we made. owe were able to engage power steering after moving the steering wheel back and forth several times. successfully pulled out of parking lot, but power steering went out again within 5 minutes of being on the road. subsequently stops had similar results. sometimes the power steering engaged immediately, and sometimes it took several turn off/turn on attempts for it to re-engage. owe have also noticed that the steering column began to pulsate upon ignition when power steering was engaged. there is also a low-level vibration noise associated with this. however, when power steering goes out, the vibration and noise is eliminated. ?we contacted both our local ford dealer as well as another dealer near our destination. both service departments were unaware of any service bulletins of this being a common occurrence in ford escape?s. ?while the car is still drivable with manual steering, not knowing when the power steering will disengage makes for very hazardous driving conditions, especially when making turns or sudden maneuvers. ?upon searching the internet, it would appear that this is becoming a more common occurrence in ford vehicles that possess the eps technology and have similar mileage. *additionally, customers are reporting many different attempts to fix this problem, including the replacement of wiring harnesses, steering columns, and other costly repairs that may or may not fix the issue. *tr

I have a 2008 ford escape and the power steering is going in and out. the steering will lock up while driving. 3-27-11, steering locked up while driving and i had almost ran over a child riding her bike. i could not control the steering. when the car is shut off and then turned back on the problem stops.have seen many complaints on this issue and ford has not had a recall yet. hey ford, what is it going to take, a fatality before you recall this on going problem. i would hope that a huge company as yourself would get to this matter immediately, before the unthinkable happens and then what? *tr

have a 2008 ford escape. this car is having issues where the power steering will go out in the middle of driving and turning. this has been going on for a couple of months. i took it to a ford dealer and they said they have never heard of this problem before. although you can go on ford escape customer forums and see countless instances where this has happened to other people some resulting in accidents. i have asked ford several times to help me with this issue and they say that we need to replace the whole steering column $1700 charge. this is happening with most of the postings i saw and with my own vehicle at relatively low mileage. it seems that this would not be a normal wear and tear on the vehicle with low mileage. continuously people i have seen and also for myself have gotten the answer from ford that they haven't heard of this issue before. i am not happy because i have to expend the money to fix this but more so i want to have this issue corrected before someone really gets hurt. if an elderly person were driving this vehicle with that problem they would wreck because of not having the strength to keep the wheel in motion correctly. same may be with a younger driver. please please take a look at this problem for me. *tr

We bought our 2008 ford escape in june of 2011. it was a certified used vehicle with about 48,000 miles on it. over the last few days my husband and i have noticed that the steering wheel on our 2008 ford escape suddenly begins vibrating at stop lights. on three occasions now, the steering has become extremely hard, almost as if the power steering just quick working. the problem seems to happen for a few seconds and then it stops. this morning when we started the vehicle the power steering was almost completely locked. my husband turned the car off, then on, then off, then on and the power steering returned to normal. we are extremely worried that the steering may fail while we are driving the vehicle. my husband contacted the dealer this morning to tell them that we are bringing the vehicle back to be fixed. *tr

On the morning of 3/1/11 i got into my ford escape to drive to work. i started the car, and backed out of my parking space, i noticed that the steering was very stiff, which i attributed in my mind to the ice storm from the night before. that evening when i returned home from work the steering was fine. however, the next day, again the steering was stiff as if there were no power steering. i shut off the engine and restarted the car and the steering was fine. again that evening all was fine, but the next morning no power steering. repeating my steps from the day before, i restarted the engine and all was fine, however that evening again there was no power steering. i referred to my owners manual and found that there is no power steering reservoir to check or fill. i contacted a mechanic and he wasn't sure with no reservoir, so he and i both began researching on the internet and found several websites which listed my very same problem, and stated that the steering column would need to be replaced with estimates ranging from $1100 to $1700. there were several entries which mentioned accidents which could have been avoided had the power steering been working. this is apparently an electrical problem within the steering column which leads me to wonder about the air bags working during an accident. i had my mechanic look at it, he contacted ford and they gave him a couple of things to check, but doubted any of them would be the cause. he took the escape to his local ford dealer to get a reading from the cars computer, and they confirmed that a steering column was necessary. my concern is that ford is not acknowledging that there is a problem with the power steering. i would hate to think that someone has to die before this problem gets the attention it requires to start a recall.

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel became stiff and the power steering failed. the contact stated the traction control light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact was able to drive the vehicle home. the manufacturer was contacted and stated the vehicle would have to be taken to the dealer for diagnostics. the vehicle was not inspected or repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 68,000.

