Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||||
| 17254 | 10/01/2003 | 10004908 | Clicking/popping noise from upper steering column area when turning. 2004 e series and explorer sport trac also included. *tt | 01/14/2004 | |
| 16040 | 07/01/2002 | 636235 | Experiencing a clicking / popping noise from the upper steering column area when turning the steering wheel. *tt | 11/06/2002 | |
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||||
| 13440 | 11/01/1999 | 610879 | Experiencing very light steering vibration / shimmy / nibble at engine idle or low speeds (parking lot type maneuvers). *tt | 05/16/2000 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | ||||||
| PE99045 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 07/06/1999 | 10/29/1999 | STEERING KNUCKLE SEPARATIONS | ||
| The steering knuckle ( at the upper ball joint) and axle separate.the pinch bolt is found to be missing. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 08/13/2010 | 85000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. while traveling 10 mph attempting a left hand turn the contact noticed that the steering wheel would no longer respond causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle, the steering wheel could be turned in any direction but the vehicle wheels would not respond to the movement. the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where the contact was informed that the steering box had separated from the vehicle. there were no prior warnings and the vehicle has not been diagnosed. the current and failure mileages were 85000. bml | |||
| 01/01/2005 | 1 | ||
| The consumer vehicle lost control of the vehicle and rolled over. please provide any further information. *jb | |||
| 11/12/1996 | 1 | 09/01/1996 | |
| The steering is loose and the vehicle does not stay in center when driving at highway speeds.*ak | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||
| 07/30/2003 | 120380 | 1 | 11/16/1996 |
| I have a 1997 ford ranger xlt supercab, 2.3l 4x2. i was pulling out of my parking lot at work, and 2 of the 3 bolts that hold the steering column to the steering gear box broke, causing loss of steering to the right. the steering was very loose, and i could eventually turn to the right, when the gear box lodged against the frame. i've noticed 3 other incidents in searching this website. i think this is an age issue with ranger. bolts shouldn't just break in two. i didn't take this to a dealership, but my friend is a mechanic and did the work for me. however, i'm concerned about safety, because if this happens on a highway, serious fatalities can occur.*ak | |||
| 04/21/1998 | |||
| Windshield wiper come on all by itself. sometimes it will not turn off, comes on a high speed, sometimes washer comes on also, incidents occur when the consumer is driving. process developed where the tilt steering cannot be adjusted or moved except when the engine is turned completely off, consumer states that the vehicle has had a n electrical short. dealer has not yet been contacted to evaluate the problem. *ak | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN LOCKING - ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | |||
| 03/28/1997 | 4 | 03/12/1997 | |
| Anti theft alarm goes off and when transmitter is used it fails too. yh | |||
| STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | |||
| 06/10/1997 | 1 | ||
| Was driving about 20mph around a curve; had lost control of steering. was able to maneuver vehicle & took it to dealer. was informed that steering gear box had come loose. mechanic showed where bolts had separated from frame. *ak | |||
| STEERING - GEAR BOX - SHAFT SECTOR | |||
| 07/30/2003 | 120380 | 1 | 11/16/1996 |
| I have a 1997 ford ranger xlt supercab, 2.3l 4x2. i was pulling out of my parking lot at work, and 2 of the 3 bolts that hold the steering column to the steering gear box broke, causing loss of steering to the right. the steering was very loose, and i could eventually turn to the right, when the gear box lodged against the frame. i've noticed 3 other incidents in searching this website. i think this is an age issue with ranger. bolts shouldn't just break in two. i didn't take this to a dealership, but my friend is a mechanic and did the work for me. however, i'm concerned about safety, because if this happens on a highway, serious fatalities can occur.*ak | |||
| 01/27/2003 | 76000 | 0 | 11/15/1998 |
| Bolts which hold the steering sector to the frame all broke or snapped. i was lucky that i was sitting in a parking lot and started to turned the steering wheel, there was a snap and i was unable to turn the wheels of the truck a 97 ford ranger. i sent an email to for on january 28, 2003 about this item and they have not responded, the tracking id is kmm2029449c0km case id 688902. i am normally out on the highway traveling at over 65 mph on weekend and had the bolts snapped while moving at this speed i would probably be dead. is there any records of this problem reported by anyone that is still alive? thanks for you help. just wanted t o inform you of this happening. i have never heard of this happening on a vehicle. as far as i can determine this vehicle has not been in an accident. most of the 76,000 miles has been driven on the highways. thanks again. | |||
| 1 | 04/27/1999 | ||
| Consumer states gear and sector shaft are excessively worn, the steering wheel had excessive play when turning in either direction, the wheels did not turn as the steering wheel is turned, instead when the play was out of the steering wheel the front wheels would then turn.*jb | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||
| 10/02/2001 | |||
| At the speed of 25mph suddenly heard a noise and lost total control of steering wheel. managed to merge suddenly to right side of road. battery, engine, and power steering light went on. while looking at vehicle noticed that belt broke and dolley fell off. *ak | |||
| While driving in a rain storm, the power steering belt got wet, causing the vehicle to lose power steering. *ak | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 06/15/2002 | 70000 | 1 | |
| While driving 55 mph vehicle lost control and rolled over. as a result, the roof crushed in and broke the driver's neck. vehicle was considered a total loss. *ak | |||
| 03/01/1998 | 1 | 07/27/1997 | |
| Power steering had to be replaced, was making a noise like pump was not working properly. air conditioner pump replaced. right window is loose while going down. transmission slips occasionally while taking off. there are loose bolts underneath seats. fog light failed. consumer states oil from master cylinder damaged hood. door lock inside driver's door never worked and was replaced. *ak *slc | |||
| 1 | 03/11/1997 | ||
| Power steering failed. yh | |||
| 10/20/1998 | 12/01/1997 | ||
| Brother was driving at approximately 30 mph when he lost power steering.- the steering wheel would just turn around and around, causing him to hit a bank of dirt on the side of the road. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Vehicle advertised with power steering however never had power steering. | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES | |||
| 09/09/1997 | 0 | ||
| Consumer was driving at approx 65 mph when heard loud noise underneath vehicle, steering wentout, could not control vehicle. due to the defect, vehicle went off road into a open field. took vehicle to dealership,claims nut in washer felloff which caused the pitman arm to do the same. dealer had to restall a new one. *ak | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - KNUCKLE - SPINDLE - ARM | |||
| 12/25/2001 | |||
| While driving 55-60 mph steering suddenly jerked vehicle to the right. consumer was unable to steer vehicle. vehicle was towed to dealer, it was determined that right spindle had broken. part was replaced.*ak | |||
| 01/22/2000 | 1 | 04/01/1998 | |
| Dry spindles and ball joint bearings, mechanic put pickup on jack said we wre lucky we didnt wreck tire leaned outward , eventulay would have fallen off. *ak-- | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 09/07/2011 | 172567 | ||
| While goimg down hill and around a curve heard a loud noise from rear and felt back of truck move side ways. a short time after, another loud noise from rear and rear of truck dropped low . i lost control and went onto shoulder and slowed down was able to recover and at slow speed went home. on inspection found both rear leaf spring forward shackle supports failed due to corrosion. was lucky not going faster as could have resulted in very serious crash. please investigate and warn owners of possible failure of leaf spring.and loss of control truck is parked and not able to be driven. | |||
| 07/22/2002 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states while driving approx 70mph another vehicle pulled in front of consumers.*jb | |||