NHTSA Complaint #10260825 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LOW-PRESSURE LINE CONTRIBUTED TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. THE DEALER DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V457000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT PERFORMED DUE TO THE UNAVAILABILITY OF THE PART REQUIRED FOR THE REPAIR. THERE IS A MASSIVE NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON THE PART AND THE CONTACT WAS PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.