1999 MERCURY VILLAGER Steering Problems

FOR MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER, I AGAIN TODAY HAD THE AGONIZING EXPERIENCE OF MY VEHICLE STEERING LOCKING UP WHILE TRYING TO STEER IT. I HAVE A 1999 MERCURY VILLAGER THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1999. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN AT FORD DEALERSHIPS WITH THE COMPLAINT OF THE STEERING LOCKING UP. THIS CAN OCCUR AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT WHEN MAKING A TURN. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS DAMP. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. EVERY TIME I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN THEY NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. AFTER ANOTHER NEAR MISHAP TODAY I AM VERY RELUCTANT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO LISTEN. AS STUPID AS THIS MAY SOUND, I HAVE TOLD SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS, CLOSE FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS ABOUT MY ORDEAL. I HAVE INSTRUCTED THEM TO PURSUE LEGAL ACTION IN THE EVENT THAT I AM EITHER KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A ACCIDENT INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE. *NM

Mileage: 30,000

WHILE DRIVING 55-65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. *AK THERE WAS A LOOSENESS AT HIGH SPEEDS ACCOMPANIED BY EXTENSIVE VIBRATION. THE WHEEL IMBALANCE WAS EXCLUDED AFTER SEVERAL RE-BALANCING JOBS. THE SYMPTOMS MATCHED THE STEERING GEAR RECALL# 00V292001. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS AND REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB

Mileage: 48,000

WHILE TRAVELING DURING RAIN OR OVER PUDDLES, POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL. THIS CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, AFTER SEVERAL INSPECTIONS, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE, CONSUMER STATES THAT NOISE IS INTERMITTENT, MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. NLM

CONSUMER EXPLAINS THAT PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, WHILE DRIVING HE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO HIS STEERING CAUSING CONSUMER TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND CRASH, IN NOVEMBER CONSUMER RECEIVES SAID RECALL LETTER EXPLAINING OF FAULTY STEERING GEAR, REIMBURSMENT IS REQUESTED. *JG

CONSUMER EXPLAINS THAT PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, WHILE DRIVING HE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO HIS STEERING CAUSING CONSUMER TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND CRASH, IN NOVEMBER CONSUMER RECEIVES SAID RECALL LETTER EXPLAINING OF FAULTY STEERING GEAR, REIMBURSMENT IS REQUESTED. *JG

STEERING PROBLEMS WHEN TRAVELING AT 50 MPH OR ABOVE, IT BECOMES HARD TO STEER.*AK

TO DATE NO ONE WILL FIX THESE PROBLEMS THEY SAY THEY DONT HAVE THOSE PARTS TO DO SO. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

CONSUMER FOUND OUT FROM A CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PERSON ABOUT RECALL 00V292001, THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. *SLC

CONSUMER FOUND OUT FROM A CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PERSON ABOUT RECALL 00V292001, THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. *SLC

CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD AFTER RECEIVING RECALL OOV2920001 FOR STEERING GEAR BOX. THOMAS LINCOLN FORD MERCURY DEALERSHIP DENIED CONSUMER REPAIR SERVICE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED & WAS OF NO HELP. SAID THEY COULD REFUSE THEM IF THEY LIKE. *AK