Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 96 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 96, in the owner's own words
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE STEERING AND FRONT SUSPENSION CALLED "THE DEATH WOBBLE". OCCURS AS SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 AND 70 MPH. OCCURS IF ROAD IS SOMEWHAT BUMPY. OCCURS OFTEN AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. IT REQUIRES THAT I SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 5 MPH BEFORE IT STOPS. THIS IMMEDIATE NEED TO SLOW DOWN IF DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING ME (ESPECIALLY A LARGE TRUCK.)
I WAS DRIVING MY PICK UP FORD 150 1998 32 MILE FOR HOUR AND I LOSE CONTROL OF MY STEERING WHEEL . MY STEERING WHEEL DO NOT RESPOND .. STEERING WHEEL WENT LOOSE TURNING AND TURNING WITH NO CONTROL OF THE TRUCK... *TR
THE PRN12 SHIFT LEVER HAS BEEN SLOWLY LOOSENING OVER A PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS, AND HAS RESULTED IN NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE IN PARK. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE SHIFTER WILL NOT ENGAGE, AND WILL ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD OR BACKWARD. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED AS A RESULT OF THE EXCESS PLAY IN THE SHIFTER. I CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR POSSIBLE CAUSES AND FOUND MANY THREADS EXPLAINING THE CAUSE AS TWO STAR BOLTS THAT HAVE EITHER LOOSENED, OR COMPLETELY FALLEN OUT IN SOME CASES. I HAVE TIGHTENED THE BOLTS MYSELF, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A SITUATION THAT THE DEALERS SHOULD ADDRESS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE DIRECTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE TIEROD END LEANED OUT TO FAR. *TR
FAILURE WAS IMMEDIATE, FORD F150 FUEL TANK STRAPS. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD APPARENTLY THE TANK STRAPS GAVE WAY AND THE FUEL TANK DROPPED. BEFORE COMING TO A STOP AND AFTER CATCHING SOME UNEVEN PAVEMENT, FUEL TANK WAS PEALED OPEN AND LOSING ABOUT 8 GALLONS GAS. FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND THEY CLEANED UP SPILL. BOTH STRAPS BROKE AND FUEL TANK IS UN-REPAIRABLE. UPDATED 08/05/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS A LEAKING POWER STEERING GEAR BOX, BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED, THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE GEAR BOX, THE MUFFLER HANGERS, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS AND SHOCKS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 08/11/1*JB *TR
STEERING SHAFT CRACKED AT THE BASE WHERE CONNECTED TO THE STEERING BOX. I LOST MY STEERING COMPLETELY. THANKFULLY I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK AND WAS NOT DRIVING ON A ROAD OR TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. I HAVE THE OLD PART AND WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC WHO IS FIXING THE VEHICLE TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AS IN THEIR OPINION IT IS A MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT MAY HAVE HAD DEADLY CONSEQUENCE. MY VEHICLE IS A 1998 FORD F150 AND HAS APPROX 99,000 MILES ON IT. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS OLDER, IT CERTAINLY IS NOT THE OLDEST VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED IT AND HAVE NEVER USED THE VEHICLE FOR ANY OFF ROAD OR HARD USE. *TR
I HAD JUST TURNED OFF INTERSTATE 287 ONTO INTERVALE ROAD (A LOCAL ROAD). I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH A VERY SHARP LEFT HAND CURVE. AS I PROCEEDED TO ENTER THE CURVE I HAD NO STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR NOISE. I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THERE WAS LOOSE SAND AND GRAVEL AND I ENDED UP SLIDING INTO A UTILITY POLE STRAIGHT AHEAD, WITHOUT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS SECURED BY THE SEAT BELT, BUT MY HEAD STRUCK THE SUN VISOR. POLICE AT THE SCENE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED LOSS OF STEERING. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY THE SHOP TO WHICH MY TRUCK WAS TOWED REVEALED THAT THE SECTOR SHAFT WAS BROKEN WHERE THE PITMAN ARM IS ATTACHED. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PART SHOULD NEVER FAIL IN A VEHICLE, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT IF THE PART WAS POUNDED ALL DAY WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER THAT IT SHOULD NOT FAIL. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAD ONLY HEARD OF ONE FAILURE EVER OF THIS PART IN A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT. FURTHERMORE, THIS PART IS LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH DID NOT SUFFER ANY IMPACT FROM THE ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED FORD WITH THIS INFORMATION AND THEY ARE TOTALLY INDIFFERENT TO IT. THEY WANT ME TO PAY UP TO $60,000 TO HIRE AN EXPERT WITNESS TO PROVE THAT THE PART FAILED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2004 AND HAVE NO RESOLUTION OR COMMITMENT FROM FORD TO DO ANYTHING. THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN DEATH HAD THIS PART FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WONDER HOW MANY FATAL ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS FAILURE THAT WAS NEVER PROPERLY INVESTIGATED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OVER TO STATE FARM INSURANCE TO REPAIR . THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A PICTURE OF THE VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE A LIST OF REPAIR SHOPS. UPDATED 08/23/07 *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE BECAME ERRATIC. THE PROBLEM WORSENED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SHAFT HAD DETACHED FROM THE GEAR BOX. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 03V196000 ON THE 1997 MODEL YEAR OF THE SAME VEHICLE.
