2006 FORD E-350 Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD E-350. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

Mileage: 17,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD E-350. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

Mileage: 17,000

DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR BEGAN TO CHANGE INTO LEFT LANE TO GO AROUND CAR AS LIGHT WAS TURNING GREEN. HEARD A LOUD SOUND THINKING MY TIRE BLEW. SUDDENLY STEERING WENT OUT OF VAN. COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE AS STEERING WHEEL WAS IN 360 DEGREE MOTION. HIT BRAKES TO STOP UNFORTUNATELY REAR ENDED A LADY. SHE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. WITNESS ALSO HEARD THIS LOUD SOUND THINKING IT WAS A TIRE PROBLEM. THIS IS A 2006 E 350 FORD CARGO VAN. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

THIS VEHICLE IS THE CHASSIS FOR A 2006 PLEASURE WAY INDUSTRIES EXCEL TS MODEL CLASS B VAN CONVERSION. THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS VAN HAS BEEN EXCELLENT WITH RECORDS TO PROVE SUCH. SINCE OUR PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2012, WHEN IT IS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 50 MPH, THE STEERING BECOMES "LOOSE" AND THE FRONT END WEAVES BACK AND FORTH. THE STEERING ALSO PULLS TO THE RIGHT EVEN WITH PROPER ALIGNMENT. TWICE THE DRIVER NEARLY LOST CONTROL DUE TO THE UNRESPONSIVE STEERING. THE REAR END IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE WEIGHT IT MUST BEAR THUS CAUSING A "WHEELY" EFFECT ON THE EXTREMELY LIGHT FRONT END. THIS CAUSES THE REAR END TO BASICALLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE FORD E350 SUPER DUTY VAN. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS MADE TO PLEASURE WAY REGARDING THE MODEL YEARS FROM 2004 THROUGH 2011 AND YET THEY CONTINUE TO PRODUCE THIS PRODUCT. WE HAVE HAD TO MAKE MAJOR ADDITIONS TO THE ORIGINAL FORD SUSPENSION TO MAKE THIS VEHICLE MARGINALLY SAFER TO DRIVE. THESE INCLUDE REAR WHEEL SPACERS, REAR SWAY BAR, HEAVIER SHOCKS, NEW HARDER SIDEWALL TIRES, ALIGNMENT CAMS, STEERING DRAGLINE, ROADMASTER ACTIVE SUSPENSION KIT. WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME VEHICLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND ARE "SCARED TO DEATH" TO DRIVE THESE VANS ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. *TR

Mileage: 27,390

THE STEERING ON OUR 2006 PLEASURE-WAY RV VAN CONVERSION MODEL EXCEL TS ON A FORD E-350 CHASSIS COMPLETELY GAVE OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. FORTUNATELY, THIS OCCURRED ON A RESIDENTIAL SIDE STREET NEAR OUR HOME AFTER A STOP SIGN, SO THE VEHICLE COULD BE SLOWED TO A STOP WITH NO FURTHER DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL RV REPAIR SHOP, AND THE COMPLETE STEERING MECHANISM - STEERING GEAR AND CORE FOR STEERING BOX - HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT A TOTAL COST OF $1,603.96. THE OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. A LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO FORD, WITH A COPY TO YOUR AGENCY, NOTIFYING THEM OF THIS STEERING FAILURE AND REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.*TR

Mileage: 45,033

STEERING IS VERY SLOW TO CENTER AFTER MAKING A TURN; AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WILL NOT CENTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD E350. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE STEERING BEGAN VIBRATING AND SHAKING. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THE DEALER BALANCED THE TIRES. HOWEVER; THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS LATER THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT; WHICH, DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. ALSO, THE CONTACT SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE , AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AND THE EXHAUST FUMES BECAME STRONGER AFTER BEING REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT CAUSED HIM TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DUE TO IT EXTENDING TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 9000. *AK

Mileage: 9,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE POWER FAILED, BUT THE RADIO STILL WORKED. POWER STEERING ALSO FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SIDE SWIPE A CONSTRUCTION SIGN AS THE CONTACT STEERED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, INTO A REST STOP. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER 20 MINUTES AND WAS RETURNED TO THE RENTAL AGENCY. THE AGENCY WAS INFORMED OF THE POWER FAILURE. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE SERVICE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.

UPON RECEIPT OF THE VEHICLE FROM MY VAN POOL OFFICE IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS STIFF AND DID NOT SELF CENTER AFTER MAKING LANE CHANGES. THE STEERING WILL CONTINUE TO GO IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LANE YOU MOVED INTO. IT ALSO HAS A CONSTANT PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN GOING STRAIGHT. IN 7/06 IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE SIDE DOORS MADE A LOUD POPPING SOUND ONCE EACH WAY WE DROVE TO/FROM WORK. AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS I DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE TOP LATCH BECOMING DISENGAGED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE DOOR RATTLES. *NM

Mileage: 100

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS AN ACRID SMELL COMING FROM THE AIR-CONDITIONING VENTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE AN AIR COMPRESSOR FAILURE IN THE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM. THE CONTACT HAS TEN 2005, AND 3, 2006 VEHICLES. ALL 13 HAD THE ALTERNATORS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BEFORE THE BUSES WERE PUT INTO SERVICE. THERE HAVE BEEN 3 ALTERNATOR FAILURES, 2 HIGH PRESSURE PUMP FAILURES, 1 CLUTCH FAN FAILURE AND 5 VEHICLES WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES.*AK UPDATED 8/15/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 16,832