2014 Ford Escape · symptom sheet

Power steering cuts out or goes heavy

112owner reports
69,000median miles
$2,100median quote
2involved a crash

Newest report Jul 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

143 of the 2,020 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 112 of those describe power steering loss.

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026

2 crashesin 112 reports

Tick what matches of 112 reports

steering suddenly went heavy

a power steering warning came on

it came back after restarting

happened at low speed or parking

happened while driving

Power steering loss on other Escape years

2014112 reports 201552 reports 201649 reports

Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.

What this problem usually is

Power steering loss is the steering wheel suddenly going heavy, usually with a warning on the dash. Nearly six in ten complaints in this group mention a warning light or message, and almost two thirds mention driving or highway speed rather than parking.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering rack (27 reports), the EPS motor or module (3 reports) and the column (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the steering system covers the 2014 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the Escape

DP15-001opened Apr 1, 2015

Steering · model years 2008 to 2011

Loss of power steering while driving. Closed jun 14, 2018.

None of these investigations covers the 2014 model year.

What owners paid

20 of the 112 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,000 to $2,500.

$2,000$2,100$2,500

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 52,000 and 100,000 miles, from the 82 reports that gave a mileage.

What owners wrote

“My daughter was backing out of driveway and said the steering was difficult to turn and felt locked. The steering assist fault came up on screen. She parked car and didnât drive. My husband tried backing out of driveway as well and said the steering was hard to turn. He then put it in park and tried again and it drove fine.”
Filed Jun 9, 2023 · 107,674 miles

“The vehicle will get a steering assist fault message and go into limp mode immediately giving you no time to pull to the side of the road. Please make ford do something about the steering issues on these vehicles. These escapes are too dangerous to drive.”
Filed Apr 20, 2023

“Received a message on dashboard about a steering assist fault all of a sudden. The steering wheel is hard to move.”
Filed Feb 20, 2023

“At mileage 56,449 alert came on "steering assist failure" and I had no power steering. I drove directly to Coconut Point Ford in Estero, Fl. 10/31/2022. Part was on backorder throughout the U.S. I was able to pick up my repaired auto on 11/18. Forums have mentioned multiple issues with this model with power steering but as of yet no recall for the 2014 Escape. Total bill 3,250.17 and 350.00 car rental.”
Filed Nov 30, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 112 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.

Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found