I have a 2008 ford escape and the steering wheel would shake so hard especially when i was just sitting at a stop light or not even in drive that i was shaking while holding it. then the power steering started to go out intermittently without any sign or lights or anything indicating a problem. my issue only happened once in 2-3 week period when i would start the car and drive i didn't realize there was a problem until i had to turn the wheel and it was soo hard to turn. then it started to happen almost everytime i started the car so i would start the car try and move the wheel and if i felt the tension turned off the car and kept restarting hoping it would "fix itself". i looked up the issue online and saw all of these complaints for the same issue, some had this issue while they were driving and lost power steering and had to avoid accidents. i have two toddlers in the car with me and i did not want to risk this issue getting that bad. i took it into the shop and it was told the steering shaft torque sensor and that the entire steering column assembly would need to be replaced costing $1100.+ with all of these complaints and safety issues i'm shocked that nothing has been done to fix this problem that we , the consumer, have no control over. *tr

When coming to a stop, the steering wheel began shaking a bit. the next day while driving, the power steering assist went out entirely. i brought to a local shop of a trusted mechanic, who stated it looked like the steering column. he thought perhaps it just needed to be reset, and suggested i go to the dealership first because he didn't have the codes yet for the reset. i brought it to the dealership, and they stated it needed a new power steering actuator and would cost over $1600 in parts and labor. they also stated they had never seen the problem before, despite various near-identical complaints on this, and other forums on the internet. i sincerely hope that this gets investigated before someone is seriously injured, as the dealership has no interest in fixing it for anything less than their $1620. 2008 was the first year that ford tested this electric power steering system on the escape, and it clearly still has flaws. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving at 35 mph or above, the power steering would fail without warning. on occasion, the contact was able to shut off the vehicle and allow the power steering assist to immediately reset itself and other times, it would take over five minutes before the engaging. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic shop who advised that the steering pump failed and would need to be replaced. the vehicle was then taken to the dealer where the failure was confirmed. the manufacturer was contacted but did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 100,000.

The power steering goes out as i am trying to make a turn. if i put the vehicle in park, turn it off and restart it, it will be just fine. this is a serious safety issue, crossing a highway, or turning out into a lane of traffic if the steering fails you do not have the time to put the vehicle in park and restart. extremely difficult to regain control of the wheel, requires great deal of strength to wrestle the vehicle out of harms way,

When i start the ignition en various occasions i don't have power steering i have to turn the ignition on and off multiple times until i regain power steering. while i'm driving my steering wheel starts trembling and shaking. when that occurs and i come to a stop i loose my power steering. i have to turn the ignition on and off multiple times until i regain power steering. *tr

I have a 2008 ford escape. the power steering goes out intermittently when driving causing the steering wheel to shake and be disable. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the steering column needed to be replaced at a cost of $1100. i can't believe there are so many complaints on the internet and this has not become a recall this is a very dangers problem especially when you are driving on a highway and have to make a quick movement and your steering wheel is hard to handle. my car as to sit for months now because i don't have that type of money in order for it to get repaired. and also my car is only 3 years and a half i would understand if i beat on it or if it was extremely old but its not. *tr

I have a 2008 ford escape and when your driving down the road the steering wheel randomly jerks you all over the road. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the power steering continued to fail intermittently while driving 35 mph causing the steering wheel to be disabled. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the steering column needed to be replaced at a cost of $1100. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 45,000.

Steering columns has a clicking and popping sound as i'm parking my car. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering failed to operate normally without warning. the contact also mentioned that the power steering motor would engage and disengage sporadically. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician stated that the power steering power assist unit needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 42,000. the vin was not available.

My 2008 ford escape loses it's power steering while driving. it happens at random times. the last time it happened i almost crashed into a brick wall. the dealership service dept. has tried to fix it twice and it continues to fail. i am afraid of loosing control of the vehicle. when i searched the problem on line i found it has happened to several people throughout the country. one woman said she crashed while exiting the highway and was seriously injured. in her instance the airbags did not deploy which did not surprise me. my airbag and traction control problem lights appear everytime the steering fails. *tr

The steering wheel pops when turning. when the weather is cold the brakes won't push down. battery goes dead if not driven daily. radio wont play after replace battery that was dead. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving 35 mph when the steering wheel vibrated. when the vehicle was started it would lose power steering. the contact had to turn the vehicle off and back on so that the power steering would reset. the failure occurred every time he drove the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the steering column needed to be replaced . the dealer ordered the part and the vehicle will be repaired at the owners expense. the failure mileage was 59725 and the current mileage was 60212.

I have a 2008 ford escape. this car is having issues where the power steering will go out in the middle of driving and turning. this has been going on for a couple of months. i took it to a ford dealer and they said they have never heard of this problem before. although you can go on ford escape customer forums and see countless instances where this has happened to other people some resulting in accidents. i have asked ford several times to help me with this issue and they say that we need to replace the whole steering column $1700 charge. this is happening with most of the postings i saw and with my own vehicle at relatively low mileage. it seems that this would not be a normal wear and tear on the vehicle with low mileage. continuously people i have seen and also for myself have gotten the answer from ford that they haven't heard of this issue before. i am not happy because i have to expend the money to fix this but more so i want to have this issue corrected before someone really gets hurt. if an elderly person were driving this vehicle with that problem they would wreck because of not having the strength to keep the wheel in motion correctly. same may be with a younger driver. please please take a look at this problem for me. *dt

