Four problems related to power steering fluid have been reported for the 1998 Ford Windstar. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking power steering fluid. The contact stated that the vehicle needed approximately one bottle of power steering fluid per day for it to operate normally. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the spindle and rack fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 97v165000 (steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Tl-the contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving the steering wheel became hard to turn and made a winding noise. The vehicle was taken to several mechanics for inspections and located the failure at the rack and pinion failed and was leaking fluid. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 130,000. Li.
I filed a complaint on 2/10/03 (odi # 10005590) relating to the loss of power steering fluid in our 1998 Ford Windstar. The dealership, at that time, used a repair kit (rather than a complete replacement) for the second time in a year. In early August, 2003, the repair kit failed again and we had no power steering fluid left at all. Three failures in a critical safety device in 18 months very clearly indicates that the manufacturer's remedial plan is inadequate and a recall is necessary.
For the second time in one year, our 1998 Ford Windstar (VIN 2fmza5143wbc98551) is in need of repair to correct a power steering fluid leak. I understand there are two service bulletins that have been issued on this defect (bc3150970219 and 0156).