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.
24
Latest Oct 17, 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.
2%
of 1,207 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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
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 1994 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 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
SteeringSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Oct 17, 2007
I WAS BROWSING FOR A USED CAR AND CAME ON AN ADD SELLING CARS I HAD NO VEHICLE I ASKED IF THEY CAN PICK ME UP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CLINTON FERRY. THEY SAID YES THEY WILL PICK ME UP. SO CHECKED OUT THEIR INVENTORY. I PICKED A 1994 FORD EXPLORER LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE BODY, TIRES NEEDED CHANGING, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS DAMAGE, AND REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS GONE. I ACCEPTED THESE AND ASKED FOR A TEST RIDE PROCEEDED OFF THE LOT THERE WAS NO GAS MAKING A TEST DRIVE SHORT. IT WAS AS IF THEY RUSHED ME THROUGH THE DEAL NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. RETURNING HOME IS WHEN I BEGAN RUNNING INTO PROBLEMS THAT WERE SAFETY ISSUES. THE RPMS HAD GONE TO THE LIMITS OF SAFE OPERATION EXCEEDING 6,000 RPMS AND NOT SHIFTING TO A HIRE GEAR MAKING THE MOTOR SCREEN NEARLY EXPLODING THE MOTOR THIS IS CONSISTENT EVERY TIME YOU OPERATE. SO DROVE HOME WITH THIS PROBLEM. I ACCELERATED AND THEN LET OFF THE GAS AND IT THEN SHIFTED UP. I GAVE IT THE GAS IT SCREAMED AND I LET OFF THE GAS AND IT SHIFTED INTO THE HIGHER GEAR I ALSO HAVE STEERING PROBLEMS IT PULLS TO THE LEFT PULLING ME INTO ON GOING TRAFFIC, SHIMMIES AND THE TIE RODS CONNECTED TO THE STEERING HAD SOME PLAY IN THEM. SO WHEN I TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT I HAD NO STEERING UNTIL IT GOT TO CERTAIN POINT WHERE IT STEERED. THE VEHICLE FLOATS LIKE A BOAT A STRUT PROBLEM. NOW WHEN I WENT TO ESTIMATES FOR THE REPAIRS ITS PARTS AND LABOR CAME TOO ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT I PAID FOR THE TRUCK APPROXIMATELY 4,400.00. SO NOW I HAVE THIS TRUCK I REFUSE TO DRIVE. I TOLD THEM TO COME AND GET IT AND NO WAY WAS I GOING TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE TRUCK SO IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY. I REFUSE TO PAY THEM ANY MONEY. THEY HAVEN'T CALLED ME, NOR MADE ANY DEAL.
NHTSA ID
10206124
Incident
Sep 27, 2007
Mileage
99,999 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 18, 2002
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL. IN DOING SO POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT, AND CONSUMER CAN NO LONGER CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
NHTSA ID
8018940
Incident
Sep 18, 2002
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 13, 2001
IGNITION TURNS OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON I-95. ALSO OCCURS AT SLOW SPEEDS. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES STOP WORKING WITHOUT POWER, MAKING MANEUVERING DIFFICULT. AFTER 10 MINUTES, WILL RESTART. FORD CORP. OFFICE HAS NO RECORD OF PROBLEM, YET IS SETTLING 5 STATE LAWSUIT ACCORDING TO TODAYS NEWSPAPER.*AK
NHTSA ID
750291
Incident
Aug 10, 2001
Steering
Filed Jun 6, 2001
THE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE CURB. I BACKED UP ABOUT TWO (2) FEET , PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL LEFT INTO THE STREET AND IT WOULD NOT TURN THE WHEELS. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN BY FLATBED TRUCK TO WAYMAN FORD 1713 SPRINGFIELD AVE MAPLEWOOD NJ 973 275 0965. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK
NHTSA ID
746494
Incident
May 10, 2001
Steering
Filed Apr 2, 2001
SPINDLE ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL IS BROKEN. *AK
NHTSA ID
884846
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Steering
Filed Dec 21, 2000
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 5 MPH WHEEL BROKE AT SPINDLE, AND ROLLED PAST VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
876866
Incident
Dec 18, 2000
SteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 10, 2000
FRONT RADIUS ARM BUSHING WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED CAR TO NOT STEER PROPERLY, AND MAKES A SQUEALING NOISE.*AK
NHTSA ID
872612
Incident
May 29, 2000
Steering
Filed Aug 3, 2000
BOLTS ON THE STEERING GEAR BROKE. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHEN BOLTS BROKE. ALSO, NOTICED LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING. HAD OVER COMPENSATED WHILE STEERING. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER INFORMED OF PROBLEMS. MECHANIC INDICATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE. HAD THE PARTS. *AK
NHTSA ID
866749
Incident
Jun 11, 2000
SteeringSuspensionTransmission
Filed Apr 4, 2000
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE IT WASN'T SHIFTING. DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAS 70,000 MILES ON TRUCK, AND IT WAS SERVICED ON TIME. ALSO TOLD THAT THE TRUCK NEEDE NEW SHOCKS, BALL JOINTS, AND TIE-RODS. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF-ROAD OR IN A HARSH MANNER. *AK
NHTSA ID
859660
Incident
Mar 29, 2000
Steering
Filed Jan 19, 1999
Crash reported
SHAFT BROKE, ALL STEERING LOST, CAUSE ACCIDENT, LOW SPEED FEW OBSTACLES AVOIDED SERIOUS DAMAGE & INJURY - FORD MOTOR COMPANY NO HELP!
