1998 FORD TAURUS Steering Problems

This car only has 73k milrs on it i am the 3rd owner. The power steering and the rack and pinion failed on this car. I was driving west on Columbus Drive in East Chicago three weeks ago when my steering became so stiff it was very difficult for me to make a turn and i could have easily hit another vehicle ir been hit by another vehicle. In researching this issue and talking to a Ford mechanic the rack and pinion is a common problem in the Ford Taurus from 1996 to 2000. There should have been a nationwide recall and there was not. A mechanic that worked at Ford at the time told me 30000 vehicles were recalled but all the vehicles should have been recalled. The problem was so big they designed a special tool to deal with it. They just waited for people to ca them and they dealt with it at that time as most of the cars were still under warranty at Ford. My problem is the original owner was a denior citizen who drove the car very little. She turned it over to the 2nd owner in 2016 with 66k miles on it. Had she driven the car the average for the industry this would have been covered unfer warranty. If you research this issue online you will discover Ford knew about it and its common to this car for the years stated above. The power steering pymp went out in July. We fixed that..the rack and pinion went out soon after. The pump had alteady been changed in that car before i got it, which leads me to believe the problem has been the rack and pinion for awhile. I have enclosed receits on tbe parts. My neighbor installed the pump for $80. Estimates in installing the rack and pinion are 250 to 400 in this area. Ive gone thru 75 in fluid loss bc the seal on the rack and pinion on the drivers side is blown so car keeps spitting out fluid. I tried to upload reveipts on the parts but i was unable to. The pump was approximately $84. The rack and pinion and return hoses were apprimately $200 thru Rockauto.

WHEN I WAS TURNING A CORNER MY CAR STARTED TO SHIMMY LIKE IT HAD A FLAT TIRE I GOT OUT TO CHECK ONLY TO FIND THERE ISNT A FLAT TIRE AND THAT MY RACK AND PINION IS GONE BAD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR I JUST REPLACED THE SAME PART ON THE OTHER SIDE A YEAR AGO EVERYTIME THE ALIGNMENT GOES OUT THE RACK AND PINION GOES BAD! *TR

Mileage: 210,245

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECOMES VERY STIFF. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. *NM

Mileage: 43,000

3RD RACK & PINION REPLACED IN MY 1998 TAURUS SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN AUGUST '99 : SEPT.'99; SEPT. '03, AND APR 04. I HAVE ONLY PUT 26,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND BELIEVE THIS IS NOT AN ITEM THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH SUCH FREQUENCY. *AK

MY CAR PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN IT RAINS. WHEN I HIT A PUDDLE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THOUGH THE ENGINE RUNS FINE. WHEN I HIT THE WATER IT SPLASHES UP AND GETS THE BELT TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP WET AND ALL POWER STEERING GOES OUT FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS. THIS IS A NIGHTMARE IN TRAFFIC. *AK

Mileage: 35,000

WHEN MAKING LEFT OF RIGHT TURNS A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED RACK AND PINION STEERING ON 6/17/2003. *AK

WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT A STREET CORNER IN THE RAIN THE POWER STEERING WILL MOMENTARILY FAIL. THE DRIVE BELT WILL MAKE A SLIGHT SQUEAL WHEN IT RE-ENGAGES. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS INADEQUAGE SPLASH SHIELDING INSIDE THE RIGHT HAND WHEEL WELL SUCH THAT WATER IS THROWN UP ON THE DRIVE BELT AND CRANKSHAFT PULLY BY THE COCKED WHEEL. THE DRIVE BELT IS RELATIVELY NEW BUT THE PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED WITH THE OEM BELT.

Mileage: 70,000

CONSUMER STATES HE HAD HIS POWER STEERING GEAR BOX REPLACED. HE WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED AT LEAST 100000 MILES OR MORE AND HIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 30000 MILES. HE WAS CHARGED APPROX 800.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. TS

AFTER ABOUT 60000 MILES THE SERPENTINE BELT THAT DRIVES THE POWER STEERING STARTED SLIPPING WHEN WE HIT A PUDDLE, CAUSING POWER STEERING TO STOP. BELT REPLACED AT 68,000, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED STARTING AGAIN AT ABOUT 85000 MILES. VERY DANGEROUS, UNEXPECTED FAILURES. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER REPLACING THE STEERING PUMP THE RACK AND PINON STOPS WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. MR

WHILE MAKING A TURN ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

WHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING.*AK

POWER STEERING DEVELOPED A LEAK AND SUDDENLY BECAME NON FUNCTIONAL. SYSTEM FAILED, AND IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK *SCC

VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN DUE TO A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER REPAIRED FOR 5TH TIME BY REPLACING STABILIZER BAR AND SWAY BAR. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT FRONT SPEAKER WAS DISTORTED WHEN PLAYING TAPES, THE HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN.*JB *TT

WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED AND WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH AND SLOW TO 10 MPH TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP COMPLETELY, DEALER REPLACED THE BELTS BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *YD

REMOTE KEY DOES NOT WORK. CONSUMER NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK OR LOCK VEHICLES DOORS. ALSO, ALARM DOES NOT SOUND WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD INTERMITTENTLY/MOMENTARILY STOP OPERATING WHILE DRIVING. HAD TO STOP VEHICLE AND RESTART IT FOR POWER STEERING TO OPERATE AGAIN. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

