SOME 2010-2016 EPAS EQUIPPED VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT STEERING RELATED NOISES. THE WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM) DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN UPDATED IN SECTION 211-02. WHEN DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRING EPAS STEERING NOISES USE THE UPDATED PROCEDURES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Ford Escape steering problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Ford Escape have filed 79 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 46,554 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
79
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Escape | 407 |
| 2012 Escape | 137 |
| 2013 Escape | 302 |
| 2014 Escape | 149 |
| 2015 Escape (this page) | 79 |
| 2016 Escape | 71 |
| 2017 Escape | 48 |
| 2018 Escape | 30 |
| 2019 Escape | 16 |
5crashes
2fires
2injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 79 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Power steering assist fails on the 2015 Escape with alarming frequency and without warning. Owners describe sudden loss of assist, steering wheels that lock solid, and extreme stiffness that makes the car nearly impossible to maneuver. The failure happens at low speeds in parking lots and on highways doing 50+ mph. Many report a dashboard message—"Steering Assist Fault - Service Required" or "Steering Loss, Stop Safely"—but many experience failure with zero warning. Some failures clear briefly after turning the car off and restarting; others persist. Owners consistently note this same issue triggered recalls on 2011–2013 Ford Fusion and 2011 Ford Escape models, yet Ford has issued no recall for the 2015. Ford's warranty does not cover it past 60,000 miles or four years. Repair requires replacing the electronic steering gear or rack-and-pinion assembly—a $2,000–$3,400 job that dealers say parts are in "high demand" and service takes a week. Several owners report the repair happens after they've already endured the failure while driving; one owner lost steering on an interstate and had to control the wheel manually. This is not a minor electrical glitch—it's a safety system failure that leaves drivers without steering control on active roads.
Same Ford Escape steering reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Assist Loss — Electrical/Motor Detachment
Loss of electric power assist to steering; wheels become extremely difficult to turn. Owners report a 'Steering Assist Fault - Service Required' message or 'Steering Loss, Stop Safely' message. One owner attributed the root cause to inadequate wax coating on bolts attaching the steering gear motor, causing detachment. Another complaint specified binding of the steering rack and pinion.
When: 30,000–106,000 miles; often intermittent and occurs both at startup and while driving; some owners report it resolves temporarily after turning car off and restarting
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist suddenly fails; steering wheel becomes very stiff and hard to turn; Warning message on dashboard: 'Steering Assist Fault - Service Required' or 'Steering Loss, Stop Safely'; Intermittent: failure may come and go with restarts; Occurs at low and highway speeds; one owner lost steering at 75 mph and came to abrupt stop; No warning before failure in most cases
Codes mentioned: C102D
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of electronic steering gear/rack and pinion assembly. Owners cite repair costs of $2,019–$3,400. One service center quoted $3,200 for Ford OEM replacement rack and pinion with electric power assist assembly and installation. Parts reportedly in high demand and repairs take 5–8 days.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford 2011–2013 Fusion recalled for the same steering issue; no recall issued for 2015 Escape despite similar complaints. Owners report warranty denial because vehicle exceeded 60,000 miles or 4 years of age. Ford customer service advised that repair would likely not be covered unless performed by authorized Ford center and NHTSA ruled the component faulty.
Steering Wheel Lock/Extreme Stiffness
Steering wheel locks up or becomes extremely stiff and immovable, requiring excessive force to turn. Some incidents occurred when engine was off or vehicle stationary; others while driving. One owner reported steering column bolts missing.
When: 33,841–103,266 miles; can occur at startup, in parking lots, or while driving at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locked or extremely stiff, difficult to move; Unable to steer vehicle; one owner stated it took all her strength to barely pull into a lane; Steering wheel stuck 'as if a bee was stuck in molasses'; May resolve temporarily after restart or warming vehicle for 15–25 minutes; Occurs randomly and unpredictably
Repairs/costs cited: One independent mechanic scanned and replaced complete steering gear for $2,028.81. One owner found missing steering column bolts that needed replacement. Some repairs done off-the-books with no documentation provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None explicitly documented; one dealer had no record of prior service.
Steering Pulling/Jerking Side to Side
Steering wheel pulls hard to left or right, or jerks back and forth during driving. Vehicle veers into other lane without driver input. One owner reported steering wheel moving down toward accelerator pedal.
When: 15,000–81,000 miles; occurs while turning, braking, or driving straight
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle jerks from right to left or pulls unexpectedly to one side; Vehicle veers into oncoming traffic or other lane; Steering wheel movement without driver input; Steering wheel moved down approximately two inches toward accelerator pedal; Occurs daily in one case
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported steering rack needed replacement; cost not stated. One case found missing steering column bolts. Several cases not diagnosed or repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: In one case, manufacturer stated vehicle was safe to drive despite daily failures.
Steering Grinding/Abnormal Noise
Growling or grinding noise from steering mechanism when turning wheel or braking. In freezing temperatures, steering locks up intermittently.
When: Below freezing conditions; one case at 103,266 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Growling noise when turning steering wheel; Steering locking up in freezing weather while driving; Abnormal shaking of steering wheel while accelerating; Abnormal sound from front of vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: One owner cited need to replace steering rack at cost of $2,000–$3,000. Most cases not repaired.
Steering Assist Fault With Unintended Acceleration/Brake Issues
Steering assist fault message accompanied by ABS and traction control activation, vehicle shaking, and loss of braking or steering control. In one case, vehicle came to abrupt stop on highway.
When: While reversing or driving at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: ABS and traction control lights flashing with audible warnings; Vehicle shaking and unable to stop or steer; Steering assist fault message displayed; Transmission fault message and check engine light after transmission replacement
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had low-speed collision due to inability to stop. Repairs not completed in narrative.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: In one case, recall was applied by dealer that was supposed to fix the issue, but failure recurred.
Synthesized from 79 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2015 Ford Escape?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2015 Ford Escape?
It's a meaningful issue. 79 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 51 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 30,000 and 81,000 miles, with the median around 46,554. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 81,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Ford/Escape.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.