2005 Ford Escape STERING WHEEL

One common suspect is a clock spring that's coming apart. That's a wound-up ribbon cable in a plastic housing under the steering wheel. The clue will be the horn and cruise control will stop working, and the Air Bag warning light will turn on.

If the problem is down lower, have the steering and suspension systems inspected at a tire and alignment shop. That should be done at least once per year anyway with Ford products, and any time there's a new rattle or squeak. They have more trouble with critical parts separating leading to loss of control and crashes than most other brands.

I should have included that upper strut mounts can bind too and cause hard or rough steering. That is not exactly a safety concern but it can be annoying. It usually only occurs at real low speeds or when standing still and turning the steering wheel. To check for that, reach over the top of a front tire, wrap your fingertips around part of the coil spring, then feel for free movement when a helper turns the steering wheel. You should feel a nice smooth rotation. If the upper mount is binding, you'll feel the spring wind up and build tension, then suddenly pop free and turn. Check both sides like that.

Would be nice if you'd include those details right away. If the upper strut mounts were reused, the bearings in them can have already failed, but they come apart when the struts are being replaced. That often goes unnoticed, so do the check for those. Beyond that you're going to have to listen for where the noise is coming from. It shouldn't be too hard to differentiate between the steering gear under the hood and the clock spring under the steering wheel.

There are also going to be universal joints in the steering shaft under the dash. The age and mileage of the car are rather low to suspect one of these already, but if you look closely at them while turning the steering wheel, first look for a reddish-colored rust around one of the bearing caps, then watch if part of the shaft appears to lift up or down slightly as it rotates. That is an indication one of those joints is binding. You may be able to feel it too if you hold your hand around it.