2008 Ford Escape Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 09/08/2026

1,109Steering complaints

56.2%Of all 1,974 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

STEERING1,109 · 56.2%

POWER TRAIN223 · 11.3%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL168 · 8.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM128 · 6.5%

SERVICE BRAKES120 · 6.1%

Share of the 1,974 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2008 Ford Escape overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. SHE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN…”NHTSA complaint 10303871 — filed 02/02/2010

“WHEN BACKING UP IN REVERSE, WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING.”NHTSA complaint 10229133 — filed 05/28/2008

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Ford Escape have steering problems?

Steering is the most-reported problem area on the 2008 Ford Escape: 1,109 of 1,974 complaints on file (56.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2008 Ford Escape have in total?

1,974 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 09/08/2026. Across all categories, 59 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 44 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 09/08/2026.