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 2001 Ford F-350 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 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 28, in the owner's own words
Was driving down the rd came to stop light and I had nothing for breaks. I quickly pumped brake and got it to slowdown and made the turn. Went to pull into hospital and had no breaks even tried pumping it again and still had no breaks.
The bracket on the passenger side that is welded to the bottom of the front axle is rusted completely through to the point that the u-bolts that secure the leaf springs to the axle have pulled through the bracket. It appears to be a significant safety issue due to the fact the front axle is no longer secured to the vehicle.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON ANY INCLINE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOST POWER, LOCKED UP, AND DID NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING GEAR BOX, AND CHECKED ALL COMPONENTS IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,400.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE STABILIZING BAR HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
STEERING GETS HARD AND FEELS LIKE IT LOCKS WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED WITH THE IGNITION ON, HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WHEELS DID NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT TIE ROD WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, AND COULD NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. DEALER ADMITTED THERE WAS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK STEERING LOCKED ALSO AT HIGH SPEED. *LA
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING POWER, RESULTING IN A CRASH. PROBLEM DUE TO DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR BOX.*AK
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE THE STEERING LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER OR MOVE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
WHILE AT STAND STILL WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CAN NOT TURN WHEEL AND AT SPEED WHILE APPLYING BRAKES CAN NOT STEER. 3RD STEERING BOX TO BE REPLACED DOES WANDER WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. FORD DEALER SAYS ITS NORMAL. FORD MFG SAYS SAME. DT
AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR A DRIFT IN THE STEERING, FORD HAS TOLD ME THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT CURRENTLY THERE IS NO FIX. THIS PROBLEM COULD LIKELY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE TRUCK WILL DRIFT THE MOMENT THE STEERING WHEEL IS RELEASED. I HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE TRUCK WAS DESIGNED TO RESPOND. NOW FINALLY THEY ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. KEEPING CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSES ME TO SUFFER FROM PAIN IN MY ARM AFTER A LONG DRIVING TRIP. IT ALSO CAUSES GREAT FATIGUE AND I AM AFRAID TO LET ANYONE ELSE DRIVE THE VEHICLE.*AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES HARD AT ANY SPEED STEERING LOCKS UP, EVEN AT STAND STILL. DEALER STATED VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY, AND THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, IF ENGINE IS IDLING AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED FORD, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR ISSUE.*AK *TT
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS OR HIGH SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, AND CONSUMER CANNOT CONTROL VEHICLE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES POWER STEERING GOES OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
WHILE SETTING STILL WITHOUT BRAKES YOU CAN NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL, AND SOMETIMES WHEN THE TRUCK IS COLD THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. THIS IS DIFFERENT TO THE OTHER PROBLEM WITH WHILE ON THE BRAKES MOVING SLOWLY YOU CAN NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL UNTILL YOU START TO MOVE ALITTLE FASTER. ALL OF THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN YOU CAN TURN OR NOT .*AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES OR WHEN GOING AT SLOW SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL BECOME HARDER TO CONTROL. ALSO WILL BECOME DIFFICULT TO STEER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
WITH BRAKES APPLIED STEERING CAN NOT BE TURNED. CAN NOT PARELLEL PARK,MAKE A U-TURN,BACK UP BOAT OR CAMPER EASILY,I AM AFRAID THAT IF I WAS DRIVING AND HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES I WOULD BE UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.FORD HAS TOLD ME THEY KNOW ABOUT IT BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX IT. ALSO STEERING SEEMS VERY SLOPPY AND LOOSE. STEERING WHEEL MOVES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS ( LEFT TO RIGHT).*AK
DANGER!!! WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE A DRIVER MAYBE REQUIRED TO STEP ON THE BRAKES AND TURN TO AVOID AN ONCOMING CAR. FROM READING THE FORD-DIESEL WEBSITE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BOTH TO FORD AND NHTSA BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTION TAKEN BY EITHER PARTIES. FORD TELLS THEIR CUSTOMERS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. PLEASE DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO GET HURT AND TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW WHICH IS A SITTING TIME BOMB AND AS DANGEROUS AS HAVING BAD TIRES. BECAUSE EVERY FORD TRUCK HAS THIS PROBLEM IT DOES NOT GIVE FORD THE RIGHT TO SAY IT IS NORMAL AND THEIR IS NOTHING WRONG. I WILL AWAIT A RESPONSE FROM YOU BEFORE GOING TO THE FORD DEALER. THANKYOU.*AK
TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING UPON BRAKING. *AK
WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING POWER AND CRASHED, THE CONSUMER SUFFERED SEVERAL INJURIES. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *YH
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER LOST ALL STEERING POWER AND CONTROL WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE, BROKEN RIBS AND INJURIES TO HIS LEFT SHOULDER, NECK AND LOWER BACK, HE ALSO SUFFERS CONTINUAL HEADACHES AND SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM
STEERING GEAR SECTOR SHAFT SNAPPED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, LOSS OF STEERING CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. FORD CLAIMED THE SHAFT BREAK WAS DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. I HEARD THE SHAFT SNAP AND HAD NO STEERING BEFORE THE COLLISION WITH PARKED VEHICLE. *AK
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
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