2012 Ford Escape Steering Problems

Which parts fail

• Electric power assist system
  1

Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  66%
• 25k–50k
  77%
• 50k–75k
  1717%
• 75k–100k
  1919%
• 100k–150k
  3535%
• 150k+
  1616%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the power steering assist had failed without warning while driving at various speeds. The contact then pulled over to the side of the road, turned off and then restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle became difficult to turn to the left or right. The contact stated that as a temporary repair, the vehicle was restarted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering column assembly needed to be replaced due to the steering wheel seizing. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to an unknown Ford Recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired at the owner's expense. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and making a left turn into a parking lot, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the power steering functionality returned. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent; however, had become a recurring failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic however, the mechanic could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while his wife was driving at 35 MPH and attempting to make a turn, the electrical power steering became stiff. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's wife was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated when his wife turned off the vehicle and restarted it, she noticed the electrical power steering had loosened up. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated the failure had been recurring. The failure reoccurred today while driving. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon driving into the garage, the steering wheel was significantly loose. The steering wheel then detached but was held together by the electrical wires. There was no warning light illuminated. A mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle at the residence. The mechanic determined that the upper steering column shaft had detached. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact pulled the vehicle off to the shoulder of the roadway. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with a failure to the steering column. The contact had the ignition and steering column replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to steer the vehicle off the road. The contact stopped, turned off, and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained proper steering functionality. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 5 MPH, the steering wheel failed to respond as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was attempting to straighten the steering wheel and the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start, and the gear shifter failed to move or operate as intended. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH and turning right onto a main road, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact pulled over, turned off and restarted the vehicle to reset the steering functionality. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the steering torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,170.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed around a roundabout, the vehicle independently veered toward the right before the steering wheel became firm. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electronic steering column needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted; however, the part to perform the repair was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

Steering complaints in other Escape years