233 problems related to steering have been reported for the 2013 Ford Escape. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2013 Ford Escape based on all problems reported for the 2013 Escape.
Failed part: electronic steering gear assembly. Starting January 15th 2026 this car began having steering problems, since then it has occurred 2 more times. I immediately determined this car was undrivable because it seemed to be locked but in each situation (1) I was parked along side a curb in (2) a parking lot (3) or in other non-dangerous locations. Had I been driving on a street or highway I am certain I would have crashed. The first time this occurred I stopped turned off the engine, restarted it which unlocked it so I was able to continue safely, in the following 2 incidents this action did not work. On one occasion I stopped at a Ford dealership & service center, described the issue to the agent who stated it sounds like the above assembly. I did not leave it because I was driving my other car. Upon returning home I took it in for service at my local mechanic. He detected code u3000-53 for the power steering. I authorized repair. No warning lights appeared on the console displays. Note 2 invoices attached. My repair invoice is the one totaling $3,471 printed 03/04/2026 but please refer to earlier on printed 02/24/2026 (original quote) because it includes additional details.
Steering wheel locked up hard to turn wheel consuming(burning) way more gas than normally would.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, the steering wheel became firm while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, excessive effort was needed to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a defective power steering rack, and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
Steering assist fault. This issue is coming up more often. When the car is started it says this error message on the dash and the steering wheel cannot be turned. We have to turn it off, wait a minute, and restart it. Most of the time this remedies the problem but lately we have had to turn it off and on several times to get it to clear up and the steering working again. This is documented all over the Ford forums. Please open an investigation as this is a serious issue and should not be happening. We have never been able to replicate it for Ford or anyone else. It is very random.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 I started my 2013 Ford Escape, put it in reverse and the steering froze and I could not turn the steering wheel. On Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 I took it to the mechanic and he had the same thing happen and diagnostic indicated thatthe power steering needed replacement. I contacted Ford motor company and they stated that my VIN was not included in their recall of the 2013 Ford Escapes. They declined to share with me other similar complaints. I have since learned from a Ford Escape owners page that the are many complaints by owners and can't get any help from Ford. I would liked the NHTSA to investigate and report on how may owners are being denied inclusion in the 2013 Ford Escape steering recall.
This is follow up to my complaint that I made last week. The NHTSA issue number is 11624016. I have found numerous similar complaints of 2013 Ford Escape steering freezing up and malfunctioning at the this link: [xxx] and submit it for NHTSA follow up. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
The power steering stopped working as driving it. Dashboard message read "steering assist fault service" unable to steering the vehicle properly which could have caused an accident. No warnings prior to the issue.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel suddenly became difficult to steer either left or right. The steering assist failure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by a local independent mechanic that the electronic steering had failed. The vehicle was towed back to the contact home. The vehicle was diagnosed by another local independent mechanic for a second opinion that advised the contact that the electronic steering that controls the motor failed. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 15v340000 (steering) however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
In reverse, steering locks up without warning, then the steering assist fault message comes up.
I get a steer assist fault code, and loose power steering at random points. It is very dangerous and almost crashed twice.
I was driving my vehicle home and as I was turning to the street I live on the power steering went out and I almost lost control of the car. I had to use all my strength to turn the wheel and barely miss an oncoming car in the turn. If my wife would have been behind the wheel im certain it would have caused an accident. After getting home I searched for what may have caused the loss of power for the steering and I read this has been a reported problem but the nhsta has not issued a recall. Why? does someone need to die or be injured before it is investigated and issue a recall?.
Steering wheel locks up intermittently. Never know when the steering wheel may lock up. When able to use steering wheel there is no power assist to help with turning the steering wheel. Hesitant to use car out on the road because I don't know when the power steering may go out and make it very difficult to turn the steering wheel to get off the road to somewhere safe.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the nhsta hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
I started my Escape to come home (about an hour and half from home). I immediately got a message that said steering assist - immediate service required . I turned the car off and restarted it and got the same message. I got really nervous, but thought maybe it would steer like a vehicle without power steering - which I have driven long ago. But the wheel would not turn at all. I could only go forward. I turned the car off and went to the bathroom thinking I was going to have to call my husband to have him come and get me and have my Escape towed home. When I got back in the car and started it up, the message was gong and the vehicle was working. I drove home, scared all the way, that it was gong to happen again and the road was very mountainous with uncountable turns. Thank god I made it home.
It wouldn't steer it ran hot it stalls everytime I was on hwy system fail to warning system not display not updated.
Several times over the past month upon starting my 2013 Ford Escape the following warning message appears: " power steering assist " fault, and my steering wheel locks. I believe there was a recall on this same issue with other Ford's but I searched the recall list with my VIN number and a recall does not exist for my 2013. This is a severe safety issue and will cost me thousands of dollars to replace.
