RoadVitals

1999 Ford F-350 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.
48
Latest Jul 7, 2021
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.
12%
of 413 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.
10
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
7

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 1999 Ford F-350 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 48 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

The 25 most recent of 48, in the owner's own words

SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 7, 2021

This truck has the death wobble. It gets the death wobble at 20 mph. My next step is to sue Ford

NHTSA ID
11423732
Incident
Jul 7, 2021
Steering
Filed Oct 5, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE OWNER WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS AVAILABLE WHILE TURING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT HOWEVER, WAS NOT AVAILABLE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ID
11362838
Incident
Sep 1, 2020
Mileage
190,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesSteering
Filed Nov 20, 2018
Crash reported1 death reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-350. WHILE THE CONTACT'S FATHER WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, HE SWERVED TO AVOID STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES DID NOT STOP AND THE STEERING SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER STRUCK A TREE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S FATHER SUSTAINED BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE TORSO AND WAS FATALLY INJURED UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11152872
Incident
Oct 25, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 18, 2012
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A SNOW BANK. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY CRYSTALLIZATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT, WHICH WAS FRACTURED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 02/15/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO ROAD HAZARD TO CAUSE THE STEERING SHAFT FAILURE. UPDATED 02/17/12

NHTSA ID
10444347
Incident
Jan 17, 2012
Mileage
145,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 30, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. THIS CAUSED A COLLISION. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10089980
Incident
Aug 11, 2004
Mileage
11,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 2, 2004

CONSUMER STATES STEERING COLUMN HAS A RESISTANCE IN THE WHEEL, AND DOES NO RETURN TO THE CENTER AFTER TURNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10061161
Incident
Mar 1, 2004
Mileage
29,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Oct 15, 2003

DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IN 1999 F350 SERIES TRUCKS. *MR THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AT THE TIME, FORD INSTALLED A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PER COMPANY POLICY. FOR THAT TRANSMISSION THE CONSUMER PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. ALMOST ONE YEAR LATER A SECOND TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER FORD DEALER IN IOWA STATED THAT THE RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE START AND THAT A PART OF IT WAS EGGING WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ROUND. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST 2K MILES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT FORD SHOULD COVER THE COST SPENT ON THE REPAIR(S). *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10044155
Incident
Feb 8, 2002
BrakesSteering
Filed May 28, 2003
Crash reported

STEERING FROZE WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. COULD NOT STRAIGHTEN STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT ANOTHER AUTO'S DOOR HEAD ON. ALSO THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, LOST COMPLETE BRAKING POWER. *TT

NHTSA ID
10021765
Incident
May 28, 2003
Steering
Filed Apr 1, 2003

THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TIE ROD HAD ROTTED OUT AND THE SLEEVE WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10014975
Incident
Mar 17, 2003
Mileage
84,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 16, 2002

CONSUMER HEARD A GROWLING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, DEALER DETERMINED THAT FRONT BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 26700 MILES. ON 16 JULY 2002, CONSUMER HEARD NOISE IN FRONT END AGAIN, BALL JOINTS WERE BEING REPLACED. *AK THE TIE ROD ALSO FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ID
8014036
Incident
Mar 23, 2001
Steering
Filed Apr 12, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY, RESULTING IN RIGHT TIRE WEARING OUT UNDER TIRE WARRANTY. MECHANIC STATED IT INNER TIE ROD MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8007475
Steering
Filed Mar 21, 2002

WHILE DRIVING SECTOR SHAFT BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. *JG *AK

NHTSA ID
8006117
Incident
Feb 28, 2002
Steering
Filed Nov 15, 2001

I WAS ON AN INTERNET SITE CALLED FORD-DIESEL.COM AND A FEW GUYS THERE REPORTED A PROBLEM WITH THEIR STEERING LOCKING UP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES HARD. ONE GUY EVEN REPORTED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO STEER HIS TRUCK WHEN HE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND HAD TO BRAKE HARD TO GET CONTROL OF HIS TRUCK. I DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE TEST ON MY TRUCK TO SEE IF MY TRUCK HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I APPLIED MY BRAKES HARD AT ABOUT 55 MPH AND TRIED TO STEER AND SURE ENOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. SEE THIS LINK FOR THE GUY WHO ALMOST LOST HIS LIFE HTTP://FORUMS.FORD-DIESEL.COM/UBB/ULTIMATEBB.PHP?UBB=GET_TOPIC&F=24&T=003307 . I AM NOT SURE IF FORD IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUY GUYS WITH BRAN NEW TRUCKS ARE REPORTING THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEIR DEALER IS SAYING THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR IT. I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE PULLING A LARGE LOAD WITH ONE OF THESE TRUCKS AND NOT BE ABLE TO STEER WHEN THEY NEEDED TO.*AK

