2004 Ford Explorer Steering Problems

On two incidents this week when steering wheel is cut to maximum left or right in tight parking lot and narrow road while making tight turns at legal speeds the engine (V8 4.6L) stalls. Brought to non-Ford mechanic for inspection(NYS ANNUAL) and passes but mechanic looked for a power steering pressure sending sensor or switch that is to give signal to EMC to increase idle to compensate for more power steer demands. Part is $35 at Partgeek but mechanics dont know where the harness the sending switch is located, if one exists or is it in power steering pump. Call Ford NADA! Call two local Ford dealers. One says dont work on cars 15 years old, other says go to liabary to get diagrams, Ford says obsolete parts in 10 years.Bummer! Husband ordered 8/10/20 New 2021 Bronco. Pushed into 2022 due to supply chain. Found out Bronco built at MAP same as Ranger, will not get stronger 10r80 transmission,but Explorer 10r60, 25% weaker ; and gets Explorer 2.3L EgoBoost non- Ranger improved 4×4 engine , although they say same transmission and improved engine as Ranger in ads. Ford Buit Tought? MY2022! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ISDUE. NO BRAKING NOR STEERING WHEN SENSON IN POWER STEERING STALLS 4.6L ENGINE. Cannot apply gas and brake to keep from stalling when making sharp turns. I am 75 years old and with COPD. Serpertine belt replace before incidents.

NHTSA ID

11440207

Incident

Nov 4, 2021

MY STEERING COLUMN BROKE RIGHT OFF! TRYING TO PUT IT IN DRIVE @99,735 MI. HAD TO TOW IT TO SHOP, AND REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. I SEE OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS!!! I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION @ 103,000 MILES IT WOULD SKIP 3RD GEAR. SEEMS EVERYONE ELSE HAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO BACK BEARINGS!! WHAT A DISGRACE. RECALL THIS DISGRACEFUL WORKMANSHIP! NO HONOR!

NHTSA ID

11221524

Incident

Aug 24, 2017

Mileage

99,735 mi

IN 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH V8, THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNS OFF ENGINE WHEN TRAVELING 35~45 MPH AND GOING DOWN A HILL OR DECLINE. THIS AFFECTS POWER STEERING AND BRAKES MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, SO I AM USED TO THIS DEFECT. MY WORKAROUND IS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THEN CONTINUE.

NHTSA ID

11099163

Incident

May 26, 2018

Mileage

212,000 mi

ALL FOUR SEALS WHERE LEAKING INCLUDING PINION SEALS. CLUNKING NOISE 40 TO 50MPH WHEN YOU LET GO OF THE GAS ,HOLDS BACK,HEATER GAUGE+MPH GAUGE DON'T WORK MOST.OF THE TIME.PAINT CHIPPING AWAY ALL OVER.REPLACED ALL SEALS 5 TIMES +YOKE CVHALF SHAFT. REPLACED FRONT DIFFERENTIAL STILL MAKING THE NOISE.POOR LIGHTING AT NIGHT.IT HAS A MISS FIRE GAVE IT A TUNEUP AND STILL IS DOING IT. RADIO VOLUME WON'T TURN DOWN IT GOES LOUDER WHEN TURNING DOWN.

NHTSA ID

11048123

Incident

Jun 17, 2016

THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND NO WARNING LIGHT OF ANY KIND CAME ON. WE WENT TO GO START IT TODAY AND IT START UP FINE. WHEN WE TRIED TO PUT IT IN ALL THE GEARS AND PRESSING ON THE GAS IT DIDN'T DO A THING. I MEAN IT WON'T MOVE AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11000945

Incident

Jun 23, 2017

Mileage

162,330 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING, WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED FOR SECOND DEGREE BURNS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10924821

Incident

Oct 3, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT APPEARED 2 DAYS PREVIOUS BUT DID NOT YET MAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC. COMPUTER READING SUGGESTED A SENSOR PROBLEM. ENGINE SHUT DOWN, LOST POWER STEERING AND ALL SYSTEMS. ENGINE RESTARTED BUT NOW IDLES ROUGH.

