1999 Ford Explorer steering problems

“THE GEARSHIFT ON THE COLUMN IS LOOSE AND DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH THE GEAR INDICATOR. WHEN ITS IN PARK IT STILL DRIFTS FORWARD UNLESS THE GEAR SHIFT IS PUSHED UP PASS PARK. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR SOME TIME IN THESE YEAR FORD EXPLORERS.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL ENGAGED, A PUFF OF SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,200.”

“SON WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL. MANEUVERED TO AVOID CONTACT WITH A DEER AND HE LOST CONTROL. TIRE BURST AND FRONT END COLLAPSED. HE DIDN'T MAKE CONTACT WITH ANY OBJECT. CALLED TRIPLE A TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. TOW DRIVER IMMEDIATELY NOTICED AFTER PLACING VEHICLE ON HIS TRUCK THAT PART OF THE INNER OPERATIONS OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING CONTROL ARM ON ONE SIDE HAD CORRODED AND BROKE. HE STATED THAT THIS IS WHY OUR SON WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. HE SUGGESTED FOR US TO CALL THE MAKER OF THE VEHICLE AND SEE IF THE PART IS ON RECALL AND TO TAKE PICTURES BECAUSE THIS WAS A COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE BAD. THE STEERING AND BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY SEVERED WHEN THIS PART OF THE STEERING CORRODED AND SNAPPED UPON A SIMPLE MANUEVER. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS IS A PRODUCT LIABILITY SITUATION BY AN ATTORNEY. OUR SON WAS NOT INJURED. AND ALL OF THE DAMAGE IS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THIS IN OUR OPINION IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF HE HAD BEEN GOING ANY FASTER ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THIS CORROSION OF THE INNER AREA OF THIS PART OF THE STEERING MECHANISM. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PROCEEDING FROM A COMPLETE STOP AT 10 MPH SMOKE BEGAN EMANATING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL FOR A VERY BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. HE CONTINUED VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000. UPDATED 12/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/10/09.*JB”

“SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY,ALSO WHEN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED . THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME. HAVE NOT SEEN ANY RECALLS OF THIS MATTER. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO THE LEFT LANE THEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET. THE TOW TRUCK TOWED THE VEHICLE HOME BECAUSE THE CRASH DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. AS OF DECEMBER 5, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS ROLL OVER CRASH HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.”