Rack and pinion steering failed while driving, causing loss of vehicle control. Upon repair, mechanic advised that rack and pinion had been previously replaced.
1999 Ford Taurus steering complaints
Page 3 of 5: complaints 41 to 70 of 106, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Rack and pinion went out at 84k miles - $750-$800 for repair. After reading the 30+ other complaints, I'd figured I would add mine as well.
Power steering rack failed. Seals let go.
Hile driving steering wheel would be hard to turn. Dealer notified.
Steering rack and pinion had to be replaced. Also power steering pump due to blown seal in steering rack were replaced.
While driving and without warning the rack and pinion snapped and caused the consumer to lose steering control. *nlm.
Power steering failed due to broken seal in steering rack. Spent $711 to replace. Appears to be frequent occurrence on many fords. Should recall.
Consumer states this second time the rack and pinion is broke. Dealer notified nothing they can't do. Please provide further information.
When I purchased the car everything was ok. Then within a 6 months the power steering went out... Took it to a mechanic because the car wasn't covered under warranty anymore. The mechanic said it was not only the power steering but also the whole steering front end. They said the power steering pump going out was the result of the rest of the rack going out, since it's all hydraulic. Well I got it fixed for 600.00 and low and behold 6 months later the same thing went out again. I went through this site and found several people talking about relatively the same issue. Since manufacturers are not responsible for their product.. .that is unless someone dies, then I'm assuming nothing can be done... But to keep shelling out $$$$$. And the saddest part is... I'm still paying on the car.
Car made grinding noise while turning. Progressively got worse. Had car checked and needed power steering rack replaced. Mechanic said it was failing, at less than 40,000 miles. Bought car used at 35,000 miles. Ford needs to recall the power steering unit as it is obviously a bad design. Called ford and explained situation, but to no avail...
1999 ford taurus lost power steering, pump and rack needed to be replaced. The car had 36,264 miles, warrenty was up at 36,000. We thought this was a safety issue, contacted ford and they were not overly concerned. We also thought they should reimburse some of the $1400 cost to replace the parts.
I was told by ford dealer, the rack & pinion needs to be replaced at a cost of $700. Mileage is only 32,500
I have owned the vehicle for fourteen months. As I was parking in front om apartment, my right front tire bumped the curve and triggered my air bags, which in turn exploded and caused $3,000 in damage. The ford certified dealer in my area was unable to find a reason for the airbags to go off. And when I called ford the lady on the phone told me that she had never heard of such a thing. She said she had heard of people complaining that the airbag did not deploy when they felt it should, but not the airbag deploying from a <1mph impact of a tire into a curb. Ford insisted they could not help me. This has really been hard on me considering my insurance company was hesitant to cover the incident because according to them no collision occured for the airbags to deploy. However, my insurance company finally accepted claim. Although in return my rates have went up and I had to take a loan of $500 to cover the deductible. Everyone I have talked to has been resistant to help me. Is there anything you or I can do to resolve this issue with ford? This incident I must note is not the only major issue with this vehicle. It is a 1999 ford taurus 92,000 miles.
Power sterring went out at 72,000 miles. Had to replace the rack and pinion. Still doesn't feel natural. Power sterring fluid keft overflowing, eventually leaking into the boots. At high speed 65-70mph it feels very unstable.
I lost the power steering on my 1999 ford taurus station wagon. When it stopped working, I had a very difficult time turning around corners. I had a very difficult time making a left turn into my driveway. I then became afraid to drive it as I did not have the strength to make a turn. I had to have a male friend who is far stronger than me, drive the car to the dealer for repairs. My car only has 41,000 miles on it. This is not a part that should wear out. I was advised by the dealer that the rack and pinion seals had leaked and that the whole rack and pinion steering had to be replaced for a total bill of $734.51. I feel that this part itself is defective and it also could be quite dangerous when a driver is not able to negotiate a turn as expected. I would appreciate all you could do to investigate the power steering equipment used on the 1999 ford taurus. The incident date is jan. 2, 2003 but your computer system only goes to 2002.
Intially diagnosed as power steering fluid leak - turns out that the problem was a leak in the rack and pinion steering.
