NHTSA Complaint #10142989 — 2000 FORD RANGER

I OWN A 2000 YEAR MODEL FORD RANGER, AND FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WOULD HANG AND THEN POP WHEN I WAS TURNING TO THE RIGHT. I WOULDN'T DO IT IF TURNING THE OTHER DIRECTION. I SEEMED TO GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND FINALLY I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO FIX. HE CHANGED THE RACK AND PINION AND INFORMED ME THAT THE FORD RACK AND PINION HAD A REVISED DESIGN TWICE. FOR THIS REASON I HAD A FORD MOTORCRAFT PART INSTALLED RATHER THAN AN AFTERMARKET PART. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE VERY NEXT DAY AFTER HE FIXED MY TRUCK, ANOTHER RANGER OF THE SAME YEAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WORSE, BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS TOTALLY LOCKED IN PLACE AND WOULDN'T TURN. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A RECALL TO COME OUT, BECAUSE THIS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. SO NOW I FEEL I MUST FILE A COMPLAINT. ALSO, THERE MUST BE A RECURRING PROBLEM IF FORD HAS REPLACED THE ORIGINAL RACK AND PINION DESIGN WITH A NEW DESIGN. *JB