NHTSA Complaint #746259 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING SLIGHTLY AT LOW SPEED ON 5/23/01. I ENTERED A FREEWAY AND JUST AS I WAS APPROACHING 70 MPH, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT I NEARLY LOST CONTROL. STARTED TO PULL OFF ROAD, BUT SHAKING ABATED. TOOK VEH TO DEALER & AFTER ROAD TEST & INSP. WAS TOLD THAT AIR BUBBLES HAD FORMED IN THE STEERING SYS., THAT CERTAIN EXPLORERS WERE KNOWN TO DEVELOP THIS DEFECT AFTER VARYING MILEAGES, AND THAT FORD SAYS THIS PROBLEM IS A "NO FIX" AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. DEALER ALSO SD THAT THEY HAD REPLACED ENTIRE RACK & PINION SYSTEMS ON EXPLORERS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT ON SHAKING. HEARD THIS A.M. THAT FIRESTONE IS ACCUSING FORD OF COVERING UP STEERING DEFECTS THAT CONTRIB. TO EXPLORERS ROLLING; IT RANG A BELL & THOUGHT YOU FOLKS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE... WILL MAKE MY VEH. AVAIL. FOR INSP., SHOULD YOU FOLKS OR MFR. WANT TO.