NHTSA ID
754570
Incident
Nov 14, 2001
Steering
Filed Nov 5, 2001

NUT HOLDING STEERING KNUCKLE TO STEERING GEAR BOX WORKED LOOSE ALLOWING KNUCKLE TO WORK LOOSE FROM GEAR BOX CAUSING SLACK IN STEERING.*AK

NHTSA ID
754123
Incident
Nov 3, 2001
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+1 more
Filed Sep 25, 2001

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT CENTERED OFF TO THE LEFT PROPERLY.*JB

NHTSA ID
563254
Incident
May 14, 1999
Steering
Filed Aug 22, 2001
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT THAT DID DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AREA. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HIT A CEMENT CULVERT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HUB AND AXLE HOUSING. DURING OR BEFORE (UNKNOWN) THE ACCIDENT THE STEERING BOX OUTPUT (PITMAN) SHAFT BROKE. WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THESE TYPES OF TRUCKS AND ONE OTHER F350 THAT WHILE DRIVING IN A STORM THE WHEEL HIT A RUT IN THE ROAD AND THE PITMAN SHAFT BROKE CAUSING THE TRUCK TO GO UP AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLL OVER.

NHTSA ID
750944
Incident
Jul 14, 2001
Steering
Filed May 14, 2001

STEERING WANDERS. DEALER ADDED STEERING STABLIZER, BUT STILL WANDERS ALL OVER ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
745294
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed May 11, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SEVERELY PULLS TO RIGHT OR LEFT AND EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURS, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. REPLACED STEERING GEAR BOX. *AK CONSUMER STATES ALL THE BALL JOINTS AND BUSHINGS IN FRONT END ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. REAR BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
887992
Incident
Dec 27, 2000
Steering
Filed May 10, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

LOST CONTROL AND STEERING. A MAJOR CRASH WITH FATALITY AND SERIOUS INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
745163
SteeringTransmission
Filed Dec 13, 2000

CLUTCH DID NOT SLIP AT ALL. WAS IN 5TH AND SLOWING FOR AN EXIT TO 4TH. CLUTCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE TO 4TH, TOWED TO DEALER. TOLD SPRINGS FAILED AND HAD BEEN FAILING A LONG TIME. ALSO INFORMED THAT DEALER HAS HAD FREQUENT PROBLEMS AND FORD HAS REDESIGNED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY THREE TIMES. POWER STEERING WILL JUST GO OUT USUALLY IN A TURN. EEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN ENGINE IS HOT OR RUNNING OVER HOUR OR SO. *AK

NHTSA ID
737767
Incident
May 1, 2000
BrakesSteering
Filed Dec 10, 2000

WHILE STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL, LOST ALL STERRING CONTROL-UNABE TO STEER VECHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
737600
Incident
Apr 1, 1999
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Nov 13, 2000
Crash reported

THE U-BOLTS FAILED, AND THE AXEL DROPPED DOWN. WE HEARD A "THUD" , AND FELT A DROPPING SENSATION. THE STEERING IMMEDIATLEY BECAME INOPERABLE, AND THE TRUCK CRASHED INTO SEVERAL BALES OF HAY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS DAMAGED. WHEN I CONTACTED PARKER TOYOTA, THEY CLAIMED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE AXEL. I THEN PAID FOR THE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. LATER THE SAME DAY, I PULLED A VIN HISTORY ON THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE ODOMETER HAD BEEN ROLLED BACK. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE TRUCK, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS A TRADE IN FROM A GUY THAT BOUGHT IT AT PARKER FORD, AND TRADED IT IN TO PARKER TOYOTA. THE TRUE STORY (VERIFED BY FORD MOTORS), WAS THAT THE TRUCK CAME OUT OF TERRACE, BC. IT WENT TO AUCTION IN MAY 2000, WHERE THE ODOMETER WAS CONVERTED FROM KM TO US MILES. THEY HAVE RECORDS THAT IT WENT IN TO THE ODOMETER SHOP WITH 68,000 KM, AND CAME OUT WITH 33,100 US MILES. THIS IS A MISTAKE OF NEARLY 10,000 MILES. PARKER TOYOTA ADMITS THAT THEY ARE AT FAULT FOR THE ODOMETER FRAUD, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE ARE FILING SUIT AGAINST PARKER TOYOTA FOR FRAUD.*AK

NHTSA ID
736237
Incident
Nov 9, 2000
Steering
Filed Nov 12, 2000

YOU CAN NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. LIKE WHEN YOU NEED TO PARK PULL IN OR OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY GO AT A VERY SLOW SPEED AND TURN. IF YOU HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL AND APPLY THE BRAKES AS IF A KID RUN INTO THE ROAD YOU COULD NOT DO THAT. *AK

NHTSA ID
736198
Incident
Mar 27, 1999
Steering
Filed Nov 12, 2000

LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURS WHEN BACKING UP TO A TRAILER AND BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW.*AK

NHTSA ID
736172
Steering
Filed Oct 16, 2000

THE STEERING BOX SECTOR SHAFT BROKE OFF AT THE PITMAN ARM. CJ

NHTSA ID
559820

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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .