2011 FORD ESCAPE Complaints

Steering goes out randomly. Steering becomes very stiff and sometimes corrects itself after turning vehicle off and back on.

My car is a 2011 Ford Hybrid Escape and is having the same safety recall 14S05 issue for Ford models; 2008-2011 Escape and Mariner Vehicles Electric Power Steering, yet my car was not included within this recall. Problem: without any warning displayed on my car's instrument cluster message center the power steering goes out while driving. The steering wheel becomes very hard to steer, making it a safety issue for me to drive safely on the road. This problem started about a month ago (October 10, 2023} and it occurs intermittently. The problem can occur at any point of driving; from departure of being parked or during driving, the car will become hard to steer. Our Mechanic confirmed this problem through an auto diagnostic given on 11/02/2023 (see Hi-Tech Auto Repair attachment). Additional inspections on my car or the component have not been done by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 15-10 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the power steering assist failed. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle with excessive force to the side of the roadway. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the power steering assist had failed. The contact was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) and became aware that the VIN was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

Front sub frame rusting through that could potentially result in the control arms breaking away from the sub frame and the driver losing control of the vehicle. No incident has occurred from this, but could if not inspected and found. This was found by an independent service center. No warning lamps

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle power steering and the A/C intermittently became inoperable. The battery warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 253,877.

Sub frame rotting out, lower control arms. Know issue with A/C leaking onto frame cause extreme rust. This can/will cause loss of control when driving. Purchased used and was not made aware of the issue and unknown history.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated when the vehicle was parked the key was inserted into the ignition approximately five times before the vehicle started. Additionally, the contact stated on three occasions while driving at various speeds the steering wheel became stiff. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted. The vehicle was taken to a independent dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition cylinder switch and torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000. .

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while he or his wife was driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel became stiff and difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that his wife had to turn the vehicle off and restart the vehicle however, the failure recurred. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unavailable.

While driving on a side street, the power steering failed. The steering wheel was very difficult to turn making it much more difficult to control the vehicle. If it wasn't as early in the morning as it was, there would have been more vehicles on the road and the risk of hitting another vehicle would have been much greater. The inability to control my vehicle made it more dangerous for me and others on the road. Ford Motor Company issued a recall on 2008-2011 Escapes for a problem with the steering torque sensor. I contacted Ford and, even though this vehicle fits the years included in the recall, I was told this vehicle was not included in the recall. There were no warning lights, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering assist, causing the steering wheel to become firm. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.