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.
14
Latest Jan 15, 2004
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.
4%
of 387 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
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 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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
Body & structureBrakesEngine+4 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004
THE KEY INSERT DOES NOT ALIGN, HAVE HAD 2 TRANSMISSIONS IN 5 YEARS. (I KNOW TO CHECK MY FLUIDS) NEW ENGINE, & THE PAINT IS AWFUL. ENGINE, MOTOR, GAS, GASPS AND JERKS WITH ME. HAVE HAD MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, NOTHING HELPS. HEATER COIL(?) WENT OUT, I HAVE NO HEAT NOW. WE HAD TO BYPASS. THE REST I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR. I HATE THIS CAR. I AM WORRIED EVERYTIME I GET IN IT THAT MY MOTHER AND I ARE NOT GOING TO GET HOME. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED SO MANY TIMES, THE MAN WHO DOES THE TOWING KNOWS ME AND MY CAR ON SIGHT. I WILL NOT GO MORE THAN 30 MILES FROMT HE HOUSE. MY MECHANIC EVEN HATES THE CAR. I CALL HIM AN ANGEL, BECAUSE HE HAS KEPT IT RUNNING.
NHTSA ID
10070159
Incident
Sep 15, 2003
EngineExterior lightingSteering
Filed Apr 30, 2001
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 52-2482-587. *SLC
NHTSA ID
6900623
Incident
Apr 26, 2001
Steering
Filed Nov 28, 2000
I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMPS AND HOSES REPLACED TWO TIMES, THIS HAS COSTED ME OVER 600.00 DOLLARS AND IT IS STILL LEAKING FLUID ON MY EXHAUST CAUSING MY CAR TO SMOKE. *AK
NHTSA ID
736989
Incident
Jan 21, 2000
Heating & air conditioningSteeringVisibility
Filed Oct 19, 2000
COMPRESSOR LOCK UP,BROKE SURPENTINE BELT,WRAP AROUND DAMPER DAMAGED OIL SEAL &DAMPER BROKE OR CRACK A/C LINES. REPLACED A/C COMPRESSOR A/C MUFFLER ASSY & O RINGS & EVAC & RECHARGE SYSTEM....REAR PASSENGER DOOR, REPLACED WINDOW MOTOR , PASSENGER DOOR , REPLACED WINDOW MOTOR & SWITCH. STEERING HANGS UP OR GETS STUCK,MAKES WINING NOISE, FRONT END RATTLES,POPS &MAKES CRACKING NOISE,REAR AXLE SOUNDS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL OUT,WORSE CAR I'VE EVER OWNED!
NHTSA ID
734752
Incident
Jul 12, 2000
Steering
Filed Oct 12, 2000
WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VERY BADLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. MECHANICSAID THAT 2 INNER TIE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND THAT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SHAKING.*AK
NHTSA ID
872891
Incident
Jul 1, 2000
Heating & air conditioningEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Sep 14, 2000
CONSUMER HAD TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT 31,000 MILES. 9 MONTHS LATER, CONSUMER WAS BACKING CAR OUT OF GARAGE AND COULDN'T SHIFT GEARS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION.*AK A/C MAIN LINE FAILED. RADIATOR FAILED. RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. *YH
NHTSA ID
870462
Incident
Nov 22, 1996
Steering
Filed Jul 8, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING CRASH INTO TELEPHONE POLE & TREE, OCCUPANT BODILY INJURY, CAR TOTALLED.
NHTSA ID
725127
Incident
Jun 22, 2000
EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 18, 1999
MECHANICS ADVISE AS FOLLOWS: MOTOR MOUNT FAILS BECAUSE TOO MUCH TORQUE IS PLACED ON IT BY ENGINE; POWER STEERING HOSE RUPTURED BECAUSE IT RUBS AGAINST STEERING RACK; REPLACEMENT HOSE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM FORD WHICH REDESIGNED HOSE TO AVOID RUBBING ON STEERING RACK; HEAD GASKET FAILS BECAUSE ONLY 6 BOLTS HOLD ENGINE HEAD TO ENGINE BLOCK, FORD REDESIGNED HEAD GASKET TO MAKE IT THICKER; RADIATOR CRACKS BECAUSE IT IS MANUFACTURED OUT OF PLASTIC AND IS NOT REPAIRABLE. FORD RESPONDS THAT NONE OF THE FOREGOING ARE ITS PROBLEM; FORD STATED THAT ONLY REAR MOTOR MOUNTS ARE COVERED BY A NHTSA RECALL ; FORD STATES THAT IT EXTENDED WARRANTY ON HEAD GASKET ONLY UP TO 60,000 MILES; FORD STATES THAT POWER STEERING HOSE IS NOT SUBJECT TO NHTSA RECALL.
NHTSA ID
704618
Incident
Feb 24, 1999
EngineSteering
Filed Aug 17, 1998
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED A BELT 6X. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. ALSO, RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
826792
Incident
Dec 1, 1997
SteeringVisibility
Filed Dec 30, 1997
WINDSHIELD WASHER PROBLEMS.
NHTSA ID
527856
Incident
Mar 11, 1997
Steering
Filed Apr 25, 1997
RACK AND PINION STEERING FROZE DUE TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO STEERING SYSTEM, HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ID
810690
Incident
Feb 15, 1997
Steering
Filed Oct 1, 1996
PURCHASED CAR USED, WHEN DRIVING AND STOPPING THE STEERING VIBRATES . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
NHTSA ID
803072
Steering
Filed Jun 12, 1996
POWER STEERING FAILURE DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID. *AK
NHTSA ID
985535
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Jan 9, 1995
PURCHASED NEW CAR, WAS DRIVING TO WORK, STOPPPED AT LIGHT AND THE FRONT LEFT DRIVE SIDE WHEELL FELL OFF. TT
NHTSA ID
958522
Incident
Jan 4, 1995
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