1992 Ford Explorer steering problems

STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE . THERE WAS ALSO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE DRIVER CONTINUED OPERATION WITH CAUTION. WHENEVER THE SPEED RATE WAS REDUCED THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA complaint #10282669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

A BLACK TAR-LIKE SUBSTANCE IS LEAKING OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA complaint #10215889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHAKES AND A WHINING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. DEALER MADE SOME REPAIRS TO THE STEERING, BUT DID NOT INFORM THE CONSUMER OF WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED.

NHTSA complaint #10041881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

TRANSMISSION QUIT, POWER STEERING QUIT, CLUTCH AND BEARINGS QUIT!

NHTSA complaint #735192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL INTERMITTENTLY FREEZE UP, OR STOP OPERATING ALTOGETHER DURING A TURN. IT ACTS EXACTLY LIKE IT WOULD IF THE SERPENTINE BELT WERE OFF (NOT THE CASE). IF YOU FORCE A TURN, IT WILL ACT NORMALLY AGAIN.THIS IS VERY INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE (FOR OTHER REASONS), BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. WHILE SOMEONE WHO IS STRONG MAY BE ABLE TO CONTINUE A TURN WITHOUT THE USE OF THE POWER STEERING, SOMEONE WHO IS NOT MAY BE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND AN ACCIDENT MAY RESULT. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE POWER STEERING GEARBOX REPLACED YET, AS I FELT I SHOULD REPORT THIS 1ST TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY RECORD OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS FROM OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS.

NHTSA complaint #733922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL ON FOUR LANE HIGHWAY COULD NOT STEER IT, FRONT WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT THREE RAIDERARIORS HAVE BLOWN OUT ,HAVE REPORTED ALL THE THINGS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

NHTSA complaint #731174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHEN DRIVING AT 30 MPH LEFT REAR WHEELS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES AND STEERING CONTROL. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 15-20 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A GRAUDAL STOP, RIGHT REAR WHEELS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND LOSS OF BRAKES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #861318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS MELTING DUE TO A STICKY BLACK LIKE TAR SUBSTANCE FOUND INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PROLBEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *YC.ET.

NHTSA complaint #844300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES

I FIRST NOTICED A SEVERE BRAKE PULL WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PULL WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD COME OUT OF MY HANDS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS I NOTICED THE RADIUS STEERING ARM BUSHINGS HAD MELTED. BEING A PREVIOUS CERTIFIED GENERAL MECHANIC AND AN AUTOMOTIVE INSPECTOR FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I KNEW THIS CONDITION WAS NOT NORMAL. I MADE A COURTESY CALL TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO INFORM THEM OF MY FINDINGS. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE RUBBER MATERIAL USED IN THESE BUSHINGS. MR. ESH (CUSTOMER ID 2160 OF FORD MOTOR CO.) TOLD ME THEY HAD SENT OUT OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS ON 1992 EXPLORERS (94 M 85). I INFORMED HIM THAT I NEVER RECEIVED THIS LETTER. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD AN INCORRECT ADDRESS. THEY HAD AN OLD POST OFFICE BOX NUMBER INSTEAD OF MY STREET NAME AND NUMBER. MR. ESH SAID THE TIMEFRAME ON REPLACING THESE BUSHINGS HAD EXPIRED AND HE COULD NOT REPLACE THE BUSHINGS UNDER WARRANTY. I QUESTIONED HIM HOW COME THIS WAS NOT A CONTINUOUS SAFETY RECALL. I DISAGREE WITH FORD'S REFUSAL TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL. AT ANY TIME THERE IS STRUCTURAL FAILURE IN A MAJOR SUSPENSION COMPONENT THAT AFFECTS BRAKING STABILITY AND STEERING CONTROL, THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FORD MOTOR COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE BUSHING MATERIAL COMPONENT FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE NTSB DID NOT DEEM IT A SAFETY ITEM. THESE BUSHINGS ARE DISSOLVING LIKE A MARSHMALLOW OVER A FIRE!

NHTSA complaint #704424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES

PITMAN ARM SHAFT SNAPPED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE ROLL OVER.

NHTSA complaint #534034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL MATERIAL UNDER THE FACTORY LEATHER WRAP MELTS FROM HEAT AND IS LEAKING OUT OF COVERING.

NHTSA complaint #541019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

FRONT SPINDLE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #519051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #521260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, LOST COMPLETE STEERING POWER DUE TO THE FACT THAT T STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT OF VEHICLE AS IT WAS BEING DRIVEN OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. STEERING GEAR BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #810129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

TIE ROD REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #510309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING GEAR BOX STARTS DEGRADING WHICH CAUSES THE TRUCK TO DRIFT AND WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD. *AK CONSUMER STATES DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR BOX, DEALER STATED THE GEAR BOX COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #800790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENED BOLT FAILURE, WHEN GEAR BOX FELL OUT, DUE TO BREAKING OF BOLTS WHICH HELD BOX, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY.

NHTSA complaint #983390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

STEERING GEAR BOX FAILED DUE TO LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #488113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING GASKET LEAKS.

NHTSA complaint #490765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #489424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL CRACKED. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #482594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.