2013-2019 vehicles equipped with a LKS system with customer complaints of steering wheel vibration, steering pull or vehicle drift may be due to an alert and/or steering aid input from the LKS. The LKS system detects unintentional drifting toward the outside of the lane and alerts and/or aids vehicle to stay in the lane. Be sure the customer understands how the lane departure warning feature settings work for Alert (steering wheel vibration) and Aid (steering input toward lane center). Further information on the LKS can be found in the owners manual. If the customers concern is due to the LKS functioning as intended, do not attempt to repair.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Ford Escape steering problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Ford Escape have filed 48 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 46,000 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
48
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Escape | 302 |
| 2014 Escape | 149 |
| 2015 Escape | 79 |
| 2016 Escape | 71 |
| 2017 Escape (this page) | 48 |
| 2018 Escape | 30 |
| 2019 Escape | 16 |
| 2020 Escape | 18 |
| 2021 Escape | 4 |
2crashes
2injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 48 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.
2017 ESCAPES EQUIPPED WITH 301A TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE HAVE THE LANE KEEPING SYSTEM FEATURE. IF A CUSTOMER HAS A STEERING PULL OR VEHICLE DRIFT CONCERN AND THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE LANE KEEPING SYSTEM, ENSURE THAT THE CUSTOMER IS AWARE OF THE LANE KEEPING AID FEATURE ON THEIR VEHICLE AND HOW IT WORKS. THE SYSTEM DETECTS UNINTENTIONAL DRIFTING TOWARD THE OUTSIDE OF THE LANE AND ALERTS OR AIDS YOU TO STAY IN THE LANE THROUGH THE STEERING SYSTEM AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY. LANE KEEPING AID MODE PROVIDES AN ASSISTANCE STEERING TORQUE INPUT TOWARD THE LANE CENTER WHEN THE SYSTEM DETECTS AN UNINTENDED LANE DEPARTURE. FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE LANE KEEPING SYSTEM CAN BE FOUND IN THE OWNER
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the 2017 Ford Escape's electric power steering system fails suddenly and without warning, creating dangerous driving situations. The steering assist cuts out while drivers are navigating city streets, parking lots, and highways at speeds up to 75 MPH. Drivers get fault messages like "Steering Fault Assist," "Service Steering," or "Steering Loss. Stop Safely!" moments before or during the failure. The steering wheel becomes rock-hard and either locks completely or becomes unresponsive.
Many failures are intermittent and non-repeatable. Dealerships often cannot reproduce the faults during diagnosis, leaving owners unrepaired. One owner visited a Ford dealership three times; the problem continued and codes didn't stay in memory. Restarting the engine temporarily restores function, but the fault recurs within days or weeks. Some owners have experienced the same failure twice—one paid $2,002 for a rack and pinion replacement, only to have the identical fault return after 1,000 miles.
A few narratives point to a thermal shutdown: when ambient temperature or engine heat rises, the steering module disables itself, sometimes while driving at highway speed. One owner reported losing all steering and power in wet/icy conditions when traction control triggered, requiring tow trucks.
Repair costs run $2,000–$3,166 for steering rack and pinion replacement. Multiple owners note Ford had similar faults on older Escapes (2008–2013) that were recalled, yet no recall exists for the 2017 model despite hundreds of complaints.
Same Ford Escape steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Electric power steering system fault — sudden loss of steering assist
The steering assist system generates fault messages and loses power, leaving drivers unable to steer the vehicle. The wheel becomes extremely stiff or completely unresponsive. Failures occur while driving at highway and city speeds, often without warning. Restarting the vehicle sometimes restores function temporarily, but the problem recurs.