Well, well, well. Just yesterday I filed this very same complaint to you. This morning my husband was on the phone w/one of your people who said there was no investigation into this problem at the present time. However, it's inconceivable to me that you have as many complaints as you do of a failed rack and pinion on 1999 ford taurus, and here we are getting the breaking news today the gm just recalled thousands of vehicles for a failed lower pinion!!!! Don't you look at trends with other domestic vehicles, like years, like defects???? This failure is obviously a trend in the '99 taurus! How sad that 15 crashes had to occur in the gm vehicles that were most probably linked to their failure. How fortunate that '99 taurus owners have not experienced the same, at least not that we yet know of. Wouldn't you like to be responsible for saving us from accidents, possibly injuries, and possibly deaths? Please issue an investigation! Also, you technician told my husband on the phone that if we were to have our rack and pinion replaced, as four separate ford mechanics have advised. That we should save our receipts and if a recall was issued at a later date we could be reimbursed. However, once again, on your website I researched and read that the manufacturer has no legal responsibility to reimburse us for work already performed. Get your stories straight! I await your response with baded breath. Thank you very much. Dt
Replaced the first one, 30,000 miles later it went out again. Dt
Rack and pinion seal broken, power steering fluid leaking into right boot. In speaking with 3 (three) separate aaa approved repair centers, we were told this is a very common problem with the 1999 ford taurus. We checked the automobile club of southern california website and found several hundred complaints on the exact same problem. Ford must do something about this! How fortunate my 2 infant children were not in the car with me when this happened, I barely made it home!!! This is an accident waiting to happen. Obviously there is a faulty seal, and ford gouging their customers for an additional $800-$1000 repair is an atrocity!!! Dt
Power steering fluid leaking thru the gear into the left tire boot. Dt
The consumer was driving when he heard a loud squealing noise under the hood. The steering had become hard to steer due to power steering pump and steering gear failure. *yh
Problems with car since day one. Began with wipers turning on by themselves, spoke to mechanic, said it was nothing to worry about. Then the car kept refusing to switch gears (second to third), the speedometer would quit and car died on side of road several times. Along with this problem, the brakes squealed very loud. Called dealer, would not help, sent me to ford dealer (dave goulds). Replaced speed sensor, scraped "rust" off brakes and said they may continue to squeal, they do! The car picks up speed from no where, specially when coming from a stop. Very scarey, refuse to let my daughter drive because of it. Now the power steering is making a horrible hum and I have lost power steering on several occaisions. Added fluid, the next day it looked like cocoa bubbling out. I contacted the gould ford dealership and I have to bring it in tomorrow. I am afraid to drive it and he tells me that my extended warranty most likely won't cover the repair (they didn't cover the speed sensor either). I bought this car at a local company after a severe accident, it was traumatizing to get back behind the wheel, but this car is like a rolling death trap, why isn't ford recalling them? Mr
Consumer is having problems with the steering wheel. Please add more information. Mr
Vehicle had been to dealer 3 times for problems with the steering, vehicle was hard to steer. Dealer found no problem. Once vehicle was out of warranty dealer determined the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. Rack and pinion is being replaced for the third time in 8 months. Nlmjlg
Power steering failed to work which made steering the vehicle very difficult, roaring sounds come from the steering column, the speedometer fluctuates and caused car to jump forward and speed ahead. Nlm
While driving on I-71, lost power steering, stopped immediately. No fluid, added fluid, back pressure threw fluid all over car. Drove to #1ricart ford in columbus, ohio. They checked and determined the power steering rack was bad, advised not to drive, because of safety hazard of locking up. Replaced power steering rack, gear asy-power stng. They determined after removing dust boot that seals had failed leaking fluid into boot. It was a very dangerous situation to be in. Please advise, if any recalls have been made on this problem.
Power steering failed while vehicle was being driven due to rack and pinion failure. *ak consumer stated that the vehicle was very noisy and hard to steer.
When I bought this car, the steering was making a grinding sound, I took it back twice to the ford place to have it checked, and I asked the man I bought it from, why it made that noise, and the salesman and the repair man both told me on 3 different occaisons that "it was supposed to make that noise!". So I dealt with it. But my power steering has been messing up for about 5 months now. My steering wheel won't turn, it's making this awful noise and when I stop the fluid just bubblies out, steaming hot. And the rack and pinion busted, and the fluid started pouring out. We called the ford place, and he plainly told my husband that it would only cost $2000.00 to fix! I think these people new they were selling me a lemon! This needs to be reported, because I've asked other people that drive the same kind of car, and their having trouble with their power steering also.something needs to be done about this!!
Shortly after purchasing my taurus I noticed a slight vibration when braking. It was very minor and I did not worry about it - thinking it was a knot on a tire. It got steadily worse and when I had a mechanic look at it he told me I needed new tie rod ends. The front tires had both worn to the steel belts. I replaced both the tie rod ends and the tires. Now I am still feeling the shudder when I brake and last week I started noticeing the steering was getting difficult and humming as I turned. I took the car to the mechanic today and he said the rack and pinion was leaking and needed to be replaced. He suggested your website and I have found numerous other people with the same problem. Ford needs to do something about this, it seems to be getting out of hand. I hope you can pressure them into standing behind their product and do what is fair.
Shortly after purchasing my taurus I noticed a slight vibration when braking. It was very minor and I did not worry about it - thinking it was a knot on a tire. It got steadily worse and when I had a mechanic look at it he told me I needed new tie rod ends. The front tires had both worn to the steel belts. I replaced both the tie rod ends and the tires. Now I am still feeling the shudder when I brake and last week I started noticeing the steering was getting difficult and humming as I turned. I took the car to the mechanic today and he said the rack and pinion was leaking and needed to be replaced. He suggested your website and I have found numerous other people with the same problem. Ford needs to do something about this, it seems to be getting out of hand. I hope you can pressure them into standing behind their product and do what is fair.
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