RoadVitals

2003 Ford F-250 Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Oct 11, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 116 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Ford F-250 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

SteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 11, 2017

DRIVING 50-60 HIT A BUMP AND THE TRUCK GOES INTO A VIOLENT WOBBLE, UNABLE TO CONTROL THE BREAKS AND STEERING. THIS LAST TIME I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT CAUSED ME TO ENTER THE LANE NEXT TO ME NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME. WHEN THE SHAKING STOPS, THE TRUCK RUNS SMOOTH WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF A PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID OF MY FAMILIES SAFETY!!!

NHTSA ID
11032830
Incident
Oct 10, 2017
Mileage
102,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Nov 18, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND LOST BRAKING ABILITY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID
10926989
Incident
Oct 28, 2016
Mileage
160,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed May 21, 2014

DRIVING 60 MPH OR GREATER AND HIT A BUMP THE FRONT END WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SLOW WAY DOWN TO STOP IT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR NR 62 PARTS BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP THE DODGE DEATH WOBBLE. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND KILL SOMEONE. DODGE WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIRS THAT I PAID FOR THAT INCLUDED THE RECALL NR62. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE BEFORE I RECEIVED THE RECALL. IN THE RECALL IT IS STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS IF THEY WERE ALREADY DONE. EVERYONE ONE SEEMS TO KNOW ABOUT THE DODGE DEATH WOBBLE BUT WON'T FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593251
Incident
Nov 20, 2013
Mileage
104,000 mi
SteeringTires & wheels
Filed Oct 23, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD 250 WITH GENERAL GRABBER AT2 TIRES; SIZE 235/85/16. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT ACROSS THE ROADWAY. HE THEN DRIVER REDUCED THE VEHICLES SPEED TO 50 MPH. AFTER TWO NEW TIRES WERE MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TIRES AT THIS TIME HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED AS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,681. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000. UPDATED 12/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/10/09

NHTSA ID
10289524
Incident
Oct 13, 2009
Mileage
131,681 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 31, 2006

2003 FORD F 250 4X4 ALIGNMENT 6 TIMES... THIS TRUCK EATS TIRES.. FRIEND HAS 2005 ALIGNED 4 TIMES... DEALER SAYS NOT A PROBLEM... MUST BE AS I HAD A 1991 FOR 12 YEARS AND NOT ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10154264
Incident
Jan 11, 2006
Steering
Filed Aug 24, 2005

WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND YOU HIT A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHIMMIES TO POINT OF BEING UNCONTROLLABLE. ONCE YOU SLOW DOWN THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. THIS HAS OCCURED ON AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ONCE AT APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 16,100, 20,600 AND 21,009. THE SPEED WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED 60-65 MPH.

NHTSA ID
10134066
Incident
Aug 19, 2005
Mileage
21,009 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Oct 19, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE WILL NOT START RIGHT UP AGAIN. ONE HOUR INTO DRIVING THE PROBLEM STARTED. ENGINE MADE A WHISTLING SOUND. OTHER THEN THAT THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES. *AK POWER STEERING AND BRAKES SHUT DOWN AS A RESULT OF LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. *TC

NHTSA ID
10092726
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Steering
Filed Sep 27, 2004

2003 F250, UPON HITTING A POT HOLE IN THE HIGHWAY THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY, RESULTING IN A QUICK BRAKING AND EXIT OF HIGHWAY. ONCE AT LOW SPEEDS PROBLEM DID NOT PERSIST, ONLY HAPPENED AFTER IMPACT WITH POT HOLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10093189
Incident
Sep 26, 2004
Mileage
54,750 mi
Steering
Filed May 25, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL BEING OUT OF LINE. AFTER TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING. ALL THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO RUN HEAD ON INTO A WALL. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE CENTER LINK FALLING APART. *JB

NHTSA ID
10074180
Steering
Filed Feb 20, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO APPLY BOTH HANDS TO TURN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE STEERING HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST PUMP A MONTH AGO. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10059543
Incident
Feb 20, 2004
Steering
Filed Jan 17, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING COLUMN HAS A LOT OF PLAY INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID
10004180
Incident
Jan 15, 2003

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .