1997 Ford F-150 Steering Problems

STEERING WHEEL FRAME IS CRACKED AND ALLOWS FOR LARGE MOVEMENT BEFORE THE VEHICLE MAY RESPOND. ALUMINUM APPEARS TO HAVE SEVERAL HAIRLINE CRACKS AND WARPING AROUND THE COLLAR HOLDING THE STEERING COLUMN AND YOU MAY LOOSE CONTROL WHILE TURNING OR WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS UNEVEN AT MID TO HIGH SPEEDS. LOST CONTROL WHILE TRAVELING ON AN S SHAPED CURVE DUE TO LACK OF STEERING AND THEN OVER-STEERING. THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY IN NIGHT CONDITIONS, NO RAIN. VIDEO FOOTAGE IS AVAILABLE VIA A DASHCAM. *TR

NHTSA ID

11329436

Incident

Jun 16, 2020

Mileage

157,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD AND A POP SOUND EMERGED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY A HALF A BLOCK THEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND THEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER THAT ADVISED HIM THAT THE VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PARTS REPLACED WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 207,000.

NHTSA ID

10957781

Incident

Feb 22, 2017

Mileage

207,000 mi

I JUST STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH MY STEERING. I WAS TURNING RIGHT AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I HAD TO TUG HARD TO UNBIND AND REGAIN CONTROL OF MY TRUCK. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT THIS JUST STARTED HAPPENING AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10946552

Incident

Jan 4, 2017

Mileage

169,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXTREME FORCE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY WELDING THE STEERING SHAFT BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10654691

Incident

Nov 3, 2008

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT BECAME LOOSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V196000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10645071

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME AND RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,166.

NHTSA ID

10617619

Incident

Aug 2, 2011

Mileage

167,166 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TOWN WHEN ALL THE BALL BEARINGS FELL OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SWAY FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, IT WAS CONTROLLABLE AT THE LOW SPEED I WAS GOING BUT THANK GOD I WASN'T ON AN INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED I COULD HAVE RUN OFF THE ROAD OR WORSE HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION ! THE TRUCK HAS NOT LEFT MY PROPERTY SINCE BUT I STILL HAVE TO KEEP FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE AND TAGGED FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES AND A LIEN FROM MY BANK ON IT,I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE STARTER ON IT EIGHT (8) TIMES THE PARTS ARE VERY CHEAP BUT IT HAS AN AIRBAG AND MY LOCAL FORD DEALER GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF 200.00 TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE TWO SIX AND SEVEN DOLLAR BEARINGS. WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED SINCE THE BALL BEARINGS ARE VERY TINY AND ARE HARD TO SEE AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED MY TRUCK JUST SITS THERE ALL THIS TIME BECAUSE IM AFRAID OF SOMEONE GETTING HURT SERIOUSLY OR KILLED BECAUSE IM AFRAID OF LOSING CONTROL ON THE STEERING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE I WAS SIXTEEN AND WAS A BIG TRUCK DRIVER FROM 1979 TO 1996 TILL I BECAME ILL BUT I WOULD NEVER DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH STEERING PROBLEMS, THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10458004

Incident

Mar 9, 2010

Mileage

135,606 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING BOX. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BOLT THAT HELD THE STEERING SHAFT IN PLACE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V196000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 02/22/12 *BF UPDATED 03/01/12

NHTSA ID

10447127

Incident

Feb 8, 2011

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED ON THE STEERING BOX. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V196000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 106,000. UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE.

NHTSA ID

10417191

Incident

Aug 4, 2011

Mileage

106,000 mi

GEM MODULE FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED. CAUSED 4X4 TO ENGAGE AT HIGH SPEED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ALSO, DURING TURNS, CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL OF STEERING. DID SOME RESEARCH OF SEVERAL FORD F150 WEB SITES AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR SIMILAR OR THE SAME PROBLEMS. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THE GEM MODULE WAS THE CULPRIT AND THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT CORROSION IN THE ADJACENT FUSE JUNCTION PANEL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONFESSED THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR THESE KINDS OF CONDITIONS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MANY OF THESE GEM MODULES AND FUSE PANELS BECAUSE OF LEAKS IN THE WINDSHIELD OR HOOD COWLING. THEY FURTHER TOLD ME THAT UNLESS I REPLACED THESE COMPONENTS AND ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENT, AT MY EXPENSE, THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY ANY REPAIRS. AFTER A REPAIR BILL OF $1000.00, FORD REFUSED TO HELP CLAIMING IT WAS NOT A DESIGN OR COMPONENT PART PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THE POSSIBILITY OF ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE FUTURE OR EVEN DAMAGE TO THE DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID

10374331

Incident

Oct 29, 2010

Mileage

148,200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH HE SUDDENLY LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL, MOMENTS LATER THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A ICE PATCH WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLES REAR END TO SWAY LEFT AND RIGHT BEFORE STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT HAD BEGUN TO ROT AND SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128000.

NHTSA ID

10298597

Incident

Dec 16, 2009

Mileage

128,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 10 MPH, THE PIN IN THE STEERING COLUMN FELL OUT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MANAGED TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS FAILURE AND COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 160,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE STEERING SHAFT COUPLER SHEERED OFF. UPDATED 05/29/09*JB

NHTSA ID

10264381

Incident

Oct 4, 2008

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT MADE A CRACKING AND POPPING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BE LIFTED UP FROM THE ANCHORAGE AND TILTED TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V196000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR), ALTHOUGH HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN 2008. HE WAS INFORMED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER (FORD OF AMERICA) THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10256564

Incident

Mar 10, 2007

Mileage

160,000 mi

AS I WAS LEAVING THE ON RAMP TO ENTER HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-25 IN DENVER THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DISCONNECTED WHERE THE STEERING SHAFT MEETS THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THERE WAS NO STEERING CAPABILITIES OF THE PICK-UP. I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS BUT WAS WITHIN FEET OF BEING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231903

Incident

May 28, 2008

Mileage

72,215 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 1997 FORD PICKUP F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 01/22/2007 HE WAS MAKING A TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND HE RAN OFF THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE OTHER TIMES WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PLATE IN THE COLUMN THAT IS LOOSE AND COULD PUSH UP AND DOWN AN INCH. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR, AND HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE LAST FAILURE. *AK UPDATED 02/22/07*JB

NHTSA ID

10179475

Incident

Jan 22, 2007

Mileage

92,214 mi

BROKEN BOLTS TO THE STEERING BOX. NO INCIDENT INVOLVED. STEERING CONTROL BECAME LOOSE. DIAGNOSIS OF PROBLEM WAS A LOOSE STEERING BOX FROM BOLT FAILURE. ADDITIONAL FAILURES OF REMAINING BOLTS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10161922

Incident

Jul 9, 2006

Mileage

130,823 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE RIGHT FRONT STEERING LINKAGE AND TIE ROD BROKE, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. THE DEALER PROVIDED A SOLUTION AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146810

Incident

Jun 10, 2000

Mileage

195,000 mi

WHILE BACKING OUT TO GET ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER FORD F150 HAD NO STEERING. *TS (11/16/05) THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN. THE CONSUMERS FOUND THAT A PIECE ON THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY THAT WAS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM HAD WORN OUT. *SC

NHTSA ID

10143198

Incident

Nov 1, 2005

1997 FORD F150 TIE RODS ARE EXTREMELY LOOSE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR IT WAS DEMONSTRATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE BALL END COULD BE PULLED OUT OF THE SOCKET WITH BARE HANDS. THE SOCKET WAS MADE OF RUBBER. *SC

NHTSA ID

10128059

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

1997 FORD F150 DRIVER SIDE INNER TIE ROD END BECAME COMPLETELY SEPERATED DURING OPERATION OT THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

10125011

Incident

Jun 10, 2005

Mileage

110,000 mi

CAUGHT PROBLEM BEFORE TRAGEDY

NHTSA ID

10115999

Incident

Mar 28, 2005

Mileage

65,000 mi

1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK POSSIBLE DEFECT OF "TIE ROD ENDS". *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THEY SHOULD PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10115612

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

TIE ROD BROKE AT A VERY GENTLY USED 40,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10108087

Incident

Mar 2, 2004

Mileage

40,000 mi

THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH AND TIE ROD CAME OUT OF THE SOCKET. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10103642

Incident

Nov 10, 2004

Mileage

104,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V196000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10097795

Incident

Oct 26, 2004