Tccf transmission cooler condenser failure- july 16,2008 repaired; -leaking -slipping on shifting-had very little transmission oil on dip stick when repaired at dealership under the 36,000 limited warranty--after 4 days july 20, 2008 wife was rear ended by a dwi traveling at estimated more than 75 to 80 mph(my wife traveling on a state highway at normal regulated speed of 50 mph) -damages of over $13,500 to our car-all shop and repairs done by ford dealership , our only shop and service place for this escape 2008. on february 9, 2010(at 21,000 miles later the 2nd tccf-leaking fluid seen in snow-dealership after contact with ford.com replaced and repaired under good will customer plan of the dealership. they also replaced on our complaint of a "clacking" type noise , a steering right front assembly at no cost to us) there evidently a tsb on it. in addition we have a heating-cooling flow of air from our heat and air vents problem-temperatures not as we regulate them.. the dealership had replaced a actuator in behind dash(have record of that along with all service dates on ford ownership home page-believe it about on previous service for oil change) on completion of recent repairs and our vehicle returned to us on february 18, 2010 we advised the service manager of the continuing air-heat regulator problem-advised they would reexamine it on next service or at our convenience. the dealership has stood behind the ford, we must admit that-but our inconvenience and the so many that have seen by others on the internet seem to warrant a recall as to all three related problems--some of which seem to be related to the same tcc problems. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. she stated that the power steering would lock intermittently while driving at various speeds. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the torque sensor failed and needed to be reprogrammed. there were no recalls for the failure and no repairs were made to date. the failure and current mileages were under 78,000. updated 3/16/10 *cn updated 06/17/10*jb

I was picking up my toddler from daycare and all of a sudden my steering wheel locked. i was terrified and unable to steer. i turned the vehicle off and tried to exercise the steering wheel and it loosened a little but would keep locking up after a few minutes. found out later this happened to may other 2008 ford escape drivers and they experienced the same terrifying experience of driving and the steering wheel completely locking up. took to dealership and cost was about a thousand dollars to repair. had to get a brand new steering column. a month or two later i find out there is a recall for this problem on previous year escapes, but this seems to be a recall issue for most of them. there should definitely be a recall on 2008's this is very dangerous and scary. if there is a recall issued, i think refunds should be issued to those of us who paid all this money to have these dangerous issues resolved. *tr

On monday, 15 sep 2008, on my way to work (about 7am) my steering wheel locked up. i was not able to turn the wheel no matter how much i tried. i was able to stop the vehicle and shut it off. after a few minutes, i restarted the car and everything seemed fine. on tuesday, the same thing happened three different times. i called the dealer first thing wednesday morning to schedule the vehicle for service. i was told to bring the vehicle in on thursday. on my way home from work on wednesday, i was going to drop it off at the dealer so they could start right away. after exiting the highway, the steering wheel locked again and this time i could not stop before driving off the road and into a rock wall. the side airbags deployed, but i still hit my head on the steering wheel and was knocked unconscious. the dealer said he has never heard of that happening. i was going about 30 miles per hour. *tr

When backing up in reverse, when you turn the steering wheel left or right, there is a loud clunking noise in the steering. *tr

My 2008 escape has been to dealer for repair for major issues. 1) i had a problem with the steering wheel 2) i had a problem with the gas pedal getting stuck, 3) i had a problem with the leak of transmission fluid i thank god that the this happen to the car while its under warranty, so the dealer replace the parts for free. i just cant understand with so many complaints with all the same problems the government has not done anything about it. so many unhappy customers has to spend extra money in hard times to get there car repair. i called ford and they just told me that they will noted in my account. what will that do for me nothing! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford escape. while driving various speeds, the steering wheel seized and the power steering assist fault warning indicator illuminated after the failure. the vehicle was taken to bozeman ford lincoln and rv center (2900 n 19th ave, bozeman, mt 59718, (406) 587-1221) where the computer was reprogrammed; however, the failure remained and worsened. the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer and informed the contact that nothing else could be done. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 78,000.

I purchased a new 2008 ford escape on june 2,2007. my daughter is actually coowner/driver. she got in the vehicle on wed, june 6 and when she went to start it, it was locked up. nothing worked to get the steering, etc. to work. she said it was locked in advantrac mode. the vehicle had to be towed in to a ford dealership in charlottesville, va, where she works. they have had the vehicle ever since, and it took them 2 1/2 days to get a diagnosis to do with the power steering column. they say parts will not be availaable until july 5, 2007, which is ridiculous. her car payment is due before then, and she has only driven 240+ miles. i believe there was a known problem with this vehicle, or it was not inspected properly before being sold. they say the parts are on backorder, which makes me think there have been more problems with this vehicle than they will admit. i would like to have ford cancel our purchase, and take this defective vehicle back. i do not want to worry about my daughter driving down the road and it locking up, causing a rollover,etc. i think this vehicle was defective and we should not have to keep it . we don't know how to get help, i will probably call the attorney general of virginia tomorrow. i am very upset over this happening, and feel that we got conned into buying a defective vehicle, so we should be compensated for our trouble, and released from this purchase. let me know if you can help me. thank you.