When: Across the mileage range of 24,000 to 130,000 miles; some failures reported as early as 24,000 miles, others at 46,000–90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering assist while driving; Steering wheel becomes extremely stiff or completely locks; Fault messages: 'Steering Fault Assist,' 'Service Steering,' 'Steering Assistance Fault Failure,' 'Steering Loss. Stop Safely!,' 'Power Steering Assist Fault'; No prior warning before failure; Restarting engine temporarily restores steering; fault recurs; Problem occurs intermittently with no repeatable trigger; Some failures correlate with hot weather conditions
Codes mentioned: U0131 (Lost Communication with Steering Control Module A)
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack and pinion replacement cited in multiple narratives; costs range from $2,000–$3,166. One owner paid $3,000 for rack and pinion replacement at Ford dealership; another was quoted $3,166 for steering rod replacement. Dealerships often cannot reproduce the fault during diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners report Ford service unable to replicate faults during diagnostic visits. Some dealerships stated the VIN was not under recall. One owner paid $2,002 out of pocket; another was referred to NHTSA Hotline. No manufacturer recall identified in narratives despite multiple complaints of the same fault.
Tie rod failure
Front end tie rod component fails, causing loss of steering control and vehicle veering uncontrollably. One failure occurred while the driver was turning away from a curb at low speed.
When: Approximately 92,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Snap or pop sound from steering; Steering wheel becomes unresponsive and vehicle veers uncontrollably to one direction; Vehicle unable to maintain straight path or respond to steering input
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed front passenger side tie rod failure. Vehicle was towed; repair was not completed per narrative.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was made aware of the failure; no recall or repair program mentioned.
Steering column mechanical seizure or cracking
Steering column physically seizes or locks, preventing wheel rotation. One owner reported the column cracked after initial repair. Another reported a floor mat tangled in an exposed steering column shaft, causing loss of steering.
When: No specific mileage stated; one second failure occurred within months of initial repair
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks up completely while driving; Wheel cannot be turned manually even with force; Cracking sound or snap in steering column; Exposed steering column shaft near floor pedals vulnerable to entanglement with floor mats or objects
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership diagnosed 'something cracked in the steering column' and repaired it. Cost not stated. Another owner reported the column moves as the wheel is turned, creating a hazard. No specific repair costs given for column issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealership repaired a cracked steering column after the first failure, but the same symptom (wheel lock-up) recurred within months.
Steering system thermal shutdown or overheating
Steering system disables itself when engine bay or steering module temperature rises, causing sudden loss of steering control during or after highway driving in hot weather. The steering module automatically shuts down as a thermal protection measure.
When: Pattern noted in hot weather conditions; one specific failure at 89,100 miles during overheating event
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes stiff or immobile during sustained driving; Engine fan speed increases audibly; System disables steering assist in response to high temperature; Loss of steering assist while driving at highway speeds (60–75 MPH); Fault messages appear after steering failure begins
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership confirmed the steering module disables when temperature exceeds safe threshold. No repair costs provided; owners describe the system shutting down as a design flaw rather than a serviceable component.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership explained the thermal shutdown is the module's response to high temperature, implying it is working as designed rather than a defect.
Intermittent electrical fault in steering control module — non-reproducible
Steering fault messages trigger intermittently with no repeatable pattern. Dealerships cannot reproduce the fault during diagnosis, and no diagnostic codes remain in memory. The problem occurs unpredictably and then clears after engine restart.
When: Varies from monthly to multiple times per month; one narrative reports 3 occurrences in one month after monthly pattern
Symptoms owners cite: Fault message appears: 'Steering Fault Service Now'; Steering becomes stiff or temporarily loses assist; Fault clears after engine restart; No stored diagnostic codes after fault clears; No repeatable trigger or pattern; Frequency increasing over time
Repairs/costs cited: Owner visited dealership three times; no repair was completed due to inability to diagnose. Extended warranty deemed worthless because dealer cannot reproduce the problem.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; dealerships unable to offer diagnosis or repair.
Synthesized from 48 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 2017 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 2017 Ford Escape?
It's a meaningful issue. 48 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 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 24,000 and 59,555 miles, with the median around 46,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 24,000; a quarter make it past 59,555. 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/2017/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.