NHTSA ID

10716949

Incident

May 17, 2015

Mileage

109,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 10:52 PM AND WITH NO WARNING THE ENTIRE TRUCK SHUT DOWN/OFF. ALL LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT SHUT OFF, ENGINE SHUT OFF, NO POWER TO THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. COASTED TO A STOP, PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THEN BACK ON - THE TRUCK STARTED RIGHT UP WITH OUT A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10681433

Incident

Jan 30, 2015

Mileage

135,000 mi

MY VEHICLE BURNED THROUGH ANOTHER ALTERNATOR, EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE IS 100% FACTORY SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THAT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 6 MONTHS, THE POWER STEERING HAS VANISHED. I CHECKED ALL THE BELTS MADE SURE EVERYTHING IS RUNNING PROPERLY AND IN THE CORRECT PLACE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP SEEMS TO BE PUMPING BUT NOT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632465

Incident

Sep 9, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10625927

Incident

Aug 11, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

THIS IS A COUNTY GOVT VEHICLE PURCHASED USED FROM A DEALER ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. I HAD BEEN HIGHWAY DRIVING FOR ABOUT 3-4 HOURS AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55-70 MPH. I MADE ONE BRIEF STOP DURING THAT TIME, AND WAS MOSTLY USING CRUISE CONTROL. JUST PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE SPEED LIMIT DROPS FROM 70 TO 55, AND THEN TO 35 IN A RELATIVELY SHORT DISTANCE. I USED THE CRUISE CONTROL COAST TO REDUCE MY SPEED FROM 55 TO 35. THE 35 MPH SPEED STARTS ON A BRIDGE- THERE IS A SMALL INCLINE AND THEN A LITTLE LARGER DECLINE. AT ABOUT THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, I LOST STEERING AND COASTED TO A STOP. I DON'T RECALL IF I HAD BRAKING. I WAS WITH A PASSENGER; IT WAS NIGHT, AND THIS OCCURRED IN AN AREA THAT WAS NOT SAFE. I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR, AND IT RESTARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. I DROVE TO A NEARBY GAS STATION. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW, SO I FILLED THAT, RESTARTED, AND DROVE THE REMAINING 1 1/2 HRS WITH NO PROBLEMS. OTHER EMPLOYEES CONTINUED TO DRIVE OVER THE NEXT 2 1/2 MONTHS LOCALLY-VERY LITTLE HIGHWAY DRIVING, WITH NO ISSUES. ON FEBRUARY 21, I WAS RETURNING FROM A TRIP IN THIS VEHICLE FROM THE SAME AREA, WITH THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES AS ABOVE. WHEN I WAS STILL ON THE BRIDGE WHERE THE SPEED DROPS TO 35, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS ALONE. THERE WAS A VEHICLE FOLLOWING VERY CLOSE BEHIND ME BUT FORTUNATELY I CONTINUED TO COAST AS THIS WAS ON THE DECLINE OF THE BRIDGE. I WAS ABLE TO STEER SLIGHTLY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE CHECK GAUGES; CHECK ENGINE, AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS WERE ALL ON. THE CAR RESTARTED WITH NO PROBLEMS. I DROVE TO THE SAME GAS STATION; CHECKED THE GAUGES-ALL WERE NORMAL AND NO WARNING LIGHTS. I DROVE THE 1 1/2 HRS REMAINING WITH NO PROBLEMS. ON A WEB SEARCH, I FOUND MULTIPLE CASES OF VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON EXPLORERS WITH NO RESOLUTION. I COULD FIND NO RECALLS ON THE VIN. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565432

Incident

Nov 22, 2013

Mileage

44,000 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND FORD EXPLORER I HAVE OWNED AND BOTH OF THEM HAD THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. YET FORD HAS NO RECALL OR EVEN ANYTHING TO FIX THEM EXCEPT $3,000.00 TO A DEALER OUT OF YOU POCKET FOR THEIR MISTAKE. I GUESS SINCE NO ONE HAS BEEN PROVEN TO HAVE GOTTEN INJURED OR DIED DUE TO THIS ISSUE, THEN THERE WON'T BE A RECALL MADE ON IT. THIS IS TOTALLY UNSATISFACTORY FOR THE FORD MOTOR CO. BECAUSE THEY HAVE WORKERS THAT SCREW UP, THE CONSUMER ENDS UP FOOTING THE LARGE BILL OF REPAIRING IT. THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS OF THESE EXPLORERS FROM 2000 - 2005 YET NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO ADDRESS IT. FORD MOTOR SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF PUTTING SUCH FAULTY VEHICLES OUT ON THE ROAD AND ENDANGERING ANOTHER HUMANS LIFE FOR THEIR PROFIT. THIS IS THE LAST TIME I WILL BUY AND FORD PRODUCT AND I WILL ENCOURAGE EVERYONE I KNOW NOT TO BUY FORD EITHER. I WONDER HOW FORD WOULD LIKE THE MEDIA EXPOSURE FOR THIS ISSUE. NO GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE OR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554392

