Steering Is Loose problems of the 2008 Ford Escape

Steering wheel is loose when trying to start car. The wheel has to be turned several times back in forth in order to start car. It has now become very difficult to start,taking 4-5 minutes of turning and jostling the key to start the car.

Hey back in December of 2013 I was driving home and I noticed the steering wheel started to shake. It wasn't a violent shake but it was noticeable. Now I knew I need my sway bar links replaced so I thought that was the issue. As we entered into 2014, (January) it was getting progressively worse. On 1/16/2014 (Thursday) that morning before I went to work, the steering wheel was stiff. So I had to cut the car off and cut it back on and it loosened up. I knew at that point that is wasn't the sway bar links. So that Friday (1/17/2014) I took it in to a car shop close to my house (wasn't a Ford dealership) and I was told that my electronic steering column was bad and that the sensor was dying. I couldn't understand why this was happening until I looked online and saw that I wasn't the only one with this problem. There are people all over this country and in canada who have had similar problems. To be exact the same problem!! Ford has not recalled this issue. I'm sure Ford has tons of people that review all online comments, so they have to know about this issue. This is dangerous because just today(1/21/2014) my fiance was driving to work and she came to a red light. When it was time to go, the steering wheel got stiff and made it hard to turn. The sensor went out and it was manual turning. She got to work and when her shift was over, she started the car and the steering was loose again. We can not drive like this and know one else with an Ford Escape should have to drive like this either. I also found out through various websites that 2008 was the first year they went to this electronic steering column. They couldn't have done the proper testing on this vehicle, I only have 63000 miles on this car and this should not be an issue so soon! please email me back and tell me what I need to do to make Ford recall this. Thank you.

I had been having an issue with my vehicle starting and the steering wheel not unlocking. Had to turn it extremely hard or put the key in and out a few times turning to unlock. Upon starting the prior 2 weeks it would hesitate- like it had to think about starting. I had it checked out by my mechanic and he said everything looked good - no issues with starter, alternator or anything. On 11/27 vehicle wouldn't start - ended up with a new battery. Now two weeks after battery install I have a very loud clunk in my steering wheel column and my steering wheel is loose. Makes me very nervous. Of course the extended warranty just was up.

Steering was very loose causing vehicle to weave back and forth on roadway. . Took vehicle to repair shop and lower steering arm was replaced correcting problem.