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Ford Escape Hybrid Suspension/Steering Problems

31 messages,  Last post on Dec 08, 2012 at 5:36 PM

You are in the Ford Escape Hybrid Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Escape Hybrid, Steering, Suspension, Hybrid Cars, SUV

Messages Page 2 of 4

#2 of 31 FEH Steering Problem by ssent

May 25, 2006 (9:49 pm)

We've had our FEH since 12/04 and it is our first Ford.
We generally like the car but have noticed the steering is stiff when making minor direction corrections while driving straight on the hiway. We took it to the dealer and got the same run around others have mentioned. I did call the Ford customer satisfaction 800 number to no avail.
Has anyone else notice this or am I wrong is believing that it should at lease steer as easy on the highway as my motorhome does? Around town, at low speed, it steers wonderfully.

#3 of 31 Pulling to the Left by mchen1

Nov 13, 2005 (12:11 am)

I purchased 2006 Escape Hybrid a couple of months ago, and whenever I accelerate, the car keeps pulling to the left slightly. I was wondering whether this is normal for the hybrid. Does anyone experience the same situation?
  
Also, whenever I drive on uneven roads, the steering wheel feels very unstable and sensitive compared to the regular power steering wheel. Is this because that it is electric-assisted power steering wheel?
  
If anyone knows about these two situations, please let me know.

#4 of 31 Re: Pulling to the Left [mchen1] by 3screwsloose

Apr 19, 2006 (7:19 pm)

Replying to: mchen1 (Nov 13, 2005 12:11 am)
We have 2K mi on ours ( Mariner ) - got it 31 Mar. All wheel drive - no pulling ( leading ). The electric power steering lends little feedback to the driver. You just can't feel what you are doing to the road thru the steering wheel. I have noticed that on the new '06 Mercedes-Benz C280 - overboosted power steering. Too light - no feedback.

#5 of 31 Pulling to Left by mchen1

Nov 08, 2005 (3:14 pm)

I purchased 2006 Escape Hybrid a couple of months ago, and whenever I accelerate, the car keeps pulling to left slightly. I was wondering whether this is normal for hybrid. Does anyone experience the same situation?
 
Also, whenever I drive on uneven roads, the steering wheel feels very unstable and sensitive compared to the regular power steering wheel. Is this because that it is electric-assisted power steering wheel?
 
If anyone knows about these two situations, please let me know.

#6 of 31 Re: Pulling to Left [mchen1] by climberccm

Jan 24, 2006 (12:21 pm)

Replying to: mchen1 (Nov 08, 2005 3:14 pm)
Mine pulled to the left also. It required a front end alignment. Have not had a problem since the realignment.

#7 of 31 ford hybrid- steering issue and front seat fabric by wemac1

Feb 26, 2008 (12:21 pm)

I bought a 2006 ford escape hybrid two years ago. I really loved it and loved the gas saving it gave me. Two major problems. Anyone else notice the seat fabric on the front seats getting loose. Wrinkles in the material and not the underseating. It was so bad that I finally took it in for inspection and repair. The answer the dealershipt gave me and ford itself was : Oh that is normal wear and tear. I could not believe it!
Second thing that started the first winter was the occasional power steering failure. The tool light would come on and the instruction to seek maint. It would stay on and the power steering would not come back on. Sometimes it would be off a few mintues / other times it would stay off longer. The problem was worse in the cold mornings when it was near 0 degrees. By the time I would get to the dealership it would start working. The problem began getting worse and I almost had an accident three weeks ago when it went out. Ford response was oh well cant find it it must not be happening so they were not going to go any further. I ask what about my warranty? They siad they could keep my car for a week to watch-without a loaner of course. That was the last straw. I will never buy another ford product. I went and sold it that say day . It was a great SUV but such bad customer service. I hope noone else has the same problems.

#8 of 31 Customer Service by mschmal

Mar 01, 2008 (7:26 am)

All dealers are independant franchises. Ford has very limited control over how a dealer treats you. When you are shopping for a car at a dealer you aren't familar with, you should definately ask about their customer service record.
 
Check into it with people you know. All dealers are definately not the same. I use to work at a dealership where the line was "is that your signature? well congratulations, you are an owner and its not my problem." Now I work at a dealership that bends over backwards to make sure we help everybody to the extent we can.
 
Mark

#9 of 31 Re: ford hybrid- steering issue and front seat fabric [wemac1] by maksime

Mar 08, 2008 (9:10 pm)

Replying to: wemac1 (Feb 26, 2008 12:21 pm)
Good Day,
I just had similar issues but with my electric power assist steering...on my FEH 2008!!!!!
After hearing a small ''tick'' around the instrument cluster, the yellow wrench came on randomly and I was loosing the power steering. It happened to me numerous times, even while turning at a light... with oncoming traffic. After manifesting itself for 2-3 days at the time, the problem went away every time I went to the dealer, so no codes were generated for diagnostic . Only on my 4th visit to the dealer were the techs able to see what was the problem. However, it generated a code which did not allow them to pinpoint the problem. In the end, the whole EPAS was replaced under warranty.
 
I love my FEH but I think this situation is unacceptable for such a new vehicle. I hate to say this but I lost confidence in my vehicle’s dependability.
 
   ... Hope not...

#10 of 31 Re: ford hybrid- steering issue and front seat fabric [wemac1] by bbechtel

Jan 22, 2009 (11:55 am)

Replying to: wemac1 (Feb 26, 2008 12:21 pm)
I've recently experienced the same power steering failure twice in the past month. Both times the temperature was near zero and happened after very short trips (4 miles or less). The problem cleared up spontaneously after the engine was shut down and restarted a few minutes to a few hours later.
 
It was kind of hairy trying to maneuver the Escape out of a parking lot with very little steering available. At highway speeds the steering wasn't a big issue.
 
I took the vehicle to the dealer and they could find nothing wrong. I was told that there weren't any unusual events recorded on the computer. When talking to me they seemed to be amazed that there wasn't any power steering fluid to blame the problem on. Next time it happened I was to bring it to the dealer immediately. Good luck on that since it happens at night away from home.
 
I've had to have the brake control module and right front ABS speed sensor replaced under warranty. Other than that my '05 is a great vehicle.

#11 of 31 Re: ford hybrid- power steering failure by hybridsssss

Mar 09, 2009 (1:08 pm)

Replying to: bbechtel (Jan 22, 2009 11:55 am)
After searching googling and reading tons of blogs it appears that all 2005 Ford Escape Hybrids are experiencing random acts of "power steering failure" and no single Ford Dealership has seen it before. Certainly someone has found the probelm and the repair. I have read somewhere that there is a "switch". I can't seem to get my Ford Dealer on board with that. Anybody have a Ford Part Number?

Messages Page 2 of 4

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