What 1,312 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Escape Gas

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH and making a left turn, the steering wheel became stiff and the vehicle momentarily lost power steering assist; the vehicle immediately regained power steering assist functionality. On another occasion, while driving 15 MPH and making a right turn, the failure recurred, and the steering wheel became stiff with an audible beeping sound and the steering assist failure warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The independent mechanic reset the power steering assist fault code. The dealer was contacted but offered no assistance because the vehicle had a Salvage Title. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11505022

electric power steering failed without warning while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11503100

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and transferred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

NHTSA ODI 11502614

I was driving down the road a couple months ago and my steering would go out randomly and then kick back on and some times it would kick off and I would have to pull over and turn the car off and turn it back on and it would start working again. There has been a couple times I would be driving down the highway and it goes out. Now the power steering is out completely. I see that other vehicles like my are being recalled and my car doesn’t I’m confused. It’s very dangerous, considering I will have a child soon and won’t drive this vehicle with my child

NHTSA ODI 11500260

Power steering gave out while driving down highway. Checked out by mechanic and no cause found. This vehicle has a recall involving the steering torque sensor, specifically to vehicles manufactured in the Kansas plant....BUT only a specific group that were assembled during a specific time frame ending September 11, 2010. My vehicle was assembled in the Kansas plant in January 2011....4 months after the affected vehicles. I believe my vehicle is affected by this and my torque sensor is faulty

NHTSA ODI 11500109

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while exiting a parking lot, the vehicle lost power steering functionality without any waring. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the power steering control module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11499142

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering malfunctioned, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the power steering operated as needed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the power steering module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11498517

I have lost power steering x 2 on the freeway, 70 mph. I had it in for repair at a Ford dealership, they said it was the alternator and repaired with new alternator. Started to loose power steering again, same situation. Now I read that there are hundreds of other people with similar problems, Ford has done a limited recall but has left the rest of us with no recourse. How can all of us get this information in mass before someone does get killed. There have been accidents and some injuries to those recalled, but nothing for the rest of us. Are we just to keep driving these unsafe cars? This is reportedly the EPS system. Ford says there should be a warning light, but mine has had no such warning lamps.

NHTSA ODI 11497936

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH from a stop light, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled off the road and stopped the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the power steering functionality returned. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering assist needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

NHTSA ODI 11497568

Power steering will randomly stop working while driving. Appears to the same problem that is covered in NHTSA 14V284000 recall over a defective steering torque sensor, however my Escape appears be outside the date range for the recall that effected other 2011 Escapes.

NHTSA ODI 11493827

The contact's son owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his son was driving 20-25 MPH, the power steering failed inadvertently, and the vehicle became extremely difficult to steer. The contact's son was able to continue driving by using physical strength to manually steer the vehicle. The contact's son pulled into a parking a lot and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was restarted, and the power steering became operable. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) as the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

NHTSA ODI 11493807

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 60 MPH, she felt the steering wheel was more difficult. The contact stated that his wife was able to drive the vehicle back to the residence where he turned the vehicle off and on, and the power steering functionality returned. The contact stated that the failure was an intermittent failure. The contact stated that his wife was not aware of any warning lights being illuminated during the failure. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. The contact stated that they have contacted several dealers as well as Ford about the issues.

NHTSA ODI 11493656

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the steering wheel became wobbly without warning. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the steering knuckle was replaced. Two months after the repair, the contact attempted to make a right turn at a stop light, but the steering wheel failed to operate without warning. The contact drove straight onto a median due to the failure. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to a dealer. The vehicle was then diagnosed with steering sensor failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed her that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

NHTSA ODI 11490625

While driving the vehicle the power steering assist failed, causing the vehicle to become difficult to steer. There was no warning light or other sign of a problem before the assist failed. Driver was able to safely pull the car over (with some difficulty) without incident, but the car was not safely derivable. Car was towed to dealer, where they tried to reset the sensor. Upon test driving the steering assist worked for a short time, and then failed again. Diagnosis was a sensor failure. Dealer replaced the steering column (including a new sensor). Cost of repair $2,125.07 including parts, labor, towing and sales tax. This car is registered in my wife's name (Rebecca A Staffel)

NHTSA ODI 11489984

The contact’s grandmother owns a? 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his grandmother was starting the vehicle, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist with the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power steering assists sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately?142,000.

NHTSA ODI 11488953

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 146,918. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ODI 11488965

My steering got heavy and hard to turn. Loss of power steering. I had a diagnostic done and my Torque sensor in my steering is bad. I know there is already a recall on the 2011 Ford Escape, but my Vin number wasn't on the list. Thank you

NHTSA ODI 11488602

Loss of power steering while driving the vehicle. No warning the steering just goes out while driving. No inspection done by anyone but available to be inspected. Definitely puts our family at risk while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11487880

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the power steering suddenly failed causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering shaft torque sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 127,609.

NHTSA ODI 11487105

My wife was driving the car when the power steering went out. She was able to drive the car home. When I started the car later and used it the power steering worked. Later we drove the car to the pharmacy and when I started it there was no power steering. I shut the car off for a minute and then started it and power steering was back working. we took the car to a mechanic and the power steering worked while they had it and they could not find a problem. We are worried about driving it now because that seems like an unsafe situation. I know there was a recall for earlier models but our car seems to have the same issue.

NHTSA ODI 11487111

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the roadway and restarted the vehicle. The contact was able to drive to her residence. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the power steering fluid needed to be added to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

NHTSA ODI 11486727

The power steering failed. There was a recall of 2011 Ford Escapes made in Kansas City for this issue (electrical power steering failure), but only for certain VIN numbers. I believe this was issues in 2014. This vehicle was not included in those VIN numbers. How can they be sure that they selected all the correct VIN numbers. I have seen reports on the internet from other Ford Escape Owners that state they same issue. Should the recall be extend to all Ford Escapes from the Kansas City plane for the years that were included in the original recall. They car is having to be towed for repairs since it is not safe to drive. I did contact Ford prior to making this complaint. They are sticking to the VIN number restriction that they said was approved by the NHTSA.

NHTSA ODI 11482979

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 55 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to exit the highway and park the vehicle. The driver was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving to her destination. The contact's husband was able to drive the vehicle to the residence while continuing to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed of the power steering torque sensor, the electronic power steering assembly, and the rack and pinion assembly failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts being on backorder. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11482576

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 128,700.

NHTSA ODI 11480996

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle the power steering malfunctioned and the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. After turning off and restarting the vehicle, the power steering operated normally. The contact indicated that the power steering failure was intermittent and no warning lights were illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11480691