A "SQUEAKING" NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM LEFT FRONT END OF VEHICLE WHILE PARKING OR TRAVELING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. A PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED THAT TIE ROD ON DRIVER'S SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

STEERING GOT TIGHT, WHEN TURNING WHEEL, IT MADE NOISE. RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND BALLJOINTS ALL FAILED WHILE DRIVING, CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *AK

POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND BALLJOINTS ALL FAILED WHILE DRIVING, CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *AK

HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE RUPTURED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. LOSS OF POWER STEERING BOOST. NO INJURIES. *AK

HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE RUPTURED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. LOSS OF POWER STEERING BOOST. NO INJURIES. *AK

HIGH PRESSURE HOSE RUPTURED WHILE PARKING. NO STEERING BOOST AFTER FAILURE. VEHICLE DRIVEN TO DEALER WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. *AK

POWER STEERING SYSTEM NOISY AFTER PREVIOUS REPAIR. REPLACED PUMP TWICE, WITH NO NET GAIN. DEALER INDICATES CONDITION NORMAL. SUBSEQUENT PROBLEMS INDICATE DEALER IN ERROR. *AK

STEERING GROANS IN THE AM OR AFTER A LONG TRIP. SYSTEM LACKS BOOST. DEALER INSTALLED PS SERVICE KIT. NET RESULT NOISY SYSTEM AND NUMEROUS ADDITIONAL FAILURES. *AK

TURNING CORNER AT APPX 20MPH HEARD LOUD CLONK NOISE UNABLE TO STEER VECH,RACK & PINION SNAPPED, LIFTED HOOD BELT HAD CAME OFF WHEEL WAS ON THE GROUND, FORD MECHANIC TOLD WARRANTY REP THAT IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I RAN LOW ON POWER STEERING FLUID. I DROVE A 24FT TRACTOR AND 53FT TRAILER COMBINATION FOR 6 YEARS ACROSS THE US CANADA AND MEXICO AND HAD TO DO MY OWN MAINT. AND MINOR REPAIRS TO MY TRUCK DOES THIS SOUND LIKE SOMEONE THAT JUMPS IN AND OUT OF A CAR WITHOUT CHECKING FLUID LEVELS,OR DOING PROPER MAINT ON THEIR VECH?? I ONLY HAD THE VECH FOR 38DAYS BUT ALWAYS KEEP ALL FLUID LEVELS CHECKED, BEFORE THIS HAPPENED I WOULD HEAR A LOW HUMMING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE POWERSTEERING FLUID WAS AT THE NORMAL LEVEL.

VEHICLE ACCELERATES TO 3 RPMS WHEN IN PARK. ABS LIGHT STAYS ON SINCE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED 8-9 MONTHS AGO.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HER STEERING RACK AND PINION BROKE. DEALERSHIP FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME. THEN, VEHICLE REPEATED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MILES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD LOST CONTROL OF WHEEL AND WAS FIGHTING TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A MONTH 7/23/99 AND AGAIN8/23/99. THE LORD WAS TRULY WITH ME I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BOTH TIMES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A TURN DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL LOCK. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

POWER STEERING IS NOISY. YH

POWER STEERING UNIT EXPERIENCES NOISE, REPLACEMENT OF HOSE AND UNIT DID NOT RECTIFY NOISE PROBLEM. *MJS

DURING BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS (RAIN MIXED WITH SNOW) DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES & VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN ANCOLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DID NO DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY. ALSO, STEERING FAILURE. *AK

VEHICLE DRIFTS OFF TO THE RIGHT ,AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SHIMMIES EXCESSIVELY. DEALER SAYS STEERING COLUMN WAS MALFUNCTIONING. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT NOT VISIBLE WHEN WHEEL IS TILTED AS (DESIGNED), THE RESULT CAR WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES WITH EMERGENCY BRAKES ENGAGED. YH

POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE FAILED. YH

STEERING WHEEL PULSATION WWHEN BRAKING OVER 50MPH 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BOUGHT IT BACK TO FORD 7 TIMES. ENGINE STOPPED WHEN PARALLEL PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON TWICE CAR IS ONLY 8 MONTHS LD

RACK AND PINION STEERING SPRING YOKE IS DEFECTIVE CAUSING SHIMMY AND STEERING PROBLEMS.

VEHICLE STEERING RACK AND PINION WITH A SPRING YOKE WILL RECTIFY PROBLEMS WITH STEERING CONTROL AND VIBRATION, UNABLE TO GET PARTS AS OF 22-JUL-98, DESIGN FLAW.

LOST ABILITY TO STEER VEHICLE. STEERING BELT PULLEY AND PUMP FAILED.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH STEERING; VEHICLE ALWAYS STEERS TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND LEARNED THE VEHICLE WAS WITHOUT A FRONT CAMBER/CASTER. CONSUMER INFORMED DEALER/MANUFACTURER OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY INFORMED CONSUMER BECAUSE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW CAN THEY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR VEHICLE NOT HAVING THE FRONT CAMBER/CASTER PARTS. *AK