Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
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. …
On 12/23/14, vehicle cut out after backing out of parking to enter moving traffic on highway. The second time it cut out,12/24/14, the vehicle was being driven down the roadway. That time, the vehicle sputtered, sounded like a winded horse, running on three legs. My car was always well maintained, including oil changes every 3,000 miles, transmission flushes every year, fuel injection cleaning every other year. With the double timing chain, I was assured at purchase, that they rarely break. I could not understand what had caused this. Then, I am told it is a PCM failure caused by spark plugs , coils, that were not compatible with the PCM, or where the resistor was ineffective to combat the feedback from the coils/ spark plugs, and therefore caused the computer to shut down three cylinders of my engine. …
On July 24, 2015 my wife and 2 kids, 6 and 2 years old were almost killed when the powered steering system failed, the car was impossible to control and hit the curve going over the sidewalk. My 6 year old got a bruise on his head from hitting the window and a walking pedestrian almost got killed. If my wife was going a little faster, we would be dealing with a murder by negligence case. The power steering in this model is electrical, not hydraulic; I have attached pictures of these parts. Ive never seen this system before; as an electrical engineer I know this system is unreliable for any of the critical safety systems in a vehicle, such as steering or brakes. The motor could short or the brushes May wear, motor drives May burn, and even a low battery could turn these steering assistance into a load, making maneuvers even more difficult. …
Since I have had this Ford Escape 2006 I have it has been in the shop for brakes tire pressure light steering pumps broken and the most in two months I had two accidents because brakes will stop and then release. I keep up on the maintenance which requires brakes check my complaints and after the first they accident in March we asked Ford to check brakes the said it was fine less than a month later another accident same thing brakes stop and release we took it back in and the master cylinder had been broken I have children I drive children and this could definitely have hurt us or someone else my car is nothing but trouble and dangerous actually the body shop said it was broken before. The dealers conveniently say I did not complain but all service checks my brake drums are check I complain of parking brake and excessive noise.
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.
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.
On my 2006 Ford Escape I almost died on highway because the subframe on passenger side of the Ford broke. Upon looking up information I noticed that their was a recall for Ford escapes 00 _04 but that Escape is the same frame and structure. I never owned a car that the frame was suppose to brake like that. I hope nobody ever gets hurt but this.problem should be addresses because that car is very popular.
After traveling for approximately 1 mile at 35 MPH, the engine suddenly shut off. Upon safely stopping the vehicle in a parking lot. The engine re-started with no issues. Drove the vehicle for approximately another mile at 35 MPH when it shut off again. Re-started with no issues. Have not driven the vehicle since then. No fault codes were generated & no apparent problems have been detected.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Escape. While driving various speeds, the powering steering made an abnormal noise without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Steering complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2006 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the steering of the 2006 Ford Escape, 4% of the model year's 464 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Ford Escape steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2006 Ford Escape, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Ford Escape steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.