This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-150. While turning left or right, the steering wheel stiffened. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering was leaking and the rack and pinion and hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Steering is heavy and binds, especially during cornering and braking. Feels like power steering is failing and truck is difficult to steer, control and maneuver at all speeds and directions. Steering shafts and joints are completely rusted and seizing and will not release with lubricant. Power steering fluid and lines are fine and dealer states that steering shafts and joints must be replaced. I was trailering a boat at 50 mph and steering was seizing, very heavy, and seemed to be binding while going around bends in the road and then the steering would suddenly release - or unstick - and become responsive again. I crossed the center line as the steering suddenly got very heavy, sluggish and unresponsive, and then released and became responsive again. I almost drove directly into oncoming traffic. This steering issue is now a constant and happens while driving or towing, at all speeds, and in both forward and reverse. This steering problem is extremely unpredictable, unsafe, and very dangerous. It also seems to be common problem with numerous complaints and reports of this issue being reported to the NHTSA, Ford, Ford dealers, and discussed in online forums.
While making left or right turns the steering gets hard to steer then it loosens up making it over steer. I believe it is in the steering shaft U-joint because it is all rusted.
When I was making a left turn off a highway ramp, the steering wheel locked up & then snapped back & sprained my wrist. I don't care about my wrist, but I do care about the defective lower steering shaft that was engineered wrong to start with & you made Ford issue a recall (because of the defect)in all there mid sized & highend cars along with Lincoln & Mercury models because it's a major safety problem. What you didn't do is, order a recall for all Ford that has the same lower steering shaft! why" you say it's not a safety problem in the F-150, why? just because it's a truck or Ford paid you off not to issue the recall for the F-150's?? if it's a defected part in there cars, it's the same part put in F-150's, made by the same co.. I pd $38,000 for a truck that has the same defected part you made them issue a recall. Some Lincoln & Mercury cars recalled are heavier than my F-150, but that doesn't matter to you. I almost crashed threw the guard rail & if I did, I would be dead!! I want to know how your Agency excluded the F-150 in the recall?? are you people engineers? how in the world could you exclude any vehicle in the recall that has the same defected part in it? please E-mail me the reason why a defected part Ford made, is only a safety issue in cars, but not the F-150"S that has the same lower steering shaft's. I really want to know. Think of this, a Mercury Sable had the same problem I had while making a left turn, the Mercury would hit the guard rail & stop, my F-150 would of went up & over the guard rail & fall to my death!! a defected part is a defected part, no matter what vehicle it's in. I want to know why you think it's ok for millions of F-150's to have defected lower steering shaft's?" god for bid my children ever got hurt because you idiot's said a defected part is ok on F-150's!!
While making a left hand turn, noticed steering became very tight. Had to force it then it "released" resulting in an over steer and almost veering to oncoming traffic. Centering the wheel also became difficult and resulting in oversteer the opposite way. Same problem - right or left hand turn. Was intermittent but has become chronic now and getting worse. Have not had it in the shop yet.
My truck has 81K miles on it and the torque converter has gone bad. I have never in the past heard of a bad torque converter from normal wear and tear. The top of my steering wheel is showing major wear. My wife's 2000 mini van has no wear on it. Why would the top of my steering wheel be falling apart?
I bought this truck new with 26 miles on it. I have since had brakes go out...steering go out, powertrain replaced with refurbished one. I don't understand why the steering issue is not a safety issue and all the mechanics at Ford say it should be a recall. I don't understand why the spark plugs can't be removed without breaking off and Ford is totally aware of this problem. My truck steering...I was told a part needs to be replaced that happens to all these trucks...it is at least $1300...and when I asked for a tuneup and was told because the spark plugs break off it can be over 800.00...I was astonished that with all the trouble with GM recalls you would not target this 2008 Ford F-150...there are multiple major safety issues. I already went up against Ford about the powertrain and have paid $35,000 for this truck, I owe thousands more. Can you help or be of any assistance for all Ford truck owners? oh, and the truck starts shaking and I have to stop put in 4WD and then out again in middle of traffic to get it to run right, and the emergency brakes sticks too. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Steering is tight and hard to steer especially while driving around curves and when turning the steering is tight and then loosens up and jerks suddenly. Found the steering column knuckles scolded and no way to lubricate.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-150. The contact was driving 3 mph when the steering wheel seized. The contact lubricated the steering column by applying oil and the vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that the running boards were damaged and the steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 64,660.
Steering wheel has become difficult to turn. Feels as if it is locking up and I really have to muscle it back to center after taking a sharp turn. I took it to my mechanic and he lubricated a U joint on the steering shaft which helped and told me to bring it back if/when it starts binding up again. He informed me he has replaced the lower steering shaft on other F150's due to severe rust/corrosion at the joint. I saw recently Ford issued a recall on Crown Victoria's with some type of steering issue so I figured I would submit this complaint since I anticipate having to replace the steering shaft in the near future.
Power steering became intermittent and vehicle would become difficult to control. Remedy was to replace the faulty, rusted lower linkage in the steering assembly.
While driving, my steering suddenly started to feel like it was binding. I pulled over and noticed a large pool of fluid underneath. I had it towed to a service station and was told that I needed a steering rack. The steering rack was replaced at a cost of approximately ( I have a receipt, just not at hand at the moment) $1300. A week later my steering was acting strange again. I brought it back to the service station and was told that I now needed a steering column (sp). The cost to replace this was $470.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-150 sd. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the power steering failed as the steering wheel tightened. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where it was stated that the steering shaft needed to be replaced and steering line had a leak. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. Updated 11/15/13
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized. The failure recurred numerous times even while the contact was driving at various speeds. The contact applied oil to the steering column to alleviate the failure. The remedy lasted a week and more oil was applied as a temporary remedy. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 60,000.
The truck steering column was hard to turn. Clunking and sticking points were noted during turning.found lower steering shaft U-joint in engine compartment seized. This coincides with latest Ford recall for 2005 - 2011 Ford cars. This was diagnosed as "frozen" by Ford and replaced on 06/17/13. This recall should be expanded to include Ford F-150 series trucks. The repair cost $460. I thought this should have not happen being only 5 years old. Another issue with truck was a split in the radiator (main core.) while driving, my family noticed the smell of glycol. The radiator was leaking (streaming)in the middle of radiator core. Ford replaced the radiator at a cost of $820.83 on 08/05/13. There was no impact damage to radiator. It was diagnosed as leaking.
I have a 2008 F-150. As I was taking an exit off the highway, the steering wheel looked up & I couldn't turn the wheel & ended up on the grassy area of the exit.. the problem is the lower steering shaft U-joint binds up & locks. There is a design flaw in the U-joint, there is no way to grease or lube the U-joint. I have notified Ford many times with no answers or response. On the Ford forum site, there are thousands of F-150 owners who have or had the same problem with trucks who's warranty's just ended & had to pay $500 plus to fix it, there are some who crashed because they couldn't turn the wheel. I was lucky but it's a major problem Ford wouldn't correct til somebody dies. I pd.$30,000 for this truck & owe $16,000 and shouldn't have to pay $500+ to be safe. How can you make Ford correct this problem? I can send you thousands of owners E-mails sent to me from the forum. Bad enough we have to pay alot of money to fix this & still owe a ton of money for the loan for the truck, it's a major safety defect from Ford. Please E-mail me back with your advice on what to do. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Elliottsburg, PA, USA