1998 Ford Mustang steering problems

STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK

I WAS INVOLVED IN A VERY BIZARRE ACCIDENT. ON AUGUST 10, 2004 AT 8:30 AM, I WAS GOING TO WORK USING THE HIGHWAY I REGULARLY USE EVERYDAY, HIGHWAY ONE IN PACIFICA, CALIFORNIA, LOCATED FOUR BLOCKS FROM MY HOME. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. AS I WAS GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE, GOING NO MORE THAN TWENTY MILES PER HOUR, AND AS I MADE MY WAY DOWN THE RAMP A FEW INCHES, MY CAR STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH. PULLING ME RIGHT, AND THEN TO THE LEFT. I WAS NOT DISTRACTED, PREOCCUPIED, NOR ON A CELL PHONE. I WAS LOOKING AT THE ROAD STRAIGHT AHEAD. I TRIED TO STEAR THE CAR, BUT IT KEPT SHIFTING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, CAUSING ME TO FALL OFF THE RAMP AND LAND ONTO THE TRAFFIC GOING THE SAME DIRECTION I WAS HEADED (NORTH). ONE CAR ENDED UP HITTING ME. THE POLICE WAS ALREADY ON THE HIGHWAY SO THEY IMMEDIATELY CAME TO THE SCENE. SINCE THIS WAS SUCH A FRIGHTENING ACCIDENT, AND NO KNOWN CAUSE FOR IT, SINCE I WAS NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND GOING AT SUCH A LOW SPEED, I HAVE REQUESTED THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND THE CAR TO BE INSPECTED. THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING WRONG MECHANICALLY. I BELIEVE THIS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN THE RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY, TIE ROD, OR POWER STEERING VALVES. THROUGHOUT THE COURSE WORK, I FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS IN PERVIOUS ACCIDENTS. THIS INFORMATION WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO ME AT THE DATE OF THE PURCHASE, AND I REQUESTED IT FROM THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES. ALL MY REQUESTS FOR THE VEHICLES HISTORY AND OWNER HISTORY WERE PLACED TO THE SIDE. NO MATTER HOW MUCH I ADORED THE VEHICLE, I WOULD HAVE NOT PURCHASED IT KNOWING THIS INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE WAS "CERTIFIED" AND I OPTED FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE. I ANGERS ME TO FIND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND REBUILT SEVERAL TIMES, AND PLACED BACK ONTO THE ROAD. HERE I WAS THINKING I WAS PURCHASING A VEHICLE THAT WAS "CERTIFIED" AND IN MINT CONDITION. THIS MATTER IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.CONTINUATION.

NHTSA complaint #10093440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

<PAGE 2 > MY LIFE, AS WELL AS ANOTHER HUMAN BEINGS LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN AT STAKE DUE TO SOMEONE WANTING TO MAKE SOME MONEY. THANK GOD THE PARTY INVOLVED AND MYSELF CAME OUT OF THIS ORDEAL WITH JUST MINOR BRUISING. I AM A TWENTY-ONE YEAR OLD WELL-EDUCATED WOMAN WITH A RESPONSIBLE JOB PROFILE, AND A CLEAN RECORD. I HAVE NEVER VIOLATED THE LAW, THEREFORE ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED IS HARD TO TAKE. FROM THE START, I REQUESTED MY INSURANCE TO TAKE THE CLAIM MORE SERIOUSLY, AND FOR AN INTENSE INVESTIGATION TO TAKE PLACE ON THE VEHICLE, SINCE THIS WAS A BIZARRE ACCIDENT WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE, AND EVEN WITH THE CHP FORMING AN OPINION ON ASSUMPTIONS, I WAS NOT AT FAULT FOR THIS ACCIDENT, AND WAS NOT CHARGED WITH CARELESS DRIVING, OR ANY OTHER TRAFFIC INFRACTION. SINCE WHAT I REQUESTED DID NOT OCCUR, I AM DISSATISFIED WITH THE WAY THIS WAS CONDUCTED. BASICALLY FOR THE MONTH AND A HALF THAT MY INSURANCE HAD THE VEHICLE STORED, THEY NEVER CONDUCTED ANY TYPE OF INVESTIGATION NOR WAS MY VEHICLE INSPECTED. I EVEN WENT TO THE DEGREE OF HAVING MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE AT MY OWN EXPENSE, SO I MAY HIRE A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THAT NEVER TOOK PLACE DUE TO BAD TIMING. THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING ON MY PROPERTY FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR SO, AND BEFORE I COULD GET A HOLD OF SOMEONE TO DO THE INSPECTION AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE APART, I HAD TO GET READY FOR SURGERY, SO THE INSPECTION WAS PUT ON HOLD DUE TO HEALTH REASONS. THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT WANTED ME TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE THEN TO CALL MY INSURANCE AND HAVE THEM TAKE THE "TOTAL LOSS" VEHICLE. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT MOST OF THE REPAIRS AND RESTORATIONS WERE DONE BY MY INSURANCE, AND THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA complaint #10093441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

<PAGE 3> I'VE ALSO SEEKED LEGAL ADVICE, AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT I WAS FRAUDED, AND THAT I DO HAVE A CASE, HOWEVER THEY COULDN'T FURTHER ASSIST ME DUE TO THE FACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAID OFF MY LOAN ON THE VEHICLE, AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER IN MY POSSESSION. NOW THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SAID, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN FURTHER DO AS A CONSUMER??? PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, IVA D. OKLOBDZIJA . MOST OFOUR COMMENTS ARE MISSING.

NHTSA complaint #10093442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

CONSUMER TURNED THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLY TURNED TO THE LEFT, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #845039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHILE DRVING ABOUT 60-65 MPH, STEERING WENT OUT OF CONTROL. VEHICLE OVERSTEERED, CRASHING INTO A FREEWAY WALL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED IN THE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #841606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

DRIVING AT 40 MPH STARTED INTO TURN BUT NOT YET TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THE TIRES LOCKED UP AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CAR VIERED OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A FARMERS FIELD. I WAS ONLY BRUISED BUT THE CAR IS DAMAGED. FORD SERVICE REP. IS STATING THE CAR IS SHOWING NO FAULTY CODES. THE BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY JUST THREE WEEKS EARLIER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START FOR NO APPARENT REASON BACK IN JULY AND AUGUST FINALLY FIXED THEY REPLACED THE STARTER (FORD)

NHTSA complaint #700501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.