1998 Ford Contour steering problems

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A WET ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED EVERY TIME THE ROAD WAS WET. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

NHTSA complaint #10764644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES

MY FAMILY AND I WERE MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM THE PARKING LOT OF A MOVIE THEATER TO A MODERATELY BUSY STREET. AFTER I COMPLETED THE TURN, I HEARD A LOUD "BANG", AND MY CAR SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, AND I COULDN'T STOP. I COULD NOT GO FORWARD, OR BACK AROUND. THINKING THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN TIRED, I GOT OUT; IT WAS NOT. WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, HE SAID THAT ONE OF THE STEERING RODS ON THE FRONT, RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL HAD BROKEN. HE REPLACED BOTH THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT STEERING RODS.

NHTSA complaint #10163843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK

DT: WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CONSUMER COULD NOT MAKE A RIGHT TURN. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY SAID THE RACK AND PINION STEERING RACK BROKE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, DID A POWER STEERING FLUSH. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10138164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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VEHICLE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE AT 74000 MILES. *PH

NHTSA complaint #10066615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR 4-DOOR SEDAN RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A DEVASTATING FAILURE. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED, A SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY UNDER THE DASH FELL DOWN ON HER FEET. THE ASSEMBLY IS HELD IN PLACE WITH TWO BOLTS WHICH HAD COME LOOSE. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE STEERING LINKAGE WAS ALLOWED TO DISCONNECT, PERMITTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SPIN FREELY. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY SHE WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY LOSS CONTROL, AND BECAUSE THE FRAME FELL ON HER FEET, SHE PROBABLY COULDN'T HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKE. NO STEERING AND NO BRAKE! I THINK THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN DEFECT. OF COURSE, THE DEALER AND FORD APOLOGIZED BUT REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10010467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN ONE DIRECTION. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO GET STEERING BACK TO THE CENTER.

NHTSA complaint #10009670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #566887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY THROUGH A PUDDLE THE CAR CAN EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN, TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS RESULTS IN DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #765872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

ALARM SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AT TIMES CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. NLM

NHTSA complaint #566836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED BADLY NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT AS CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT ANTICIPATE MY CAR NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELARATE AS I TURNED ONTO A BUSY ROAD. SECOND TIME TRANMISSON HAS FAILED IN THE VEHICLE - FIRST AT APPROX 25000 MILES. LEAKING TRANS FLUID ALSO DAMGE SEALS TO POWER STEERING "RACK" CAUSING SEALS TO FAIL COMPETELY IN LESS THAN 300 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #763123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY STALLS CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK.

NHTSA complaint #757237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID

POWER STEERING UNIT MAKES A LOUD NOISE IF BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED ON ICE AND SNOW. A NOISE CAN BE HEARD ONCE THE CAR IS STARTED. POWER STEERING FLUID HAS BEEN CHANGED, BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #8001654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT STARTED TO LEAK SOME FLUID. STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE ALOT OF NOISE WHEN TRYING TO MAKE TURNS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AKHE RACK AND PINION UNIT WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUIT UNIT, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN TO HAVE PROBLEMS. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #899411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #898928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY, STEERING WHEEL GOT REALLY HARD TO TURN, CONSUMER ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD AND NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID POURING OUT OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #898887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY, STEERING WHEEL GOT REALLY HARD TO TURN, CONSUMER ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD AND NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID POURING OUT OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #898887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID

WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY STEERING WHEEL WAS SO TOUGH TO TURN THAT CONSUMER ALMOST HAD A COLLISION. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID WAS POURING OUT OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #898764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RACK AND PINION STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, HAD NO STEERING/ CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #897511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

TRANSMISSION HAS A DEFECT, THERE IS A SLIP WHEN YOU APPLYING GEARS. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND GRABS A LITTLE BIT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. BRAKES HAVE FAILED, ON ONE OCCASION CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A CHILD, BRAKE PEDAL SLIPS FROM UNDER FOOT. EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ONLY EFFECTIVE 50 PERCENT OF THE TIME. TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY CHANGES GEARS ROUGHLY, AT TIMES JARRING OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM: LIGHT OF THE CLOCK HAS BURNED OUT TWICE, CONSUMER STATES THERE ARE SHORTS IN THE DASHBOARD, CAUSING THE HEATER OR A/C TO ONLY HAVE ONE SPEED WORKING, DOME LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, LIGHT UNDER DASH WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, WARNING BELL DOES NOT CHIME ALL THE TIMES IT SHOULD, CONSUMER STATES A SENSOR CAUSES HEATER TO ACT AS THE AC AND VICE VERSA. HINGES NOT MADE PROPERLY, CAUSING DOOR MOVEMENT WHILE OPENING/CLOSING, DOES NOT STOP WHEN IT SHOULD. SEAT BLET RETARCTION DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH ELAST, CAUSING IT NOT TO RETRACT PROPERLY, HAS GOTTEN CAUGHT IN THE DOOR JAM. ALARM SYSTEM HAS FAILED. WHEEL COVER CRACKED WHEN A TIRE WAS BEING CHANGED AND ANOTHER ONE FELL OFF, CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE TIME OR PLACE IT FELL OFF. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #891622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE VEERED INTO LEFT TO AVOID DEBRIS IN STREET. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE , STEERING WAS UNCONTROLABLE, AND THEN VEHICLE STRAIGHTENED OUT ON ITS OWN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER REPLACED BELT AND TOOK VEHICLE FOR A TEST DRIVE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #891331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE VEERED INTO LEFT TO AVOID DEBRIS IN STREET. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE , STEERING WAS UNCONTROLABLE, AND THEN VEHICLE STRAIGHTENED OUT ON ITS OWN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER REPLACED BELT AND TOOK VEHICLE FOR A TEST DRIVE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #891331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTINUALLY READS ABOVE THE RED ZONE. THE CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED AND IS NOT OVERHEATING. THERE HAS BEEN A TECHNICAL REPORT FILED ON THIS AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THE VEHICLE WAS TO OVERHEAT BECAUSE THE DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO KNOW.

NHTSA complaint #744035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM LOCKED POSITION. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED.

NHTSA complaint #883920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

STEERING UNEVEN AND SEEMS TO GIVE WHEN TURNING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #557054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

STEERING UNEVEN AND SEEMS TO GIVE WHEN TURNING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #557054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING UNEVEN AND SEEMS TO GIVE WHEN TURNING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #557054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN TURNING, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHIMMY, AND MAKES A YAWNING SOUND, POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE STEERING AND OR SUSPENSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #784508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

LEFT OUTER TIE ROD FAILED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #549227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH DEEP PUDDLE. CAUSE DETERMINED TO BE WATER SPLASHING ON BELT AND PULLEY, CAUSING SLIPPAGE AND TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER OFFERED TO INSTALL REVISED SPLASH GUARD (TSB) UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #714340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.