2006 Ford Escape Hybrid steering problems

“I was driving on the highway, when the car steering started to pull to the left, and an alarm chime was heard from the dash, and a wrench light on the dash came on, as well as a service steering system soon message appeared on the message display. This happened multiple times. I contacted the local Midland Ford Dealer about this issue, as they had replaced the Electronic Rack & Pinion Assembly previously. The same dealer diagnosed the problem as a corroded electrical connection in the harness connector, to the Electronic Rack & Pinion Assembly. I was hoping that they would have covered this issue under a warranty, seeing as they replaced the Rack & Pinion, and that did not fix the original problem. I was charged $624.00 to have the problem diagnosed and the Electronic Rack & Pinion electrical harness connector replaced. The problem has not reoccurred since this repair was done. I am wondering if other 2006 or after Ford Escape vehicles have experienced this same dangerous condition?.”

“Like so many others, I was making a sharp right turn when the vehicle stopped without warning causing cars behind me to slam on their brakes to avoid a chain rear end collision event on a busy intersection. Another driver offered help and got it restarted but the power steering stopped functioning. He pulled it off the road and I then had to drive it home. The light came on after saying "power steering service" and a wrench light. There were no codes to be read and I have been unable to get a straight answer from mechanics. The last said I need the power steering module and the rack and pinion. I finally got him to give me the specific part numbers, both of which are DISCONTINUED. Last week, I told another mechanic the problems and parts I needed and he gave me a total guestimate under $2000, so I decided to go with them and they ordered the parts. When I looked at the estimate, they did not match the part numbers I had been given, and I just found out they didnt include the module because it's discontinued. I cancelled the work. I have no options left that I can afford. THIS PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE IN THESE FORD ESCAPE MODELS AND YEARS, yet they haven't recalled…”

“WHEN YOU FIRST START DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING IS VERY TIGHT WHEN TURNING LIKE IT'S IN 4WD BUT AFTER YOU DRIVE IT SOME IT LOOSENS UP AND DRIVES FINE. ONLY WHEN IT FIRST STARTS. THERE IS ISSUES WITH THE STEERING BEING TIGHT”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE THE VEHICLE DUE TO NEEDING TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY BRAKE. INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT TOWARDS THE CONCRETE BARRIER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO COUNTER STEER THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE STOPPED JUST BEFORE HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL THAT RELATED TO THEIR FAILURE WAS NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 139,000. *LN *JB*JB”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACTED STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.”

“MY SON AND I WERE LEAVING A PARKING LOT WHEN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I GOT A WARNING CHIME AND THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE MESSAGE "SERVICE PWR STEERING" ON THE DASH. LUCKILY (I THOUGHT) I WAS NEAR A AUTO PARTS PLACE SO I SLOWLY DROVE THERE. I PULLED IN, TOOK OUT THE MANUAL AND REALIZED THAT THERE IS NO POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR TO CHECK OR FILL (AS WOULD HAVE BEEN MY QUICK SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM). DRIVING WAS SLOW AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DUE TO INABILITY TO TURN (AT SPEED). THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY PURCHASED FOR MY MOM, WHO WAS 75 AT THE TIME. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FOR HER WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS.DRIVING WITH MANUAL STEERING IS DIFFICULT AND MUSCLE BUILDING. I HAD TO DRIVE 25 BACK HOME ON CURVY, MOUNTAIN BACK ROADS. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT/INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. I READ THROUGH MANY COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND REALIZED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. I PLAN ON CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING, BUT AM NOT HOLDING MY BREATH FOR RESULTS. DURING A PAST ISSUE I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAD ONLY ONE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT WAS…”