Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford Expedition submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 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.
The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words
THE SHIFT LINKAGE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT WORK DUE TO SEVERAL KINKS IN THE CABLE. I CANT GET THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION DUE TO THIS NOR CAN I EVEN DRIVE MY VEHICLES BECAUSE IT WONT HO INTO GEAR. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME STOPPING AT A STORE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD TO LEAVE MY TRUCK IN THE PARKING LOT WITH THE KEYS ATUUCK IN OT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WHEN TURNING INTO PARKING LOT ENTRANCE AFTER COMPLETE STOP, THE STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME LOOSE AND I FELT A VIBRATION AND HEARD A SKIDDING NOISE FROM ONE TIRE. THE STEERING WAS LOOSE BUT RESPONSIVE WHILE I TURNED INTO A PARKING SPOT. AFTER THAT, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD HAD SEPARATED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER DISCARDED THE OLD PARTS. *NM
I RECEIVED AN UNUSUAL SAFETY BULLETIN FROM FORD WITH A DISCRIPTION OF HOW MECHANICS SHOULD INSPECT BALL JOINTS (STEERING LINKAGE). I SAID TO MYSELF THEN, WHEN I HAVE THIS INSPECTION PERFORMED, THE CAR WILL HAVE DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I WAS RIGHT. $594.45 FOR BALL JOINT REPLACEMENTS AT 47,271 MILES! BALL JOINTS SHOULD LAST 100,000 MILES OR MORE. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD REPLACE FOR FREE SINCE THEY INSTALLED DEFECTIVE PARTS ON NEW VEHICLES. DEFECTIVE STEERING LINKAGE IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD SUGGEST THEY DO A RECALL. THANK YOU.*AK
WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT IN SHOPPING CENTER WHEN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. BEFORE PULLING INTO THE SHOPPING CENTER HAD BEEN ON THE MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS STUCK IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AT SHOPPING CENTER UNTIL A TOW TRUCK COULD COME AND TOW THE CAR AWAY TO CAUSEWAY FORD IN MANAHAWKIN NEW JERSEY. UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON SIDE OF CAR THAT COLLAPSED AND ON THE OTHER SIDE WHEN DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE OTHER SIDE WAS BAD ALSO. ALSO NEED WHEEL ALIGNMENT CAM ADJUSTERS AND SPINDLE CLIP REPLACED AND FOUND INNER TIE ROD FAILED ON DRIVER SIDE. OLD PARTS WOULD BE AT CAUSEWAY FORD IN MANAHAWKIN, NJ.*AK
IN JUNE I PURCHASED MY EXPEDITION AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RUMBLING NOISE AND PULLING TO ONE SIDE AT A SPEED OF 55 ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER. I HAD TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER HE SAID THEY CHECKED IT OUT CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHILE TURNING IN TO A PARKING LOT IN SEPT. I HEARD A CRACK AND MY STEERING WAS NOT GOOD. I THOUGHT NOTHING SERIOUS ,WELL WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE I COULD NOT BACK UP MY FRONT WHEEL WAS DRAGGING RESULTS WAS A BROKEN TIE ROD. VERY LUCKY TO NOT BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 3 CHILDREN. THE FRONT END IS STILL MAKING THE NOISE IN WHICH DEALER SAID FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NOW THAT MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED ! IS THERE A RECALL ? *NM
I HAVE A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER, ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 13,2004 I WAS HAVING BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED ON MY TRUCK. THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED ME THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE TIE ROD END. HE SAID THAT THE BOLTS WERE BROKEN ON ONE SIDE AND MISSING ON THE OTHER. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS SURPRISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UPRIGHT AND THAT I HAD NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. MY VEHICLE HAS NOW BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 3 DAYS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC WHO IS FIXING THE PROBLEM STATED THAT I NEEDED TO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE TIE ROD END.*AK
WHILE DRIVING FRONT TIE ROD SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED A MINOR VEHICLE COLLISON, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND LOST STEERING CONTROL. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED IN. TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TIE ROD BROKE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK
THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TURNED OUTWARD AND FAILED TO MOVE. *JB IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIE ROD END FAILED.
WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE TIE ROD FELL OFF DUE TO CORROSION. *JB
LTR FWD FM EDGAR A. RANGEL (TX0) RE 1999 FORD EXPEDITION INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT ON 07/11/00 WHICH RESULTED IN ONE FATALITY AND ONE INJURY. *MR PH. 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND IT WAS NOTED THE VEHICLE HAD STEERING PROBLEMS, THE STEERING WAS OVER SENSITIVE, BUT WAS EXPLAINED AS A NORMAL SOUCRE OF THE TRUCK, THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE BELIEVED THE STEERING MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.*PH *JB
FAX FM EDGAR RANGEL (TX) RE FORD/FIRESTONE, HE WAS INJURED & HIS FRIEND ANGEL NAVARRETE WAS KILLED WHEN THEIR 1999 FORD EXPEDITION W/FIRESTONE TIRES ROLLED OVER DUE TO DEFECTIVE STEERING & TIRES. *MR THIS WAS A SERIOUS ROLLOVER INCIDENT IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RESPOND PROPERLY. *SCC. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE STEERING PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE ACCIDENT. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND IT WAS NOTED THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE POWER STEERING, BUT WAS EXPLAINED AS A NORMAL SOURCE OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
BROKEN LEFT SIDE TIE ROD RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL - PURE LUCK THAT NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED. *JB
IN NINE MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HIGH TENSIONER, THE OUTER STEERING TIE ROD ENDS, WHICH HAD FELL APART WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AND THE INNER TIE ROD ENDS. SCC *JB
THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A POPPING/RUMBLING NOISE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS REVERSED OR IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO HEAR A NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE RAPIDLY WEARING DOWN. THE CONSUMER HAD GONE TO SEVERAL FORD DEALERS AND RECEIVED DIFFERENT CONFLICTING DIAGNOSES FROM THE SEVERAL SERVICE AREAS OF DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS, CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A POSSIBLE DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE, ALSO THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR, DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCHES IN THE REAR, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE WHEN BACKING UP AND MAKING A TURN, DEALER LUBED THE STEERING, CONSUMER WAS ALOS INFORMED THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NEEDED.*SCC *CB
TRAVELING APPROX. 25 MILES PER HOUR, VEHICLE STEERING FAILED DUE TO BROKEN TIE ROD ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND BROKEN STABILIZER BAR ON DRIVER SIDE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT DEALERS TWICE IN PREVIOUS WEEK FOR ALL 4 TIRES TO BE BALANCED AND FOR STEERING VIBRATION. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 TO 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, AND VEHICLE FLIPPED 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, LEFT INNER TIE ROD END BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK *YH
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 11 2000 IN WHICH WE ROLLED OVER COUPLE OFF TIMES. WE HAD TAKEN THE EXPEDITION TO THE DEALERSHIP TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OUR COMPLAINT WAS THAT THE STEERING WAS TOO SOFT AND AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I LEARNED THAT THE DEALERS WERE INSTALLING ANOTHER GEAR BOX FOR THE STEERING MAKE THE STEEERING HARDER AND FIRMER ALSO THE 2000 HAD A NEW GEAR BOX. PLEASE MAIL ME A COMPLAINT FORM. THANKS. *AK (TIRESIZE: 16)
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING OUR 1999 EXPEDITION AT 40MPH NEAR MY HOME (RAMONA, CA),LEFT FRONT IDLER ARM SNAPPED CAUSING VIOLENT FRONT END SHAKING, VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A FREEWAY OR ANY HIGHER RATE OF SPEED MY HUSBAND AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE. WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE ROAD WE WERE TRAVELING HAD NO TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. THE ROAD WAS A RURAL BACK COUNTRY ROAD (VISTA RAMONA, NEAR HWY. 67.) RAMONA, CA. *AK
ON THE 5/21/01 ACCIDENT I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN OFF OF MY CUL A SAC ST AND JUST AS I TURNED THE WHEEL TO GO LEFT VEHICLE LOCKED UP TO THE RIGHT AND I COUND NOT GET IN TO UNLOCK WHICH CAUSED ME TO HIT A PARKED CAR, I BOUNCED OFF THE CAR 3 TIMES BEFORE MY TRUCK ROLLOED BACK AND STOPPED.THE POLICE OFFICER TRIED TO TURN THE WHEELS WITH THE TRUCK ON AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO, ALL FLUIDS RELEASED FROM THE TRUCK. I WAS INJURED IN MY BACK/NECK/SPINE, AND BURN MARKS ON MY RT HAND FROM TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED WITHIN 15 FT.ON THE POLICE REPORT IT STATES THAT THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP BUT DUE TO NO WITNESSES HE CAN'T PROVE THIS. BODYSHOP SAID THE GEAR BOX AND ALL THE GEARS ARE DESTROYED AND BECAUSE OF IT LOCKING UP TO THE RIGHT WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT IT LOOKS LIKE THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP ALSO. FORD WILL NOT COMMENT ON MY SITUATION AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO TO PROTECT MYSELF IF THIS IS A DEFECT PROBLEM. ON THE TRANSMISSION, I TOOK IT TO FORD AND TOLD THEM MY TRUCK WAS SLIPPING AND HAVING PROBLEMS AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND FIXED SOME ENGINE PROBLEMS. I HAVE SO MANY THINGS GO WRONG ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE 1999 I'M AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE IT ONCE IT IS FIXED. I"M NOT SURE IT IS SAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF YOU CAN OR LET ME KNOW WHAT YOUR PROCESS IS ON THIS COMPLAINT. *AK
WHENEVER STEERING WAS TURNED, IT WOULD MAKE A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. THIS MADE VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL SOMETIMES. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES. EACH TIME MECHANIC WOULD TEST VEHICLE, BUT WOULD NOT HEAR THUMPING NOISE.*AK
REAR DRIVESHAFT REPLACED. *SLC
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY WHILE RAINING, HE SWITCHED INTO ANOTHER LANE, AND VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. VEHICLE HAD SKIDDED INTO A ENBANKMENT AND ROLLED TWICE OR MORE. THERE WERE INJURIES AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. AFTER LOOKING AT PICTURES TAKEN OF THE VEHICLE AFTER ACCIDENT IT WAS NOTED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS DAMAGED. IT IS UNCERTAIN IF THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL OR WAS THE RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE TIRES IN QUESTION WAS A REPLACEMENT TIRE A B.F. GOODRICH, REPLACED JUNE 3, 2000 BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES HAD DEVELOPED A DEFECT. *AK *MJS
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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