1997 Ford Expedition Steering

STEERING IS EXTREMELY OVERACTIVE AND SEEMS TWITCHING, MEANING AT LOW SPEED OR AT HIGH RATE OF TRAVEL VERY SLIGHT MOVEMENTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE SUDDENLY, AND UNCONTROLLABLY, PREVIOUS OWNER WENT OFF HIGHWAY AND FELT UNSAFE IN VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I IMAGINE THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE VARIABLE ASSIST POWER STEERING BUT CANNOT FIND ANY DIAGNOSTIC AIDE IN RESOLUTION OF ISSUE.

THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE IS LOOSE AND WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD CONTACTED A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME WHERE STEERING SHAFT SLIDES TOGETHER IS REALLY LOOS AND STEERING SHAFT NEEDS REPLACED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN EXCESS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V196000 (STEERING), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BECOMING LOOSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V196000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE TIRES TURNED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

STEERING GETS HARD THEN CUTS LOOSE, STEERING COLUMN MOVES UP AND DOWN, SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SHAFT PROBLEM OR STEERING BOX ISSUE, SAW RECALL AND DEALER SAYS IT WAS NOT INCLUDED, SAME PROBLEM AS OTHERS, PLACES PEOPLE AT RISK AND SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING BOLT ON THE VEHICLE BROKE. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN IN NUMBER: 03V196000 (STEERING: GEAR BOX: SHAFT SECTOR), BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING BECAME RESISTANT. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX SHAFT FAILED. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN CONTINUOUS AND IS BECOMING WORSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V196000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 230,796. THE CONSUMER STATED FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL PREVIOUSLY LISTED. UPDATED 11/06/07 *TR

TIE ROD THREADS STRIPPED LEADS TO COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING AND NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE. *NM

MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION 4X4 WITH 95,000 MILES JUST EXPERIENCED A FAILURE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE TIE-ROD. THE INNER TIE-ROD END SHREDDED WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE CENTER LINK. *JB

THE STEERING SHAFT WAS LOOSE AT THE GEAR BOX , THE TECHNICIAN SAID THERE WAS ALMOST NO CONTACT AND WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE IT HOME SAYING IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS AND WAS ABOUT TO COME UNDONE AT ANY TIME. THE WHEEL COULD BE TURNED 1/3 AROUND AND THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT BECAUSE OF THE DEGREE OF SEPARATION MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE GROUP THAT WAS RECALLED IN RECALL NUMBER 03S02 DATED MAY 2003, THEREFORE I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY CANNOT HELP ME BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T RECALL MINE. THERE COULD ALSO BE OTHERS THAT WERE NOT RECALLED. I HAVE THE RECEIPT TOTALING ABOUT $340. THE PAPERWORK FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP READS: FOUND STEERING SHAFT LOOSE AT BOX. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAD TO PAY FOR WHAT OTHER OWNERS GOT FREE BECAUSE IT WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF, AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. *JB

PURCHASED USED EXPEDITION IN LATE FEB, 2003. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED EXTREMELY SENSITIVE STEERING. SLIGHT INPUT, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN RAIN OR WIND, CAUSED LARGE CHANGES IN VEHICLE DIRECTION. LOWER FRONT TIRE PRESSURE, NECONNECTING REAR STAB BAR, FE ALIGNMENT, AND NEW SHOCKS HAVE HELPED THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS STILL WAY TOUCHIER THAN IT SHOULD BE. FORD DEFINITELY HAS A PROBLEM BUILT INTO THIS VEHICLE MODEL. I HAVE OVER 40 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE IN ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES AND HAVE SEEN NOTHING LIKE THIS. I ASSUME IT IS INHERENT IN THE VARIABLE ASSIST POWER STEERING. *NLM

THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING ASSEMBLY 03 V 196 000. *JB

THE VEHICLE EMITS A RUBBING NOISE WHILE STEERING. *NLM

WHILE TRYING TO PARK LOST POWER STEERING . DEALER REPLACED PITMAN ARM/STEERING ASSEMBLY/ INTERMEDIATE ARM/POWER STEERING GEAR BOX, AND RACK AND PINION. *AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING ASSEMBLY ALSO STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING ASSEMBLY BROKE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE STEERING ASSEMBLY TEAR OFF. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT HIS HORN, THE AIR BAG, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE AIR BAG ON THE PANEL IS ON. TS

DRIVING WITH FAMILY IN CAR ,DOING 35 MPH WHEN I LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE STEERING.YOU COULD SPIN THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY AROUND WITH NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHAT SO EVER. I WAS ABLE TO GRADUALLY STOP THE CAR , BUT IT STILL ROLL UP A CURB TO A COMPLETE STOP. NO ONE WAS HURT,I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN TO THE LOCAL DEALER. DEALER REPORTED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD SLIPPED OUT OF THE GEAR BOX ,THUS STRIPPING THE GEAR ITSELF. I ASK THE DEALER IF IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRENTY ,HE SAID IT SHOULDN'T BE.I SENT A LETTER TO FORD ,THEY SAID IF THE DEALER DOESN'T THINK IT SHOULD BE COVERED ,THAN IT SHOULDN'T BE COVERED. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ,WHAT IF MY WIFE WERE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY LIKE SHE DOES EVERY DAY TO WORK OR IF MY SON WERE DRIVING IT ,HE IS A NEW DRIVER.I JUST GLAD NO ONE WAS HURT. FORD DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.COULD YOU PLEASE HELP.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL BOUNCE. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS WAS A RESULT OF THE TIE ROD HAVING TOO MUCH PLAY. *AK *SCC

TIE ROD END SEPARATED AT THE KNUCKLE, CAUSING VIBRATION AND LEFT FRONT TIRE AND WHEEL TURNING IN AND MAKING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. *AK

INNER TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. FIVE MONTH AGO, OUT TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM WAS DUE TO NO GREASE FITTING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS BROKE OFF WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, AND CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM.*AKBOTH TIE RODS BROKE OFF BETWEEN 75 AND 85 K MILES. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF RAOD OR IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FAILURE PRIOR TO BOTH INCIDENTS. *JG

FAILURE WAS DUE TO DAMAGE ON LOCKING BOLT BETWEEN LINKAGE AND STEERING BOX.

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY RIGHT FRONT STEERING ROD FELL OFF UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TIE ROD BROKE, PREVENTING ANY MOVEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK