ANALYSIS:THIS PE WAS INITIATED BASED ON RECEIPT OF CONSUMER REPORTS OFPOWER STEERING FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THIS ISSUE WAS ORIGINALLYREVIEWED UNDER PE86-006, WHICH WAS CLOSED AFTER NO DEFECT TREND WAS IDENTI-FIED.THIS PE WAS OPENED TO REASSESS THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ALLEGED PROBLEM.IN RESPONSE TO NHTSA'S REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, FORD REPORTED THE FAILURE(COMPLAINT), ACCIDENT, AND INJURY STATISTICS CITED ABOVE.INCLUDED INTHESE DATA ARE 8 CASES INVOLVING ACCIDENT OR SUBROGATION CLAIMS, AND 7LAWSUITS THAT CITE POWER STEERING PROBLEMS AS THE BASIS FOR THE PLAINTIFF'SCASE AGAINST FORD.IN ADDITION, FORD REPORTED HAVING INITIATED ONLY ONEENGINEERING DESIGN MODIFICATION IN MAY 1983 WHICH RELATES TO THE POTENTIALFOR MALFUNCTION OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP.WARRANTY CLAIM DATA RELATINGTO THIS MATTER FAILED TO EITHER ESTABLISH OR SUBSTANTIATE THE EXISTENCE OFA DEFECT TREND.PROPOSED ACTION:CLOSE THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.===