2000 Ford Ranger steering problems

“THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE. SOMETIMES HAVE TO MOVE AROUND BIT TO GET INTO PARK OR DRIVE. THE OTHER DAY I HAD IT IN PARK, WITH THE TRUCK RUNNING AND AFTER I WAS OUT OF IT, IT STARTED MOVING. I HAD TO RUN AROUND AND GET BACK IN TO STOP IT. LUCKILY HAD THE DOOR OPEN. NO MORE LEAVING IT RUNNING WHEN NOT IN THE TRUCK.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIR AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER OCCURRENCES. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT DRIVE THE VEHICLE TWENTY MILES THEN RETURN FOR A FOLLOW-UP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,310 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,331.”

“I OWN A 2000 YEAR MODEL FORD RANGER, AND FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WOULD HANG AND THEN POP WHEN I WAS TURNING TO THE RIGHT. I WOULDN'T DO IT IF TURNING THE OTHER DIRECTION. I SEEMED TO GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND FINALLY I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO FIX. HE CHANGED THE RACK AND PINION AND INFORMED ME THAT THE FORD RACK AND PINION HAD A REVISED DESIGN TWICE. FOR THIS REASON I HAD A FORD MOTORCRAFT PART INSTALLED RATHER THAN AN AFTERMARKET PART. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE VERY NEXT DAY AFTER HE FIXED MY TRUCK, ANOTHER RANGER OF THE SAME YEAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WORSE, BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS TOTALLY LOCKED IN PLACE AND WOULDN'T TURN. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A RECALL TO COME OUT, BECAUSE THIS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. SO NOW I FEEL I MUST FILE A COMPLAINT. ALSO, THERE MUST BE A RECURRING PROBLEM IF FORD HAS REPLACED THE ORIGINAL RACK AND PINION DESIGN WITH A NEW DESIGN. *JB”

“I WAS DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 - 40 MPH AND AS I CAME TO THE CREST OF A DOWNHILL SECTION, I LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE BRAKES DUE TO SNOW ON THE ROAD. THE TRUCK VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND WENT INTO A SKID. I CORRECTED AND AGAIN LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE BRAKES AND THE TRUCK AGAIN VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND I WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT BEFORE THE TRUCK LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A LARGE TREE STUMP. THE TRUCK IS AWAITING INSURANCE ADJUSTMENT DECISION ON REPAIR.*AK”

“VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING 25 OR MORE MPH. VEHICLE WAS TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND HAD THE POWER STEERING PUM/ RACK AND PINION, AND GEAR BOX REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK”

“WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A POPPING NOISE. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM”