1995 Ford Explorer Steering Problems

I GOT IN MY CAR A BATTERY LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OLD WAS ALMOST DEAD NOTHING WAS PLUGGED IN OR ON I DROVE GOT ON THE FREEWAY ABOUT 20 MIN ON FREEWAY CAR STOPS WON'T MOVE MAKES REV NOISE EVENTUALLY STARTS LONG ENOUGH TO STOP AGAIN AT BOTTOM OF FREEWAY EXIT STARTS AGAIN GET IN INTO GAS STATION I SIT IN GAS STATION FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS ADD 5 QUARTS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID EVENTUALLY CAR WILL LET ME DRIVE ABOUT TWO BLOCKS BUT COME TO FIND OUT I WAS DRIVING WELL ON FIRE RACE TO GET MY DOG AND I OUT CAR CATCHES COMPLETELY ON FIRE FIRE MAN SAYS IT ELECTRIC UNDER HOOD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THE BATTERY AND THE OD OFF LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF I HAD THE CAR ABOUT A MONTH POLICE REPORT NUMBER1702207 OAKLAND CA POLICE DEPARTMENT

THE STEERING COLUMN AND ALL THE PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE WERE AFFECTED WHEN THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE CLAMPS THAT SECURE THE BUSHINGS TO THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO LOOSEN. I EXAMINED THE AREA CAREFULLY AND NOTICED THAT BECAUSE THE BOLTS LOOSENED, THE CLAMPS WERE GIVEN TOO MUCH PLAY. WITHIN A SHORT WHILE, A MONTH OR TWO, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND THE SHIFTER WERE COMPLETELY SECURED BY ONE BROKEN CLAMP THAT HELD ITS PLACE BECAUSE OF THE BUSHINGS AND A LOOSE BOLT. THE OTHER CLAMP WAS ALSO BROKEN BUT WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR BOARD. IT WASN'T AN EXPENSIVE FIX. I CUSTOMIZED A METAL CLAMP FOR EACH OF THE TWO PLACES THE WENT. THEY ARE THE SAME CLAMPS THE ELECTRICIANS USE TO SECURE CABLES AND WIRES TO THE WALLS AND CEILINGS. I USED THE ONES MADE FROM BRONZE. THEY ARE MORE PLIABLE TO SHAPE FOR AN ALMOST PERFECT FIT. WITH A LITTLE GREASE ABOVE AND BELOW THE BUSHINGS AND ALSO SOME WHERE THE NOW BRONZE CLAMPS HOLD THE BUSHINGS, I BELIEVE THAT THE STEERING COLUMN IS AS SAFE AS CAN BE. ALSO, THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THE CABLE THAT IS USED TO ADJUST THE SHIFT INDICATOR NEEDS TO BE MADE OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL. I'LL GET TO THAT SOON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SPUN OUT OF CONTROL FOR SIXTY YARDS. THE VEHICLE STOPPED SPINNING AFTER IT ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE AN INSURANCE AGENT DECLARED IT AS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 182,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD "SHIMMY AND SHAKE". RECENTLY, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK SO SHE HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO KEEP IT STABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 184,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

WENT OVER RAILROAD TRACKS AND SUDDENLY THE FRONT END BEGAN TO JUMP AND SKID ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN THE CAR GOT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WE LOOKED AT IT, THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY TURNED SIDEWAYS. WE HAD IT TOWED HOME. I CHECKED UNDER THE FRONT END IN THE MORNING AND FOUND A PART OF THE TIE ROD COMPLETELY BROKEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE EXTREMELY LOUD NOISES AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, ODOMETER, AND STABILIZER BAR ALL FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,500. UPDATED 10/23/07 *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIED AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 95V053000, REGARDING THE STEERING: LINKAGES: TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

1). GAS PEDAL STICKS. 2). PUFFS OF SMOKE COME FROM STEERING COLUMN IN THE AREA OF THE EMERGENCY LIGHT BUTTON. 3). CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 95V053000 CONCERNING TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, AND RECALL 95V052000 CONCERNING SERVICE BRAKES; HOSES, LINES, PIPING AND FITTINGS. THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALLS, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS DUE TO VIN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THEY CAN HEAR A LOUD NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLMTHE ABS SENSOR WENT BAD CAUSING THE FRONT DISC BRAKE TO WEAR QUICKLY. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED REGARDING THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS. CONSUEMR WAS CHARGED FOR LABOR AND PARTS. ALSO THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE OUTER TIE RODS. *JG

THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE FRONT OUTER TIE ROD END HAD TO BE REPLACED.MR. CONSUMER STATED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME.*JB

STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK UP DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WHILE TRAVELING FIVE MPH, AND TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY OR WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGH SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT A "BOOT" AROUND A JOINT IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD DETERIORATED FROM EXPOSURE TO SAND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING IN WET CONDITIONS AT 45MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMTATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MILES ON INTERSTATE SUDDENLY COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR, IT SPINNED AROUND TO THE RIGHT BACKWARDS, WENT OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A DITCH BACKWARDS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH INTO A CURVE AND HEARD A CLUNK SOUND. CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO WORK AND PARKED IT. DROVE VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK COUPLE OF HOURS LATER AND PARKED IT. WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGHER SPEED, VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT AROUND 40-45MPH. SLOWED DOWN TO 30MPH TO KEEP VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND THEY DETERMINED IT TO BE A BROKE TIE ROD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE INNER TIE RODS BROKE, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THERE IS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK COMING FROM RACK AND PINION ON RIGHTSIDE. DEALER DETERMINED CAUSE OF LEAK, AND REPLACED STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. *AK

LAST YEAR MY CAR WOULD SHUT DOWN. GO FROM REGULAR RPM TO ZERO AND DIE. THIS WOULD LOCK MY STEERING COLUMN. I OBSERVED THAT THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE EXCEEDED ABOUT 90 DEGREES F AND THE CAR WAS EXPOSED TO SUN (MORE LIKELY TO SHUT DOWN THAT IF I WAS COMING OUT OF A COVERED GARAGE WHERE THE TEMP WAS LOWER, UNTIL EXPOSED TO THE HIGHER OUTSIDE TEMP READ. THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK AS THE IGNITION SHUT OFF WHETHER I WAS IDLING IN A DRIVE THRU LANE OR EXISTING A FREEWAY RAMP WHERE I WOULD EXPECT TO GO FROM 55 TO 35 TO ZERO AT THE STOP, I WOULD GO TO ZERO AND BYPASS 34-1 MPH. JUST COMPLETE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND COLUMN LOCK. I TOOK THE CARE IN AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL INJECTORS AND PAID $500 FOR WHO KNOWS WHAT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. IT'S HOT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. IT'S DANGEROUS. AM I PLACING MY FAMILY AT RISK? I ALREADY HAD THE AEROSTAR CATCH FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE I WAS AT FULL FREEWAY SPEED . I AM AFRAID THAT A SIMILAR DEFECT IS AT WORK HERE. THE AERO WAS A MANUAL SO I COULD ALWAYS REV TO KEEP THE RPM UP, THE EXPLORE IS AUTO TRANS AND GOES FROM DRIVE TO LOCK. PLEASE HELP ME. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIE ROD SHEARED; OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, AND RESULTING IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *AK