Hydraulic Power Assist Steering System Problems of Ford Contour

22 yr. Old son matt crashed his 1997 Ford Contour into utility pole-feels bearings caused him to lose control of steering. Inner windshield driver's side post at corner came apart, plastic on interior-which stopped at top of post and wasn't connected to anything on inside of roof-popped out and lacerated his left eyeball. The eyeball interior was protruding and surgery was necessary to stitch the eyeball back together. He will eventually need a cornea transplant to get decent vision from that eye. The right eye sustained blunt trauma which caused a hematoma to develop which caused blindness until it's recent removal. Restoration of eyesight in the right eye is a slow progress.

See all problems of the 1997 Ford Contour 🔎.

While driving, the vehicle intermittently lost power steering. This happened only while the road was wet. Dealer stated it wasn't their problem. In the past 6 years power steering froze twice during a severe rain storm.

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.

See all problems of the 1996 Ford Contour 🔎.

While driving on i75 around atlanta, car steering failed making car feel like it was hydroplaning but it wasn't. Road conditions were wet with light drizzle. Car veered to left and hit concrete median. Bumper was left hanging by a thread. Car wasn't safe to drive and had towed to body shop. Feel this is related to similar incidents where the Contour steering failed after water hits the belts & pulleys.

See all problems of the 1998 Ford Contour 🔎.

Consumer was traveling about 55mph on highway and vehicle veered into left to avoid debris in street. Consumer lost control of vehicle , steering was uncontrolable, and then vehicle straightened out on its own. Dealership was aware of problem. Dealer replaced belt and took vehicle for a test drive and could not duplicate problem.

Drove through puddle, lost power steering assist.

Whenever the automobile is driven through a puddle of water or upon prolonged driving on a wet road, the power steering locks up. When this occurs, the power steering remains locked for several seconds up to over one minute before returning to normal. These conditions also cause the "battery" light to illuminate. I returned the vehicle to the dealer in approximately June 1998, but their fix action "replacing a headlight wiring assembly" did not appear to address the problem and the problem reoccurred immediately the next time that the autombile was driven on a rainy day. Upon returning the automobile a second tme, I was informed by both a service technician and a service manager that this is a problem that the Ford company is aware of but is making no attempt to inform the automobile owners until they actually experience the problem.

Power steering failed while driving through deep puddle. Cause determined to be water splashing on belt and pulley, causing slippage and temporary loss of power steering. Dealer offered to install revised splash guard (TSB) under warranty.

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

Power steering pressure switch failed causing fluid to leak, resulting in engine fire.

When driving the vehicle in wet conditions, the power steering stops for about 3-5 seconds. When taken to the dealer on two occasions, dealer stated that the manufacturer is aware of the problem and working on a correction.

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.

After driving through puddle, power steering assist is lost, drive belt squeals, and it becomes impossible to turn steering wheel for several seconds which causes lack of control. Ford has issued a TSB on this problem, but will not pay for repair.

When driving slowly through a puddle the car can experience a sudden, temporary loss of power steering. This results in difficulty controlling the car.

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

Vehicle in number of times for power assist going out when driving in rain or water. 2/99 acceleration lost while driving vehicle in traffic, no power. Had vehicle in previous week before was supposedly repaired.

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.

When vehicle was driven through a small amount of standing water at low speed, all power steering was lost. Vehicle was taken to dealership. Owner was told that vehicle was operating correctly.

See all problems of the 1999 Ford Contour 🔎.