Steering wheel hard to turn

- Stephens , AR, USA

Power steering went out when I was driving and barely avoided a collision. Light went out another time when I was driving.

- Hastings, MI, USA

Despite having subject vehicle serviced by a dealership under recall 13V385, the lower intermediate shaft developed a corrosion defect after four years wherein it became difficult to steer the vehicle at lower speeds and a loud clunking noise was audible from within the cabin every time the top of the steering wheel passed the 6 O'clock position. Owner investigated: Upper universal joint at the bottom of the lower intermediate shaft was beginning to separate, shifting out of place approximately 3/16ths of an inch when steering wheel was in the 6 O'clock position before slamming back into place causing a loud 'click' which reverberated into the cabin through the steering column and sounding much worse. Vehicle was taken to recall servicing dealership; recall 13V385 was only warrantied for 3 months or 5000 kilometres (3125 miles). Owner was charged $888.31 cad ($675.95 usd) for repairs on a recall part experiencing the same conditions for which the recall was issued. Owner contacted manufacturer customer relations department to inquire about recalled parts experiencing recall conditions, was advised of the recall warranty and that paid service results in 2-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

- Trenton, AA, USA

When your on the highway sometimes it feels like the steering wheel floats away and like you already have lost steering controls but they come back. I have a sheet from when I got the recall for the headlights, that said 13R01 for the steering column shaft. I haven't gotten that fixed or remedied so I'm confused as to why it says the work order isn't outstanding.

- Durham, NC, USA

While driving home today power steering suddenly went out almost impossible to steer car when I stopped there appeared to be smoke coming from vehicle

- Elburn, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. While driving 35 mph, the steering wheel became inoperable and the vehicle lost steering ability. The dealer diagnosed that the vehicle needed to be repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 14V704000 (steering). The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Urbana, IL, USA

There has been a loss of steering control and the steering becomes tight at low speeds. Ford dealer says it is the power steering rack after I took it in for the recall of the power steering column.

- Willow Grove, PA, USA

Today I was driving my 2005 Ford Crown Victoria on a city street. I made a left hand 90 degree turn at a relatively slow speed. Upon turning the wheel back, the steering locked. To avoid hitting a parked car to the left, I forced the steering over forcefully. It felt as if the steering shaft was blocked by something. I pulled the car immediately over to a parking spot on my right. In the process of turning the wheel, the steering was suddenly normal, then very difficult, normal, then difficult, as if it were being intermittently hit. I opened the hood and found the left header heat shield, opposite of the steering shaft, separated from its normal position and was lodged between the steering shaft and the header. The heat shield was heavily corroded. I took a photo of it in its lodged position. I then removed the heat shield and attempted to move the steering wheel. It turned freely and normally. Due to my location, I had to drive the vehicle (which appeared drive-able) for another hour to my house.the vehicle has already been fixed by the recall involving the steering shaft replacement, and has been driven for many months since then. The steering shaft impacted the heat shield multiple times, collapsing part of the heat shield and leaving surface marks on the steering shaft. This may have caused damage to the steering system and/or shaft, apart from the fact that the heat shield is now absent, potentially further damaging other components. Thank you

- Zeeland, MI, USA

On 10/06/2015 the vehicle in question was travelling at 65-70mph in the left hand lane of a highway going straight ahead when operator lost complete steering due to the steering shaft becoming disconnected from the steering column resulting in single vehicle crash. The vehicle had a recall completed on 10/10/14 -13S08.

- Framingham, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that while making a right turn at approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the upper intermittent shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA campaign numbers: 13V385000 (steering) and 14V704000 (steering). The manufacturer was made notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Akron, OH, USA

I received a recall notice in February 2015 and brought my car to a dealership for repairs on March 18, 2015. The service manager of that branch informed me that there is a problem with the upper steering column bearings that aren't covered by the recall. He said he spoke to the recall center and the reason they gave was because this recall was issued in 2013 and I didn't respond in time. I did not receive a letter and if I did, I certainly would've responded in a timely way. Then I spoke to the recall center and argued that this upper column problem is a direct result of the lower column shaft; to which I was told that typically Ford only covers what's explicitly detailed in the recall notice. Also, I was told, the reason for my issues with the letter may be because the NJ mvc has been slow in disseminating driver information to car companies. If that's the case, it's absolutely unfair and unreasonable to hold me responsible for a bureaucratic issue of communication. This argument might not be too valid, but there is a recall issued by NHTSA regarding improper repairs of the upper steering column shaft. This suggests to me that there is a problem in general with steering column shafts, so I think my repairs should be covered. I told the service manager to just fix what's covered and I'll take whatever risks afterwards. I don't have the money for those repairs and, out of principle, I don't think I should be liable for those costs.

