10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 8,107 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Vehicle loses power steering after driving through standing water. Serpentine belt squeals for about 20 seconds and when the noise stops the steering power is restored.
- Ennis, TX, USA
The transmission range selector (also called park/neutral start switch) shorts internally and causes the variably assisted steering to malfunction (stop assisting entirely). Date of incident may not be exact. While turning right at low speed into an alley power steering failed momentarily causing front wheel to jump the opposite curb onto the sidewalk and damage wheel cover. Tsb # 96255 may describe problem, but I'm not sure. Ford dealership pulled up a report on this for me. Report states that the transmission range selector may short internally and cause the power steering assist to be reduced (eliminated), power windows to fail, and stereo to temporarily fail. This problem is intermittent and sporadic, but since the steering is adversely affected this problem constitutes a clear safety hazard. I feel that I was lucky as there was nobody/nothing to hit and that all I had damaged was a wheel cover.
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Consumer states that the power steering will not turn on or off and consumer is unable to steer or turn. Dealer notified
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
My car has been at the Ford place in monroeville, al and it is still not fixed as far as the transmission and the power steering.
- Vredenburgh, AL, USA
This failure is a safety hazard. While driving the power steering stops working at random, the electric windows quit working, and the seat belt light comes on! they all appear to be related to this mlp/TR switch. I searched the internet and found 4 other occurrences that were reported. When I call the local Ford service garage, the service manager knew exactly what my problem was and sold me the sensor switch. He was aware that the power steering stops working when these symptoms occur. I experienced the power steering failing on a turn and had much trouble controlling the car. I'm worried that my daughter would not have been able to control the car.
- Kirkwood, MO, USA
Power steering turns off in rain, and Ford tells us there is nothing they can do.
- Charleston, SC, USA
Vehicle loses power steering if right wheel splashes water onto serpintine belt. It only happens if right wheel goes through a water puddle and splashes water onto the serpintine belt. Consumer has had the problem happen 3times before. Problem has been repaired currently. Consumer please add VIN# and mileage to form.
- Forthworth, TX, USA
Freeze plugs blew out without warning at 65 mph on interstate hwy; temp gauge within normal range and "check engine" light did not come on until engine died. Required head gasket job as well as repair of freeze plugs. Temporary loss of power steering when turning corners on wet streets. Windshield fogs over completely when defrost/defog is turned on before it clears. Temporary loss of vision through windshield resulting in extremely hazardous driving conditions...
- Georgetown, TX, USA
When trying to make a right turn power steering will quit working on rainy days when I go through puddles of rain on right wheel. Then, start working again after a few minutes.
- Miami, FL, USA
No summary listed for above vehicle.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
I had an accident on 01/14/00 due to my car cutting off. I was turning when there was water on the street. I made a right hand turn and the right side went through water. My car made some high pitch noise and the lights on the dashboard all lit up and the car shut off. I had no control over my car and ran off of the road in a ditch. I didn't get hurt. My front bumper was damaged. I am very scared driving this car when it rains or when there's water on the street. This is clearly a safety hazzard. I told jerry's Ford about the problem. I even contacted the Ford dispute board and told them about the numerous times the car had cut off, they told me that when it happens again, take it directly to the dealership. Please look into this safety hazzard before someone else has an accident or dies.
- Falls Church, VA, USA
I had an accident due to my car cutting off. I was turning when there was water on the street. I made a right hand turn and the right side went through the water. My car made some high pitch noise and the lights on the dashboard all lit up and the car shut off. I had no control over my car and ran off the road in a ditch. I didn't get hurt. My front bumper was damaged. I am very scared driving this car when it rains or water is on the street. This is clearly a safety hazzard. I told jerry's Ford about the problem a few months ago. Jerry's Ford said they couldn't duplicate the problem. I even contacted the Ford dispute board and told them about the numerous times the car had cut off, they told me that when it happens again, take it directly to the dealership. Please look into this safety hazzard before someone else has an accident or dies.
- Falls Church, VA, USA
First incident driving under wet roads every time the vehicle ran a puddle of water the car stalls battery light comes on, very little or no steering can be done.
- Plainfield, CT, USA
Says in my report that fins were missing on shaft of water pump.
- Zanesville, OH, USA
Every time it rains the power steering goes out and the engine begins to die
- Mesquite, TX, USA
Moan or groan when returning steering from full right hand turn.
- Harrisville, UT, USA
The power steering unit has not actually failed. What happens is that after making a right hand turn a large groaning noise is made when truning the steering wheel back to the straight ahead position. Ford has issued numerous servic bulletins on this problem starting back in 1996 and want to charge a substantial amount of money to correct the problem. I feel that since this deals with the steering unit there is a safety issue involved and they should correct this problem on all their vehicles at no cost to the owneres.
- St. Simons Island, GA, USA
Consumer was driving at approximately 45 mph and was making a sharp turn at the outer part of curve, automatic steering control became inoperative, causing loss of steering control, almost resulting in accident.
- Raleigh, NC, USA
While driving power steering has frozen up, making steering hard to control, and it doesn't retract on its own. Dealer has been contacted.
- Knoxville, TN, USA
- Cahokia, IL, USA