The defect
THE STEERING GEARS HAVE AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED SNAP RING GROOVE. THIS CAN CAUSE A FRACTURE OF THE SNAP RING WITH SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO THE RECIRCULATING BALL GUIDE TUBE. ALSO, THE O-RING SEAL IN VEHICLES BUILT AFTER FEBRUARY 1988 DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND IS INADEQUATE, CAUSING INTERIOR LEAKAGE AROUND THE O-RING / GLIDE RING SEAL IN THE STEERING GEAR.
The risk
THE FRACTURE OF THE SNAP RING RESULTS IN INCREASING DETERIORATION OF THE ABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORTS OR A "CRUNCHY" FEELING AT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE INADEQUATE O-RING SEAL CAUSES MOMENTARY REDUCTIONS IN POWER STEERING ASSIST AT LOW SPEED AND CERTAIN LEFT TURN MANEUVERS. BOTH CONDITIONS RESULT IN DECREASED STEERING ABILITY.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REBUILD THE STEERING GEAR. IF A BROKEN SNAP RING IS FOUND DURING REBUILDING, THE STEERING GEAR WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACTURED UNIT.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford B600 | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
| Ford B700 | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
Components: STEERING:RACK AND PINION
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford B600 | 1988 | 0 | 3 |
| Ford B600 | 1989 | 2 | 2 |
| Ford B600 | 1990 | 0 | 2 |
| Ford B600 | 1991 | 0 | 2 |
| Ford B600 | 1992 | 0 | 3 |
| Ford B600 | 1993 | 0 | 5 |
| Ford B700 | 1988 | 0 | 3 |
| Ford B700 | 1989 | 3 | 2 |
| Ford B700 | 1990 | 1 | 2 |
| Ford B700 | 1991 | 1 | 2 |
| Ford B700 | 1992 | 1 | 3 |
| Ford B700 | 1993 | 0 | 5 |
Other steering recalls in 1994
23 of the 244 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1994 concerned the steering; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 94V249000 30 Dec 1994 | JAGUAR CARS |
| 94V244000 12 Dec 1994 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 94V233001 22 Nov 1994 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 94V206000 21 Oct 1994 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 94V192000 9 Oct 1994 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 94V001000 5 Oct 1994 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
| 94V189000 4 Oct 1994 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 94V170000 14 Sept 1994 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1994