Ford Escape: Steering - Driving - Ford Escape Owner's ManualFord Escape: Steering

Your vehicle is equipped with an electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) system. There is no fluid reservoir to check or fill.

If your vehicle loses electrical power while you are driving (or if the ignition is turned off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort. Under extreme usage conditions, the steering effort may increase. This occurs to prevent overheating and permanent damage to your steering system. If this should occur, you will neither lose the ability to steer the vehicle manually nor will it cause permanent damage.

Typical steering and driving maneuvers will allow the system to cool and steering assist will return to normal.

If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:

• an improperly inflated tire.
• uneven tire wear.
• loose or worn suspension components.
• loose or worn steering components.
• improper steering alignment.

A high crown in the road or high crosswinds may also make the steering seem to wander/pull.

    Disabling trailer sway control
    Trailer sway control can be disabled during any key cycle. Pressing and holding the stability control button for more than five seconds will disable the trailer sway control feature and the stabilit ...

    Preparing to drive
    WARNING: Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. WARNING: In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a perso ...

    See also:

    Front airbag deployment
    • The front airbags are designed to deploy during certain frontal or front-angular collisions, impacts, or decelerations, depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and object impacted. T ...

    Vehicle modifications/alterations
    WARNING: Any modifications or alterations to this vehicle could seriously affect its roadworthiness and safety and may lead to an accident resulting in serious injury or death. ...

    Setting the temperature
    Different temperatures can be set for the driver's and front-passenger sides. Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition lock. To increase/reduce: turn controls 1 and 8 clockwise or cou ...