Incident

Oct 3, 2013

Mileage

72,000 mi

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON A TUESDAY MORNING WITH MY SON WHO IS A COLLEGE STUDENT AT MY SCHOOL ON AUGUST 20, 2013. I WORK AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND IT WAS THE FIRST WEEK OF THE FALL SEMESTER 2013 STARTING. I ARRIVED ABOUT 10:15 A.M. AND COULD NOT FIND PARKING. I FOUND A PARKING STALL IN THE STAFF PARKING LOT. I PUT THE FORD EXPLORER IN REVERSE AND WAS GOING BACKWARDS TO PARK IN THE STALL. WHEN I MOVED THE SHIFT GEAR HANDLE TO PUT THE TRUCK INTO DRIVE INTO THE PARKING STALL, THE GEAR SHIFT WAS JUST BROKE OFF. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT! I HAD TO ACT QUICKLY AND HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF FROM THE CAR TO MAKE IT STOP. I WAS REALLY SCARED! LUCKILY, I DROPPED OFF MY SON SO HE CAN GO TO HIS FIRST CLASS. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO BANNING, CALIFORNIA AND HAVE MY MECHANIC FIX IT. STILL TO THIS DAY, FORD CANNOT PROVIDE A PART TO FIX THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFT LEVEL. FORD SAYS ITS ON BACKORDER, NO ONE HAS THE PART. THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN I WILL HAVE THE PART TO FIX MY TRUCK. I NEED HELP, I HOPE YOU CAN ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL 2004 FORD EXPLORERS WITH GEAR SHIFT LEVEL BREAKING OFF. VERY UPSET NEED YOUR HELP TO GET MY TRUCK FIXED. THIS MATTER HAS MADE ME SICK WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER RIGHT AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543927

Incident

Aug 20, 2013

Mileage

236,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ONCE IT SHUT OFF, EXCEPT TO UTILIZE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET ME STOPPED. ONCE STOPPED, I PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTED UP FIRST TRY. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SAME THING HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASES. USUALLY HAPPENS WHILE BRAKING OR TURNING AT SPEEDS LOWER THAN 30MPH, THEN ENGINE JUST STALLS AND EVERYTHING TURNS OFF. THIS TO ME IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, BECAUSE WITHOUT TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND VEHICLE LIGHTING AT NIGHT, IT COULD SERIOUSLY INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND INVESTIGATING THIS FURTHER SO WE CAN ALL CONTINUE TO BE SAFE. THANKS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10505180

Incident

Jan 25, 2013

Mileage

82,500 mi

WHILE PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE IN THE PARKING LOT THE GEAR SHIFT COMPLETELY SNAPPED OFF AND THE CAR WAS STUCK IN REVERSE. THE KEYS WERE STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND I COULDN'T TURN THE CAR OFF. I HAD TO PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND CALL FOR HELP ON MY CELL PHONE. WHEN HELP ARRIVED AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS THEY WERE ABLE TO MANUEVER WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE GEAR SHIFT ENOUGH TO PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF. I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE NAMED [XXX], HE PRECEDED TO TELL ME THAT FORD HAS NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM AND THAT HE COULDN'T HELP ME. HE SAID THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO RECALLS AVAILABLE FOR THIS PART. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON FORDS AND ADVISED [XXX] AND AGAIN HE SAID FORD HAS NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. I AM RELIEVED THAT IT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AND IT DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP AND TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10485024

Incident

Nov 16, 2012

Mileage

106,000 mi

STARTED DRIVING AND WHEN I WENT TO MAKE A TURN I FELT A GRAB. THOUGHT I MIGHT BE IMAGING THINGS BUT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE NEXT INTERSECTION TURN THIS TIME CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO MAKE A WHEEL CORRECTION. ON THE THIRD TURN IT WAS MARKEDLY WORSE AND A GRUNCH SOUND ACCOMPANIED IT AND IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE TURN. AND THEN NEXT FEW TURNS MARKEDLY WORSE AGAIN TO THE POINT I AM CONSIDERING PULLING OVER AND GETTING A TOW AS NOW IT IS DANGEROUS. I FIGURED OUT THAT IT WAS MOSTLY STRAIGHT DRIVING TO THE MECHANIC GARAGE AND THREE TURNS SO I DROVE CAUTIOUSLY. A VERY DIFFICULT DRIVE MAKING TURNS AND I COULD BARELY TURN INTO THE GARAGE DRIVE AS THE STEERING BARELY WORKED AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY VERY LOUD GRUNCHING. IT WAS A QUICK FIX AS A BOLT IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD COME OUT. HAD THIS HAPPENING ON A HIGHWAY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION TO NAVIGATE OFF THE HIGHWAY. NO INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10480115

