NHTSA Complaint #10185540 — 1997 EAGLE VISION

SATURDAY MARCH 17TH AFTER DRIVING TO WORK, I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE. SUDDENLY, AS I WAS TURNING THE WHEEL, THE CAR BEGAN GOING STRAIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING! LUCKELY, NO ONE WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND I MANAGED TO PUT ON THE BRAKES BEFORE I HIT SOMETHING. I FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER WORKED! ADDITIONALLY, BOTH FRONT TIRES NOW MOVED COMPLETELY INDEPENDANT OF EACH OTHER (ONE WOULD STAY STRAIGHT WHILE THE OTHER COULD VEER TO THE RIGHT!!) THIS MADE EVEN GETTING THE CAR UP ON A TOW BED ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE (ONE PERSON ON EACH SIDE MANHANDLING THE WHEELS TO GET IT TO ROLL UP STRAIGHT!) UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT BOTH THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE TIE-RODS TO THE STEERING RACK HAD SUDDENLY SHEERED OFF, LEAVING BOTH TIE-RODS LOOSE AND DANGLING!! PRIOR TO THIS, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY LOOSENESS OR SLOP IN THE STEERING, NOR DID I DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN ANY WAY THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED ANY UNUSUAL FORCE TO BE EXERTED ON THE FRONT WHEELS. I HAD JUST FINISHED DRIVING 50-55MPH ON THE 2-LANE OREGON COAST HWY, A SCENIC BUT DANGEROUS STRETCH OF ROAD. IF THE BOLTS HAD GIVEN OUT 10 MINUTES EARLIER, I WOULD SURELY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT, OR MORE LIKELY KILLED! THIS MY CAR THAT I USE FOR WORK, AND WILL HAVE TO REPAIR IT, BUT HONESTLY...I'M REALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE IT!!