2000 FORD EXPLORER — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

MY 2000 V8 FORD EXPLORER EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS AND SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERABILTY, WHICH LED TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND INABILITY TO TURN A CORNER - AND VEHICLE RAN ACROSS TRAFFIC INTO FIELD ON OTHER SIDE OF ROADWAY. THE POWER STEERING HOSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BECAME UNFASTENED DUE TO EVERYDAY VIBRATION, AND MOVED INTO A POSITION WHERE IT WAS RUBBING AGAINST ONE OF THE BELT PULLEYS (THE ONE NEAREST THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR). THIS CAUSED THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO RUPTURE, WITH IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I FEEL FORTUNATE TO HAVE MY WIFE STILL ALIVE AFTER THIS EPISODE OF POOR DESIGN. IF NOT FOR A SMALL BREAK IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SHE MAY WELL HAVE BEEN KILLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE A RIGHT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. SINCE THIS OCCURRED TODAY, I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED.