Service Brakes. Review the 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Steering complaints

110 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2014

Steering

WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT 30 MILES PER HOUR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS DURING A DECELERATION PERIOD APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRYING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT IN THE CENTER OF THE LANE CORRECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607576

154,000 miles · Jun 17, 2014

Power TrainSteering

MY VEHICLE IS PART OF THE FORD RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. FORD IS REFUSING TO COVER IT, EVEN THOUGH OUR VIN IS REPORTED ON FORD'S RECALL WEBSITE AS PART OF THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10598808

58,225 miles · May 13, 2014

EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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CAR GOES LIMP. FORD HAS TSB 08-24-05. MECP FAILS. POOR DESIGN. HAS GONE LIMP ON ME ~8 TIMES. EACH TIME CAR DRIFTS TO A STOP REGARDLESS OF LOCATION, SPEED, ETC...(EG, CAN BE GOING 75MPH ON HIGHWAY) AND IT GOES LIMP. CANNOT MOVE AFTERWARDS FOR MINUTES. MANY CASES OF THIS HAPPENING HAVE BEEN REPORTED. TSB 08-24-5 STATES THAT SOME 2005-2008 ESCAPE HYBRID AND 2006-2008 MARINER HYBRID VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A RED TRIANGLE LIGHT AND CODES INDICATING A TRANSAXLE OVERTEMP. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN REDUCED POWER AS THE SYSTEM ACTIVATES FAIL SAFE OPERATION. CODES P1A0E, P1A0F, P0A3C, P0A3E, P0A7A, P0A7C AND P1A0D MAY ALSO BE SET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588170

150,000 miles · Apr 29, 2014

Steering

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THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME AS I WAS DRIVING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE CAR BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO BE DRIVING VERY SLOWLY AT THE TIME AND SHUT OFF THE CAR AND THEN RESTARTED IT. AFTER I RESTARTED IT THE STEERING WORKED FINE. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE WHY THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND I FOUND 302 OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2008/FORD/ESCAPE/STEERING. THE COMPLAINTS SAY THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY AND CAN HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. FORD IS NOT DOING A RECALL APPARENTLY EVEN THOUGH THIS LACK OF STEERING HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING AS PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585470

85,900 miles · Apr 20, 2014

Steering

DRIVING UP A SLIGHT HILL THROUGH A GRADUAL S CURVE WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING. AT THE TOP OF THE HILL THE POWER RETURNED. I AM FILING THIS BECAUSE I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW REPORTS OF INCIDENTS SIMILAR TO THIS WITH THE 2008 ESCAPE. IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583781

100,100 miles · Apr 4, 2014

Steering

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POWER ASSISTED STEERING LOCKED UPON STARTING THE CAR, THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I START MY CAR AND I HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR 6+ TIMES TO GET MY STEERING TO UNLOCK. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT STOPLIGHTS AND IS FAVORING THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. WHEN THE STEERING IS LOCKED IT IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE CAR. I HAVE TO WORRY EVERY DAY THAT THE CAR MIGHT LOCK UP ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I AM DRIVING TO WORK. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF OTHER REPORTS LIKE THIS ON THE INTERNET YET NO RECALL... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577477

166,666 miles · Mar 24, 2014

Steering

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LOST POWER STEERING TOTALLY ON MY FORD ESCAPE. NO WARNING LITES WERE DISPLAYED. HAVE HAD THE STEERING STOP A FEW TIMES BEFORE AND STOPPED VEHICLE AND RESTARTED AND NO PROBLEMS. PER FORD WHEN I ASKED IN PAST IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SENSOR LOCATED IN STEERING COLUMN BUT NOTHING SHOWED UP IN THE COMPUTER. I HAVE EMAILED FORD AND RECEIVED A RESPONSE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR PROBLEM. THEY RECOMMEND I SAVE THE RECEIPT OF ABOUT $1700.00. IN CASE THEY DO A RECALL LATER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574630

79,124 miles · Mar 19, 2014

Electrical SystemSteering

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SEVERAL TIMES SINCE BUYING MY CAR IN NOV 2013 MY STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED UP ON ME SO THAT IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL, TYPICALLY WHEN TURNING A CORNER, ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS. I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO PULL COMPLETELY OVER IN ONE CASE AND I WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN IN MY OWN LANE IN ANOTHER. I AM VERY WORRIED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN IN TRAFFIC AND MYSELF AND OTHERS COULD BE INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. AND NEITHER FORD OR WARRANTY COMPANY IS WILLING TO REPAIR/REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573623

51,000 miles · Mar 18, 2014

Steering

I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT UP A HILL. THE STEERING LOCKED AND FOR A SECOND OR TWO I COULDN'T TURN AND WAS AFRAID I WOULD CRASH INTO THE HILLSIDE. AFTER BRAKING THE STEERING COLUMN UNLOCKED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE WHOLE COLU…

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NHTSA ODI #10573286

93,000 miles · Mar 17, 2014

Steering

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THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.... WHILE DRIVING SLOW (5-10 MPH) AND TURNING, POWER STEERING GOES OUT MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS HAS RESULTED IN NEAR HEAD-ON COLLISIONS MORE THAN ONCE WHEN THE TURNING RADIUS COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED AND I DRIFTED OVER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN THAT MANY OTHERS WITH THESE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ESCAPE HYBRIDS HAVE HAD. I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW UNTIL WE HAVE SAVED ENOUGH TO FIX THE PROBLEM (QUOTED $1,400.00). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572879

Official recalls

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP15001 · Loss Of Power Steering While Driving

Opened Apr 1, 2015 · Closed Jun 14, 2018

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System

On May 27, 2014, amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving in approximately 746,067 model year (MY) 2008 through 2011 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (NHTSA 14V-284, Ford 14S05). Ford's DIR described the defect condition as a poor signal to noise ratio [SNR] in the torque sensor within the Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system [which] does not allow the PSCM to determine the driver's steering input. When the system detects this fault condition, it transitions the EPAS system to the fail-safe/manual steering mode.Ford's DIR indicates that loss of power steering assist while driving would require higher steering effort at lower vehicle speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.Ford's remedy instructs dealers to check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) to determine the proper repair procedure. If no DTCs are present, dealers are to update the PSCM and instrument cluster module software. The updated PSCM software changes the torque sensor fault strategy so that the SNR condition does not result in a loss of power steering assist while driving.In addition, audible and visual warnings are provided for torque sensor faults.If DTCs indicating faults in the torque sensor, PSCM or Power Steering Motor (motor) are present in the initial recall inspection, the dealer performs the following repairs: 1) replaces the torque sensor for torque sensor faults (DTC B2278); or 2) replaces the steering column for faults related to the PSCM (DTC B1342) or motor (DTC B2277).Continued in attachment pages

DP12006 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction

Opened Oct 2, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.