Hydraulic Power Assist Steering System problems of the 1996 Ford Contour

While attempting to make a right turn steering wheel was hard to turn. Brake pedal was hard. Consumer restarted vehicle, and vehicle went back to normal. Consumer feels it is dangerous to lose power. Please provide any further information.

When driving through puddles there is a loss of power steering. Dealer says it needs a splash shield kit.

Power steering failed.

Since purchase of vehicle when driving through a puddle of water or in rain, power steering will go out. At that time alernator light comes on, has been to dealer numerous times for this , seems to be a design flaw. Also, filling up with gasoline vehicle will smell for long time.

Power steering becomes disables when driven through puddles of water. Safety should be a recall by Ford motor corp.

Occasionally, when the vehicle rolls through a puddle, the steering will fail and the battery light will appear, with the engine almost stalling. This has happened with the car going as fast as 35 mph and as slow as 5 mph. The problem has been reported to the dealer on several occasions, and the dealer has reportedly contacted the manufacturer regarding this particular problem. Additionally, the first time the vehicle was taken back to the dealer to report the problem, the service personnel was aware that the problem existed with the specific model. After repeated returns to the dealer (at least three separate complaints), the dealer informed us that the problem was fixed and that the car was even "driven through several puddles" without any steering failure. The last time the vehicle was taken in was approximately August, 1999. The warranty has since expired, and the dealer says that it is our responsibility to pay to have the problem fixed. Unfortunately, we have taken the car back several times, and the problem still exists. On 02/13/00, the vehicle again experienced steering failure.