MY FORD ESCAPE'S POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT IN MY WHILE DRIVING, IT MADE THE REST OF THE RIDE HOME FROM WORK EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE. I DID MY RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS IN FACT A FORD RECALL ON THIS ISSUE FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL CAR, HOWEVER MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ONLY THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WHICH I DID HANDLE IN SEPTEMBER 2014 AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE RECALL STATES THE …
2008 ford Escape steering problems
moderate 1,233 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
1,233
Recalls
0
Crashes
30
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE 14S05 RECALL, WHICH IS INTENDED TO CORRECT A STEERING ISSUE. THIS OCCURRED ON 12/10/2014. THE REPAIR SUPPOSEDLY REPROGRAMMED THE POWER STEERING TORQUE SENSOR TO PREVENT THE POWER STEERING FROM TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. ON 12/28/2014 THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE REASON FOR THE RECALL. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR ON 12/29/2014. THE FORD MOTOR CO…
STEERING WHEEL HAD BEEN INTERMITTENTLY VIBRATING FOR A FEW WEEKS, THEN MESSAGE 'STEERING POWER ASSIST FAILURE' MESSAGE APPEARED WHEN CAR STARTED AFTER BEING PARKED ALL DAY. POWER STEERING IS GONE. THIS VEHICLE HAS SUPPOSEDLY HAD THIS REPAIRED AS PART OF THE 2014 RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB WONDRIES FORD (400 S. ATLANTIC BLVD, ALHAMRA, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR OF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VE…
EPSA HAS FAILED. DROVE TO WORK AND RAN ERRANDS AFTER WORK WITH NO PROBLEMS. WENT TO DRIVE SISTER TO WORK AND COULD BARELY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. DID NOT KNOW CAR DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR OR NEED FLUID. CAR IS DRIVABLE BUT VERY HARD TO TURN. DID NOT KNOW OF ANY RECALL ON THIS PART UNTIL I LOOKED UP ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND FAILS …
POWER STEERING FAILURE DUE TO BAD SENOR
RECALL STEERING -AFTER HAVING A "SOFTWARE" UPDATES ON A 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLT IN 2014 FOR FORD RECALL #14S05, NOW IN 2017 MY STEERING WHEEL IS SHAKING WHILE AT A STOP BOTH IN AND OUT OF GEAR. RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM COULD BE A TORQUE STEERING SENSOR OR A FULL BLOWN STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT. BOTH MAY LEAD TO INOPERABLE POWER STEERING OR STEERING AS WELL. LOCAL FORD DEALER QUOTED $800 FOR TORQ…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE WRENCH SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACT…
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2008 ford Escape?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 1233 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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