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 2009 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) in 2014. The contact stated that several years later while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure as a malfunctioning power steering control module that was needing replacement. The contact stated that the independent mechanic reprogrammed the power steering module which temporarily repaired the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure returned, and the vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure as a malfunctioning power steering control module. …
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH the steering wheel became difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact stated that the steering wheel had started to jerk to the left. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stopped the vehicle and shifted to park and turned off and restarted the vehicle several times however, the power steering failed to return to full functionality. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but eventually the power steering had completely failed. The contact had driven the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering column needed to be replaced, additionally code B1342-2F PSCM internal fault had been displayed on the dealer diagnostic code reader. The vehicle had not been repaired. …
The contact's daughter owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel started shuddering inadvertently. The power steering assist warning light illuminated. The contact stated that his daughter continued to drive the vehicle however, the steering wheel continued to shudder while the vehicle was at a complete stop. The contact stated that as his daughter pulled into a gas station, the steering wheel lost power steering and was significantly more difficult to turn. The contact stated that his daughter was able to forcefully turn the steering wheel while driving the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in any recalls. …
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact stated that the code "NO BUSS" flashed off and on, causing the instrument cluster to not function as needed. The contact stopped, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the steering wheel returned to normal functionality. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the steering torque sensor and the steering wheel column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); and the contact was informed that the part to do the recall repair was on a national back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the power steering failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that extra effort was needed to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that the power steering assist and tire pressure warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent, but over time became a recurring failure. The contact stated that after turning off and restarting the vehicle, the power steering functionality returned; however, the process worked infrequently. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH and making a lane change, the steering wheel slightly pulled to the right. The contact attempted to correct the turn to the right however, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the check battery warning light was illuminated. The contact steered the vehicle to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off and on. The contact stated that the power steering regained functionality. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who could not duplicate the failure. The contact stated that the failure had reoccurred, and he stopped driving the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). …
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH and attempting to make a turn, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering. Consumer almost ran here car into a house as even with two hands was not able to turn the wheel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable to turn the steering wheel after several attempts. The contact shifted to reverse and reversed back to her parking space using excessive force to steer the vehicle. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was diagnosed but not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000. Consumer was told by the mechanic Torque sensor and the Electric Power Steering module that needed to be replaced. …
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact stated that there was an audio alarm with the power steering assist fault displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repair. The contact stated that he went to the local dealer and was informed that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 173,000. Information stated consumer had not checked with mechanic. Since 3/17/22 consumer has checked with an independent mechanic and they have confirmed that the power assist steering fault is due to torque sensor and car is diagnosed as having error code B2278.
The contact's aunt owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his aunt was driving 35-40 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality inadvertently. The message "Steering Torque Sensor Failure" was displayed. The contact's aunt was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the nearby dealer, where it was diagnosed that the torque sensor needed to be replaced and that the failure was related to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the recall as the VIN was not included. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 168,054.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon his wife starting the vehicle, the "Power Steering Assist Fault" message was displayed on the instrument panel and the steering wheel failed to operate as needed. The contact was called to the scene of the failure and inspected the vehicle. The contact discovered that there was no mechanical failure with the vehicle. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a defective steering column. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure and was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 77,000.
Related recalls
Steering › Electric power assist system
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of power steering while driving
On May 27, 2014, amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving in approximately 746,067 model year (MY) 2008 through 2011 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (NHTSA 14V-284, Ford 14S05).
Steering complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2009 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 828 complaints about the steering of the 2009 Ford Escape, 49% of the model year's 1,693 complaints. The component named most often is column (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Ford Escape steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-284 (electric power assist system, May 29, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Ford Escape steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 121,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 16 crashes, 0 fires and 15 injuries 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.