NHTSA Complaint #10355249 — 2008 FORD TAURUS X

DRIVING FOR WORK NOTICED WITH BACKING IN AND OUT OF DRIVEWAYS THAT STEERING WAS TIGHT. CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS FINE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST NEEDING NEW TIRES. DRIVING HOME AFTER PICKING MY CHILDREN UP FROM DAYCARE AND WENT TO TURN RIGHT ON A CURVE AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND STEERING VERY TIGHT WITH "THROBBING" FELT IN STEERING WHEEL. I DID NOT HAVE GOOD CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND NEEDED TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS TO MAKE THE CURVE. TOOK CAR IN AND WAS TOLD NEEDED NEW RACK AND PINION. CAR HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT. CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID NO PROBLEM REPORTED AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN AT ALL AND RAISES SOME SERIOUS CRASH AVERSION ISSUES AS WELL AS SOMETIMES WORKS FINE AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. I AM A VISITING NURSE AND HAVE TWO YOUNG BOYS AND THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS OVER $900 PLUS MORE IF THE P/S PUMP WAS ALSO DAMAGED. FORD HAS TSB OUT (WHICH THEY DENIED) AND SUPPOSEDLY THE NEW PART, THAT COST AT LEAST $200 MORE THAN AN AFTERMARKET, HAS TO COME FROM FORD BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THEY HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM WITH AN "IMPROVEMENT" TO THEIR RACK AND PINION SYSTEM AT THE COST OF THE CUSTOMER. *TR