Incident

Oct 12, 2012

Mileage

94,834 mi

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND MOVING SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE - ROTATING SHIFT HANDLE MOUNT BROKE OFF- REQUIRED TOWING AND $1800 REPAIR COST. HAVE SEEN SIMILAR INSTANCES ON CONSUMER COMPLAINT BOARDS - FORD FAILS TO RECOGNIZE AS BEING A SAFETY MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10452057

Incident

Mar 9, 2012

Mileage

900,000 mi

I WAS TRYING TO PARK THE CAR WHEN I TOOK IT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE THE WHOLE GEAR SHIFT CAME RIGHT OFF. IT WILL NO LONGER SWITCH GEARS NOR CAN I DRIVE IT. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER 2004 EXPLORERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO. THERE ARE 16 DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS WHICH ALL WERE EXACTLY LIKE MINE ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. THIS IS SUPER DANGEROUS, IMAGINE IF MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WHEN I WENT TO SWITCH GEARS AND IT BROKE OFF AND THE WERE NO WAY TO MOVE OR STOP IT FROM HITTING SOMEONE. THE EXPENSE TO FIX THIS 'LITTLE' PROBLEM OF FORDS IS COSTING ME MORE THAN I MAKE IN 2 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442341

Incident

Jan 3, 2012

Mileage

131,027 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 145,000.

NHTSA ID

10430663

Incident

Oct 17, 2011

Mileage

145,000 mi

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER AND PURCHASED NEW IN 2005. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE, THE 2 FRONT HUBS 3 TIMES, THE RACK AND PINION STEERING AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS EXCESSIVELY. THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN BY MY WIFE TO SCHOOL AND HOME AND USED FOR TRANSPORTING MY FAMILY. I KEEP SEEING THE SAME PROBLEMS ONLINE BUT NO ACTION BY FORD. CAN YOU SAY PIECE OF JUNK? *TR

NHTSA ID

10425157

Incident

Mar 2, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM "PARK," INTO "REVERSE," THE COLUMN-MOUNTED GEAR SELECTOR, BROKE AWAY FROM THE COLUMN AND INTO MY MOTHER'S HAND. THE VEHICLE SAT IN A PARKING LOT FOR A FEW HOURS. LATER ON, WE FOUND A TEMPORARY WORKAROUND UTILIZING A PAIR OF "VISE-GRIPS," AND WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE GEAR SELECTOR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED; AND THE VEHICLE JUST SITS THERE, BECAUSE THE SHE IS TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10404501

Incident

May 22, 2011

Mileage

81,000 mi

NOISE IN FRONT END, PREMATURE FAILURE OF TIE ROD ENDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10375378

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

Mileage

27,995 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT AND THE SHIFTER LEVEL BROKE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,650.

NHTSA ID

10358528

Incident

Jul 15, 2010

Mileage

27,650 mi

GEAR SHIFTER FELL INTO MY HAND WHILE TRYING TO PUT MY 2004 FORD EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED BUT NOT IN PARK. IT IS ONLY BEING HELD STILL BY PARKING BRAKE AS IT IS STUCK IN BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. THE KEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK. THERE WERE ZERO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY BUT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCES HAD I BEEN PARKED ON A HILL OR HAD THE SHIFTER BROKE WHILE IN GEAR WHERE IT WOULD HAVE REMAINED. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM AS OF YET IT JUST HAPPENED TODAY, BUT AFTER DOING RESEARCH IT APPEARS AS IF ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I AM TO SPEND ANY WHERE FROM $1000 TO $2000 TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART WITH A BRAND NEW DEFECTIVE PART TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN AT ANY TIME. I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ON THE EXACT SAME ISSUE DATING BACK TO 2/2007. I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329516

Incident

May 9, 2010

Mileage

95,547 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-65 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY. ALSO, ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE VEHICLE WOBBLED AND MADE A ROARING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE MORE THAN 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WHEEL BEARING; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID

10319680

Incident

May 1, 2009

Mileage

82,000 mi