Several times in the past month the "power steering assist " fault has appeared when I start the car and I am unable to mover the steering wheel. It locks in place. I have to turn off the car and turn it back on again, trying several times for the steering wheel to unlock. This is a serious issue and I'm afraid it may happen while at a stop light or while driving.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 mph, the steering wheel became very stiff and difficult to maneuver. The contact was able to maneuver the steering wheel by applying significant force to spin it. The contact managed to control it till he reached his home. The abs, brakes, stability control and airbags warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 213,000.
I was driving on. The road the power steering stop working, I almost caused an accident ,I had a warning light power steering fault , dealer said can be an expensive repair.
Was prompted with a steering assist fault while in the middle of driving had couldn’t turn or steer because the wheel locked up I almost crash and had to try and pull over safely. The amount of people with the same experience who have reported about this same problem for this vehicle and there still isn’t a recall is concerning!!!.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing, the steering wheel became firm. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving in the residence parking lot at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became firm. The vehicle was restarted but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 265,000.
When steering the vehicle a loud,strange noise suddenly occurred. It started being hard to steer around corners and especially when turning right. I took it to my mechanic today and he told me the rack and pinion looked like it had blown apart,he could see inside parts that shouldn't be visible.
When the 2013 Ford Escape was started, a warning message came across the screen stating "steering wheel assist fault" and the steering wheel would not move. Turned the car off and then back on and the message did not appear. Turned the car on this morning and received the same message and the steering wheel would not move. Multiple car owners of this vehicle have complained about this issue and Ford is not doing a recall. It appears this has been an issue with Ford Escapes of many years.
Power steering completely failed mid drive about 15 mph in a turn, no codes. Worked briefly after restart. Now completely has failed regardless of restart.
I was turning right and as I pulled out my power steering totally went out causing g me to loose control for a second but then it came back on almost causing an accident. This isn't the 1st time just the most recent. There's a recall on other years of the same vehicle with Ford for the same problem but not for 2013.
Was driving the car parked went into the store and came back out I started the car and it was driving fine then all of a sudden I had to grab the wheel tight because it flashed saying steering loss pull over. I had my children in the car it was so unsafe and scary and I see many people with this issue and I am not understanding why there is no recall.
Steering assist fault light has come on randomly since I bought the car in February of 2022 and just 2 days ago on March 30th 2024 my power steering in my vehicle is starting to go making a god awful sound like someone threw gravel into a wood chipper. I see Ford has had a recall out for this once before but ultimately are wiping their hands clean of it. This is ridiculous owning a car that has had this many safety recalls on it.
The steering became hard as I turned into a parking space at the doctor's office. It has happened 4 or 5 times since then usually at low speeds. I have been extremely cautious since the first time. It is my mother vehicle, but I was driving it at the times the steering became hard/stiff.
I own a 2013 Ford Escape sel. While driving on the road a message appears and states steering assist fault. When this happens the steering becomes very hard to steer. I feel like I can’t even pull over because it is very hard to steer. I feel is very unsafe. Another msg that appears is hill start assist not available and then with that massage 911 assist fault. All of these messages to me seem very unsafe and need to be looked at. I looked online and there are thousands of people complaining about these problems.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, an abnormal squeaking sound was coming from the steering wheel while turning. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with a defective steering gear. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
I received an alert on the dash that says "steering assist fault service req'd" I have received this alert in the past, in the middle of driving. When the alert comes on, the power steering completely goes out, making it impossible to turn the wheel. It's scary knowing that I can be driving and the power steering can go out at anytime, due to evident poor engineering on Ford's behalf. There have been a plethora of other Escape's that had reported this exact issue. For whatever reason, Ford decided to not recall the 2013 model, even though it experiences the same issue that the other year models were recalled for. This is putting myself and others' at danger and currently the vehicle is stuck and I am not able to turn the wheel at all. Ford is unwilling to cooperate. This is easily something Ford should be willing to look at and fix for zero cost. An engineering issue within the electrical components of the car is not something I should be held responsible for. I didn't build the car. Nor was I given any sort of warning when the steering just all of a sudden went out, while I'm driving on a busy highway. What can we do to get Ford to cooperate to fix the issue at no cost on my end? thank you in advance.
Started my car and had no steering with no warning. Thank god I wasn’t driving the car when this happened. Spoke with Ford dealership and they knew exactly what the issue was. They said it was a malfunction of the rack and pinion steering which they said was common on the 2013 Ford Escape. Cost for Ford dealership to repair was $2,700.
Power steering has gone out. There is a recall, but it is not attached to my VIN number.
Power steering out and I am unable to afford the repairs. There is a recall for my make and model my van is not included in. I have already paid for a new transmission when the transmission recall was out and the gilley hyde Ford local dealership was dishonest with me and replaced almost $2000 of extra things and gave it back to me broken.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while accelerating at slower speeds, the steering wheel would severely shake and vibrate. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 45,000.