Complaint 997798

Complaint Summary

STEERING

Owner Narrative

NOTE: THIS IS A POLICE CAR. OFFICER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH WHEN SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN IT, WHICH BECAME MORE APPARENT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL DID A COMPLETE 360 DEGREE TURN WHILE THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL HARD ENOUGH AT THE LAST SECOND AND LANDED ONTO A HOMEOWNERS DRIVEWAY. UNIT WAS TOWED TO THE FLEET DEPARTMENT WHERE THE UNIT IS BASED. OFFICER DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNING THAT THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, NO POPPING, GRINDING OR HARD STEERING PRIOR TO THE EVENT. I AM THE LEAD FLEET TECHNICIAN, ASE MASTER AND ADVANCED CERTIFIED & 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE. FINDINGS UPON INSPECTION: I FOUND THE SPLINED STEERING SHAFTS IN THE COLUMN HAD SEPARATED AND THE LIGHT GREEN PLASTIC BUSHING AT THE LOWER SECTION OF THE COLUMN WAS BROKEN, THE SPLINED BLACK HARD PLASTIC ON THE SPLINED SHAFT WAS CHEWED UP ON THE END (UNKNOWN IF THESE OCCURRED AFTER SHAFT SEPARATION). AFTER INSPECTION, THE COLUMN WAS REASSEMBLED AND BENCH TESTED. NO PROBLEM WAS NOTED. NO VISIBLE CRACKS, ABNORMAL WEAR OR LOOSENESS NOTED. NEW FORD STEERING COLUMN AND CLOCK-SPRING INSTALLED, ALIGNMENT AND UNIT WAS PUT BACK IN SERVICE. THE FAULTY COLUMN IS ON HAND. *TR

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.