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 ↗2016 Ford Escape steering problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Ford Escape have filed 71 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 41,900 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
71
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Escape | 137 |
| 2013 Escape | 302 |
| 2014 Escape | 149 |
| 2015 Escape | 79 |
| 2016 Escape (this page) | 71 |
| 2017 Escape | 48 |
| 2018 Escape | 30 |
| 2019 Escape | 16 |
| 2020 Escape | 18 |
4crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 71 steering complaints filed for the 2016 Ford Escape, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 71 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.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
Online automotive service information system for March 2016
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 Ford Escapes describe a steering system that loses power assist at unpredictable times—at startup, during highway driving, or after brief stops. The steering wheel suddenly becomes heavy or locked, forcing manual steering at dangerous moments. Warning lights flash ("Power Steering Assist Fault," "Steering Assist Off – Service Required"), and the only temporary fix is to pull over, shut off the engine, and restart. Some owners report this cycle happening over 100 times on the same vehicle.
Failures happen across a wide mileage range, from 2,500 miles (nearly new) to 122,000 miles. Dealers diagnose bad steering racks, failed power steering control modules (PSCM), and faulty steering angle sensors—each repair running $1,000 to $2,200. Multiple owners report the failure reoccurs even after parts replacement. One owner's PSCM replacement failed again five days later while his young child was in the car.
What makes this worse: Ford has recalled 2014 Escapes and 2014–2018 Fusions/Lincoln MKZ for the identical steering-assist fault, but will not extend the recall to 2016 Escape VINs. Several owners contacted Ford and were referred to NHTSA instead of being offered coverage. Dealerships sometimes cannot locate the fault code during inspection, leaving owners without options to repair or claim warranty coverage. The steering can also stick when cold, requiring an hour warm-up before the vehicle becomes drivable.
Same Ford Escape steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Assist Failure / Loss of Power Steering
The electric power steering system fails, leaving the vehicle with manual steering only or causing the steering to become stiff and difficult to turn. Owners report the steering wheel becoming nearly impossible to move, forcing hard manual steering at highway speeds. The failure can occur at startup, while driving, or after the vehicle is restarted following a brief stop.
When: Occurs at mileages ranging from 2,500 to 122,000 miles; failures reported at startup, during highway driving, and after vehicle stops and restarts; can happen without warning.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes hard to turn or impossible to steer; Power steering warning light illuminates ("Power Steering Assist Fault", "Steering Assist Fault - Service Required", "Steering Loss Stop Safely"); Loss of all power steering functionality; Vehicle feels unresponsive to steering input; Intermittent failures that resolve after restarting engine, then reoccur
Codes mentioned: Steering Assist Fault, Power Steering Assist Fault, Steering Loss Stop Safely, Steering Wheel Default, Automatic Steering Failure
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacements of: power steering rack and pinion ($1,000–$2,200 range noted), steering control unit/module (PSCM—Power Steering Control Module), steering angle sensor module, and steering gear assembly. Multiple owners report repeat failures even after repair or module replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners note Ford recalls exist for 2014 Escape and 2014–2018 Fusion/Lincoln MKZ for similar issues, but 2016 Escape VINs are not included in those campaigns. Some owners contacted Ford, which referred them to NHTSA rather than offering coverage. One owner noted NHTSA Campaign 22V413000 (Powertrain) but parts were unavailable.
Steering Rack Failure
The steering rack and pinion assembly fails, causing loss of steering control and requiring full replacement. Owners report the steering becomes difficult or impossible to maneuver, sometimes accompanied by grinding or popping noises.
When: Mileages reported: 23,000–110,000 miles; failures occur both at startup and while driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel stuck or locked (unable to turn left or right); Difficulty turning the steering wheel; Loud grinding or popping sound from under the hood; Smoke visible from under the hood; Progressive worsening of steering difficulty
Codes mentioned: Steering Assist Fault
Repairs/costs cited: Full steering rack and pinion replacement required. Some owners report costs of around $2,200 initially quoted, reduced to $1,000–$1,200 after dealer negotiation with Ford.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No factory recall applies to 2016 Escape VINs for steering rack issues according to owner reports. Dealers informed owners that the vehicle could not be repaired under an unknown recall.
Steering Column / Steering Wheel Mechanical Failure
Mechanical issues with the steering column or steering wheel attachment, including loose steering wheels and steering column damage. Owners report the steering wheel becoming loose or detached from the steering column, creating acute safety hazards.
When: Mileages not consistently reported; one case at approximately 69,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes loose on steering column; Steering wheel wobbles or has excessive play; Grinding noise when turning steering wheel; Difficulty turning the steering wheel; Steering column damaged or compromised
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported Ford service removed the steering wheel bolt and applied lock-tight (similar to repair applied in recalls for 2014–2018 Fusion/Lincoln MKZ). Another owner's steering column was diagnosed as damaged and requiring replacement, though repair was not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2016 Escape has no steering wheel detachment recall, though 2014–2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ models were recalled for the same issue. Ford addressed the loose wheel with lock-tight application in one case.
Steering Angle Sensor Module Failure
The steering angle sensor module fails, triggering power steering assist faults and loss of steering functionality. Replacement of the sensor module sometimes reveals the need for additional repairs to the steering gear assembly.
When: Approximately 33,000 miles reported in one case.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering Assist Fault warning message displayed; Loss of power steering after sensor module replacement; Steering not operating as intended
Codes mentioned: Steering Assist Fault
Repairs/costs cited: Steering angle sensor module replacement attempted; however, steering continued to malfunction, requiring additional diagnosis and gear assembly replacement. Vehicle remained unrepaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford notified by dealer; manufacturer informed owner that VIN was not under recall. Owner provided repair estimate but could not be completed due to ongoing issues.
Steering Stiffness or Hard-to-Turn Steering (Cold-Weather or Initialization Issue)
Steering becomes stiff or frozen, especially after cold overnight periods or at startup, requiring warm-up time (up to an hour) before the steering becomes responsive. Owners report the steering gradually loosens as the steering box warms up.
When: Occurs at startup and in cold conditions; mileage not specified in most reports.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel frozen or stuck at startup; Steering wheel very difficult to turn when cold; Steering gradually becomes responsive as vehicle warms up; Steering wheel attempts to lock up or resist turning while driving after cold start; Issue resolves after steering box reaches approximately 42 degrees Fahrenheit
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported a mechanic stated there is no factory fix; workaround is to allow steering box to warm to 42°F before driving. No repair costs cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No factory recall or fix identified by mechanics consulted.
Intermittent Power Steering Dropout and Reset Cycle
Power steering cuts out randomly during driving (including at highway speeds), requiring the driver to pull over, turn off the engine, and restart the vehicle to restore steering function. Some owners report the failure occurs over 100 times; others report multiple occurrences per week.
When: Mileages reported: 50,000–122,000 miles; failures occur while driving at various speeds (15–70 MPH), sometimes without any prior warning.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering suddenly fails while driving; Warning light appears: "Power Steering Assist Fault" or "Steering Assist Off – Service Required"; Power steering restores after engine restart; Failure reoccurs unpredictably; High frequency of occurrences (reported up to 100+ times per vehicle lifespan)
Codes mentioned: Power Steering Assist Fault, Steering Assist Off – Service Required, Steering Assist Fault – Service Now
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealership service writers unable to reproduce the fault during diagnostic sessions (fault code does not appear), making repair impossible. One owner reported mechanics suspected a faulty sensor without finding visual problems.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners relate the failure to existing recalls (NHTSA 14V284000 or 15V340) covering other model years and models (2014 Escape, 2014–2018 Fusion/Lincoln MKZ), but the 2016 Escape VIN is not included. Manufacturer referred owners to NHTSA for assistance without providing recall coverage.
Synthesized from 71 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
3 times this last three days I've gotten a steering assist fault after starting vechile.first time steering was difficult for only a very short period.2nd and 3rd times I had to stop and restart vechile then it was ok.all three times where from startup.
Had steering trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Ford Escape?
It's a meaningful issue. 71 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 47 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 16,000 and 108,000 miles, with the median around 41,900. A quarter of owners report trouble before 16,000; a quarter make it past 108,000. 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/2016/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.