Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Aug 30, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 375 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Steering
Filed Aug 30, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. SHE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO RESTART IMMEDIATELY. SHE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS DARK COLORED AND LEAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE DRAINED AND MORE TESTS WERE NEEDED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 176,432. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB
NHTSA ID
10201213
Incident
Aug 27, 2007
Mileage
176,432 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 7, 2005
DT: CONSUMER TOOK 1998 FORD ESCORT FOR A OIL CHANGE ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005. THE MECHANIC FOUND BOTH REAR COILS SPRINGS BROKE. THE REAR STRUTS WERE DAMAGED, AND THE LEFT FRONT TIE ROD WAS BROKEN. THE MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE AT TIME OF SERVICE WAS 71, 127 MILES. THE CONSUMER USED THE CAR FOR SHOPPING AND PLEASURE WITH NO HARD DRIVING AT HER AGE. SHE WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THIS WAS COMMON FOR THE 1997 AND 1998 FORD ESCORTS. I HAD OTHER FORD ESCORTS PRIOR TO THIS ONE AND I HAD NO PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM COST THE CONSUMER $732. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER. HAD NO ACCIDENTS. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE DRIVES MUCH BETTER AND IS QUIETER SINCE HAD THE PROBLEMS FIXED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10138999
Incident
Sep 30, 2005
Steering
Filed Aug 18, 2004
I TOOK MY 1998 FORD ESCORT TO GAGNE FORD IN PRINCETON, WISCONSIN, TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE TIE RODS. "OUTER TIE ROD ENDS. RIGHT OUTER IS LOOSE. LEFT OUTER IS SIEZED." SINCE THERE IS ONLY 23,200 MILES ON THE CAR, I CHECKED FOR RECALLS. ARE PEOPLE JUST HAVING THIS REPAIR DONE AND NOT REPORTING IT? DO I REALLY NEED THIS WORK DONE?
NHTSA ID
10088160
Incident
Aug 16, 2004
Mileage
23,200 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Feb 27, 2003
I READ THAT THAT NHTSA CONDUCTED A STUDY ON TIE ROD END FAILURE IN FORD CARS AT SOME POINT. I HAVE JUST HAD TWO SETS OF TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED ON MY FORD ESCORT (98 MODEL YEAR) WITHIN A SPAN OF A YEAR AND A HALF. IF YOU ARE STILL COLLECTING DATA FOR THIS ISSUE, I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT MY CASE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10008182
Incident
Feb 27, 2003
Steering
Filed Feb 13, 2003
THE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED.*JB
NHTSA ID
10007335
Mileage
75,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 15, 2002
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING SHE THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE . AFTER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE STEERING RODS WERE MISSING. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR
NHTSA ID
8020798
Steering
Filed Oct 10, 2002
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM FAILURE CAUSING TO LOST THE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
NHTSA ID
8020633
ElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 8, 2002
WHILE DRIVING HIT THE HORN AND IT STUCK. HAD TO UNPLUG FUSE TO CUT HORN OFF. DEALER CONTACTED. TARGO SWITCH INSIDE STEERING WHEEL PAD BROKE.*AK
NHTSA ID
8015874
Incident
Aug 5, 2002
Steering
Filed Apr 18, 2002
CONSUMER STATES FRONT TIE ROD END ON BOTH SIDE WORE EXCESSESIVELY. NLM
NHTSA ID
8007964
Incident
Mar 2, 2002
AirbagsSteering
Filed Aug 7, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN WET CONDITIONS DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND RAN INTO A TREE HEAD ON ,DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO APPLY BRAKES , DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING HEAD INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ID
867004
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Nov 9, 1999
LEASED VEHICLE: WHILE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIRS SHOP. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THATE DRIVESHAFT BUSHING WAS DETERIORATING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.ALSO, DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK BUSHING *AK
NHTSA ID
850530
Incident
Oct 11, 1999
Steering
Filed Oct 6, 1999
STEERING COLUMN COUPLING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
NHTSA ID
850118
Incident
Oct 6, 1999
Steering
Filed Jun 30, 1999
NUTS THAT HOLD CLAMPS WHICH HOLD POWER STEERING UNIT HAVE COME OFF, CAUSING POWER STEERING TO BECOME LOOSE, AND WOULD NOT RETURN BACK TO THE CENTER. *AK
NHTSA ID
841503
Steering
Filed Jan 22, 1999
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OR TURNING, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WOULD HAVE NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO A SLIDE. CAN TURN VEHICLE OFF & RESTART IT & STEERING WHEEL WOULD WORK JUST FINE. HAS TAKEN TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK & PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER & NOTHING WAS DONE. CLAIMS IMAGINATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT TIMES SO FAR. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
833961
Incident
Sep 14, 1998
Steering
Filed May 19, 1998
1 injury reported
STEERING COLUMN LOCKED CAUSING A VEHICLE COLLISION.
NHTSA ID
535704
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
Steering
Filed Apr 27, 1998
2 injuries reported
DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT, LOST CONTROL, OVERCORRECTED, AND HIT A GUARDRAIL ON LEFT SIDE OF ROAD, BECAME AIRBORN AND FLEW 60 FEET OVER CREEK. TWO WERE INJURED, AND VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.
NHTSA ID
534904
Incident
Apr 4, 1998
Steering
Filed Apr 6, 1998
2 injuries reported
VEHICLE ROUNDED A TURN AND LOST CONTROL. FIRST IT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND THEN TO THE LEFT, RESULTING IN A COLLISION AND INJURIES. IN ADDITION, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA ID
533890
Incident
Apr 3, 1998
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own