2001 Ford Escape Steering Problems
Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2001 Ford Escape, 6% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 77,700 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering brakes” (9% of reports).
- 58steering complaints
- 77,700median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 9%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering brakes: mentioned in 5 of 58 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 23 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 58 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 5 an injury.
Ford Escape steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Escape | 2 | 8% | — |
| 2022 Escape | 6 | 3% | — |
| 2021 Escape | 4 | 1% | 14,000 |
| 2020 Escape | 18 | 1% | 12,450 |
| 2019 Escape | 16 | 3% | 35,600 |
| 2018 Escape | 32 | 2% | 28,000 |
| 2017 Escape | 49 | 2% | 45,500 |
| 2016 Escape | 73 | 6% | 41,900 |
| 2015 Escape | 81 | 7% | 46,149 |
| 2014 Escape | 151 | 7% | 63,370 |
| 2013 Escape | 302 | 11% | 81,280 |
| 2012 Escape | 139 | 23% | 100,000 |
| 2011 Escape | 411 | 31% | 110,000 |
| 2010 Escape | 423 | 20% | 114,000 |
| 2009 Escape | 828 | 49% | 121,000 |
| 2008 Escape | 1,127 | 57% | 116,000 |
| 2007 Escape | 15 | 6% | 45,500 |
| 2006 Escape | 20 | 4% | 78,816 |
| 2005 Escape | 49 | 4% | 114,500 |
| 2004 Escape | 26 | 5% | 101,000 |
| 2003 Escape | 44 | 8% | 103,204 |
| 2002 Escape | 70 | 7% | 87,986 |
| 2001 Escape | 58 | 6% | 77,700 |
| 2000 Escape | 1 | 20% | 123,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. These vehicles may have a mis-assembled or incorrectly manufactured nut that attaches the steering wheel assembly to the steering column. The nut could be upside down in the steering wheel assembly, which could overstress the steering column shaft when the nut is tightened. In addition, some of the nuts may have been cracked during manufacture resulting in the nut fracturing when it is tightened during vehicle assembly.
Risk: Either of these conditions can lead to the steering wheel becoming loose or separating from the steering column, resulting in loss of steering control.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering wheel retention armature and, if necessary, the steering column to correct this condition.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Abs system burned up, hard to stop brakes, lickage under the hood
I am not sure if i am using the correct website or correct form. I was involved in a very weird car accident. My ford escape suddenly run to the side (as i was driving on ice) is there any help to fix this?. I was driving north direction. The posted speed was 25 and mine was 20. This happened on…
My ford escape does not shift right anymore and it will not stay in park i have to have a brick put in front of it because my emergency brake does not even work. I received a recall letter but i cannot find my letter anymore. I was hit by a vehicle and i cannot walk and my son had clean the house…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2001 Ford Escapes have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 58 owner complaints about steering for the 2001 Ford Escape (6% of the 996 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Ford Escape steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 77,700 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2001 Ford Escape?
The most frequent phrase is “steering brakes”, in 5 of 58 complaints.
Other 2001 Ford Escape problems
See all 2001 Ford Escape problems or steering problems across all Escape years.