1998 FORD MUSTANG Steering Problems

THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN STEERING STABILITY. EVERYTHING FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO THE RACK AND PINION SHOW NO SIGNS OF LEAKING. I'VE HAD THE PS LINES REPLACED AS WELL AS THE PS PUMP, BECAUSE IF THE LACK OF STABILITY AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. PS FLUID HAS BEEN REPLACED AND BLED. AND THE PUMP IS STILL VERY LOUD (IT WAS ALWAYS LOUD, THE NEW PUMP IS THE SAME WAY. BUT THAT'S MORE ANNOYING THAN A SAFELY CONCERN). I'LL BE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY VEER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. CAR HAS NEW TIRES AND HAS BEEN ALIGNED RECENTLY. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

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. *AK

Mileage: 54,000

<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. *AK

Mileage: 54,000

<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. *AK

Mileage: 54,000

THE STALLING PROBLEM IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR STALLS WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED (IN NEUTRAL GEAR). THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ALSO LOSE POWER, CAUSING ME TO DO WHATEVER NOT TO CRASH. I KNOW OF OTHER MUSTANGS NOTICING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALER FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM, BUT FAILED TO FIX IT.

THE CAR IS IS A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS OLD AND I FEEL THAT A CAR SHOULD NOT BE PROHIBATED FROM STARTING IF THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM FAILES AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIER DEFECTS WHEN A PART PREMATURELY FAILES. *AK

STEERING RACK BUSHINGS HAVE BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING ERRATIC HANDLING ON HIGHWAY AND "JUMPING" EFFECT WHEN MANEUVERING IN PARKING LOT WITH STEERING TURNED ALL THE WAY. *AK

APPEARS TO HAVE FRACTURED AT WELD - FORD DEALER WILL BEGIN REPAIRS 4/24. *AK

BRAKING, AND SHIFTING (AUTOMATIC). NEED INFORMATION ON MAKING FORD PAY FOR THE LEMON! *AK

BRAKING, AND SHIFTING (AUTOMATIC). NEED INFORMATION ON MAKING FORD PAY FOR THE LEMON! *AK

SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE DOES NOT CONNECT TO THE STARTER, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

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. *AK

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. *AK

I APPLY BRAKES, ONE FRONT BRAKE LOCKS AND STEERING PULLS VERY HARD TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, SO HARD THAT IT WILL ALMOST PULL THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF YOUR HAND. THE STEERING ALSO LOCKS AND I CAN NOT STEER THE AUTOMOBILE. I HAVE TO RELEASE THE BRAKES TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND RELEASE THE LOCKED BRAKE. *AK

WHILE CORNERING, STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN BRAKES ARE TAPPED.

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED.

POWER STEERING FAILED.

SEAL IN STEERING COLLUMN OUT OF ORDER. YH

RECALLS 97V165002/97V165000; TIRES STARTED TO WEAR ON FRONT, MADE LOUD NOISES WHEN GOING OVER BUMP. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED THE RACK AND PINION WAS WORN OUT. REPAIR WORK NOT PERFORMED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH RECALL. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

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)

UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL IN A BRAKE AND STEER SITUATION. STEERING WORKS AS EXPECTED, UNTIL PRESSURE IS APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME STEERING IS NEEDED IN A PANIC EVASIVE STOP. NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL SINCE ALL OF THE VEHICLES CHECKED DO THE SAME. WOULD LIKE NOT TO HAVE NAME RELEASED DO TO EMPLOYMENT REASONS.

IN DRY DRIVING CONDITION THE DRIVER'S STEERING WHEEL PULLED LEFT AND THEN QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT. THE DRIVER COMPENSATED TO THE LEFT AND THEN TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL BACK TO THE RIGHT TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE OUT, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AND COLLIDED WITH A STAND OF TREES IN THE MEDIAN. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.

NOT IDENTIFIED.