2013 Ford Escape: Power steering failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2013 Escape report: power steering failure. CarComplaints.com lists 26 owner complaints, average mileage 64,950 miles.
NHTSA has 302 owner complaints for the 2013 Escape in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11724625 (filed 03/16/2026): “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 wa…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11722837 (filed 03/08/2026): “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 (…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace steering rack (7 reports) restart car (3 reports) replace power steering rack and pinion (2 reports) replace "sealed" power steering unit (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Electric power steering faults typically need module diagnosis with a scan tool and calibration. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $1,560 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .