2000 FORD EXPEDITION Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to prevent oversteering. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the steering shaft. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred because the aftermarket replacement part was too short. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 315,000.

I WAS DRIVING THE DOWN THE STREET GOING TO WAL-MART ON PENDLETON PIKE IN INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA THE CAR SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN. I SHIFTED IT BACK IN GEAR DROVE ON TO WAL-MART THEN TO WENT TO ALDIS. WHEN I CAME OUT OF ALDIS ALSO ON PENDLETON PIKE THE CAR WOULDN'T COME OUT OF PARK WITHOUT KEY BEING IN ACC POSITION FOOT ON BRAKE AND PLAYING WITH GEARSHIT FOR APPROX 15 MINS IT WAS LOCKED. THEN THE POWER WINDOWS ALSO WENT OUT IN THE SAME TIME THAT THIS ALL HAPPENED. NOW MY CAR WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR WITHOUT MESSING WITH GEARSHIFT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND MESSING WITH IGNITION SWITCH MUTIPLE TIMES BEFORE I CAN GET CAR INTO MOTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VEERED INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND NEARLY CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MOVED TO THE SHOULDER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVE SHAFT ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSFER CASE, SHAFT LINKAGE AND OXYGEN SENSORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.

2000 FORD EXPEDITION, WHILE DRIVING STEERING WENT OUT. *BF THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A CEMENT WALL. OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT # 10-0688-91. *JB UPDATED 04/14/10 *BF

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A PARKED CAR. THE CONSUMER THEN STEERED TO THE LEFT BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND HIT MORE PARKED CARS. THE RIGHT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WENT OUT. *AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND WOULD START TO TURN STEERING WHEEL EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT, IT WOULD ALMOST BECOME FREE WHEELING. THIS CAUSE THE DRIVER TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE STEERING WHEEL CHECKED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. *NLM

AT HIGH SPEED, ON LONG SUSTAINED, STEEP GRADES 5-7%, AT HIGH RPM, THE STEERING LOCKS UP FOR 2-10 SECONDS. THE STEERING MAKES A NOISE AND THEN BREAKS FREE. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES AND THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND CAN NOT REPRODUCE THIS EVENT. EVERY TIME I DRIVE INTO THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS THIS PROBLEMS RECURS. THIS PROBLEM NEVER SHOWS UP ON FLAT TERRAIN. THIS PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE HAS INDICATED TO ME THAT 5 OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN BUT THAT NO ONE HAS EVER REPRODUCED THE PROBLEM. *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769312

CONSUMER STATES UNDER RAINY CONDITION THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP, CONSUMER WENT INTO A SPIN AND HIT A WALL. CONSUMER STATES STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

WHEN APPLYING TENSION STEERING AND GOING AROUND A CURVE, TENSION IN WHEEL BROKE FREE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK INTO DIRECTION OF THE TURN.COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

A SEVERE OVERSENSITIVE STEERING WHEEL, HARDER TO CONTROL WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

STEERING BECAME HEAVY, PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE, TIRE WAS BULGING ALL AROUND SIDEWALL. LIMPED ALONG SHOULDER AT 2 OR 3 MPH AND 50 TARDS LATER, TIRE EXPLODED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2T6 TIRE SIZE: P265/70/17 )