1998 Ford Escort steering problems

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. SHE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO RESTART IMMEDIATELY. SHE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS DARK COLORED AND LEAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE DRAINED AND MORE TESTS WERE NEEDED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 176,432. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07.

NHTSA complaint #10201213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

DT: CONSUMER TOOK 1998 FORD ESCORT FOR A OIL CHANGE ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005. THE MECHANIC FOUND BOTH REAR COILS SPRINGS BROKE. THE REAR STRUTS WERE DAMAGED, AND THE LEFT FRONT TIE ROD WAS BROKEN. THE MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE AT TIME OF SERVICE WAS 71, 127 MILES. THE CONSUMER USED THE CAR FOR SHOPPING AND PLEASURE WITH NO HARD DRIVING AT HER AGE. SHE WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THIS WAS COMMON FOR THE 1997 AND 1998 FORD ESCORTS. I HAD OTHER FORD ESCORTS PRIOR TO THIS ONE AND I HAD NO PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM COST THE CONSUMER $732. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER. HAD NO ACCIDENTS. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE DRIVES MUCH BETTER AND IS QUIETER SINCE HAD THE PROBLEMS FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10138999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

I TOOK MY 1998 FORD ESCORT TO GAGNE FORD IN PRINCETON, WISCONSIN, TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE TIE RODS. "OUTER TIE ROD ENDS. RIGHT OUTER IS LOOSE. LEFT OUTER IS SIEZED." SINCE THERE IS ONLY 23,200 MILES ON THE CAR, I CHECKED FOR RECALLS. ARE PEOPLE JUST HAVING THIS REPAIR DONE AND NOT REPORTING IT? DO I REALLY NEED THIS WORK DONE?

NHTSA complaint #10088160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

I READ THAT THAT NHTSA CONDUCTED A STUDY ON TIE ROD END FAILURE IN FORD CARS AT SOME POINT. I HAVE JUST HAD TWO SETS OF TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED ON MY FORD ESCORT (98 MODEL YEAR) WITHIN A SPAN OF A YEAR AND A HALF. IF YOU ARE STILL COLLECTING DATA FOR THIS ISSUE, I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT MY CASE.

NHTSA complaint #10008182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

THE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10007335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING SHE THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE . AFTER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE STEERING RODS WERE MISSING. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA complaint #8020798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM FAILURE CAUSING TO LOST THE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA complaint #8020633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHILE DRIVING HIT THE HORN AND IT STUCK. HAD TO UNPLUG FUSE TO CUT HORN OFF. DEALER CONTACTED. TARGO SWITCH INSIDE STEERING WHEEL PAD BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #8015874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATES FRONT TIE ROD END ON BOTH SIDE WORE EXCESSESIVELY. NLM

NHTSA complaint #8007964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK

LEASED VEHICLE: WHILE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIRS SHOP. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THATE DRIVESHAFT BUSHING WAS DETERIORATING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.ALSO, DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK BUSHING

NHTSA complaint #850530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING COLUMN COUPLING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #850118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

NUTS THAT HOLD CLAMPS WHICH HOLD POWER STEERING UNIT HAVE COME OFF, CAUSING POWER STEERING TO BECOME LOOSE, AND WOULD NOT RETURN BACK TO THE CENTER.

NHTSA complaint #841503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OR TURNING, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WOULD HAVE NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO A SLIDE. CAN TURN VEHICLE OFF & RESTART IT & STEERING WHEEL WOULD WORK JUST FINE. HAS TAKEN TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK & PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER & NOTHING WAS DONE. CLAIMS IMAGINATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT TIMES SO FAR. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #833961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.