2015 Ford Escape Steering

AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 1.5 HOURS, WE STOPPED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE. WHEN WE RESTARTED THE CAR, AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DRIVERS INFORMATION SCREEN THAT SAID: "STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED" (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS) AND THE VEHICLE HAD LOST POWER STEERING. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE BUT WE WERE FORTUNATELY VERY CLOSE TO OUR DESTINATION. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS ERROR HAD OCCURRED, THE FIRST TIME WAS ON A MUCH LONGER DRIVE BUT AFTER SITTING FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO (VEHICLE OFF) THE ERROR WENT AWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THIS TIME, EVEN AFTER LETTING IT SIT OVERNIGHT, THE ERROR HAS NOT GONE AWAY AND THERE IS STILL NO STEERING ASSIST. I HAVE FOUND MANY POSTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE WITH THE FORD ESCAPE VEHICLE (AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES) AND AM VERY SURPRISED THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. IF THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (AS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS), THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. PLEASE TAKE THIS ISSUE VERY SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU.

I PARKED MY CAR TO GET CURVE-SIDE PICKUP FOR PIZZA. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL REFUSED TO TURN. I TRIED TURNING OFF THE CAR, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WAS OFF (EMERGENCY BREAK, RADIO, ETC). WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STUCK AS IF IT WAS A BEE STUCK IN MOLLASSES. I SLOWLY BACKED THE CAR UP TO SEE IF IT WOULD LOOSEN AND IT DIDNT. STRANDED AT THE PIZZA PLACE WITH HOT PIZZA IN THE BACK SEAT, I DECIDED TO CALL THE DEALER. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND AS THEY WERE GETTING THE ADDRESS OF THE PIZZA PLACE SO THEY COULD TOW THE CAR, I KEPT PLAYING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH EVENTUALLY ALLOWED ME TO TURN IT AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. I AVOIDED THE HIGHWAY AND SLOWLY DROVE HOME WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON AFRAID IT MAY HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING.

WITHIN A WEEK OF REPLACING INNER & OUTER TIE RODS, A STEERING FAULT, SERVICE NOW MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INFORMATION DISPLAY ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2020. AT TIME VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WITHIN 35 MPH SPEED LIMIT ON A FOUR LANE NORFOLK, VIRGINIA CITY STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ABOUT A MILE FURTHER TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT. AFTER STOPPING AND CHECKING THE MANUAL, VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED ACCORDING TO MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS. THE MESSAGE CHANGED TO STEERING LOSS, STOP SAFELY. WE CONFERRED WITH THE CARMASTERS SERVICE CENTER THAT PERFORMED THE TIE ROD REPLACEMENT. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION ON AGAIN, THE STEERING LOSS, STOP SAFELY MESSAGE REMAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO CARMASTERS, UPON THEIR ADVICE, FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BINDING OF THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. DIAGNOSTIC TEST FAULT CODE C 102D WAS REPORTED. INSPECTION TO CONFIRM DAMAGE WAS ALSO REPORTED. RECOMMENDED REPAIR WAS REPLACEMENT OF POWER ASSIST STEERING RACK AND PINION, FOLLOWED BY FRONT END ALIGNMENT. COST ESTIMATE WAS $3,200 FOR FORD DEALER SUPPLIED REPLACEMENT RACK & PINION ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST ASSEMBLY INSTALLATION. FORTUNATELY NO PERSONAL INJURY RESULTED. VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE WITH GREAT EFFORT WITHOUT POWER ASSIST. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CALLED ON SEPTEMBER 29 TO CONFIRM INCREASING FREQUENCY OF SUCH ASSISTED STEERING FAILURE, AS NOTED IN NHTSA POSTING AND GENERAL INTERNET POSTINGS. APPEARS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY FAILURE ON A VEHICLE OF 45,744 MILES WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY INCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE DAMAGED THE RACK AND PINION IN THE OVER 2 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, DURING WHICH WE DROVE ABOUT 30,000 MILES. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISED WE WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO GET ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR, UNLESS THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY A FORD AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER AND THE NHTSA RULED THE RACK AND PINION POWER ASSIST WAS FAULTY.

ON 7/14/2020 THE STEERING BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I PULLED FORWARD GETTING OUT OF THE STREET INTO THE DRIVE WAY. I TURNED THE CAR BACK OFF AND ON AGAIN. THE INFORMATION SCREEN DISPLAYED POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT.

MY 2015 FORD ESCAPE LOST POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I HAD MY FAMILY, INCLUDING MY 2 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR WITH ME. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER AND ALMOST DROVE OFF THE ROAD. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WERE OF NO HELP. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS IT.