NHTSA ID
702375
Incident
Dec 31, 1998
BrakesEngineFuel system+5 more
Filed Aug 19, 1998
HEAD GASKET FAILED.
NHTSA ID
539023
Incident
Jul 13, 1998
Steering
Filed Dec 17, 1997
BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE STEERNG BOX TO THE FRAME BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
NHTSA ID
526794
Incident
Nov 21, 1997
Body & structureElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 13, 1997
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE FUSES WENT OUT, THE RADIO WENT OUT, AND THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE REAR HATCH MOUNT BROKE OFF AND AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ID
809947
Incident
Mar 1, 1994
BrakesSteering
Filed Sep 18, 1996
FAILURE OF THE BRAKES, ABS BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, WHEELS LOCKED UP, EA96-017. *AK CONSUMER STATES THIS IS NOT HIS COMPLAINT, HIS COMPLAINT WAS REGARDING A 1988 DODGE CARAVAN BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE. *SLC
NHTSA ID
801218
Incident
Mar 15, 1996
Steering
Filed Jul 10, 1996
DRIVER TIRE ROD BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
986673
Incident
Jul 8, 1996
Steering
Filed May 14, 1996
NOTICEABLE BURNING SMELL COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL. *AK
NHTSA ID
984441
Incident
Mar 14, 1996
Steering
Filed Feb 29, 1996
STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SPIN RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK
NHTSA ID
979905
Incident
Feb 8, 1996
Steering
Filed Feb 13, 1996
WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT RETURN TO ORIGINAL POSITION. TT
NHTSA ID
979144
Incident
Dec 1, 1995
BrakesSteeringVisibility
Filed Feb 8, 1996
POWER STEERING FLUID LOST DUE TO NO THREAD ON RETURN LINE, CAUSING LEAK. *SD
NHTSA ID
502332
Incident
Feb 8, 1996
Steering
Filed Oct 11, 1995
FRONT END SHIMMIES WHEN DRIVING OVER A DEPRESSION IN THE ROAD WHILE MAKING A TURN, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. *DSH
NHTSA ID
488957
Incident
Oct 1, 1993
Steering
Filed Jun 21, 1995
PURCHASE CAR NEW AT 9,000 MILES THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEED TO BE REPAIR . TT
NHTSA ID
967578
Steering
Filed Mar 17, 1995
UPON HITTING A POT HOLE, STEERING LINKAGE COLLAPSED, RESULTING IN UNCONTROLABLE DRIVING. TT
NHTSA ID
962154
Incident
Nov 14, 1994
Steering
Filed Jan 30, 1995
Crash reported3 injuries reported
BROKEN STEERING BEARINGS CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURIES. *DH
NHTSA ID
480100
Incident
Jan 1, 1995
Steering
Filed Jan 27, 1995
Crash reported
APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH WHILE GOING AROUND CURB, STEERING LOCKED. DRIVER COULDN'T TURN AND RAN OFF ROAD ROLLING OVER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA ID
959342
Incident
Dec 18, 1994
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