NHTSA Complaint #727901 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

HAVE PROBLEM WITH A SLOPPY / LOOSE STEERING THAT WONDERS AND HAS 2 TO 3 INCHES OF PLAY. THE ORIGINAL STEERING AND THE 3RD WHICH WAS A TEMPORARY STEERING DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT ALL OF THE NEW STEERING DID. THIS PLAY / SLOPPY STEERING HAS ALMOST CAUSED MY WIFE WITH KIDS TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICAL. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME . THE STEERING IS PULLED BY THE ROAD DIFFERENCES AND THE WIND AND YOU MUST CONSTANTLY CORRECT THE STEERING TO STAY STRAIGHT. THE ORIGINAL DEALER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL STEERING WITH A NEW ONE. THE NEXT FEW WHERE REPLACED BY A NEW DEALER IN ANOTHER STATE. THE NEW STEERING HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THE TEMPORARY STEERING THAT WAS PUT IN WAS FINE. THE NEXT 2 WENT BACK TO THE LOOSE / SLOPPY STEERING AGAIN. THE NEW DEALER( HERITAGE FORD) WILL NO LONGER REPLACE THE RACK BECAUSE HE IS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SENT IT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER WHO STATED THAT WE SHOUILD TRY ANOTHER DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND IT. I JUST WANT IT CORRECTED SO IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *AK