Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | |||||
| 9716 | 01/02/1997 | 51361 | Some power steering hoses have been replaced with a revised design and should no longer be used for service. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||||
| BC9584961001 | 10/01/1996 | 50503 | Information for concerns of grunt or groan during wheel return from full right turn. *tt | 04/24/1997 | |
| 95191 | 09/01/1995 | 46461 | The power steering system may have a 'grunt' and/or 'groan' noise. this may be caused by hydraulic fluid movement within the power steering rack. | 04/25/1996 | |
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 12570 | 03/01/1999 | 6091815 | Some vehicles may exhibit front outer tie rods squeak and / or pop noise over bumps and / or turning. *tt | 11/15/2000 | |
| 5897 | 03/01/1999 | 605254 | Experiencing a squeaking and / or popping noise from the front outer tire rods. *tt | 06/04/1999 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | ||||||
| PE93058 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 06/15/1993 | 02/16/1994 | BROKEN TIE RODS | ||
| There is no summary currently available | ||||||
| EA94008 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 02/16/1994 | 02/27/1995 | BROKEN TIE RODS | ||
| There is no summary currently available | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 09/04/1992 | 85591 | 1 | 03/24/1992 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1992 mercury sable. when the contact took his vehicle to a local mechanic, corrosion was discovered in the steering column. he also discovered that he was experiencing the same failure listed in nhtsa campaign id number 98v323000 (structure:frame and members). the manufacturer was unable to provide assistance; however, they stated that because it had exceeded ten years, the parts were unavailable. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 85,591. updated 10/16/08. *lj the vehicle would pull to the side. updated 10/17/08. *jb | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer experiencing loose/poor steering wheel control. | |||
| 10/01/1996 | |||
| At 30,00 miles the rack and pinion failed, causing loss of vehicle control. please add further information. *ak | |||
| 03/19/1993 | 9 | ||
| Steering noisy/binds intermittently. *dsh | |||
| 11/15/1994 | 5 | ||
| Steering wheel vibrates when going over bumps, also scraping noise when turning wheel. *skd | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | |||
| 08/12/2002 | 1 | 11/01/2091 | |
| Power steering hose failed. fluid poured out on to very hot catalytic converter, producing fire in rear of engine compartment. extinguished quickly but damage to wiring, vacuum line. very dangerous for power steering line with flammable fluid to pass directly over catalyt converter.*ak | |||
| 11/04/1999 | 1 | 04/01/1995 | |
| Power steering hose ruptured and sprayed catalytic converter with fluid, causing a fire that burned part of the wire harness. *ak | |||
| 04/08/1999 | 1 | 05/05/1992 | |
| Power steering hose failed causing fluid leakage. mjs | |||
| 1 | |||
| The high pressure power steering hose is leaking fluid onto the engine and the exhaust manifold. *ak *jb | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 01/25/2002 | 1 | 11/01/1991 | |
| Steering failed. each front tire pointed different directions.*ak | |||
| 11/01/2000 | 06/01/2000 | ||
| Suddenly lost power steering.after pump replaced hoses blew.2000 miles later,head gasket blew. | |||
| 01/01/1993 | |||
| The problem is that the speed sensitive steering oscilates between low-effort & high-effort when driving through a curve. makes vehicle tricky to control. also exhibits intermittent pulling to either side that has not been eliminated by thorough front-end maintenance. others with like vehicles report same problems. | |||
| 05/12/1995 | 6 | ||
| While driving the power steering gives out, causing the vehicle to lose control. had the power steering rack replaced 6 times but vehicle still has the same problem with the power steering. *ak *jb | |||
| 11/20/1994 | 0 | ||
| Steering locks up intermittently . *ak | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES | |||
| 08/02/1997 | 01/15/1992 | ||
| Automatic transmission failure. in addition, inner and outer tie rods and lower ball joint/control arm/struts/shocks failed. *ak | |||
| 07/01/1995 | |||
| Inner and outer tie rods broke, lack of proper steering control. tt | |||
| 07/09/1994 | 9 | ||
| Replaced tie rods. | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||
| 05/11/2001 | 1 | 10/01/1992 | |
| Right front tie rod failed in self -service car wash when exiting positioning cradle. *ak | |||
| 04/08/1999 | 1 | 05/05/1992 | |
| Right wheel bearing and inner tie rod failed. mjs | |||
| 09/05/1997 | 1 | ||
| Left inner tie rod broke completely off; caused by fatigue failure, no malfunction of vehicle before failure, caused left wheel to turn totally to right, could not control. repair shop replaced tie rod, could have caused crash/rollover. *ak | |||
| 11/12/1994 | 1 | ||
| Premature wear of tie rod ends. *ak | |||
| 11/25/1994 | 1 | ||
| While driving 55-60mph tie inner rod end broke and fell onto ground, creating risk of loss of steering. tt | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION | |||
| 09/02/2004 | 83983 | 1 | |
| Mercury sable 1992 power steering leaked. *bf the leak was coming from the rack and pinion. *nm | |||
| 07/07/1997 | |||
| Loose steering and plenty of play in steering wheel. | |||
| 11/08/1997 | 1 | 11/01/1997 | |
| Rack and pinion steering failed, causing steering wheel to jerk or kick back . | |||
| 10/01/1996 | |||
| At 30,00 miles the rack and pinion failed, causing loss of vehicle control. please add further information. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1994 | |||
| Rack and pinion steering needed to be replaced because steering was pulling to right. also, replaced oxygen sensor/motor mounts/right and left outer cv boot. *ak | |||
| 03/01/1993 | 1 | ||
| Play in rack/pinion causes vehicle to wander. *dh | |||
| 07/25/1994 | 5 | ||
| Replaced rack and pinion steering. | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION - RACK | |||
| When turning car to the left or right there is a grinding noise present. vehicle does not fully turn also, dealer has seen vehicle, and said steering rack was sending fluid into the power steering pump. *ak | |||
| 07/07/1997 | |||
| There is plenty of play in the steering wheel due to a loose steering rack. | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 04/01/1992 | |||
| Consumer received recall letter concerning subframe, recall repairs completed. recall number 98v323000. loose steering wheel has too much play. *ak | |||
| 06/20/1995 | 0 | ||
| Air conditioning problems. | |||
| 06/01/1996 | 4 | 07/01/1992 | |
| Turns ignition switch and nothing happens. shakes the steering column and it will catch. *jb | |||
| 05/11/1996 | 1 | ||
| Steering failed 8 times. *sd. | |||