NHTSA Complaint #716875 — 1998 FORD WINDSTAR

VAN STARTED TO MAKE LOUD GRINDING NOISES WHEN TURNING WHEELS AND ALSO GETTING HARD TO TURN. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT. THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VAN. AS I WAS LEAVING I SPOKE TO ANOTHER EMPLOYEE THERE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS SUCH A PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR VAN. I THEN REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM I THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING AND THE PRICE TO FIX IT WAS ABOUT 1000.00 I WAS NOT ABLE TO AFFORD IT SO I HAVE DRIVING IT , HOWEVER NOW THE VAN WILL SOMETIMES SHUT OFF WHEN YOU PROCEED TO MAKE A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. I HAVE COME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE IT FIXED AT OUR EXPENSE. I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT CAME FROM THE FORD MOTOR CO. I ALSO TOOK IT TODAY 1-4-2000 TO SEE IF THE DEALER WOULD LOOK AT IT BUT WAS TOLD BY A MAN NAMED JERRY IN THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING .*AK