ON 09/05/2020, I ENCOUNTERED THE "STEERING ASSIST FAULT - SERVICE REQUIRED" ERROR MESSAGE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO THE STEERING MECHANISM. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE ATTRIBUTED TO SAFETY RECALL# 19S26 PERTAINING TO SIMILAR VEHICLES (FORD EDGE, ETC) OF THIS MODEL YEAR. THE ISSUE GENERATES FROM INADEQUATE WAX COATING ON THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE STEERING GEAR MOTOR, CAUSING IT TO DETACH FROM THE HOUSING. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES, CREATING A POTENTIAL CRASH HAZARD IF OCCURRING WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE HAS 37142 MILES (VERY LOW FOR THE MODEL YEAR) AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AS WELL AS DRIVEN WITH GREAT CARE AND ATTENTION TO PROLONGING ITS OVERALL LIFESPAN AND GENERAL CONDITION. THE ISSUE CAME TO PASS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE ERROR MESSAGE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRING WHILE PARKED AND STARTING UP SAID VEHICLE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER ONLINE COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT INCIDENT RELATING TO THIS MODEL YEAR AND SPECIFIC VEHICLE, YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. IN MOST INSTANCES IT APPEARS THE CONSUMER IS EXPECTED TO ABSORB THE REPAIR COSTS, WHICH CAN RUN UPWARDS OF $2000 - 3000 OR MORE - UP TO AND INCLUDING REBUILDING THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM. THIS IS SUSPECT BEHAVIOR GIVEN THE LACK OF OWNERSHIP OF THE ROOT CAUSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND LEADS ONE TO BELIEVE DEALERSHIPS MAY BE UNFAIRLY PROFITING FROM NEEDLESS REPAIRS GIVEN THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THE FAULT IN QUESTION.

I WENT TO MAKE A TURN INTO A PARKING LOT I LOST STEERING AND A LIGHT APPEARED ON DASH THAT SAID DRIVER ASSIST.I WRESTLED TO GET VEHICLE HOME AFTER WAITING TO NEXT DAY TO HAVE SOMEONE FOLLOW TO DEALER STEERING CANE BACK BUT WHEN I ARRIVED TO TURN INTO DEALER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN WHICH IS DANGEROUS.I TALKED TO DEALER WHO SHOWED ME A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS STYLE VEHICLE HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL AND QUOTED $2400.00 TO REPAIR WHICH I COULD NOT AFFORD.THE VEHICLE IS 5YRS OLD WITH 4100 MILES

VEHICLE IN PARK, IN PARKING LOT, STARTED, NOTIFICATION CAME UP ON SCREEN " STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED" LOCKED UP SO TIGHT I COULDN'T MOVE MY WHEELS AT ALL. IF MY CAR WERE TO DO THIS ON THE HIGHWAY AND A HIGH SPEED I WOULD END UP CRASHING. THE COST TO FIX THIS ISSUE IS AROUND $2,400.00

WHEN I START UP MY TRUCK IT SAYS STEEL WHEEL DEFAULT AND IT WILL NOT TURN ..IT DOES IT EVERY OTHER DAY IM SCARED THAT IT WILL LOCK UP ON ME WHY I AM DRIVING

POWER STEERING ISSUES BEGAN RANDOMINGLY AROUND 70,000 MILES. IT LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING LEAVING YOU WITH NO POWER STEERING. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY AND WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. IT GENERALLY OCCURS FOR A FEW MILES AND THEN GOES BACK TO "NORMAL" POWER STEERING. IT'S HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW WITH NO WARNING OR DASH LIGHTS LIGHTING UP. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME, I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHILE GOING AROUND A SHARP CURVE, WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS . WE WERE TOLD THAT OLDER MODELS OF FORD ESCAPES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, BUT NOT THE 2015. COST TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING SENSOR WAS ABOUT $4,000.

THE STEERING WILL RANDOMLY DIE, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO DRIVE. IT'S INCREDIBLY WORRYING AND COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AS IT ALMOST HAPPENED TO ME. SOMETIMES IN PARK, OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT AT THE MOMENT IT IS NOT BEING DRIVEN FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS

RANDOMLY LOOSE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING OR MAKING A QUICK, OR SHARP, LEFT TURN, LIKE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED UP TO 3 TIMES IN A WEEK. DOES NOT REGISTER AS A FAULT ON THE CAR COMPUTER CHIP. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, THEN IT TEMPORARILY FAILED THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THEN RESET ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER AFTER PULLING OVER AND SHUTTING OFF THE CAR, WAIT, THEN RESTART.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE REVERSE CAMERA ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION AND THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OF THE BACKUP CAMERA WAS NOT DISCLOSED BY THE TECHNICIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

AS MY WIFE IS DRIVING TO THE SCHOOL WHILE GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON THE STATE ROAD IN OUR 2015 FORD ESCAPE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE FORD ESCAPE, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS... ONLINE SUGGEST YOU JUST TURN THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING WILL RESET WELL THIS TIME IT DIDN'T WORK SHE WAS HALFWAY BETWEEN OUR SCHOOL AND OUR HOME AND SHE HAD TO DRIVE IT THE REST OF THE WAY BACK HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING... AGAIN I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS ALREADY A RECALL AS IT HAPPENS WHILE YOU ARE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IMAGINE IF IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY!!!