1-DRIVING ON HIGHWAY-HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CHANGED LANES 2-TIE ROD END SEPARATED, CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL, SWERVED INTO BREAKDOWN LANE 3-TRUCK WAS DELIVERED TO REPAIR STATION, TIE ROD END NEEDED REPLACEMENT **THIS IS THE SECOND TIE ROD THAT HAS FAILED IN THIS TRUCK WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AS WELL AND WAS ACTUALLY WORSE AT SLOWER SPEED. *NM
DT: CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT BEFORE REGARDING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE AN ODI NUMBER. WHILE DRIVING SHE TURNED INTO DRIVEWAY TO TURN AROUND AND TIE ROD END BROKE OFF. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 30, 2005. THIS WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE TIE ROD END TO BREAK. *AK
I WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE TIE ROD OF MY 1998 F150 CAME APART.ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD NO STEERING PERIOD. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THIS WAS BAD ,NO BAD TIRE WEAR, NO SHAKING ,NOTHING. BETWEEN THE TOWING ,REPLACING THE PART & AN UNNEEDED ALIGNMENT IAM OUT 200$ WHICH IS CHEAP COSIDERING WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED.
1) DRIVING AND THE FIRST THE RIGHT SIDE WHEEL POPPED, THEN ABOUT A2 WEEKS LATER THE LEFT SIDE POPPED 2) UNABLE TO MOVE VEHICLE 3) HAD TO BUY NEW BALL JOINTS YES WE STILL HAVE THE ONES FROM THE FACTORY, THE FACTORY PARTS ARE NOT GREASABLE, THE NEW PARTS ARE
FORD F150 DRIVERS SIDE OUTER TIEROD BALL JOINT FAILED.THE TIEROD COMPLETLY SEPERATED FROM STEERING KNUCKLE. THE TRUCK WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. NO DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN PURCHASED AND WILL BE INSTALLED.
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AT 15 MPH OR LESS, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT TIE ROD WAS BROKEN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB *NM
WHILE DRIVING,THE DRIVE SIDE TIRE ROD SHEARED OFF. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE NEAREST MECHANIC. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM THE INNER TIE ROD WAS SEPARATED AND FELL APART. THE WHEELS TURNED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. *TC
RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE IN HALF AND SEPARATED FROM THE TIE ADJUSTOR. *AK CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING 25 MPH *TC
DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS APPOXIMATELY 40 MPH, RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD END SEPARATED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING . I HAVE REPLACED INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD ENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. OLD PART WAS THROWN AWAY.*AK
I JUST READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT FORD TRUCK OWNERS HAVING TIE ROD PROBLEMS. I DID RECEIVE A LETTER. I HAD ONE TIE ROD BREAK TWO WEEKS AGO, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. I HAD NOT YET OPENED THE LETTER. *AK
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE FRONT TIE RODS FAILED. AS A RESULT, STEERING BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK
THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD HAD SHEARED OFF FROM THE BALL JOINT SOCKET. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TIE ROD AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
DURING NORMAL STREET DRIVING, THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END POPPED OFF. IT CAUSED THE TIRE TO VEER LEFT AND SHATTERED THE LEFT RIM. FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO THE VEHICLE,AS IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK I REPLACED BOTH INNER AND OUTER ENDS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT, OUT OF FEAR OF FAILURE AT A LATER TIME OR WORSE, A FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH FORD, THEY WOULDN'T ADMIT THIS WAS A PROBLEM ( ABNORMALLY RAPID WEAR!) AND REFUSED TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE PARTS AND TIME.
WHILE DRIVING TIE ROD SNAPPED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN DRIVER'S SIDE INNER TIE ROD DETACHED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT THE PICK UP WAS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE PICK UP. THE TIE ROD COULD NOT BE LUBRICATED. THE INNER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED.*AK
VEHICLE: 1998 FORD F-150 4X4 WITH 68,000 MILES. ORIGINAL AND SOLE DRIVER OF VEHICLE WHICH IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE WITH NO DRIVEABILITY ISSUES PRIOR TO INCIDENT. EVENTS: TRAVELING DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD AT 35 MPH FAILURE: CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CORRECTION OF FAILURE: FORD DEALER, SUNNYSIDE MOTOR COMPANY, HOLDEN,MA 01520, 1-800 649-4333 , INVOICE # 103830 DATED 6/3/04 REPLACED FAILED PART ALONG WITH ALL OTHER TIE RODS AND IDLER ARM. I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION ALL REPLACED PARTS. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE COST MY LIFE PLUS OTHER'S WHILE IN MY VEHICLE. FORD IS AMBIVALENT ABOUT THE SITUATION. I NEED YOUR HELP. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED OR USED FOR OFF ROADING. OPERATION OF STEERING AND VEHICLE TRACKING DOWN HIGHWAY WAS EXCELLENT PRIOR TO INCIDENT. I AM ALSO HAVING THE DEFECTIVE PART ALONG WITH QUESTIONABLE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE. *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .