Steering wheel would intermittently lock up during operation of vehicle traveling at any speed. Steering wheel will lock up while traveling five mph, and turning into a driveway or while traveling on the interstate at high speeds. Dealership has examined vehicle, and determined that a "boot" around a joint in the steering column had deteriorated from exposure to sand. Please provide any additional information / documentation.

- Chester, VA, USA

At 5,000 miles a popping sound is coming from steering column. Dealer was notified, and replaced steering column on two separate occasions. But, problem is still reoccurring. Clip for upper bearing was out, dealer replaced and also retorqued bolts for lower shaft bearings, upper and lower steering shafts were replaced, lower was replaced twice, consumer states there is still problems with the steering. Popping noise in right front seat. Radio inoperable, dealer replaced, radio failed again, dealer replaced and repositioned wiring. Console assembly replaced.

- Concord, NC, USA

Last year my car would shut down. Go from regular RPM to zero and die. This would lock my steering column. I observed that this happened when the outdoor temperature exceeded about 90 degrees F and the car was exposed to sun (more likely to shut down that if I was coming out of a covered garage where the temp was lower, until exposed to the higher outside temp read. The steering column would lock as the ignition shut off whether I was idling in a drive thru lane or existing a freeway ramp where I would expect to go from 55 to 35 to zero at the stop, I would go to zero and bypass 34-1 mph. Just complete system shut down and column lock. I took the care in and they said it was the fuel injectors and paid $500 for who knows what because the problem persisted. It's hot. The problem persists. It's dangerous. Am I placing my family at risk? I already had the aerostar catch fire in the steering column while I was at full freeway speed. I am afraid that a similar defect is at work here. The aero was a manual so I could always rev to keep the RPM up, the explore is auto trans and goes from drive to lock. Please help me.

- Pasadena, CA, USA

While driving at a low speed vehicle shimmies and shakes. It is noticed more at low speeds. Also, when it's windy outside consumer doesn't have a lot of control of the steering wheel.

- Holtsville, NY, USA

While driving, pulling into a intersection, the steering locked and would not turn at all due to a broken steering coupler. The steering coupler was replaced on 9/24/97 by dealership.

- Dunwoody, GA, USA

While driving 15 mph the steering wheel seperated from the steering column, causing loss of control. Dealer states that mounting bolt is missing.

- Kensington, MD, USA

Steering column failed.

- Stuart, FL, USA

Consumer lease car only had 600 miles the right rear shock came loose and make noise the steering shaft there is loose a lot of play.

- Denville , NJ, USA