- Neptune, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. While driving at 40 mph, the steering wheel became loose. As a result, the contact had to shut off and restart the vehicle in order to temporarily correct the failure. The failure recurred on multiple occasions and no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

- Windsor Locks, CT, USA

I was responding as a volunteer ambulance emt from my residence to the fire station for an emergency call when the steering locked up. I tried to turn the steering wheel back and forth while applying the brakes and it began to steer again. I continued to the station about 3/4 mile away, made the ambulance call. Upon completion of the call I lifted the hood and observed the lower joints of the steering shaft were rusty and corroded. I sprayed the joint with wd-40 and turned the steering back and forth. In preparation for a trip two days later I was checking the vehicle and found the "exhaust heat shield" lying on the frame between the engine and frame. It was then I figured the part had come off and jammed between the steering shaft and the frame causing a momentary loss of steering control. I have not replaced the heat shield. After a factory recall replacement of the lower shaft resulted in the car steering like new with very little effort for a month or so. I then noticed the steering seemed to bind again at times. I looked and the upper steering shaft is corroded so I sprayed the U joint contained in the upper shaft with lubricant. I contacted the dealer who said the upper shaft was not part of the recall so I called Ford and was told the same thing. The upper shaft joint is experiencing the same failure as the lower shaft. Corrosion in the U joint is causing the needle bearings to not operate properly resulting in more difficult turning of the steering. I lubricate the joint at times. I believe the "upper steering shaft" should be included in a recall due to corrosion effecting the parts due to design not sufficient to prevent contaminates from entering the steering U joints. The "exhaust heat shield" was deteriorated due to corrosion of the mounting holes used to secure the shield to the exhaust manifold mounting bolts.

- Richfield , PA, USA

I was approaching a stop sign and I made a complete stop as I pulled forward and attempted to make a right turn my steering failed completely. I had no control what so ever to turn left or right. With further inspection it was the lower heavy duty bluish green bearing that was no longer connected to the upper shaft inside my steering column.

- Ft.Riley, KS, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, he attempted to make a right turn but the power steering assist failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,000.

- Fort Religh , KS, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and after completing a left turn, the steering wheel seized without warning. In addition, the contact stated that low beam headlights intermittently failed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the exhaust manifold heat shield and the light control module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000 and the current mileage was 60,000...updated 05/20/14 the consumer stated the steering wheel did not seize. It became difficult to turn when going around corners. Updated 05/28/2014

- Roselle, IL, USA

Turning corner and steering all of a sudden binds up. Told its a ujoint problem that Ford should get on top of before somebody gets hurt. Mines not the only one with this problem that I've met.

- Brighton, MI, USA

On multiple drives steering became difficult and not responsive. The problem was more pronounced at slower speeds. The steering linkage assy. Had to be replaced at considerable expense.

- Medford, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and after completing a left turn, the steering wheel seized. The failure recurred numerous times. The VIN was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 36,000.

- Coraoplois, PA, USA

Steering started feeling stiff while on a long road trip when I went to change lanes. When I returned home I parked it for a month. Had a few people look at it and they found nothing wrong. Drove it on another long trip and it slowly became worse. Felt like the car was floating opposite my steer or delaying the direction I would steer.felt like it was catching on something or being block from movement. Had it looked at again fluids check, rac checked, pump check, greased up. Let it sit again for sometime then took it down the street and steering would not turn. Had no control almost caused a serious accident it took bruet force to save us. Had it looked at again and he said the steering rod looks strange in movement nothing he has ever seen before and that the arm it self looks bent. I now have a car I can not drive and no one can fix because they don't know what to fix. I can't even sell it knowing someone could die.

- North Canton, OH, USA