Hydraulic Power Assist Steering System Problems of Ford Escort

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Escort. The contact stated that the steering locked up while driving. She pulled to the side of the road and attempted to restart the vehicle, however, it failed to restart immediately. She stated that the power steering fluid was dark colored and leaking. The dealer stated that the power steering needed to be drained and more tests were needed to determine the cause of failure. The current and failure mileages were 176,432. Updated 12/12/2007 updated 12/12/07.

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Whenever it rains and I drive in a puddle of water my serpentine belt comes off, causing my car to have no power steering and my battery light comes on. Everytime this happens I go to my mechanic and he has to manually put the belt back on. The mechanic tells me he doesn't know why this keeps happening and doesn't know how to fix it because he's inspected my vehicle and can't find anything wrong.

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While driving at 10mph on flat surface power steering went out, and consumer lost control of vehicle. Dealer notified. *akthere was a loud grinding noise and burning smell and smoke from the belts.

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Crankshaft pully separated from engine block, causing sudden loss of power steering. Vehicle only had 30m miles.

While driving about 30 mph power steering went out. Dealer found serpentine belt had snapped, causing bracket to water pump housing to break. Tension rod and waterpump housing were replaced at cosnumer's cost.

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While driving at 45 mph downshifted to second gear and was making a right, lost control of vehicle. Consumer had no brakes/no powersteering, and vehicle went across on the other side of the road about 137 feet and end up on the passenger's side.

Driving on a straight road, vehicle veered to the right, lost control, overcorrected, and hit a guardrail on left side of road, became airborn and flew 60 feet over creek. Two were injured, and vehicle suffered extensive damage.

Nuts that hold clamps which hold power steering unit have come off, causing power steering to become loose, and would not return back to the center.

While driving at approximately 45 mph in wet conditions driver lost control of vehicle and ran into a tree head on ,did not have enough time to apply brakes , dual airbags did not deploy, causing head injuries.