1997 FORD EXPEDITION Steering Problems

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel became loosened while making a left turn. The contact stated that the "Check Suspension" and "Check ABS" messages were displayed on the instrument panel along with the oil, brake, and battery warning lights being illuminated. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the part needed to repair the steering wheel was no longer in stock. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided the same information as from the dealer. The contact also stated that moisture had begun to leak from the sunroof. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.

STEERING IS EXTREMELY OVERACTIVE AND SEEMS TWITCHING, MEANING AT LOW SPEED OR AT HIGH RATE OF TRAVEL VERY SLIGHT MOVEMENTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE SUDDENLY, AND UNCONTROLLABLY, PREVIOUS OWNER WENT OFF HIGHWAY AND FELT UNSAFE IN VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I IMAGINE THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE VARIABLE ASSIST POWER STEERING BUT CANNOT FIND ANY DIAGNOSTIC AIDE IN RESOLUTION OF ISSUE.

TAKATA RECALL, MY STEERING IS BAD LIKE IM FISHTAILING ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN I HIT A BUMP IT PULLS TO ONE SIDE. THERES ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE AND HARD TO KEEP ON ROAD, I CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS TO SEE IF IT WAS UNDER RECALL AND THEY SAID NOT MY VIN WAS INCLUDED. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE O/D LIGHT BLINKING. MY TRANSMISSION SHIFT GREAT UNTIL THE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING.I THINK IT IS A BAD CRUISE CONTROL SENSOR. I READ WHERE A LOT OF THOSE SHORTED OUT AND STARTED FIRES.

THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE IS LOOSE AND WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD CONTACTED A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME WHERE STEERING SHAFT SLIDES TOGETHER IS REALLY LOOS AND STEERING SHAFT NEEDS REPLACED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN EXCESS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V196000 (STEERING), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BECOMING LOOSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V196000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND NOTICED CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE TIRES TURNED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

STEERING GETS HARD THEN CUTS LOOSE, STEERING COLUMN MOVES UP AND DOWN, SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SHAFT PROBLEM OR STEERING BOX ISSUE, SAW RECALL AND DEALER SAYS IT WAS NOT INCLUDED, SAME PROBLEM AS OTHERS, PLACES PEOPLE AT RISK AND SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING BOLT ON THE VEHICLE BROKE. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN IN NUMBER: 03V196000 (STEERING: GEAR BOX: SHAFT SECTOR), BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

THERE IS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT ROCKS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I AM A MECHANIC SO I REPLACED BOTH SHAFT BEARINGS BUT THIS DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. THE UPPER STEERING SHAFT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE YOKE IS WEARING OUT CAUSING THIS CONDITION. IF THE YOKE SHOULD SNAP THE ABILITY TO STEER WILL BE LOST AND CAN CAUSE DEATH. THIS IS A CRUCIAL AND CRITICAL STEERING COMPONENT THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. CAN YOU LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS THIS REPAIR WILL HAVE TO BE DONE ASAP. ALSO THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE RUSTED OUT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE HOLES IN THEM I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED AS WELL. THIS VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED, I HAVE DRIVEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES AND NEVER SEEN STEERING AND SUSPENSION PARTS WEAR...

WHILE TRYING TO PARK LOST POWER STEERING . DEALER REPLACED PITMAN ARM/STEERING ASSEMBLY/ INTERMEDIATE ARM/POWER STEERING GEAR BOX, AND RACK AND PINION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF, AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. *JB

PURCHASED USED EXPEDITION IN LATE FEB, 2003. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED EXTREMELY SENSITIVE STEERING. SLIGHT INPUT, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN RAIN OR WIND, CAUSED LARGE CHANGES IN VEHICLE DIRECTION. LOWER FRONT TIRE PRESSURE, NECONNECTING REAR STAB BAR, FE ALIGNMENT, AND NEW SHOCKS HAVE HELPED THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS STILL WAY TOUCHIER THAN IT SHOULD BE. FORD DEFINITELY HAS A PROBLEM BUILT INTO THIS VEHICLE MODEL. I HAVE OVER 40 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE IN ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES AND HAVE SEEN NOTHING LIKE THIS. I ASSUME IT IS INHERENT IN THE VARIABLE ASSIST POWER STEERING. *NLM

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY RIGHT FRONT STEERING ROD FELL OFF UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 20-30 MPH STEERING FROZE. CONSUMER HAD A VERY HARD TIME GETTING VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND CAUSE, STATED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER.*AK

THE STEERING SLIPS AND OVER STEERS, 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS HAVE CHECKED AND CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *ET

VEHICLE DESIGN IS TOP HEAVY WITH VERY SENSITIVE POWER STEERING, CREATING AN OVER STEERING PROBLEM, DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL IN ICE AND ROLL OVER OCCURRED.

WHILE EXITING A BUSY FREEWAY STEERING LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. ALSO ABS BRAKES FAILED, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON/OFF. *AK

MADE LEFT TURN FROM STOP. AS WEEL WAS CORRECTING ITSELF, VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND STEERING CONTROL WAS LOST. VEHICLE PULLED TO RIGHT THEN HIT AND JUMPED 9" CURB. STEERING ARM DOWN TO RIGHT FRONT TIRE IS BROKEN. STEERING MALFUNCTIONED BEFORE STRIKING CURB, BUT DAMAGE IS BEING BLAMED ON FACT THAT VEHICLE STRUCK CURB. BOTH TIRES HIT CURB AT VERY LOW SPEED.

STEERING IS VERY SENSITIVE, SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL.

STEERING IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE THAT SLIGHT MOVEMENT IN STEERING WHEEL COULD RESULT IN OVERSTEERING AND VEHICLE SWERVING /LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

SPEED SENSITIVE POWER STEERING SYSTEM, WHILE TOWING AND ENCOUNTERING CROSSWINDS AND SPEEDING TRUCKS, CAUSES SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN VEHICLE DIRECTION WHICH CAN EASILY DESTABILIZE THE TRAILER BEING TOWED.

TOO MUCH MOTION IN STEERING,TO MUCH POWER IN STEERING. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. SAID HAS TO WITH THE DESIGN OF THE VEHCILE. *AK

DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON A DRY STRAIGHT ROAD. THE VEHICLE ROLLED TWICE COMING TO REST UPSIDE DOWN ON HIGHWAY.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES OVERSENSITIVE STEERING. CAN MOVE WHEEL ABOUT 1/4 INCH AND THE VEHICLE MOVES OVER 2 LANES TOO QUICK. CAUSE UNKNOWN. **AK

GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT END ON FULL TURNS.