POWER STEERING STOPED WORKING WHEN I TURNED OFF ROAD ON TO THE DRIVWAY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE SERVICE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GARNET FORD (1610 WILMINGTON PIKE, WEST CHESTER, PA 19382, (610) 358-5600) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,785. *BF *TP

WHILE I WAS DRIVING UP I95 IN NEW JERSEY I PULLED INTO A REST STOP FOR GAS. TURNED THE CAR OFF TO GET GAS. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, I NO LONGER HAD POWER STEERING. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RECONNECT BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON NOTHING HELPED. I THEN HAD TO DRIVE THE FINAL HOUR TO MY HOUSE WITH NO POWER STEERING WHICH WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS. I COULD HOLD A STRAIGHT LINE AND MAKE TURNS WHEN NECESSARY BUT TO MAKE ANY TYPE OF SWERVE TO AVOID SOMETHING WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE SO LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED LATE AT NIGHT WITH NO ONE ON THE ROAD. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOW OVER 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. (WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,000). THEY ENDED UP HAVING TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RACK AND ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM COSTING $3,400 OUT OF POCKET. I FOUND THIS LACK OF OWNING UP TO AN OBVIOUS FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE. ON TOP OF THAT, FORD CARS SUCH AS THE 2011-2013 FUSION HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. THAT BEING SAID I REQUEST YOU LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE FOR MY 2015 FORD ESCAPE MODEL BECAUSE I AM LEARNING I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW AND FORD IS NOT OWNING UP TO THE ISSUE. PASSING THIS MASSIVE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON ME AS A CUSTOMER IS ALSO UNACCEPTABLE. ATTACHED PLEASE FIND THE WORK ORDER FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE!

POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING

MY 2015 FORD ESCAPE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE MY WORK LOCATED. I HAVE NO PROBLEM TURNING THE ENGINE ON; HOWEVER, WHEN STARTED BACKING UP, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SO HARD TO MANEUVER. I TRIED TURNING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT TURN BUT IT IS LIKE HUSTLING AND FIGHTING A MUSCLED MAN. IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. IT WAS FREEZING. I THOUGHT ABOUT THE DANGER OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME I NEVER FELT SAFE DRIVING MY FORD ESCAPE THAT FRIDAY NIGHT (1/25/19).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KLABEN FORD LINCOLN OF WARREN, INC. (888-428-3823, LOCATED AT 3853 YOUNGSTOWN RD SE, WARREN, OH 44484) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000.

MY STEP DAUGHTER WAS PARALLEL PARKING WITH HER UNCLE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN SO HER UNCLE GO IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND IT WOULD NOT TURN FOR HIM. SO THEY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR 20 MINUTES AND THEN IT WAS FINE. I AM GLAD THEY WERE DRIVING SLOW IN A PRACTICE AREA FOR PARALLEL PARKING. MAYBE FORD WILL DO A RECALL ON THIS AND FIX THE PROBLEM.

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE STEERING WENT OUT AND I COULDN'T STEER THE VEHICLE. I WAS ON A SECONDARY TWO WAY RURAL ROAD, IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR I WOULD BE DEAD AS I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, FOR SERVICE. I REVIEWED INFORMATION ON-LINE AND THIS APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED TO OTHER FORD VEHICLES AND THERE WAS A RECALL. I'M BEING TOLD I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 2015 ESCAPE AND THERE WAS NO LOANER SO I HAVE TO ALSO PAY FOR A RENTAL. I CONTACTED FORD AND HAVE A CASE NUMBER CAS-15434220. I'M FILLING OUT THIS FORM IN HOPES THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS THIS HAPPEN RESULTING IN SOMEONE BEING KILLED BECAUSE OF A CONTINUED KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED DOWN APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES TOWARDS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PLAZA TIRES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN BOLTS WERE MISSING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE MY CAR. STEERING FAULT MESSAGE CAME ON DASHBOARD. TOOK TO DEALER HAS LACK OF POWER STEERING,CODE U003000 STEERING GEAR INTERNAL FAULT NEEDS PSCM GEAR. HAS LESS THAN 36,000 MILES BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE ESCAPES TO FIND OUT WHY THEY ARE COMMONLY HAVING THIS PROBLEM. CAR IN MOTION IN A PARKING LOT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUFF FORD (1135 E MAIN ST, WYTHEVILLE, VA 24382, (276) 228-3108) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *TT CONTACT STATES VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY HUFF FORD ON 07/09/2018. *TT